Tally Ho! 1/48 Spitfire Mk. V Aces Part II By Chris Banyai-Riepl

This latest release from Tally Ho! adds four more interesting Spitfire Mk. V aces, three from the RAF and one from the USAAF. Two are in green/gray camouflage, while the other two are in desert two-tone browns. The first option is AR397, coded RY-D, and was flown by Jiri Kucera of the 313 Czech Squadron. This plane is finished in Ocean Gray and Dark Green over Medium Sea Gray and features the standard Sky spinner and fuselage band. Kucera's initials are in white next to the small Czech roundel under the windscreen, and a line of kill markings extend underneath the canopy. Two options for this plane are included, the first having the serial number painted on the fuselage and the second showing that painted out and a different style of D.

The second option is another foreigner flying for the RAF, this being Du Monceau De Bergendael from Belgium. This plane is coded MN-U and is finished in Ocean Gray and Dark Green over Medium Sea Gray. A set of kill markings are under the windscreen, as is De Bergendael's personal emblem, a cat.

Number three on the sheet is the mount of Neville Frederick Duke, flying for 92 Squadron in January of 1943. This plane, ER220, is coded QJ-R and is a Mk. Vb Trop painted in Dark Earth and Middlestone over Azure Blue. Interestingly, the code letter R is in white while the rest are in gray. The phrase “'East India Squadron'  is on the fuselage ahead of the windscreen, and two rows of German crosses are under the windscreen.

The final option on this sheet is another Mk. Vb Trop, camouflaged similarly to Duke's aircraft. This one is ER570, coded WD-Q and was flown by Robert Levine of the 52nd FG, 4th FS. In addition to the standard code letters, this plane features a large American flag on the fuselage under the canopy, as well as a pierced skull emblem. Three kill markings are below the windscreen, and Major Levine's name is written in script on the fuselage.

The decals are very well printed and exhibit excellent register. The center dots for the roundels are separate, allowing for precise placement. Roundels are included for each option, so there is no need to dip into the spares box here. The colors are dense and appear to be very opaque. If you want some interesting and different Spit Mk. Vs on your shelf, check this sheet out.