Barracudacals Spitfire Mk. IX Series
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
The latest sheets from Barracudacals is out, and this time they're tackling the classic British fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire. Four aircraft are included in this first release, covering a broad range of markings.
First up is the attractive High Altitude scheme of Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue. This aircraft, a Spitfire HF. VII, MD111, also has invasion stripes on the underside, although narrower than normal. It is coded NX-Q and is from 131 Squadron out of Culmhead, Somerset, England in early August 1944.
The second option is another HF. VII, this time MB820 from 124 Squadron. Flown by F.O. Barrit out of Northholt, Greater London, this Spitfire is camouflaged in the standard Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey. Coded ON-E, this plane also has Operation Starkey markings, which are similar to the D-Day invasion stripes.
With the third option on this sheet, we finally get to a true Mk. IX Spitfire (yeah, I know the HF. VII, for all intents and purposes, is a Mk. IX, but it's not CALLED a Mk. IX). This is a Spitfire FR. IX, MK716, from 16 Squadron. Based at Balleroy (A.12) in France, this aircraft is overall PRU Pink and has invasion stripes on the fuselage underside.
The final option is Buzz Beurling's Mk. IXc Spitfire, MH883. Flying with 412 Squadron RCAF out of Biggin Hill, George “Buzz” Beurling was the highest scoring Canadian ace of the Second World War, with 31 victories. This Spitfire, coded VZ-B, is camouflaged in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey.
The instructions are very thorough, providing detailed information as to the specific details of each aircraft. For instance, the FR. IX option has a single oblique camera port, a round mirror, covered main wheels, and an Aero Vee carburetor intake. The other aircraft are similarly described, allowing the modeler to accurately depict that specific aircraft. The decals are printed by Cartograf and are very nicely done, being both thin and in excellent register. On the smaller scale sheets, an error in the blue shade of the roundels has been corrected via a separate correction sheet (the 1/32 sheet had the roundels separate already).
Oh, did I forget to mention that? Yes, the scales. Well, Barracudacals has done this sheet in all the scales, and I mean ALL the scales. There's a 1/32 sheet, BC32004, for $13.95, designed for the Pacific Coast Models kit. A 1/48 sheet, BC48004, for $11.95, for either the ICM or Hasegawa kits. Finally, there's BC72004, the 1/72 sheet, priced at $9.95, which definitely makes this sheet the best buy, as you can do all eight aircraft for that one low price. Eight? Wait, there's only four options, how does that add up to eight? Well, because, in addition to the 1/72 decals, this sheet also includes decals for 1/144 as well. So you can go buy some 21st Century Toys 1/144 Spitfires and refinish them, in addition to the 1/72 Hasegawa, Airfix, or Czech Master Resin Spitfires.
These are thoroughly researched and beautifully reproduced decals, and should make for a great finish to your latest Spitfire build, whatever scale you choose. My thanks to Barracudacals for the review samples.