Euro Decals 1/72 Supermarine Spitfires over Malta
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
The island of Malta was perfectly positioned in the middle of the Mediterranean, providing the RAF a perfect location to base aircraft to disrupt Italian and German operations in North Africa and Italy. The challenge was getting those aircraft to the island, a problem that was solved through Allied support in the form of US aircraft carriers. The USS Wasp delivered several Spitfires to the island, and these form the subject of this recent sheet from Euro Decals.
The Decals
The sheet provides markings for nine Spitfires, with three Spitfire Mk Vbs, five Spitfire Mk Vcs, and a single Spitfire Mk IXc. The Spitfires over Malta had some unique camouflages, and the options on this sheet highlight that. Starting with the Spitfire Mk Vb selection, the first one of those is BR586 of No 249 Squadron in 1943. This plane is camouflaged in Identification Blue over Azure Blue, with non-standard pale blue and red upper wing roundels. The second Mk Vb is EP691 from 229 Squadron in 1943. This one has a two-color upper camouflage scheme consisting of Deep Sky and Dark Slate Grey, all over a Light Mediterranean Blue underside. The third Spitfire Mk Vb is EP200 from 185 Squadron in July of 1942. This one has the same upper surface camouflage as the previous one of Deep Sky and Dark Slate Grey, while the underside is mostly Sky Blue with the underside of the fuselage finished in Light Mediterranean Blue. All three of these have yellow fuselage codes as well.
While still thinking of that Deep Sky and Dark Slate Grey camouflage scheme, the sole Spitfire Mk IXc has that same camouflage scheme for the upper surface. This plane, EN479 with 126 Squadron from June 1943. The under surface is finished in Medium Sea Gray, with a bit of the Sky Type S fuselage band. The aircraft has a white individual letter N on the fuselage. Rounding out that Deep Sky & Dark Slate Grey scheme, the first of the Spitfire Mk Vc options has that scheme, with the underside finished in Light Mediterranean Blue. This aircraft, from 229 Squadron in 1943, also has yellow fuselage codes, similar to the Mk Vb options.
Sticking with the two-color camouflage uppers, the next option is BR190, a Mk Vc of 603 Squadron from April/May 1942. This one was camouflaged in Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey over Sky Type S. The second option has a unique camouflage scheme that consists of Deck Blue and Non-Specular Intermediate Blue, both colors being US Navy colors that were applied while the plane was on the USS Wasp during transit. The underside is Azure Blue, with a tight wavy demarcation line between the upper and lower surfaces. Both options have white fuselage codes.
The remaining Spitfire Mk Vc options are all finished with Dark Mediterranean Blue on the upper surfaces. The first, BR124, had undersides in Sky Blue and an Identification Red spinner, with the area around the fuselage serial still showing the original desert camouflage of Dark Earth and Middle Stone. This option has white fuselage codes. The second option, BR126, is depicted after a repaint at Gibraltar in June 1942. This plane has the upper surface Dark Mediterranean Blue wrapping around the underside of the nose and has yellow fuselage codes. Both have large Type A roundels on the wing undersides and Type A1 roundels with the yellow surround on the fuselage. The final Dark Mediterranean Blue uppers option is JK715 from 243 Squadron in 1942, with Azure Blue undersides. This one has Type C and C1 roundels and yellow fuselage codes.
Conclusion
The decals are very nicely printed with perfect registration and dense color. With the recent release by Airfix of a Spitfire Vc, this is a great decal sheet with some colorful and unique options. My thanks to Fantasy Printshop for the review sample. Check out their website for this and other recent decal releases.