Even though the Hasegawa Spitfire Mk.IX was – and still is – a decent kit, there was always room for improvement, especially in the cockpit. AZ Model decided to take their original Spitfire Mk.IX release and re-tool it using steel molds. The result is an excellent kit, one that actually trumps the Hasegawa kit in most instances. One of the boxings that AZ Model released their Mk.IX in was called a "Joy Pack" and consists of three kits in one box, with no decals and no extras, at an excellent price. While there is also not a lack of 1/72 Spitfire Mk.IX decals in existence, there can always be room for more.
Thankfully JBr Decals saw a need for more Mk.IX decals and scaled their 1/144 Spitfire Niners of the World decal sheet up to 1/72. It's a direct up-scale, but instead of eleven schemes, there are only seven:
- SM-18, Belgian Air Force, 1948-1954 (finished overall in aluminum with lots of yellow)
- 41-407 (PL375), The Royal Danish Air Force, 1949-1955 (Dark Green/ Ocean Gray over Medium Sea Gray)
- 3W-16 (PT986), The Royal Netherlands Air Force, 1948-1954 (overall aluminum)
- PH-NFO (MK475), Schreiner Aviation Company, The Netherlands, 1954-1957 Target Tug (finished overall in orange)
- OX-BXD, Air Force of the National Security Corps, Czechoslovakia, 1947-48 (finished in Dark Green/ Ocean Gray over Medium Sea Gray with lots of red)
- 26. Guards Fighter Regiment, USSR, 1944-1945, "Blue 2" (overall Olive Green over Medium Sea Gray)
- Turkish Air Force, 194701948 (overall aluminum)
Decals are typical JBr and are nicely printed and appear to be in register.
If you have extra 1/72 Spitfire Mk.IXs, and no decals to put on them, then you'll definitely want to pick up this set.
I definitely want to thank JBr Decals for sending the 1/72 Niners of the World to review.