Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon Colours & Markings
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Author: Michal Ovcacik & Karel Susa
Publisher: Mark I Ltd
ISBN: 978-80-86637-18-1
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 28
The Eurofighter EF-2000 has been a very successful fighter design, all the more impressive as it was designed by four different countries. Initially built for the four parent countries, England, Italy, Germany, and Spain, the Eurofighter has since been sold to Austria and Saudi Arabia. With the first production examples delivered in 2003, the Eurofighter is now a fairly common sight throughout Europe. This latest title from 4+ Publications in the Mark I Dozen Set covers the EF-2000 with schemes from all operators, and includes both single seaters and two seaters. This book is available in six versions. The original release (shown here) has four options: 1/144, 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32. The 1/72 and 1/48 versions have been re-released with additional what-if decals, covering Czech, Canadian, Swiss, and Japanese EF-2000s.
For the most part, the Eurofighter is finished in overall gray, although the shades of gray vary from country to country. The first few aircraft are RAF Eurofighters, and these are finished in RAF Camouflage (Barley) Gray with a light gray radome. The book covers a Typhoon F Mk 2s from 3 Squadron, 17 Squadron, and 29(R) Squadron, a Typhoon FGR Mk 4 from 1435 Flight, and a Typhoon T Mk 1A from 29(R) Squadron. The basic markings for all the RAF examples include unit emblems on the vertical fin and squadron bars on either side of the fuselage roundel. For the T.1A, there is a small 90 Year Anniversary sticker for underneath the fuselage roundel, as well as a squadron zap found on the inside of the main gear door.
Italy is next, and this country also is represented by two aircraft. Both are finished in Medium Gray with a light gray radome. The first Tifone S is from 12 Squadron, 36 Wing and is coded 36-22. This aircraft has standard squadron markings consisting of a black lightning bolt outline on the tail, with a black outline of the unit emblem. The second Tifone S is from 9 Squadron, 4 Wing, at Grosseto Air Base in 2009. This aircraft has the tail painted up in black, gray, red, and green, with the squadron's prancing stallion emblem.
Spain, Austria, and Saudi Arabia are all represented by a single aircraft each. The Spanish option is a C.16 Tifón, coded 11-07, from 111 Squadron, 11 Wing. It is painted in Dark Gray overall, with a light gray radome, and has the unit emblem stenciled on the tail. The Austrian example is an EF-2000 Taifun coded 7L-WF and is finished in NATO Dark Gray overall. The Saudi example is the only one with a mixed camouflage, being finished in overall RAF Camouflage (Barley) Gray with areas of NATO Dark Gray on the wings, vertical fin, and rear fuselage. Standard Saudi markings are present throughout, with a small unit emblem on the vertical fin.
The included decals are beautiful, and while most should have no problems in application, I would take special care with the large tail marking for the colorful Italian option. That one piece decal might take some work to line up properly. Overall, though, this is a great selection of Eurofighter aircraft, and its availability in all those scales makes it even better. My thanks to 4+ Publications for the review copy.