Techmod Decals from Poland has supplied us with the interesting and good looking decal sheet for one of the most interesting and popular planes of W.W.2 - a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX. The set contains very interesting markings for the two personal planes of W/Cdr Aleksander Gabszewicz, a commander of the 1st Polish Fighter Wing and a very uncommon all-aluminum British Spit from the 601st Squadron.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

A small addition to the review. I'm sorry but I have missed a detail while writing the review. If you would like to build a model of the BBMF "UF-Q" Spitfire you will also need the late style rudder in addition to the E-type wing.

Techmod have undoubtedly used Wojtek Matusiak’s Spitfire IX and XVI of Polish Airmen as the source for these three Spitfires. MJ250 finds itself included as it was flown by two Polish pilots in Italy during the summer of 1944.

EN256 and NH342 are two of the seven or eight Spitfires that Gabszewicz flew successively as both Wing Commander (EN256) and Group Captain (NH342) all coded SZ*G, the codes he used as CO of 316 Squadron. Unfortunately Techmod mixed them up in the diagrams. EN256 should carry the markings of NH342 and vice versa. Also EN256 was fitted with narrow, single drum, cannon blisters on the top of the wings.

BoBMF Spitfire MK356 was painted as EN256 last year but BoBMF aircraft always retain their own serial number and so a model of it should have the serial number MK356 not EN250.

Techmod decals tear easily. I was given some advice a few years ago by a Polish modeller that I have found works very well. Instead of soaking the decal in water wet the back of the paper with a paint brush. Wait until the decal comes loose by itself. Sometimes a small area of the decal will still be sticking to the paper. Do not push it as this will surely cause it to tear. Wait until it comes loose by itself. Add more water if necessary. When it will slide about with the slightest touch of a paint brush it can be transferred to the model. Make sure there is plenty of water under it when you move it about. Otherwise the decal will stick firmly to the surface and tear when you push. If it will not slide about with the slightest push add more water.

Many thanks Antoni for you comment and usefull information but I can't agree in everything with you according to the EN526. I made some research of this machine, especially in the Wojtek Matusiak publications: "Spitfire IX-XVI of the Polish Airman" and the latest "Polish Wings 13". Together with fellow modelers from Poland we concluded it was produced in the first series of Mk.IX so it shoud have many "old" characteristics. General look of the plane and its markings is ok. Techmod has made two mistakes but only in the instruction sheet: late style stabilisers and late carburator intake. EN526 had an early style "wide" gun blisters (per analogy to the other machines with the close serial numbers, eg.EN459). The cammo scheme of EN526 also looks ok.

I'm not so sure about the NH342 as I didn't investigate this plane very much. If you give me 2-3 days I'll check my refferences.

I don't think you have understood what I wrote.

EN526 was a Rolls Royce conversion of a MK V with short air filter and early type elevators There is no dispute about this, they can be seen in photographs. NH342 was a CBAF built LF.IX with long Aero-Vee filter. So The drawing of EN526 is really NH342 and the drawing of NH342 is really EN526. The mistake Techmod have made is to put the wrong markings on the drawings. This includes the camouflage patterns which are correct for the serial number but not the drawing. Transfer the camouflage pattern and the markings to the other drawing in each case and everything will be correctct.

As to the cannon blisters I refer you to Polish Wings 13 page 46 no 97.

It is not easy in the mess of the serial numbers from your post: EN256, EN250, EN526... it makes the difference.




Yap, that's a good point. It is absolutely new to me. I thought that if EN459 had a wide blisters so EN526 had the same (same contract, same producer). Picture and information about EN527 from the Polish Wings13 proves that it was wrong conclusion.

thanks for the review. I wasn't aware of this sheet ..and have now got my order placed..

My pleasure Neil. I'm waiting for your feedback when you recieve these decals.