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In-Box Review
132
Spitfire - Aces of the Empire
Spitfire - Aces of the Empire (mid-marks)
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by: Jean-Luc Formery [ TEDMAMERE ]

The decals
Victory Productions' 1:32 scale "Aces of the Empire" decal sheet comes in a big resealable plastic bag. The content is the following:
- One big decals sheet (almost A4 format).
- Profiles for 14 different marking options printed in color.
- Precise written Instructions for the 14 aircraft depicted.

The decals in themselves do not call for any observations being very well printed by Cartograf and in perfect register. The colors appear to have been carefully researched and I found no misalignments on my sample, even on the smallest details (see accompanying close-up photos).

Decals are provided for 14 aircraft:

1 & 2 - Spitfire Mk.VII, MD188, Culmhead Wing, June 1944, Wing Commander Peter Brothers.
3 - Spitfire Mk.VIII, A58-484, No. 452 Squadron RAAF, Morotai, early 1945, Group Captain Cive R. Caldwell.
4 - Spitfire Mk.VIII, A58-602, No. 457 Squadron RAAF, Morotai, early 1945, Wing Commander Robert "Bobby" Gibbes.
5 - Spitfire Mk.IXb, EN398, Kenley Wing, Summer 1943, Wing Commander J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson.
6 - Spitfire Mk.IXc, MA585, No. 403 Squadron RCAF, September 1943, Flight Lieutenant George "Buzz" Beurling.
7 - Spitfire Mk.IXc, MH883, No. 412 Squadron RCAF, 30 December 1943, Flight Lieutnant George "Buzz" Beurling.
8 - Spitfire Mk.IXc, BS410, No. 315 (Polish) Squadron, Northolt, January 1943, Captain Frances "Gabby" Gabreski.
9 - Spitfire Mk.IXc, EN520, No. 81 Squadron, Tunisia, April 1943, Squadron Leader Colin Gray.
10 - Spitfire Mk.IXc, MA408, No. 322 Wing, Sicily, July 1943, Wing Commander Colin Gray
11 - Spitfires Mk.IXe, MK392, No. 144 Wing, St. Croix-sur-Mer, Normandy, Summer 1944, Wing Commander J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson.
12 - Spitfire Mk.IXe, Mk392, No. 127 Wing, Eindhoven, Holland, January 1945, Wing Commander J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson.
13 - Spitfire LF. Mk.IXe, RR201, No. 411 Squadron, Heesch, Holland, 29 December 1944, Flight Lieutnant Richard "Dick" Audet.
14 - Spitfire Mk.IXe, "MK329", No. 144 Wing St. Croix-sur-Mer, Normandy, Summer 1944, Wing Commander J.E. "Johnny" Johnson.

Many options (Mk.VII, Mk.VIII and Mk.IXe) will require some modifications of the basic kit but with the release of Eduard's new 1:32 scale Spitfire next year and the probability that Tamiya will also do other variants than the Mk.IXc later, maybe it is wiser to wait a little before doing some field modifications. There are already enough Mk.IXc variants on the sheet to keep you busy for several builds!

I give you one advice though: if you are interested to purchase Victory Production's 1:32 scale Spitfire "Aces of the Empire" Decals, don't wait too long before ordering it. In the past these kind of references have sold out quite rapidly so get yours while they are still available.

Conclusion
Victory Production have designed a high quality and very complete decal sheet just in time to accompany the release of Tamiya's superb Spitfire Mk.IXc kit. However, with what is provided in this reference, one can also look forward to the new Eduard kit as the decals also cover the Mk.VII, Mk.VIII and Mk.IXe variants.

Victory Productions' 1:32 scale Spitfire: "Aces of the Empire" decal sheet is available from www.victorymodels.com

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AeroScale.
SUMMARY
Highs: Perfectly printed - 14 different decorations!
Lows:
Verdict: Highly recommended if you are searching for alternative markings for your Tamiya, Pacific Coast and Eduard (expected in 2010) 1:32 scale middle production Spitfires.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:32
  Mfg. ID: VPD32003
  Suggested Retail: $24.95
  Related Link: VictoryModels
  PUBLISHED: Dec 29, 2009
  NATIONALITY: United Kingdom
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.63%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 94.00%

Our Thanks to Victory Productions!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Jean-Luc Formery (TedMamere)
FROM: MOSELLE, FRANCE

I'm mainly interested in WW2 aircraft and I build them in 1/48 scale.

Copyright ©2021 text by Jean-Luc Formery [ TEDMAMERE ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

hmmm.....the first 2 spits have my initials (PB),now if there was ever an excuse to buy another model and decals thats it! could also be a good group build,you can only build a genuine aircraft that has your initials...
DEC 29, 2009 - 03:16 AM
Good to see that they have produced a set of decals for MK392 that actually match what it looked like instead of the usual fraud of changing the serial number of EN398 and adding black and white stripes. Two sets of maple leaf badges to satisfy both the red and green camps but according to Johnson he also had a Wing Commander’s pennant painted on the aircraft. The inclusion of a Spitfire, BS410, that belonged to the PAF (Polish Air Force) not the RAF, whose personnel swore allegiance only to the Polish Republic and not King George VI, and which was flown only twice by an American pilot who had not yet shot anything down rather stretches both ‘empire’ and ‘aces’ don’t you think?
DEC 30, 2009 - 04:48 AM
Hi Antoni, You are right. But I think one out of 14 is acceptable... I wonder why they did include it. Maybe to please the Gabreski fans. Who knows. Jean-Luc
DEC 30, 2009 - 08:50 PM
BS410 featured in the news recently opening up again the controversy about what is a restoration and what is a recreation. Some extra publicity was then squeezed out when it was realised that BS410 was the Spitfire in which Francis Gabreski made his first operational sortie with 315 Squadron, Circus 252 on 21st January 1943. The bit that everyone got wrong, including Flypast and The Aeroplane is that it was coded PK*E. That was true when Gabreski flew it but when Kuryłłowicz was shot down 13th May 1943 on Ramrod 71 it was coded PK*A. LINK
DEC 30, 2009 - 10:13 PM
   
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