When building a model of the Mustang, the obvious choice is to go for a USAAF aircraft but in my opinion, and perhaps I'm showing my national bias here, some of the best-looking Mustangs sported RAF-style camouflage and markings. Britain purchased over 940 Mustang M.IIIs, but kit manufacturers don't usually offer many options for them, so it's great to see Euro Decals come to the rescue with their new set that contains markings for no less than 11 aircraft in an interesting variety of colour schemes.
The decals are designed and printed by Ray Horwell at Fantasy Printshop, and the quality is top-notch as always with his work. The colours look very good, with correctly dull national markings, and the items have a gloss finish and virtually no excess carrier film, except where it's used to group multiple elements.
Full sets of markings are provided for all the featured colour schemes on the packed decal sheet, and a nice touch is that the centres of the fuselage and underwing roundels are separate items to ensure perfect alignment.
There's really something to suit all tastes among the colour schemes that Ray's chosen, with RAF, RAAF and Polish aircraft painted mostly in standard Ocean Grey/Dark Green/ Medium Sea Grey camouflage, plus individual examples sporting Olive Drab/Neutral Gray, Dark Earth/Dark Green/Azure Blue and unpainted finishes, and finally an RAF F-6C in PRU Blue.
Decals are included for the following aircraft:
1. Mustang Mk.III, s/n KH427, "GN-V", 249 Sqn., RAF, Italy, 1944
2. Mustang Mk.III, s/n FB???, "HS-H", 260 Sqn., RAF, Italy, 1944
3. Mustang Mk.III, "LD-Y", 250 Sqn., RAAF, Italy, 1946
4. Mustang Mk.III, s/n FZ152, "SS", 133 Polish Wing, RAF, UK, 1944
5. Mustang Mk.III, "LD-B", 250 Sqn., RAAF, Italy, 1946
6. Mustang Mk.III, s/n HB832, "QV-Q", 19 Sqn., RAF, UK, 1945
7. Mustang Mk.III, s/n FZ120, "YT-J", 65 Sqn., RAF, UK, 1944
8. Mustang Mk.III, s/n KH528, "SZ-L", 316 (Warszawski) Polish Sqn., RAF, UK, 1944
9. Mustang Mk.III, s/n FX985, "PK-V", 315 (Deblinski) Polish Sqn., RAF, UK, 1944
10. Mustang Mk.III, s/n KH616, "CV-J", 3 Sqn., RAAF, Italy, 1944-45
11. F-6C, s/n FX855, 541 Sqn., RAF, UK, 1944
Conclusion
This is a great set for anyone looking to model a Mustang Mk.III. If you've got the space to build all the featured aircraft, there's enough here to keep you out of mischief for ages and the resulting display will look amazing. Perhaps a more realistic option is to use the sheet for a shared club/group build, and it offers great value for money at less than £1.50 per colour scheme.
Sheet #ED-72142 is available now from Fantasy Printshop - Price: £15.95
Many thanks to Fantasy Printshop for the review sample.
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