Border Models' growing range of 1:35 aircraft kits aren't going to appeal to everyone, especially those with  collections of traditional 1:32 models, but it's a pretty safe bet that many who purchase their Spitfire Mk.V will welcome the release of alternative decals for the kit. Ray Horwell at Fantasy Printshop has produced an excellent set of Euro Decals with options for no less than 11 colour schemes. 

Set #ED35-001 features a very attractive mix of aircraft, with a great variety of camouflage and markings. There should be something to suit any taste among the chosen schemes - European and Mediterranean/North African camouflage, a night fighter, and a choice of full-span and clipped-wing versions.

As you'd expect from Fantasy Printshop, the quality of the decals is superb, and the glossy items show precise registration and minimal excess carrier film. The colours look excellent, with the SAAF orange contrasting well against the RAF Dull Red.

The decals are accompanied by full-colour A4 4-view drawings, and some include modellers' notes highlighting details specific to the airframe. The instructions show original paint names, along with matches for Humbrol, Xtracolour, Xtracrylix, Mr. Color Aqueous, MRP and Vallejo Model Air model paints.

The featured colour schemes are:

1: Spitfire LF Mk.Vb, s/n BL415 AZ-B, flown by Flt Lt Walt “Jonnie” Johnston of 234 Sqn., RAF, 6th June 1944.

2: Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop, s/n ER228 ZX-6 of 145 Squadron, RAF, Egypt 1942.

3: Spitfire Mk.Vb s/n W3458 YQ-X flown by Flt Lt Les “Buck” Casson of 616 Sqn., RAF, 9th August 1941.

4: Spitfire Mk.Vb s/n EP464 NN-E of 310 (Czech) Squadron, Royal Air Force, Exeter, July 1942.

5: Sitfire Mk.Vb Trop s/n JK792 WR-O of 40 Squadron, SAAF, Italy, 1944.

6: Spitfire Mk.Vb s/n W3458 JU-E of 111 Squadron, RAF, North Weald, October 1941.

7: Spitfire Mk.Vb s/n EP254 DW-B flown by Sqn Ldr J. E. “Jonnie” Johnson, CO of 610 Sqn., RAF, 19th August 1942.

8: Spitfire LF Mk.Vb s/n EP644 RY-S of 313 (Czech) Sqn., RAF, March 1943.

9: Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop s/n AB254 GN-H of 249 Sqn., RAF, Malta, 1942.

10: Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop s/n ER622 WR-D of 40 Sqn., SAAF, North Africa, April 1943.

11: Spitfire Mk.Vb s/n BL753 YO-H flown by PO Don Blakeslee of 401 Sqn., RCAF, May 1942.

Conclusion

This is another top quality release from Euro Decals that will be an ideal alternative for the Border Models kit's decals. I hope Ray will release the sheet in more conventional aircraft modelling scales too, because the selection of markings is almost guaranteed to be a hit anyone modelling a Spitfire.

Item #ED35-001 is available now from Fantasy Printshop - Price: £29.95

Many thanks to Fantasy Printshop for the review sample.

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