Aviaeology AOD72009m RCAF FR Spitfires

PRICE:

CAN$10.89 plus shipping

UNITS:

See review

REVIEW :

Scott Van Aken

NOTES:

Updated instructions  

Aviaeology has been going back through some of their early sheets that are now out of production. This particular sheet covers Photo Recon Spitfires, specifically the little known Spit FRIXc as well as the standard Spitfire FRXIVE, some of which were converted from standard Mk. XIV airframes.

The sheet itself is 1/72 and is also available in 1/48. The only ready to go Spit from this set is a FR.XIVE by Fujimi and it is the bubbletop version. Fujimi also does a high back Spit XIV, but it will need to have the camera windows added. There is no kit of the photo recon Spit IX. However, Aviaeology has provided 1/24 scale plans that you can size down to 1/72 to enable you to build some of these very interesting aircraft.

Here are what can be built from this sheet:

Spitfire FR.IXc aircraft S, O, and Q of 414 Squadron RCAF from late 1944 early 1945 while with the 2nd TAF.

Spitfire FR.XIVE conversions RC.W of 39 Wing in 1945. This is the wing commander's plane. Also aircraft H of 430 Squadron RCAF in late 1944.

Spitfire FR.XIVE that were factory built and unlike the conversions have the bubble canopy.  Aircraft S and P of 414 squadron are the options. All of these planes have the standard day fighter scheme of Dark Green and Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey. There are enough markings to do one of the seven options, though you can probably combine kit decals to do others. There is a full data suite provided and two pages of data markings placement.

The instruction booklet that includes a number of photos of all aircraft as well as a detailed markings placement guide. Information on the equipment of each aircraft is also provided. The instructions are in greyscale, but inside is a small slip that allows the purchaser to access full color markings guides via the Aviaeology web site. The decals themselves are superbly printed; clear and crisply done with no registration problems.

Overall, it is an excellent new sheet and provides one with some nice options and the ability to build something few will ever have in their collections.

July 2013

My thanks to www.aviaeology.com for the review sheet. You can get yours direct.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.