Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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DDK4823 - RAF Selection is the latest addition to the ever expanding range offered by KitsAtWar.

For those who haven’t heard of them before, KitsAtWar are based in the Netherlands and produce a range of limited edition silk-screen printed decals for WWII and post war British and Commonwealth subjects in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale.

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In keeping with their RAF theme this sheet provides markings for an eclectic mix of aircraft.  Eight different options are provided in all and their details are as follows:

• Bristol Beaufighter IF R2101 of 604 Squadron based at Middle Wallop in 1941 and flown by Squadron Leader John “Cats Eyes” Cunningham.   The machine is in overall “Night” finish which was a very sooty matt black with large grey squadron codes and the numeral 3 on the engine cowlings.  The serial is provided in red as well as grey as there is some debate as to what colour serials that the one-to-one-scale machine wore.

• Bristol Beaufighter IF R2204 of 229 Squadron based at RAF Tangmere in 1941 and flown by Pilot Officer A.J. Hodgkinson.   This option wears the same overall “Night:” scheme with grey squadron codes.  Red serials only with this one.

• Bristol Beaufighter IIF R2402 of 255 Squadron based at RAF Coltishall in 1941.  In overall “Night” finish with grey squadron codes and a red serial.  This option is not for the feint hearted as it requires converting the Tamiya kit using the resin conversion from CMK by removing the kit’s radial engines and replacing them with resin Merlin engines.

• Bristol Beaufighter VIF V8708 of 46 Squadron based at RAF Gambut, North Africa in 1944.  The machine is finished in an unusual camouflage scheme of dark green over medium sea grey upper surfaces and “Night” undersides with red squadron code letter S and a red serial.

• Bristol Beaufighter VIF V8502 another of 46 Squadron machine but this time based at RAF Mersa, North Africa in 1943.  Camouflage scheme and markings are as per the previous option except for red H squadron code letter.

• Bristol Beaufighter X NE831 of 144 Squadron RAF Strike Wing in 1945.  The machine was crewed by Flight Sergeant Butler and Flight Sergeant Nicoll.  Camouflage scheme is extra dark sea grey upper surfaces over sky undersides with large black squadron codes and painted out D-Day invasion markings.

• Douglas Dakota I FD772 “Windsor Castle” of 24 Squadron based at RAF Hendon in 1943.  Camouflage scheme is olive drab upper surfaces over neutral grey undersides with grey squadron codes and the name “Windsor Castle” on both sides of the nose in grey.

• Douglas Dakota III KG374 of 271 Squadron based at RAF Down Ampney in 1944.  Camouflage scheme is as per the previous option.  The machine carries red YS and white DM squadron codes as well as white DM codes on the nose and is wearing D-Day invasion markings.  This is the machine that was being flown by Pilot Officer David Lord at Arnhem in the Netherlands when he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross on 19 September 1944 for his actions on that day.

• Handley-Page Hampden L4070 of 83 Squadron based at RAF Scampton in 1943 and flown by (then) Pilot Officer Guy Gibson of “Dambusters” fame.  The aircraft is in dark earth over dark green upper surface camouflage scheme over “Night” undersides with grey squadron codes and the name “Admiral Foo Bang” in yellow with red shadowing on the port side of the nose.

National markings are provided for a single Dakota option as well as the Hampden.  The placement guide advises to use the kit supplied national markings for the Beaufighter options, which from memory were printed by Invisiklear and are eminently useable.

The decals themselves have been printed in Holland by a company by the name of Zeefdrukkerij van der Geest bv.  They are thin, sharp printed and in are in perfect register with the colours appearing to be true to the original especially the red used for the serials and national markings.

The placement guide is an A-3 sized sheet that is folded down to A-4 size to fit into the clear plastic zip-loc bag that the decals come packed in.  The sheet is printed on both sides with black and white drawings of each option.  Both left and right hand side profiles are provided which is great for the 46 Squadron Beaufighters as it shows the entire camouflage pattern. 

The recommended kits are the Tamiya series of Bristol Beaufighters, the FM Hampden and the Monogram and Trumpeter C-47 kits.  The recommended conversion/detail sets are the Heritage Aviation Beaufighter Mk. II set, Quickboost exhaust sets, the CMK Beaufighter Mk. I set and Falcon canopies.

This is a limited edition decal sheet with only 150 copies printed so don’t mess around if you want one or you’ll miss out!

With good quality markings for eight different options on offer you have to be getting value for money as far as I am concerned.

Thanks to Luuk at Kits at War for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2008 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 1 January, 2009
Last updated 1 January, 2009

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