Spitfire Part 3

Lifelike Decals, 1/48 scale

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Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

48-025 Supermarine Spitfires Part 3 is a new release from the Japanese company Lifelike Decals.  It provides markings for four Mk V Spitfires and is designed to be used on the Superb Tamiya Mk VB/Mk VB Trop kits.

The individual options are:

• Mk VB AD196 flown by Sergeant Jack Evans of 71 (Eagle) Squadron from RAF Debden in August of 1942.  The machine is in standard temperate scheme of dark green, ocean grey and medium sea grey with a sky spinner and fuselage band.

• An unknown serial Mk V of the 4th Fighter Squadron 52nd Fighter Group flown by a Flight Officer James Montgomery from Palermo/Sicily in August of 1943.  The comprehensive notes on the placement guide/information sheet advises that this machine could be either a Mk VB or a Mk VC.  The machine is finished in the RAF desert scheme of dark earth, middle stone and azure blue with a red spinner.

• One for the Aussies!  Mk VB EN824 flown by Pilot Officer John William Yarra RAAF of 453 Squadron from RAF Martlesham Heath.  The machine is in a dark green, mixed grey and medium sea grey scheme with a sky spinner and fuselage band.  The markings depict the machine from December 1942.

• Mk VB ER821 of 92 Squadron RAF.  Flown by Flight Lieutenant Neville Duke in Libya circa 1942.  The machine is in the RAF desert scheme of dark earth, middle stone and azure blue with a red spinner. 

There is no indication as to who has printed the decals themselves but they are very nicely done indeed.  They are thin and have a minimum of carrier film surrounding even the tiniest stencil data item.  A single set of RAF national insignia is supplied as well as a single set of USAAF ones so you can produce any one of the RAF options as well as the USAAF machine from what is provided on the sheets.   There is also a single and very comprehensive set of stencil data too including propeller blade stencils and maker’s logos.

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The placement guide/information sheets are A-4 in size and provide colour illustrations of the left hand side of each option and applicable upper and lower plan views as well as a further generic four-view illustration to show stencil data placement.  Comprehensive notes are provided for each option and any ‘grey areas’ encountered in research for the sheet are clearly explained including their reasons for including light blue squadron codes for the 92 Squadron option.  A list of the eight references used to realise the sheet is included too.

The decal sheets (there are three of them in all – the main one containing the vast majority of markings, a smaller one carrying the lions share of the stencil data and an even smaller one that carries the nose art and their white backgrounds for the 71 Squadron and 4th Fighter Squadron options - and the placement guide/information sheets come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

This is another great sheet from Lifelike Decals.  It provides you with some excellent quality decals and associated support material to enable you to do justice to the 1/48 scale Mk V kits.

Thanks to Keishiro Nagao of Lifelike Decals for the review sample.

Lifelike Decals are available by email at lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp or from

2-8-7-202, Kameari, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-0061, Japan
fax: +81-3-5680-6733