Hornchurch v Luftwaffe
Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary
Parts 1 and 2

Southern Expo, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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Southern Expo’s initial “Hornchurch vs Luftwaffe” decal release was produced to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2010, when it was reviewed on Hyperscale here:
 
http://www.hyperscale.com/2010/reviews/decals/southernexpo72001decalreviegp_1.htm
 
Featuring seven RAF Spitfires and four of their Luftwaffe victims, the 1/72 and 1/48 sheets were very positively received; the 1/72 sheet is now sold out.  This has encouraged Southern Expo to release the same decals as two 1/32 scale sets, featuring all of the aircraft from the original release. 

The breakdown of the sets is as follows:

Part 1:

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, N3180/KL-B, ‘Kiwi I’ flown by Pilot Officer Al Deere of No.54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 28 May 1940

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, P9398/KL-B, ‘Kiwi II’ flown by Pilot Officer Al Deere of No.54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 9 July 1940.

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, R6981/KL-B, ‘Kiwi III’ flown by Pilot Officer Al Deere of No.54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 15 August 1940.

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, X4236/KL-B flown by Pilot Officer Al Deere of No.54 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 31 August 1940.

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, R6835/XT-W flown by Flying Officer Brian Carbury of No.603 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 31 August 1940.

• Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1, W.Nr.37712/‘Yellow 12’ flown by Feldwebel Ernst Arnold of 3./JG27, France, 30 (or 31?) August 1940.

• Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3, W.Nr.1160/‘White 2’ flown by Oberfeldwebel Johan Illner of 4./JG51, 31 August (or 9 July?) 1940.

Part 2:

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, K9953/ZP-A flown by Flt.Lt. Adolf ‘Sailor’ Malan of No.74 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 19 June 1940

• Spitfire Mk.Ia, R6626/XT-Y flown by Flying Officer ‘Ras’ Berry of 603 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, 31 August 1940

• Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4. W.Nr.1082/‘Yellow 4’ flown by Oberleutnant Helmut Rau, Staffelkapitan of 3.JG3, France, 31 August 1940.

• Heinkel He 111 H-4, W.Nr.2894/‘5J+GA’ flown by Leutnant Erich Simon of KG4, France, 18 June 1940.

Everything that I wrote about Southern Expo decals in the “Northern France Forays” review also applies to these releases.  The instructions are excellent, in terms of both the comprehensive painting and marking guide and also the detailed information that is provided about each aircraft and its pilot or crew. 

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Interesting tidbits abound, and the links between each RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft are clearly explained. There are a couple of inconsistencies in some of the information provided (such as dates) that might have been avoided with more thorough proof reading, but this is a minor complaint only.
 
The decals have been printed by Microscale, and appear to be very good in all respects.  I haven’t checked them for accuracy against photographs of the original markings, but Southern Expo has provided enough material on each aircraft that modelers wanting more information should to be able to find this fairly easily.

I recommend these sets highly to large-scale modelers with an interest in the Battle of Britain.  The combination of interesting, closely connected aircraft with thorough research and excellent decal production will, I think, make it hard for modelers to limit themselves to just one subject from those on offer.  If ever there was an incentive to embark on a 1/32 ‘dogfight double’ project, this is it!
 
Highly recommended.

Thanks to Southern Expo for the review samples

Review Copyright © 2012 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 30 October, 2012
Last updated 31 October, 2012

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