Spitfires are probably the most modelled aircraft, and I have to admit it's a beautiful airplane. I myself have about 14 Spitfires in my collection, with another five still in the box! This is my 1/48 scale Academy FR Mk.XIVe late-war Spitfire which I built OOB but with markings from my decal spares. It is finished as a SEAC (South-East Asia Command) photo-recon aircraft of No.273 Sqn RAF flying against the Japanese from an undisclosed airfield in the Far East, possibly Burma, at war's end. So we are talking August 1945.

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The colours are Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey by Humbrol; all toned down with white to create a bleached effect. The original RAF roundels were oversprayed as on the real aircraft with fresh Dark Green and MSG, creating the circles. I am not 100% sure whether this is the correct camouflage, as many Spitfires bound for the Far East were painted Dark Earth/Dark Green. Help, anyone?

 The aircraft involved had only two Hispano 20mm cannon; the blue patches were intended to imitate muzzle protection patches; quite superfluous as no guns were installed in the so-called 'e'-Wing. For additional range, a slipper-type droptank was fitted. The cameraports are filled in with MicroScale Crystal Clear; the canopy is a vacform replacement from Squadron productions. Codes and identification letter are from an old Letraset dry decal sheet. The black and white picture is from Spitfire in Action, page 41  (squadron/signal pubs. Aircraft No.39)

Robert-Jan