Aviaeology Decals
AOD32009, AOD48009 and AOD72009
RCAF Fighter Recce Spitfires
Preview by Matt Gannon

The latest sheets on the way from Aviaeology are in three scales AOD32009, 48009, and 72009 and cover four RCAF Fighter Recce Spitfires of the 414 and 430 Squadrons:

  • Spitfire FR.XIVE RN114 RC•W, The Whinge Commander's aircraft of 39 ® Wing RCAF, a standard fuselage, standard wing-tip Mk.XIV with the radio compartment area reworked to carry oblique cameras, similar to the Mk.IX shown in the illustration. (though it is the 39 Whinge Commanders aircraft, this Spitfire was on charge with 430 Squadron).
  • Spitfire FR.IX MK202 /Q, 414 Squabbling Leader's aircraft featuring the FRU emblems on the tail and "continental 2TAF" era national markings.
  • Spitfire FR.IX MJ351 /S, another similarly finished 414 Squadron aircraft with the pilot's personal marking "VIOLET-DOROTHY" emblazoned on the l/h side of the nose.
  • Spitfire FR.XIVE MV348 /S. The same pilot's (as MJ351 above) later aircraft marked "VIOLET DOROTHY III" below the exhausts on the l/h side. This Spitfire is a "cut-down" fuselage, bubble canopied, clipped wing version with flush mounted camera windows in the rear fuselage.

Options include a choice of both Sky and White codes for each aircraft plus two styles of RCAF maple leaf and rank pennants for RN114 RC•W. A full explanation of all options, including the code possibilities for each a/c, are part of the thorough instructions sheet text. A clear line drawing of the camera port installation is also included to scale. This is needed for three of the subject aircraft. It's a pretty straightforward sheet plastic conversion.

Image 01

NOTE: THIS EARLY POSTING IS ILLUSTRATED WITH PROFILES OF TWO OF THE SAME SUBJECT AIRCRAFT FROM THE UPCOMING BOOK "AviaDossier 1: Canadian Aircraft of WWII" by Carl Vincent. The actual instructions art includes our usual flat art profiles and plans format for all subject aircraft, which we're still fine tuning those while awaiting the arrival of the first print run.

Preview information and images courtesy Mark Proulx

© Mark Proulx 2009