1:32 Spitfire MkIX (French)

A roundel with the colors the other way round

The French round marking looks much like the British one at first glance, but the order of the colors is reversed: in the middle lies a blue field, around it a white ring and the outer circle is red. The British roundel has it the other way, with a red center. That is exactly why machines that passed from British hands to French units had their markings painted over, and not always thoroughly, so the old outline tends to show under the new coat. With it goes the tail marking in the form of three vertical stripes instead of the British two-color stripe. The Spitfire of the ninth version in French service is therefore a machine with two layers of history, and on a model that is a rewarding subject.

How the set helps

The package covers the cockpit glass from the outside and the inside and offers a pair of stencils for the national insignia. Spraying through a stencil is ideal for this subject, because it lets you lay down the older form of the marking first, paint over it and spray the new marking on top. Layering like that is hard to do with a decal. The layers can also be sanded so that the older marking shows through only on the panel edges, where the paint wears most.

Recommended sequence

• Spray the older form of the marking first and let it cure thoroughly.
• Lay the overpainting on thinly, so that the outline underneath is only hinted at.
• Place the new marking from a period photograph; the position could differ from the British one.
• Unmask the glazing only once the weathering is finished.

The delivery comprises cut films in 1:32 scale only, with no paints and no kit.