Techmod Decals | 32001: Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb

Reviewed by Mark Proulx

Techmod Decals, a Polish company, is a recent addition to the line-up of decal manufacturers. Their first 1/32nd scale decal sheet released was for the Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb. Others have followed and been reviewed, but I thought we should look at their initial offering.

Techmod supplies markings for five aircraft. Needless to say, Techmod focuses on Spitfires flown by Polish pilots. The schemes supplied are for the following aircraft:

  1. Spitfire Mk Vb 303 Squadron RAF, BM144, RF-D, March 1942. Pilot: Jan Zumbach
  2. Spitfire Mk Vb 303 Squadron RAF, BM144, RF-D, May 1942. Pilot: Jan Zumbach
  3. Spitfire Mk Vb 303 Squadron RAF, EN951, RF-D, Summer 1942. Pilot: Jan Zumbach
  4. Spitfire Mk Vb 302 Squadron RAF, W3902, WX-T, February 1943.
  5. Spitfire Mk Vb 145 Squadron RAF, EE781, ZX-A, July 1943. Pilot: F/O M. Dreckiego

Four pages of instructions are complete with left, right, top and underside views. Complete painting instructions and marking positions are depicted. A separate set of four views depicts all the locations for the stencils, which are included with these decals.

However, problems do exist with this decal sheet. The first problems to be encountered are found with the fuselage codes for four of the day fighter schemes. The codes were painted sky (type S) on the actual aircraft and these markings appear to be slightly too greenish and too dark for a 1/32nd scale model.

The next concern is found with the final Spitfire included with this sheet that is stated as being a Mk Vb from 145 Squadron. A quick check of serial numbers in the book Spitfire by Morgan and Shacklady confirms my suspicions that this aircraft is in fact a Mk Vc. In addition these Spitfires were equipped with either Vokes or Aboukir filters and this is not shown in the side view profiles. I can't state with any certainty as to the filter type applied to EE781, so check your references carefully. The underside color is specified as being Azure Blue but likely should be Light Mediterranean Blue when compared to other aircraft of the same unit. Unfortunately, e-mail inquiries to Techmod about these problems were not responded to.

Fortunately, all is not lost with this scheme. As no Spitfire Mk Vc currently exists in 1/32nd scale, conversions are available from Warbirds Productions for those of you that wish to add this variant to their collections.

The decals appear to be very thin and they are printed in perfect register. A minimal amount of carrier film is visible. I have not tried Techmod decals to date so I can't comment on the ease of use. I am particularly impressed with the printing of the Daffy Duck nose art. This is all done in perfect register with multiple colors on one decal. It does not require multiple decals to complete one image that has become so popular now. The nose art on Lt Jan Zumbach's Spitfire is well documented and the decals should add some additional color to you model.

Many of the shortcomings of sheet 32001 can be overcome. I would replace the codes for any of the day fighter schemes from some other source. It is unfortunate that extra expense is likely required to complete any of the schemes on this sheet so I recommend it with some reservations.

I would like to thank Vasko Barbic of Warbirds Productions for his assistance in reviewing this decal sheet and confirming my suspicions about the145 Squadron Spitfire.

© Mark Proulx 2002

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This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016