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I'm decalling a 1/72 Sword Sea Gladiator, using Kits-World's Gladiator sheet. The scheme I've chosen is 802 Squadron N5519, in silver wings. The size of the upper wing roundels is easy as it the width of the lozenge band, but what about the fuselage and underwing roundels? The Kits-World instructions shows a Gladiator with underwing serials to have 36" roundels on the underside, and 24" on the fuselage. But the Sea Gladiator doesn't have those underwing serials, so did it have 40" roundels on both upper and lower wings? I just ordered a pre-war roundels sheet from Xtradecal, but it doesn't have 24", only 25", but I've got several Airfix Gladiators in my stash, so I'll take decals from one of those, if 24" is the right size for a Sea Gladiator as well.

Hi all. Currently working on a 1/72 Airfix Lanc, and I have a little bit of a dilemma requiring any knowledge from those more experienced with RAF markings of the WWII period. I'm aiming to use the kit decals for the roundels so its not so much a case of painting those on all together, but more for highlighting after for a bit of fading as I've done with the camo. The other aspect is the actual aircraft code. I need AJ-T, but the Airfix kit is only AJ-G and AJ-W. The T I have in a KitsWorld decal set, along with the aircraft serial, but the problem is KitsWorld has used an entirely different (and brighter) shade of red. In order to match the shade I have to either mix up something or use something premade. I spray with a booth in a room in the house so it really needs to be acrylics. Lacquers at a stretch. Anything close enough which can be lightened with a drop of white/buff/deck tan, or any combinations would be appreciated. A test I did a little while back for the red had my combining Tamiya XF-7 Red and XF-9 Hull Red for a fairly close approximation (until I forgot the mixture and will have to try it again ><), but the blue is a little trickier. XF-8 Flat Blue is not only too bright, and I'd assume the same for Medium Blue, but also tonally off. Can't just darken with black either as the test for that wasn't too convincing. So anything acrylic ideally. Real Color lacquer would be a potential option, and along with Tamiya (likely have to be a mix) would be best just for ease of spray in a confined area, otherwise I risk spattering. I think I have the red down but again any pointers would be appreciated. Chiefly need help with the blue if you can. Cheers. Gaz

Hawker Tempest V Resin Upgrades & Decals (for Eduard) 1:48 Eduard & Eduard Brassin If you haven’t yet heard of Eduard’s new kit that has become the top kit in 1:48, where have you been? We’ve already seen a bunch of aftermarket updates from Eduard to add even more detail to an already excellent kit, but here comes another batch with a slightly different focus. Two are resin parts used around the chin intake, while the other two are national markings decals for early and late airframes. Tempest Mk.V Intake Ring (648499) This part was fitted in the chin intake to prevent warm air from the radiator being drawned into the carb intake, as warm air reduces performance of the engine, and that’s a bad thing. This single, fine piece of resin should be easily released from the fine web between it and the casting block, and can then be glued in directly to the kit panel. The lip is superbly thin and will look great in position on the kit. Tempest Mk.V Dust Filter w/eyelid (648500) Another single part set with an open pair of eyelid doors exposing the fine horizontal splitter, and showing how the eyelid works in practice. This was an alternate “tropical” filter that was useful when operating on poorly managed forward airfields as the RAF advanced through Europe in support of the front-line troops. In order to get a proper view of the piece and do it justice, I stitched three views of it together below. Tempest Roundels Early (D48031)& Late (D48032) If you’re a bit clumsy with decals, have a number of Overtrees boxings of the kit, a multi-subject decal sheet with only one set of roundels, or perhaps just have another manufacturer’s kit with no/damaged roundels, you now have a simple choice of early or late roundels? Each set includes four wing roundels - two each for top and bottom, another roundel for each side of the fuselage and two handed fin flashes for the tail fin – always red on the leading edge. The Decals are printed in the Czech Republic in good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Early (D48031) Late (D48032) Review sample courtesy of

French & Belgian pre 1940 Roundels 1:72 Azur FR.ROM All too often we dont get enough national markings on sheets to do what we want, or in some cases they are just incorrect. In a new venture FFROM have decided to print correct French and Belgian roundels for pre 1940s aircraft. French Decals (FR0X01) This sheet gives roundels for Armée de l'Air without the outer yellow band. The circle proportions are 1-2-3 and are in sizes 120, 100, 90, 80 & 75 cms in 1/72. They can be used in other scales with 120 cms becoming 80 cms in 1.48. Belgian Decals (FR0X02) This sheets gives roundels for Aéronautique Militaire. These have no outer blue circle which came in after WWII. There are two type of roundels those with the proportions 1-2-3, and those 1-3-5. The 1-2-3 are in sizes 120, 80, 60 & 50 cms. The 1-3-5 are in sizes 140, 80, 60, 40 and 40 cms. All the decals are printed by Fantasy Printshop so will offer no issues as to quality and their ability to lie down correctly with standard solvents. Conclusion This seems to be a good move by FRROM to provide quality decals correctly researched for this time period. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Ok at the risk of incurring everyones wrath as this has been asked before I am struggling with the maths of this all/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Air_Force_roundels if a roundel is 35 inches does each band reduce by an inch. I am not getting the ratio thing http://www.homepages.mcb.net/bones/Aviation/roundels/RAF_Roundels.htm Type A1 35" Ratio 7:5:3:1 next if I need to go to millimetres - forgive me I grew up with the SI system - 35inch = 35 /48 = 0.729 in mm = 0.729 * 24,5 = 18.51 Camo and Markings Page 24 by Paul Lucas confuses me even further!!!!!!!!!!! How do I interpret these sizes!!!!!! Now I loose the plot and the will to live - whats blue etc

RAF Roundels Paint Mask Set A1 1:32 Raikisan! When the painting is finished and the decals are going on ok, but you really can’t that painted on look you are striving for, the only way forward is to actually paint them on. A new company, new to me at least has begun producing masks for just such a product. The set reviewed here is the RAF roundel Type A1 and provides a selection of roundels in different sizes. Cut out of a green kabuki type tape the there are the following types included:- 35” x 12 49” x 8 56 x 6 The instructions are simple and straight forward. 1. Place the pre-cut square mask that surrounds each roundel into the desired position. Spray a light coat of white, although this can be preceded by a light coat of grey primer. Leave to dry 2. Place all the ring masks into position ensuring they are aligned correctly. 3. Remove the outer ring and spray the yellow and leave to dry. 4. Replace outer ring and remove next ring in. Spray the blue and leave to dry. 5. Replace the blue ring and remove the middle disc. Spray the red colour and leave to dry. 6. Carefully remove all the masks and the completed roundel will be revealed. Conclusion Although they take a little time and require some care in getting aligned you just can’t beat the look of painted on markings, and this set will be very useful for the modeller who wants it just right. Raikisan already have a good selection of roundel masks suitable for all eras available on their website. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

I have a few doubts about the correct markings for this aircraft. The close-up photographs appear to show it had an Aluminium underside, but other examples with close serials appear to have been in the black/white scheme. This is no problem - go with the photos. But should the roundels be the A1/A1/A of the earliest examples or the B/B/nil of period with the black/white undersides? I seem to recall that earlier postings provided codes for this aircraft in BoB service: had I found these it might have been easier to use that scheme but with my choice of underside "Sky"...

A question about wing roundels. Why did some RAAF Sabres have RAF style D-type roundels and some have "roo" roundels? Was this early or late in service? I cant find many pictures at all about this.