The Away Team Pt 1 - 3 & 450 Squadrons RAAF and The Away Team Pt 3 – 451 Squadron RAAF - 1:72 Red Roo Models

[Paul A H]

The Away Team Pt 1 - 3 & 450 Squadrons RAAF and

The Away Team Pt 3 451 Squadron RAAF

1:72 Red Roo Models

Red Roo Models are an Australian producer of books, decals and resin accessories and conversion parts covering, funnily enough, Australian military subjects. We have recently received a couple of new decal sheets covering RAAF subjects from World War II.

The Away Team Pt 1 - 3 & 450 Squadrons RAAF

1:72 Red Roo Models

This sheet features no fewer than six RAAF Mustang Mk. IIIs (P-51Cs) which saw service in Italy during the final months of the war. The aircraft depicted are:

• KH631 (CV-V) Mustang Mk. III, 3 Squadron, RAAF, Italy early 1945;
• FB244 (CV-V) Mustang Mk. III, 3 Squadron RAAF, Cervia, Italy, early 1945;
• FB244 (OK-F) Mustang Mk. III, 450 Squadron RAAF, Lavariano, Italy, April 1945 (after the aircraft was transferred from 3 Squadron;
• KH616 (CV-<>) Mustang Mk. III, 3 Squadron RAAF, Fano, Italy, December 1944;
• FB128 (CV-<>) Mustang Mk III, 3 Squadron RAAF, Lavariano, Italy, April 1945; and
• FX880 (OK) Mustang Mk III, 450 Squadron RAAF, Lavariano, Italy, April 1945.

The decals are accompanied by full colour instructions which have been laser printed on A4 paper. A short history of each aircraft is provided, along with painting instructions in a mixture of BS and FS colours as appropriate. The decals look nicely printed and, importantly, there are sufficient national markings for four complete aircraft, meaning you won't face a choice between wasting half of the sheet or buying more national markings.

The Away Team Pt 3 - 451 Squadron RAAF

1:72 Red Roo Models

This sheet provides a variety of schemes applied to the aircraft of No. 451 Squadron, RAAF, in the UK, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations and Europe between 1943 and 1945. Markings for five aircraft are provided on the sheet:

• EE797 (BQ-Y) Spitfire Mk. Vc, El Daba, Eqypt, October December 1943. This aircraft is finished in Dark Earth and Dark Green camouflage over Azure Blue undersides;
• MA466 (BQ-S) Spitfire Mk. IXc, Corsica, France, May 1944. This aircraft is finished in Medium Sea Grey over PRU Blue;
• MH771 (BQ-M) Spitfire Mk. IXc, Corsica, France, July 1944. This aircraft is finished in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey;
• TB592 (NI-V) Spitfire Mk. XVIe, Matlaske, UK, March 1945. This aircraft is finished in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey; and
• NH895 (NI-K) Spitfire Mk. XIVe, Berlin, Germany, October 1945. This aircraft is finished in Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey; and

As above, full colour instructions and a short history of each aircraft are provided, along with painting instructions using BS numbers.

Conclusion

These two sets provide everything you could ask for in a decal sheet. The included schemes are varied, the instructions are clear and colourful, the historical notes are interesting and informative and, most importantly, the decals are nicely printed. If the subject matter interests you, then these can be highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Ed Russell]

If you are in the UK and Europe you have an alternative to direct purchase from our web site for items like this.

The full range of Red Roo products is available from Model Craft

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234925676-red-roo-models-new-uk-distributor/?p=1115895