D-Day 70th anniversary special edition: Supermarine Seafire Mk.III „D-Day Fleet Eyes“ 1/48

June 10, 2014

Seafire Mk.III was the best naval fighter of British design to enter the WW 2. Even thought the fragile undercarriage was a slight handicap of this aircraft in the air it was formidable opponent. German, Italian and even at the end of the War the Japanese pilots could see it for themselves. Seafires were deployed not only as fighters. Seafires of the No.3 Naval Fighter Wing were based at the South England airfields and flew sorties to the Normandy beaches. The sorties were flown in pairs and directed the invasion fleet’s battleship fire. It was a dangerous work since the low flying machines were endangered by both AA fire and enemy fighters.

The kit offers two machines from No.3 Naval Fighter Wing with the invasion stripes applied. The first one is particularly interesting since when its tail planes were replaced they were painted by base grey-green colour. Two pilots were successful in aerial combat with enemy fighters. In the contrary, the second machine illustrate how dangerous was the battleship fire control mission. This machine was shot up and forced to emergency land in the enemy territory on the second day. The pilot successfully crossed the frontline and returned to its unit.

The kit contains five sprues with grey plastic parts, injected canopy, photo-etched parts and self adhesive masks.