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Handley Page Halifax B.II, B.II Series 1A & B.II Series 1A Special

Xtradecal, 1/72 scale

 

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Xtradecals Item No. X72146 - Handley Page Halifax B.II, B.II Series 1A & B.II Series 1A Special

Scale:

1/72

Contents & Media

Decals for 7 subjects with colour-printed painting & markings guide.

Price:

£6.66 plus shipping available online from Hannants

Review Type:

First Look

Advantages:

Excellent production quality.

Disadvantages:

There’s no OOB Halifax kit deserving of them.

Conclusions:

Excellent production quality,  good instructions


Reviewed by Mark Davies


HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

I n t r o d u c t i o n

 

It is no surprise that new decal releases often follow hard on the heels of eagerly awaited new kit releases. What is surprising these days is to find such a newly released kit being unworthy of the aftermarket offerings trailing in its wake. Regrettably I fell that this is the case with Revell’s new Merlin-engined Halifax kit, which whilst beautifully engineered has incredible and horrendous errors to its engines and undercarriage to mention just its major flaws. We live in hope of an aftermarket correction set in due course (rather than just Freightdog’s “improvement” parts, commendable though their efforts may be).

But there’s still scratch-built corrections, kit-bashing or just improving Matchbox’s Halifax left as options to wear the new decals by Xtradecal reviewed here, or indeed an OOB build of the Revell kit if you can live with its shape issues. So enough about Revell’s incredible blundering, and onto the subject at hand...

 

 

F i r s t L o o k

 

This latest release covers six UK-based aircraft, of which three belonged to RCAF squadrons, plus one RAAF squadron aircraft serving in the Western Desert.

 

 

The subjects covered are:

  • B.II Series 1A: JD127/DY-U of 102 Sqn, RAF Pocklington, August 1943.

  • B.II Series 1: R9441/TL-S of 35 Sqn, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, circa mid-1942 (This aircraft replaced the previous TL-S which is today at the RAF Museum Hendon following its recovery from a Norwegian lake)

  • B.II: JB859/VR-H of 419(RCAF) Sqn, RAF Middleton-St-George, flown by same pilot as the aircraft detailed immediately below.

  • B.II: JD158/VR-H of 419(RCAF) Sqn, RAF Middleton-St-George, mid 1943 (lost on Peenemunde raid of 17/18 August 1943).

  • B.II Series 1 Special: JD114/VR-O of 419(RCAF) Sqn, RAF Middleton-St-George, mid 1943.

  • B.II Series 1 Special: JB910/ZA-J of 10 Sqn RAF Leeming, circa late-1943

  • B.II Series 1:  W7671/W of 462 Sqn RAAF Western Desert, mid-1943 (Ex-76 Sqn Det)

The decals are supplied in Xtradecal’s usual A5 window envelope. The instructions are nicely produced in colour and clearly indicate markings placement. A brief note regarding the aircraft and its station location is given for each subject, as is the reference the information was derived from (well done Xtradecal). Paint references use ANA codes and paint names, but are cross-referenced to RAF paint names and FS 595B codes. Not surprisingly a list of Xtracolour and Xtracrylix paint codes is also provided for the colours required.

 

 

The decals look to be superbly printed and with excellent colour density. Xtradecal have provided sufficient national insignia to complete two aircraft, but of course the kits being built should also have roundel decals as well.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is a superbly produced set of decals providing for some interesting Halifax B.II options, and it’s nice to have several with nose art. The Middle Stone and Dark Earth camouflage of the Western Desert-based RAAF machine provides for some real variety as well.

Recommended.

Thanks to Hannants for this sample.

 

Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 5 March, 2012
Last updated 5 March, 2012

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