1/72 AZmodel Spitfire Mk.9e

Gallery Article by Yoav Efrati on May 5 2014

Israel Independence Day

 

 

Israeli Spitfires – 66th anniversary

     Israel's first Spitfire ד-130 took to the air on July 23, 1948. The test flight conducted by former WWII South African Air Force Spitfire pilot, the late Boris Senior, initiated Israel's love affair with the Spitfire which began 66 year ago. Most of Israel's Spitfires were retired from service prior to the October 1956 Suez War, some ending up as kid's toys in Kibbutz playgrounds and others in airworthy condition over the skies of Europe. One Spitfire, known as "Ezer's Black Spitfire" was retained in Israel, thrilling on lookers during pilot's acceptance ceremonies and holiday IAF museum openings.

     Last year's release of new tooled 1/72 Spitfire Mk.9e kits by AZmodels and Sword models of the Czech Republic, inspired me to build eight Israeli Spitfires that saw service between 1948 and 1956. The text below provides colors notes used to paint my Israeli Spitfires.

 

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no.79 – early 50s 
     AZmodel 1/72 scale Spitfire no.70 of the Flying Tigers OTU, in early 1950's overall color is "High Speed Silver". The squadron insignia is found on the left side of the nose. 

     The blue used for the spinner, rudder stripes and stars of David is slightly lighter than RAL5008 and also slightly lighter than f.s.25045, Humbrol 15 Midnight Blue is a close color match.

Yoav Efrati

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Photos and text © by Yoav Efrati