raafbloke

G'day All, Just yesterday I got info on the, apparently, 'solid in-store' dates for the long awaited Airfix 1/24 Mk IX Spitfire. A mate of mine who writes on aviation and modelling topics in the UK sent me a message about the media and retailers' day at Airfix H.Q. last week. The main presentations were regarding their 1/48 Mk I Avro Anson and, more to the point of this thread; their 1/24 Mk IX Spitfire. My mate told me that Airfix had "quietly predicted" that stocks of both kits will be in UK stores from this week or the week after. I'm an Aussie modeller (and ex-RAAF). I've had both kits on Pre-Order since April and May, respectively, so, the next bit of info was good news for me. Hobby shops in the Antipodes will, I'm told, have the Ansons in-store by first week in December '22 and the big Spits will be in-store 2nd or 3rd week in November '22. I then made a few calls to kit retailers down here who are good modelling mates; two of them confirmed those in-store dates, both saying that was the message they just received from Airfix (both asked how the heck did I know). Now, I've got a favour to ask you good people about where I can find 1/24 RAAF Spitfire decal sheets for Aussie squadrons that flew Mk IXs in the Pacific towards the end of WW2. I'd like to do a tribute build to a distant relative who flew them for the RAAF. I'm still trying to pin down which squadron he was with but that's not important at the moment. If anybody here can let me know where I can buy Aussie 1/24 Mk IX Spit decals, I'd be truly grateful. Essentially, all I need are the 'friendly fire' Aussie, blue and white roundels and the maroon/white/blue tail fin flashes. I can create the squadron letters from some stickers I have. The stencilling that comes with the kit will do me; but then, without a full decal sheet I can't do the other small markings that are unique to the RAAF. Anyway, I'll leave that with you. I hope the Airfix info turns out to be as accurate as I was assured it was. Cheers, and all the best. raafbloke Bill Halliwell PO Box 162 Lindisfarne Tasmania Australia