Review – Iliad Design 1/48 “Silver Spitfires” (Set 48007a)

Iliad Design continues its reputation for releasing interesting, well-researched subjects with “Silver Spitfires”, a 1/48 decal sheet covering five natural-metal or aluminium-painted Spitfires from late WWII through early post-war service. These schemes are far from the usual RAF Day Fighter schemes and introduce a great mix of personal markings, theatre variations, and colourful trim.

Although labelled “Silver Spitfires,” the set includes a mix of bare-metal aircraft and several that were actually painted aluminium, which is especially helpful to modellers who want the look of a metal Spitfire without the stress of achieving a flawless natural-metal finish.

This is a reprint of an earlier Iliad sheet, maintaining the same excellent subject selection and instruction quality.

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Subject Coverage

The sheet provides markings for five Spitfires:

• Spitfire LF IXc “UF•Q” (MJ250) – No. 601 Sqn, Italy, 1943. Natural metal fuselage with anti-glare Dark Green/Ocean Grey remnant on the nose. Large squadron emblem on the fin.

• Spitfire IXc “EP•A” – Attributed to LCol E.P. Allen, XIX TAC, St-Dizier, France, October 1944. Overall natural metal with Dark Green canopy frame and tail surfaces still in camouflage.

• Spitfire Vc “SH•Z” (A58-248) – No. 85 Squadron RAAF, Pearce, Western Australia, Feb 1945. Natural metal with white spinner and black anti-glare panel; squadron leader’s pennant on fuselage.

• Spitfire Mk VIII “MX” – 307th FS “Hack,” 1944. Painted aluminium finish with red & yellow wingtip stripes and toned-down grey US markings.

• Spitfire LF XVIe “FD•AA” (TE203) – No. 1 (Pilots) Refresher Flying Unit, 1950. Painted aluminium, bright post-war RAF roundels, yellow fuselage band; spinner likely yellow rather than red based on photos.

This is a clever lineup that covers a wide range of units, theatres, markings styles, and national insignia variations—including RAF, RAAF, and US stars.

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Decal Quality

Typical of Iliad, the sheet is:

• Crisply printed with sharp edges on all lettering.

• Perfectly in register, even on the narrow red/white/blue fin stripes of the Mk XVI.

• Dense in colour, ensuring strong visibility over silver finishes.

• Thin carrier film, ideal for blending smoothly into a high-gloss metallic surface.

National markings are sharply rendered, with both Type B and Type C RAF roundels provided, as well as US star-and-bar variations including toned-down grey versions for the 307th FS “hack.”

The codes—UF, SH-Z, EP-A, MX, FD-AA—are printed cleanly in their correct styles, with no fuzzy edges or inconsistent thickness.

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Instructions & Research

Iliad’s instructions are one of the strongest selling points:

• Full-colour profiles and top views show exact placement of all markings.

• Useful notes indicate anti-glare panel colours, spinner colours, and oddities like the camouflaged rudder on EP•A or the unusual anti-glare shape on MX.

• The sheet clearly distinguishes between painted aluminium and natural metal, which matters for weathering.

• Historical context is provided for each aircraft—unit, location, and year.

Especially appreciated are the notes addressing common modelling uncertainties—such as photographic evidence suggesting the spinner of TE203 was likely yellow, not red.

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Highlights

• Variety of finishes: Both natural metal and painted aluminium options are included—great for modellers who want the metal look without committing to a full NMF.

• Striking markings: The Italian-theatre 601 Sqn emblem, RAAF leader’s pennant, and the colourful wing-tip stripes of MX make for eye-catching builds.

• Accurate research ensures confidence in the authenticity of each scheme.

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Areas for Improvement

While excellent overall, a few refinements could make the set even stronger:

• Paint references: No FS, BS, or commercial paint matches are provided for anti-glare panels or camouflage remnants.

• Stencil data: Only major markings are included; some modellers may prefer a full stencil suite.

• Placement close-ups: A few markings—such as the 601 Sqn emblem and some of the smaller US insignia—could benefit from zoomed-in placement diagrams.

These are minor points, common to many aftermarket sheets.

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Conclusion

Iliad Design’s Silver Spitfires is a beautifully executed and thoughtfully researched decal set offering five distinctive schemes that stand apart from standard RAF camouflage subjects. With a mix of historically interesting aircraft and visually appealing markings, this sheet offers something for Spitfire modellers of all tastes.

Verdict:
Highly recommended—a superb, colourful set that lets you build metal Spitfires without fear of the perfect NMF, thanks to several painted-aluminium subjects.

You can purchase these decals directly from Iliad Design here.

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