Review: Iliad Design 1/48 Fighters of Operation Rutter Decals

Iliad Design 1/48 Fighters of Operation Rutter Decals

History:

Operation Rutter was a British plan developed in 1942 during World War II for an amphibious assault on the German-occupied French port of Dieppe. The operation aimed to test German defenses, gather intelligence, and demonstrate Allied capability to launch large-scale raids across the English Channel. It involved Canadian, British, and smaller Allied forces.

Initially scheduled for July 1942, Operation Rutter was canceled due to poor weather and concerns over compromised secrecy. The plan was later revised and executed in August as Operation Jubilee, which ended in heavy Allied casualties and failure to achieve most objectives.

The failure of Rutter and Jubilee provided the Allies with critical lessons in amphibious warfare, especially in terms of planning, coordination, and the necessity of strong preliminary bombardment. These lessons contributed directly to the planning and eventual success of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944. Despite its outcome, Operation Rutter marked a pivotal moment in Allied strategy development.

Kits:

There are a multitude of 1/48 kits to choose from for a Spitfire Mk VB and a Hurrican Mk II.

Decal Subjects:

Spitfire Mk. Vb, BM324, “Tomana”, 340 Sqn. Jul 1942
Spitfire Mk. Vb, AR373, “Lulanguru”, 350 (Belgian) Sqn, Jul 1942.
Spitfire Mk. Vb, AA853, 302 Sqn, Jul 1942.
Hurricane Mk. II, 174 Sqn, “Mauritius”, Jul 1942

Decal Instructions:

This decal sheet covers 4 1/48th aircraft from Operation Rutter. There is a brief description of exactly what Operation Rutter was, which is handy because it wasn’t an operation I was familiar with, so I had to look up what it was in order to write the previous paragraph.

The instructions themselves are up to Iliad Design’s usual high standards. There’s lots of details about individual variations for each aircraft, such as the Hurricane having two different types of letter P on each side. There’s detailed instructions on how exactly to paint the white stripes and what size tape to use to easily paint them. There’s also a template of a piece of tape that you’ll need if you’re going to do one of the Spitfires that has artwork over the stripes.

The Decals:

The decal sheet measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches (140 x 210 mm). The backing film is minimal, visible only where necessary for text alignment. The colors are vibrant and precisely aligned.

Conclusion:

This decal sheet offers decals for four aircraft with unique painting schemes. I don’t recall ever seeing a completed kit of an aircraft from Operation Rutter. It should make for an eye-catching final result.

You can purchase these decals directly from Iliad Design here.

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