This new decal
sheet from Spada
Decals focuses on the Sopwith Camel and
it includes
markings for 3 different 1/32 Sopwith
Camels in service with
No 3 Naval Sqdn. & 112 Sqdn. in 1917 and 1918 during WW1. One of the
planes was flown by a Canadian. This sheet is also available in 1/72, 1/48
and 1/24.
You get a
colourful and attractive variety of aircraft in the wood and big markings from
this time period. You can pay €13 (Euros) for this decal sheet and get
addition wood grain decals which would probably be a big help finishing off the
wood grain finish on the fuselages on these aircraft. These decals are
printed on 2 sheets of decal film much like decals printed on an ALPS printer,
so you will need to cut each decal from the backing paper with the use of sharp
X-acto knife. The decals don't seem to be delicate as some of the decal
from other manufactures can be. More about using these decals can be found
further down in this review.
The planes
included on this decal sheet are the following:
-
Sopwith Camel B64010F No. 3 Naval
Squadron RNAS Bray Dunes Aerodrome at the beginning of 1918. This
aircraft was flown by Canadian Lloyd S. Breadner. On the top side of
the rear fuselage is a green maple leaf with the Kings Crown in glorious
full colour. Markings include a King of Diamonds playing card and a
red engine cowling and red/white/blue tail. This aircraft has wood
grain on the fuselage around the cockpit, so the wood grain decals in the
Combo decal set for an extra €4
(Euros) would be a big advantage.
-
Sopwith F.1 Camel with 112 Squadron, Royal Air Force,
Throwley, Kent in August 1918. Markings include a white Swastika on the
tail along with red/white/blue stripes on the rudder.
-
Sopwith Camel B3781 flown by FSL W P Ellwood, No 3
Naval Squadron in August of 1917. Markings include a big red heart on
the side of the fuselage and red/white/blue stripes on the rudder.
This aircraft has wood grain on the fuselage around the cockpit, so the wood
grain decals in the Combo decal set for an extra €4
(Euros) would be a big advantage.
Spada
Decals also has wood grain decals to assist you in building your WW1
fighter.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The instructions are in
English and do include info about the markings and paint schemes on each
particular aircraft. You get one side profile of each aircraft with top
and bottom wing views of all 3 aircraft. The decals are nice quality and printed on
2 decal sheets. This decal sheet will permit you to make 1 of the 4 different aircraft featured on this decal sheet.
Here's some instructions from the
Spada
Decals website
regarding using and installing their decals.
How to use "Laser
Line" decals :
-
1- Using a new scalpel
blade, cut as closely as possible around the motives chosen, exercising only
a small pressure in order to cut the decal film but not the paper
underneath. This can be done quite safely, with no danger to slip away, provided you stay calm and contentrated.
-
2- Separate the motive and
its paper background from the decal sheet, taking care not to damage the
other motives.
-
3- Put the decal on water,
with the motive on the upper side. It is not necessary to cover it with
water.
-
4- Let the paper soak water
for some 20 seconds or the time necessary according to the water used (tepid water). With some practice, this can be determined quite accurately.
-
5- Remove the decal from
water and delicately take it away from its paper background, preferably with tweezers.
-
6- Softly put the decal on
your model after the latter's surface has been carefully prepared, put it in
the correct place and slightly press it with a soft cloth or absorbing
paper.
A few useful details :
-
1- test your softening
liquid before using it. We have tested our decals with several brands that
are
available on the market but we haven't tried every one of them. In theory,
it is not necessary to varnish decals before they are used.
-
2- It is possible for you
to enhance the sticking power of a decal using a specific product (e.g. Blue Microscale). It is also possible for you to dilute white glue into water and
to put a drop of it under the decal or on the plastic part before the decal
is set on your model.
The Sopwith Camel was the plane
that most people think of when they thing of British planes that flew during the
Great War. This sheet is an eye opener for me as I didn't realise the
British had such colourful markings on their aircraft during WW1.
The crispness of the printing
of these decals will please even the most discriminating modeller.
Steve
I would like to
thank Spada
Decals for
providing me with this review sample.
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