This new decal sheet from Hobby
Decal includes dry
transfer stencils and regular decal markings for the 1/48 F/A-18F Black Aces
2008-2009. This decal set gives you the choice of 5 different F/A-18F with
the Black Aces
from 2008-2009. The paint schemes vary from a hi-viz CAG jet to a lo-viz
Commander's jet as well as 4 lo-viz line jets.
Full sized 1/1 aircraft have
their stencils applied using paint stencils. Regular decals are ink
printed on a clear carrier film....which is fine, but they are not as accurate
in look and application as dry transfers.
Dry transfers are reverse printed
on a temporary clear film. When you apply the stencils you lay the
back of the stencils on the painted surface of the model and then burnish (rub)
them down through the clear temporary carrier film. The dry transfer
sticks to the model and dis-engages from the clear carrier film. The
beauty of dry transfers is on models with bare metal finishes. The decals
are beautifully printed on 3 decal sheets. One complete set of stencils is
included on this decal sheet.
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The dry transfers are very
clearly printed and will replicate the actual stencils on the 1/1 F/A-18E
perfectly.
These dry transfer stencils are
very clearly printed and you will be impressed. To apply the dry transfers
you need a rounded tool to rub the clear carrier film to burnish the dry
transfer top the painted surface of the model. Below is the tool sent to
me by Hobby Decal....my
wife recognized this as a Crochet needle....a type of knitting.
The 5 pages of instructions are
clear and include 2 side views of each aircraft as well as generic top and
bottom views to help with stencil placement. You also get 2 pages of
color line drawings showing stencil placement. Plus a cardboard page which
includes 8 steps of instructions with drawings and text instructions. This
page is cardboard to give protect to the product and avoid bending during
shipping. The Hobby
Decal website also has instruction on installing dry transfers. Two
pages of the instruction sheets are actually a large 2 sided glossy color
poster.
The Black Aces is a
popular US Navy Squadron and it is good to see these markings available.
The combination of dry Transfer stencils and decals make this decal set will
worth considering for your next 1/48 F/A-18F. If you want maximum
realism.......then try these dry transfers, you will be impressed....and for a
bare metal finish there really is no substitute for dry transfer stencils.
Hobby Decal has a
variety of dry transfers for a large variety of aircraft.
This decal set is
also available in 1/72 and 1/32 scale.
I would like to
thank Hobby Decal for
providing me with this product sample.
Steve
Bamford
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