Ra'anan Weiss of IsraDecal has pushed the
plastic model decal envelope to new bounds with his latest release
dedicated to the two seat block 52 F-16D airframes used by the
Israel Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. In the
Israeli Air Force this latest version of the small intake, Pratt and
Whitney F100-229 powered F-16D is known as the F-16I Sufa, which means
"Storm" in Hebrew. The Sufa decal package is unique in offering
the modeler a CD containing three sub folders entitled:
"Instructions", "Walk Around" and
"Wallpaper".
The instructions folder is a PDF file that
should be opened with Adobe Acrobat version 7.0 for optimal viewing. The
instructions file contains 5 pages of color painting and decal application
instructions. Right and Left side profile views are shown of two Negev
squadron aircraft, no.421 with current Lebanon War bird motif and pre war
non bird modify. Two Bat squadron airplanes are shown and two Orange tail
squadron aircraft are shown, in current Lebanon War markings. Although
only six IAF Sufa aircraft are shown, numeral decals are provided to build
any Sufa the modeler may wish. In addition to the IAF Sufa, a single
Republic of Singapore Air Force block 52 F-16D is offered, number 672 of
the 145 squadron.
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A second folder entitled Walk Around, contains
100 jpg images sized 800 X 600 pixles that are equally clear when viewed
on a lap top computer screen or alternately printed on letter sized
printed paper. These images will aid the modeler in locating, painting and
decaling Sufa resin conversion set soon to be reissued by IsraCast. The
reissued Sufa conversion set will replace their previously issued set
48001 which is no longer in production. , as well as painting the Sufa's
various lumps and bumps and applying the decals provided in this sheet.
The icing
on the cake is the third folder entitled Wallpaper in which two additional
files are enclosed with 19 images of IAF Sufa aircraft in current markings
to be used as wallpaper or screen saver photos when placed in "My
Pictures" file when Windows XP is used. The Wallpaper photo files are
provided in two formats; 800 X 600 pixles and 1024 X 768 which are
the most common screen sizes used.
The decal sheet itself is printed by Cartograph
and retains the exceptionally high printing standards we have become
accustomed to by IsraDecal. The number of printed decals is too numerous
to be counted, with multiple stencil decals abound enabling the modeler to
build one IAF Sufa and one RSAF block 52 F-16D aircraft.
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The IAF's latest Sufa squadron, the Orange Tail
squadron, has an f.s.22544 orange curved arrow applied from atop the
vertical fin to the lower leading edge of the vertical fin. Since a flat
pattern decal can not match the contours of the vertical fin upper aft
end, a self adhesive paper masking pattern is provided. To prevent
possible lifting of the fin's base layers, it is advised to apply a coat
of Future Klear prior to applying this paper mask.
Yoav
Click
on images below to see larger images |
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