This decal sheet from Hobby
Decal includes dry
transfer stencils and regular decal markings for the 1/48 F/A-18E
Tophatters 2008-2009. This decal set gives you the choice of 5
different F/A-18E with the Tophatters from 2008-2009. The paint
schemes vary from a hi-viz CAG jet to a hi-viz Commander's jet as well as 3 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 sheet.
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 Tophatters is
one of the better known US Navy Squadrons and it is a treat 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-18E. 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 1/32 and 1/72 scale.
I would like to
thank Hobby Decal for
providing me with this review sample.
Steve
Bamford
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