Hobby Decal

1/48 F/A-18E Tophatters 2008-2009 markings

Product # AL48010V1 for $22.00

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Oct 10 2012

 

 

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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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford