Sunday, February 12, 2012

More about 1/144 Decals

I finished the decaling for those six JU88As that we used during CY6! the other night. (Note that the seventh plane is a search and rescue aircraft, with black undersides; I used F-Toys' original decals on that one.)

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For the six bombers I used 1/144 Junkers JU88A decals for Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss" (KG 51; "Battle Wing 51"). I obtained them from eBay seller hurricane2plane. Included were enough decals for all twelve aircraft in KG 51.

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The decals conformed well to fuselage and panel lines, using the MicroScale system.

Dallas and I had discussed the Supermarine Spitfire models used. They are all Bandai gashapon kits. The inadequate Bandai propellers and spinners were replaced with Rotol propeller/spinner combos from Sweet Hurricane I model kits (there are extra props supplied in those kits). The Spitfires were partially repainted using Testors Acryl paints, and detailed and slightly weathered with washes of oil paint.

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The RAF squadron letters, using the codes for 64 Squadron, were on a decal sheet obtained from eBay seller mehusla, mentioned by KevinH in recent posts. Again, the decals responded well to decal setting and solvent solutions.

All my 1/144 aircraft for CY6! are affixed to their flying stands using rare earth magnets. These flat magnets do not allow yaw or pitch, unless youalso used a ball magnet on the stand post. However, the magnets give a very strong bond, which is why I prefer them to some other solutions, such as the common round-pin-and-rubber-tubing.

I want to get another three JU88s. I also have enough Bandai Spitfires and decals to complete the rest of 64 Squadron.

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