1:32 Pine Tree - Faded

What the sheet is for

Wood grain is one of the hardest surfaces to paint on a model. Hand graining with a brush breaks up into disjointed strokes, and over large areas it is almost impossible to keep a single direction. A printed sheet gets around that problem: the pattern is printed in one piece, so it runs continuously across the whole part. It comes into its own on aircraft of older construction with a wooden or plywood airframe, on propellers, on cockpit floors and side panels and on small equipment and crates.

The shade and the scale

The sheet carries pine wood grain in a faded rendering, that is in a lighter and less saturated tone than freshly varnished wood. It suits everywhere the surface is meant to look sunlit and well used. The pattern is printed for 1:32 scale, so the density of the graining matches the size of the parts in that scale. How many sheets the package holds and how large they are is stated in the enclosed instructions.

How to apply the sheet

It is a wet transfer. Spray the base with a light color beforehand and go over it with gloss varnish, because it is the base coat that shines through and helps determine the final tone. Cut a piece slightly larger than the area to be covered, dip it in lukewarm water for a few seconds and let it rest on the paper until the film slides freely. Only then slide it onto the part, watching the direction of the graining, which should run along the part. Blot the excess water with a cloth from the center to the edges and use a decal softener to draw the film into the engraved lines and transitions.

• a decal sheet with pine wood grain for 1:32 scale
• a faded, less saturated shade
• a wet transfer, applied over a light gloss base
• the extent of the sheet and the number of sheets are stated in the manufacturer's instructions

Terms of supply

A decal sheet is supplied. The model, paints, varnish and decal softener are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.