1:48 McDonnell F-15DJ Eagle JASDF Aggressor Part 2

Decals 1:48 McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, Japanese aggressors, part 2 (Two Bobs)

The second decal sheet in 1:48 scale from the range the maker Two Bobs devoted to Japanese training Eagles in the role of an opponent. The product holds no plastic parts — it is purely a set of decals for a model built from a separately sold kit. Both sheets of the range can be used independently.

The real subject

The two-seat Eagle came about as the combat-capable training version of the heavy air superiority fighter, and the Japanese variant kept its full combat usability. Machines assigned to the training aggressor unit went through a change of finish: they received patterns meant to recall the equipment of a possible opponent in practice combat, and they tend to be completed by large fuselage numbers that make recognition in the air easier. The finishes changed over the years, so individual machines of the same unit differ conspicuously from one another. For the modeler that means that even two models of the same type side by side read quite differently.

Application tips

Soak the decals in lukewarm, not hot water, and watch the time. Most sheets release in five to fifteen seconds; if you leave a motif in the water for long, the adhesive washes out of it and it will no longer hold on the model. A practical procedure is to soak the decal, lay it on a paper tissue and let it finish releasing out of the water — you then move it to the model together with the backing and slide it off lightly with a brush. Lay the individual motifs down one at a time and always blot the water away between them, or neighboring pieces will shift uncontrollably. Once everything has dried, the final clear coat comes, which visually suppresses the edges of the film.

Who the sheet is for

• modelers who already own the first sheet of this range
• builders of Japanese aviation subjects in 1:48 scale
• those interested in prominent training camouflage
• modelers building several machines of one type with different finishes

This is a standalone decal sheet. The kit, paints, clear coats and decal softener are not included in the package.