1:72 Ba-20

BA-20 1:72 - a Colibri Decals decal sheet

A decal set in 1:72 scale intended for a model of the BA-20 light armored car. It is not a kit and not a finished model: in the package is a decal sheet with which you mark a model that has already been built and painted. Colibri Decals concentrates on the markings of equipment from the period of the Second World War and prints its sheets with a fine image and a thin carrier film, which is essential in the small 1:72 scale.

The real subject

The BA-20 was a light armored car built on the chassis of the GAZ-M1 passenger car. It entered service in the second half of the 1930s and served above all for reconnaissance, liaison and escort duties. The armament consisted of one machine gun in a rotating turret, and the armor was thin and protected only against small arms rounds. A rail variant with interchangeable wheels for running on rails also arose.

Application tips

What decides is a gloss base. On matte paint a decal does not bear down over its whole area and a microscopic layer of air is left under the carrier film, which shows outwardly as a light silvery edge around the printing. Before applying, therefore, spray the built model with a clear gloss varnish and let it cure thoroughly, not merely dry to the touch. Varnish thinly and in several passes, so that the fine engraving and riveting are not lost on a small model. Only onto a smooth gloss surface should the decal be laid.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building Soviet armored equipment in 1:72 scale
• Those who want to mark a model more accurately than with the decals from the box
• Builders of dioramas where several vehicles have to be told apart
• Modelers with basic experience of applying decals

This is a decal sheet in its own right. The model, paints, varnish and softener are not included in the package.