1:72 Mil Mi-24V around the World

Mil Mi-24V around the World 1:72, an Eduard decal sheet

This is not a kit or a resin accessory but a stand-alone decal sheet. The line subtitled around the World is built on the idea of presenting one type in the markings of various user countries, so that one ordinary kit turns into a machine of a kind not usually seen in a modeling display case. The sheet is published by the Czech firm Eduard of Obrnice near Most. An overview of the schemes and the extent of the stencils are given in the manufacturer's data sheet.

The real subject

The Mi-24V is a combat helicopter of Soviet design from the Mi-24 family, in series production from the 1970s. It combines combat equipment with a cargo compartment, which among the helicopters of its day was an unusual concept. The V version was among the most widespread and entered the inventories of many countries across Europe, Asia and Africa. It was exactly that wide export that gave rise to the great variety of camouflage schemes and national insignia this sheet is aimed at.

Building and painting tips

The decals are applied over a smooth gloss ground, as on flat paint a white haze would be left under the film. Trim the sheet closely around the motif, so that as little carrier film as possible is left. Leave them in the water only a few seconds and move them into place off the paper, not with tweezers by the film. In place a softener helps, thanks to which a decal settles into the engraved lines and onto the curved surfaces of the canopies and the engine covers. Once dry, spray the surface with a flat clear coat, which hides the edges of the film completely. With an older sheet, try one small motif to see whether the film cracks.

Who the sheet is for

• Builders of combat helicopters in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who want unusual national markings instead of the schemes from the box
• Collectors who build several examples of the same type in different forms
• Those who have a stock of kits and are looking for a way to tell them apart

This is a decal sheet, not a model. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.