1:72 North-American RB-45 Tornado

1:72 North American RB-45 Tornado decal sheet (Caracal Models)

A sheet of waterslide decals in 1:72 scale from Caracal Models, aimed at the reconnaissance RB-45 version. It is a separate product from the sheet for the bomber B-45 and has its own content, so the two do not overlap. An aircraft model is not included in the package, and neither are paints or clear coats. The specific machines depicted and the number of schemes are given on the packaging of the sheet and in the enclosed instructions.

The real subject

The RB-45 is the reconnaissance conversion of the four-engine B-45 Tornado jet. Instead of the glazed forward position, the nose carried camera equipment, and further camera stations and photoflash gear for night photography were added inside the fuselage. Later machines were fitted with an in-flight refueling receptacle and carried tip tanks, which greatly increased their range. The type served in the first half of the 1950s and was one of the first American long-range jet reconnaissance aircraft. With the arrival of swept-wing designs it was replaced fairly quickly.

Application tips

Sheets for reconnaissance machines are full of tiny lettering and technical stencils, and that is exactly where patience pays off most. Work with flat-tipped tweezers without teeth so that you do not cut through the film, and carry small pieces onto the model while they are still on a scrap of backing paper. Lay the soaked but not yet released decal in place, hold the paper down and slide the decal off it with a damp brush. Fine-tune the exact position while there is still water under the film; once it starts to dry, stop moving it.

Who the sheet is for

• Builders of reconnaissance aircraft in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers interested in the early jet era.
• Those building the B-45 and the RB-45 side by side.
• More experienced builders used to working with tiny decals.

The package contains only the decal sheet. The kit, paints and glue are not included.