1:72 U.S.Insignias Jan 1947 - Current Part I

Armycast 1:72 U.S. Insignias Jan 1947 - Current Part I

A set of die-cut self-adhesive vinyl masks in 1:72 scale for spraying the American aircraft insignia in the form introduced in January 1947 and in use to this day. The insignia is built up by masking and spraying the individual colors in turn directly on the model, so the carrier film of a decal and the risk of silvering on a matte finish are done away with. The maker offers the marking in two companion parts; this is part I.

The insignia

The postwar revision of January 1947 added a horizontal red bar inside the white rectangular bars at the sides of the star. That gave rise to the form of the insignia which the US Air Force and the US Navy use essentially unchanged up to the present, although on combat machines it often appears today in a low-visibility gray rendering. The set therefore suits machines from postwar piston types through Cold War jet fighters to modern equipment, and civilian-operated veterans as well.

Use and tips

The model has to be smoothly sprayed, degreased and fully cured before masking. Lift the masks off the sheet with tweezers, lay them in place and press the edges down thoroughly, so that no paint runs under the film. Work in layers from the lighter color to the darker one and let each of them dry properly; apply the paint thinly, because a heavy coat leaves a ridge at the edge. Lift the mask off shortly after it has dried, pulling sideways at an angle. A gloss base limits paint creeping under better than a rough matte surface and makes sharp edges on the finished marking easier.

Who the set is for

• Builders of postwar and modern American aircraft in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who prefer sprayed markings to decals
• Anyone interested in markings that stay uniform across a long period
• More advanced modelers used to multi-layer masking

The package holds masking film only. The paints and the model are not included in the package.