1:48/1:72 Luftwaffe Fighter Unit Emblems

What the sheet offers

Unit emblems are among the most conspicuous things that set a model of an aircraft apart from another machine of the same type. They were usually carried on the sides of the fuselage below the cockpit or below the windshield and tended to be painted on, which makes them at the same time the motif that is hardest to reproduce by hand. This sheet gathers them in one place and offers them in two scales, 1:48 and 1:72, so it will serve for two common sizes of model. Which particular emblems the sheet carries and in what quantity is given in the manufacturer's listing; use it to check whether they suit the machine you are building.

How to apply the decals

First prepare a gloss surface. On matte paint, air is held under the transparent film and a dull frame forms around the motif, which is called silvering. Cut the motif out as close to the artwork as you can. The method of application differs between sheets depending on the version: before you wet the sheet, check the instructions to see whether it is a self-adhesive version, because a soaked self-adhesive film is ruined for good. With an ordinary wet decal, the motif is soaked for a few seconds, left to rest until it begins to slide on the backing, and then slid onto a dampened spot on the model. Squeeze the water out with a soft cloth from the center toward the edges. On a contoured surface a softener will help, drawing the film down into the engraving. Once dry, give the whole model a coat of varnish so that the edges disappear.

Terms of supply

A decal sheet is supplied. The kit, paints and varnishes are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.