1:48 A-7E US NAVAL Air Test Center ” The final Countdown” decal sheet

1:48 A-7E US Naval Air Test Center, HAD models Decals

A printed decal sheet in 1:48 scale from HAD models, placed in the Final Countdown collection. It serves to give a finished model of the A-7E carrier-based attack aircraft the markings of machines of the US Naval Air Test Center. It is not a kit and not a conversion set: the model, the glue and the paints are obtained separately.

The real subject

The LTV A-7E Corsair II is a single-seat subsonic carrier-based attack aircraft with a single jet engine, which replaced the older attack types in US Navy service. The E version received a more powerful engine and a 20 mm rotary cannon. Test machines differed from those in the line units by their conspicuous, highly readable markings, because they had to be distinguishable during measuring and evaluation sorties. A model of the A-7E in a test finish therefore looks quite different in a display case from the usual carrier camouflages.

How to apply the decals

• Seal the area where a decal is to go with a gloss varnish first; a matte surface is the main cause of silvering.
• Soak the decal briefly in warm water and let it release from its backing on a paper towel.
• Across panel lines and leading edges a softener helps; apply it drop by drop and do not shift the decal afterward.
• Once dry, wipe the remains of the adhesive off with a damp cloth and unify the surface with a final varnish.

Who the set is for

For modelers who build the A-7E in 1:48 scale and want to build a model outside the usual combat schemes. The larger scale keeps even the small technical lettering readable, so the set suits models built out in detail as well.

This is a stand-alone decal sheet. The kit, paints and varnishes are not included in the package.