1:48 MiG-29

The real subject

The MiG-29 is a twin-engined fighter of Soviet design, which from the mid-1980s entered service with a number of countries in Eastern Europe and beyond. That is exactly why it is one of the types where modelers care about decals more than about anything else: the same airframe carried very different national insignia, numbers and lettering in different countries, so the choice of sheet decides the final look of the model.

What the sheet offers

This is a separate decal sheet for 1:48 scale. Which particular machines are covered on it, and whether it also includes technical lettering, is given on the box and in the enclosed instructions; use that to check in advance that the sheet suits the version you are building.

How to apply the decals

Ordinary sheets are applied by the wet method. Before you wet the sheet, though, check in the instructions whether it is a self-adhesive version: a self-adhesive film that has been wetted is ruined for good, whereas a wet decal that has not been wetted can still be wetted later. The wet method goes like this: go over the surface with a gloss clear coat, cut the motif out with a small margin, dip it in lukewarm water for a few seconds and let it rest until it starts to slide on the paper. Slide it into place, blot the excess water away and use a decal softener to settle it into the panel lines. Once it has dried, seal the whole surface with a matte or satin clear coat, depending on the look the model is meant to have.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to fill out a kit with markings other than those it carried in the box. The kit, paints, clear coats and decal softener are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.