1:32 F-5F-2 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (KittyHawk)

The real subject

The F-5F is the two-seat version of the light supersonic Tiger II fighter. The second seat called for lengthening the front part of the fuselage, so the cockpit is longer than on the single-seat version, and with the canopy open a great deal of it is visible on a model. That is exactly why it pays to give the interior attention on this type.

What the set contains

Colored printed elements of the cockpit interior in 1:32 scale, carried on decal paper. The elements are not flat printing: they have a real thickness and a raised relief, so once stuck down the instrument panel, the side consoles, the controls and the belts look as though they have depth, not merely as though they were painted. By its name the set is prepared for the kit of the KittyHawk brand.

How the elements are applied

The elements have no adhesive layer of their own. Cut the part out, leave it in lukewarm water for about fifteen seconds and then slide it off the carrier paper into place, just as with a decal. A decal softener and a setting solution do not belong here, as their chemistry would attack the printed resin. The surface under an element has to be clean, degreased and best of all covered with gloss varnish, on which an element holds reliably; on an intricate place a drop of cyanoacrylate glue will help. Press the seated element down with a soft stick from the center toward the edges and draw the excess water off. On curved surfaces it helps to try the element out beforehand, before soaking, and to score it gently at the place of the bend if need be.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who want a colored and varied interior without drawing the dials out by hand and without photo-etched parts that have to be bent and painted.

The model, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.