1:32 F/A-18D Late Hornet (for Academy / Kinetic Kit)

3D cockpit decals for the two-seat F/A-18D in its later form, 1:32 scale

The sheet is intended for the two-seat D version in the later form of the cabin. That means two stations, front and rear, and therefore considerably more printed area than in the sets for the single-seat A and C versions. The manufacturer offers the early and the late form as two separate items, so when choosing make sure which one you are building.

The product is intended for the Academy or Kinetic kits. Those are bought separately.

A large scale, small pieces

Although 1:32 is a large scale, the individual pieces of the relief sheet are still small and some are only a few millimeters across. It therefore pays to prepare your bench before you start: good lighting, a light-colored mat, a dish of lukewarm water and above all tweezers with fine rather than sharp tips. Sharp tweezers easily pierce or crease the relief layer, and repair is then impossible.

Working with tweezers piece by piece

Large continuous panels are better applied in one piece, but where the panel has a bend or a projection, feel free to divide the piece in two with a sharp knife and settle the parts one after the other. The seam will be lost in the shadow of the cabin, whereas a rippled decal over an edge will always show. Transfer the piece on a damp brush, not in tweezers: let the tweezers only hold the backing paper. Once settled, press the piece down gently with a dry cotton swab so that the water is forced out from under the layer.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the two-seat Hornet in the D version in its later form
• Modelers used to working with small parts and tweezers
• Those who build the model with the canopy open
• Collectors of modern carrier aircraft in 1:32 scale

This is a cockpit accessory, not an aircraft model. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.