1:32 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I Decals

AIMS 1:32 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, decals

This package is not a kit but a stand-alone decal sheet for a model of the Gloster Gladiator Mk.I aircraft in 1:32 scale. It serves to give a model markings other than those the decal insert of a kit offers, or to replace decals which in older boxes can no longer be used. In 1:32 scale every insignia and inscription is clearly legible, so good printing and a thin film have a large share in the final impression.

The real subject

The Gloster Gladiator is a British single-seat biplane fighter of the 1930s and the last British biplane in the fighter role in regular service. Against older biplanes it was markedly more modern, as it received an enclosed cockpit and flaps on the wings. The type saw wide export and a number of foreign operators gave it finishes of their own, often very striking ones, so stand-alone decal sheets for it make sense.

Tips for applying decals

The foundation is a smooth gloss surface; on a flat clear coat a decal will not settle and a silvering veil arises around the artwork. Cut the artwork out close to the edge, soak it in lukewarm water and let it stand until the backing starts to slide. Transfer the decal into place with a brush, blot the water away with a cloth and add a decal softener so that the film pulls down into the engraved detail. On a biplane take care when working between the struts and the bracing; work with a sharp tweezer tip and preferably in smaller parts. Once dry, go over it with a clear coat of the sheen you want.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of large-scale 1:32 models
• anyone interested in interwar British aircraft
• modelers who want markings for the Gladiator other than those from a kit
• builders whose decals in the original box have aged

The package contains decals only. The model, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.