1:32 RAF Code Letters and Numbers 24

What the sheet is for

Royal Air Force aircraft carried code markings on the sides of the fuselage: a pair of letters assigned to the squadron and a single letter identifying the individual machine. The aircraft serial number goes with them. A sheet with the whole alphabet and a set of numerals lets you put together practically any combination that the kit does not offer in its own decal sheet.

Character size and scale

The sheet is printed for 1:32 scale. The number 24 in the name distinguishes the size variant within the series; the sister sheets carry the designation 30. Before the build, therefore, check what size of characters your chosen subject calls for, so that the codes on the fuselage match the real thing.

How the decals are applied

The letters and numerals are cut out one by one, so it pays to mark a guide line on the fuselage with tape beforehand. Ordinary sheets are applied the wet way: coat the base with gloss varnish, soak the character in lukewarm water, move it onto the model and blot the water away. A decal softener will help the film settle onto the panel lines. Before you soak the sheet, though, check in the instructions whether it is a self-adhesive version. Self-adhesive film is ruined for good once it has been soaked, whereas a waterslide decal that has not been soaked can still be soaked later.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers who are building a particular machine from a photograph and need characters that are not in the box. In the large 1:32 scale even small errors in the spacing show, so try the layout dry first.

This is an accessory to a kit, which you obtain separately. Paints, varnishes, decal softener and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.