1:35 AH-64A 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Academy)

Color 3D decals for the AH-64A cockpit 1:35

The set is printed on decal paper and combines two things that used to be done separately on interiors: color and three-dimensional relief. You therefore do not have to paint or shade the instruments, the lettering and the texture of the seats; the decal brings them ready made. It is not a kit but an accessory for a plastic helicopter model, which you buy separately.

The AH-64A cockpit

The AH-64A is the original form of the Apache with a classic analog panel full of round dials and switches. The cockpit is tandem, with the systems operator in front and the pilot behind, and each of the two stations has a differently equipped panel. It is exactly that fine breakdown which makes the most work when painting by hand, and it is exactly what the set aims at. Later forms of the Apache have large-area displays instead of dials, which is why the sets for the individual versions cannot be interchanged.

How 3D decals are applied

• Rid the area on the plastic of any excess molded relief and level it; a decal needs a flat base.
• Spray the part with a dark color and polish it with gloss varnish, as the element has no adhesive layer of its own.
• Soak the decal briefly, only until it releases from the backing, and slide it into place.
• Do not use a decal softener or a decal fixer, as the chemicals attack the printed resin and would ruin the element.
• Do not spray the finished cockpit all over with matte varnish; the sheen of the displays and the cover glasses would be lost.

Who the set is for

• A builder who wants the cockpit open and the interior on view.
• A modeler who does not get on with painting small dials with a brush.
• Anyone looking for an alternative to photo-etched sets without having to bend metal.