1:35 Ka-29 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Trumpeter) (Small version)

Colored 3D interior decals for the Ka-29 in 1:35 scale

This is neither a kit nor a resin accessory, but a decal set. These are color-printed 3D decals for the interior of the Ka-29 helicopter in 1:35 scale. They are applied to the matching areas of the kit and replace the flat, merely suggested detail in the cockpit with legible colored graphics, so the laborious hand painting of small dial faces and switches is no longer needed. The name marks the item as the smaller variant of the set, Small version; the manufacturer also makes the full version of the same set for the same type. Check the extent, the material and the number of parts on the box. The decals are shaped for the parts of the Trumpeter kit.

The real subject

The Ka-29 is a shipborne assault and transport helicopter from the Kamov design bureau, derived from the Ka-27. The identifying mark of the whole family is the pair of coaxial contra-rotating rotors, thanks to which the machine needs no tail rotor. The interior of these helicopters is clearly visible, because the cabin is roomy, and that is the main reason detailed decals pay off.

Use

• First paint the area the decal goes onto and brush a gloss clear coat over it — on a matte base a silver film will appear under the decal.
• Cut the part out close to the edge and immerse it in lukewarm water for about fifteen seconds; the element has no adhesive layer of its own and holds on the gloss clear coat.
• Slide the decal into place, fine-tune its position with a damp brush and blot the excess water away with a soft cloth.
• Do not use a decal softener or a decal fixer, as they attack the printed resin and will ruin the element; on recessed detail and edges a drop of cyanoacrylate glue helps.
• Once it is completely dry, unify the surface with a matte or semi-gloss varnish according to how glossy the interior is meant to be.

Who the set is for

For modelers who want a legible cockpit without painting the individual instruments with a brush. The work is faster than with photo-etched parts, but it calls for patience while seating the elements and for a steady hand. The set is cut for a particular kit of the type in question, so check before buying that you have the matching model — on another kit the graphics need not sit on the areas.

The set does not contain a model of the helicopter, paints or gloss varnish; it is an accessory to a separately sold kit.