1:35 Mi-17 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Trumpeter) (Small version)

Mi-17 interior in 1:35 scale, 3D printed colored decals

A sheet printed in color and with a raised relief, carried on decal paper. It is used like an ordinary waterslide decal, except that the surface has raised edges, so the instruments and controls cast a shadow of their own and the cockpit does not look like a surface painted in with a brush. According to the manufacturer the sheet carries the instrument panel, the side control panels and the seat belts. This is the reduced version of the set, that is, a narrower scope than the full variant of the same number.

The real subject

The Mi-17 is the export designation of a transport helicopter derived from the Mi-8 family, specifically from the version with more powerful engines. It can be told from the oldest machines of the range among other things by the tail rotor moved to the left side of the tail boom. The cabin is roomy, the glazing wide and the pilots' station is clearly visible from outside, so detailing the interior really does show on a finished model.

Preparing the surface and applying them

The surface has to be smooth and glossy. Spray the interior parts with a dark base color, go over them with a gloss clear coat and let them dry thoroughly. Soak the decal, slide it into place and settle it with tweezers with rounded tips, then draw the excess water off with the corner of a paper towel. Do not use a decal softener or a setting solution; the chemicals would damage the printed resin, and wait for one piece to dry before you reach for the next. You will make the work considerably easier if you stick the panels on before you join the fuselage halves.

Who the set is for

• Builders of transport helicopters in the large 1:35 scale.
• Modelers who want a legible cockpit without painting the individual controls.
• Those for whom the smaller scope of the set is enough.
• Anyone interested in a model with open doors or an exposed pilots' compartment.