1:48 Grumman S-2 Tracker Part 2

Grumman S-2 Tracker decals, part 2 (1:48)

The second volume of the decal series from the maker Print Scale for the Grumman S-2 Tracker in 1:48 scale. The sheet is sold on its own and is used on a finished, painted model. It is not a kit and not an accessory in resin or photo-etch.

The real subject

The Grumman S-2 Tracker was a carrier-borne aircraft intended to search out and attack submarines. It was powered by a pair of Wright radial piston engines, had a high-set wing with folding tips and a roomy rear section for the operators of the search equipment. It served from the middle of the 1950s with the US Navy and in the following decades with a number of other operators, in versions for anti-submarine duty, training and transport. Operational life on a carrier meant frequent washing off of salt and repainting, so the machines also differ in how worn their coats were.

How to avoid silvering of the decals

The grayish veil around a marking, which is called silvering, comes from microscopic bubbles trapped between the film and the paint. Prevention has three steps: a perfectly glossy and cured base, trimming the carrier film close and enough water under the decal so that the air has a way out. Once it has settled, press the marking down with a damp cloth from the middle outward and let it dry. If a veil appears even so, pierce the area with a very fine point and apply a drop of softener: the product runs into the pricks and the film settles down. On large areas this has to be done in parts.

Who the sheet is for

• For builders of carrier aircraft of the US Navy.
• For modelers who want markings for their Tracker other than the ones the box gives.
• For those who have the first volume of the series and are extending their collection of schemes.
• For advanced builders who can handle larger areas of decal as well.