1:48 Mi-8MT 3D-Printed & coloured Interior on decal paper (Trumpeter) (Small version)

3D decals for the cockpit of the Mi-8MT 1:48, the smaller variant

The smaller version uses the same pre-colored printing with raised relief as the full set, but covers the interior to a narrower extent. The set is an add-on for a plastic model, not a kit.

A first encounter with 3D decals

Anyone who has not tried this kind of accessory will appreciate that it is applied exactly like an ordinary decal. The difference is that the print has a thickness and relief of its own, so it needs a level surface and more water than a thin conventional decal. It pays to start on a less visible part, to get a feel for the soaking time and only then to go on to the main instrument panel. Once the first piece comes off well, the rest of the set is routine.

The procedure in five steps

• True the surface and spray it with dark paint.
• Cut out only the decal you are applying at that moment.
• Soak briefly and let it rest on wet paper.
• Slide it on over a drop of water and fine-tune its position.
• Press the water out with a cotton bud from the middle toward the edges.

What to avoid

Do not apply it to a dry part; the decal then cannot be moved and dries exactly where it landed. Do not use a decal softener or setter at all: their chemistry will attack the printed resin and spoil the element. And do not spray a finished cockpit all over with flat varnish, because the gloss of the instrument glasses is part of the effect the set is bought for.

Who the set is for

• A modeler who builds the Mi-8 with the doors closed.
• Anyone who wants to try 3D decals on a smaller scope first.
• A builder who needs a finished cockpit quickly.