1:32 Royal Emils Me-109 in Yugoslav Service

Yugoslav Emils over the Balkans

The Royal Yugoslav Air Force took the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E into service shortly before the war broke out, and in April 1941 it took off in them against overwhelming odds. Machines of German design carried domestic national insignia and fuselage numbers, so the result looks familiar at first glance and is yet quite unlike anything from the Luftwaffe. For a modeler it is a subject that stands out on a competition table mainly because nobody else there has it.

What the sheet offers

These are waterslide decals prepared for the large 1:32 scale. Printing in this format will carry fine details that would merge at smaller scales: the frames of the national insignia, small numbers and the thin lines of lettering all stay legible. The individual motifs are printed on a common film, so you cut each one out only when its turn comes in the build. The sheet goes with a 1:32 Emil kit, which you obtain separately.

Application procedure

You will get the best results on a gloss coat. A matte surface under the film creates air pockets and a silvery veil then appears around the motif. Soak the cut-out motif in lukewarm water, and once it has released, move it onto the surface and guide it into place with a soft brush. Draw the excess water off with a paper tissue and let it dry without further touching. On riveted and ribbed surfaces a decal softener helps, as it pulls the film down to the relief. Finally seal the markings with a varnish whose sheen matches the surrounding camouflage.