1:72 EE Lightning Customising Decals

A supplementary 1:72 English Electric Lightning decal sheet (Xtradecal)

A sheet of decals in 1:72 scale from the British manufacturer Xtradecal, conceived differently from an ordinary sheet of schemes. It is not built around finished variants of particular machines but serves for adjusting and supplementing the markings of a Lightning model to the modeler's own specification. The package contains the decals alone, and neither a model nor plastic parts are part of it.

What a sheet like this is for

Supplementary sheets are used where a kit offers only a few schemes and the modeler wants to build a machine from his own photograph or documentation. They make it possible to put the markings together item by item instead of being restricted to whatever happened to be left in the box. They also serve as a reserve for repairing a damaged decal, because an individual marking can be replaced without having to buy a whole new sheet.

Application tips

With small separate markings, patience and the right tool are what decide. Tweezers with flat jaws and a sharp new knife pay off, with which every item is cut out close to the motif. Work one piece at a time and check the position against the panel lines rather than by eye: individual markings put together side by side will give away even a slight misalignment. Before the decal dries you can fine-tune it into line with a damp brush. The final varnish comes only once the whole arrangement is dry.

Who the sheet is for

• modelers building the Lightning in 1:72 scale
• those who build from their own photograph or documentation
• modelers whose decal from the original sheet has been damaged
• more experienced builders who put the markings together item by item

The product is a decal sheet, not a kit. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package.