1:72 IL-2 Interior 3D Decal

The real subject

The Ilyushin Il-2 is a Soviet ground attack aircraft of the Second World War, built for strikes on ground targets. Its recognition feature is the armored forward fuselage, which protected the pilot as well as the powerplant. The cockpit is therefore cramped and full of broken-up surfaces that are clearly visible once the canopy is removed, even in a small scale.

What the set contains

The set is a color three-dimensional interior for the cockpit of a model in 1:72 scale. The parts are printed on a decal backing paper and are applied as a wet decal: the part is cut from the sheet, laid in lukewarm water for about fifteen seconds and then slid off the paper into place. The parts have no adhesive layer of their own, so they hold on a surface you have coated beforehand with a gloss clear coat. Do not use a decal softener or a decal setter, as the chemistry would attack the printed resin.

Building and painting tips

First spray the surface the part will go on with paint and, once dry, coat it with a gloss clear coat, for example Future or Tamiya X-22; it is the gloss that the part grips. Slide the soaked part off the paper into place, blot the excess water away with the corner of a paper towel and press the part down with a soft stick or a cotton swab, working from the center to the edges. On a broken-up surface a tiny drop of super glue will secure it. If you clear coat the cockpit at the end, apply the coat in thin layers and try it beforehand on an offcut.

Who it is for

The set suits builders who want the cockpit equipped quickly and without painting small instruments by hand, and especially those who build a model with an open canopy. The package contains the interior set only, unless stated otherwise; the model, paints and glue are not included.