1:72 MiG-21 in Polish service exclusive edition part IV

Decals MiG-21 in Polish service, exclusive edition, part IV, 1:72

The fourth sheet of the Model Maker decal series aimed at MiG-21 aircraft in Polish service. It is an accessory for a kit in 1:72 scale, not a model. The part designation is what tells the individual sheets of the series apart, so keep an eye on the number when choosing.

Silvering and how to avoid it

The commonest fault with a decal is not poor positioning but so-called silvering, that is, a light rim around the printing. It arises because a microscopic layer of air stays between the carrier film and the paint and reflects the light. There are three causes and all of them can be removed. The first is a matte surface underneath, dealt with by a layer of gloss varnish. The second is too wide a margin of clear film, dealt with by cutting a decal out close to the printing itself. The third is water trapped under a decal, which you blot away with a paper towel from the center outward and finish off with a softener.

Practical advice

• Apply gloss varnish in thin layers; a heavy layer floods the engraved lines.
• Cut a decal with nail scissors or with a scalpel along a ruler, not freehand.
• If a rim appears all the same, pierce the film with a needle and add a drop of softener, which forces the air out.
• A final matte varnish reliably evens out the difference in sheen between the film and the paint.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Polish MiG-21 aircraft in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers completing a collection of the individual parts of the series.
• Anyone after better markings than a decal in the box offers.

The package holds decals. The kit, the paints and the varnish are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.