1:72 MiG-23MF in Polish service

Decals MiG-23MF in Polish service, 1:72, Model Maker

A sheet of decals from the Polish brand Model Maker for a MiG-23MF model in 1:72 scale in Polish Air Force form. The set is an accessory for a kit; it does not hold the model itself. The MiG-23MF is the export version of the MiG-23 fighter with a variable-geometry wing, which the Polish Air Force had in its inventory.

Storage and the age of decals

Decals age and it is worth reckoning with that. The carrier film grows brittle over time, the backing paper takes up damp and the adhesive loses its grip. So store the set flat, dry and out of direct light, ideally in its original packaging. When you reach for a sheet that has lain for years, test a marginal decal first. If the film tears on soaking, spray the whole sheet with a thin layer of clear varnish from a can; that strengthens the film and the decal can then be applied in one piece.

Water, temperature and patience

• Use lukewarm water at around room temperature; hot water dissolves the adhesive too quickly.
• Leave the decal in the water for only a few seconds and then let it rest on a towel.
• Do not add detergent to the water; it changes how the adhesive behaves.
• A drop of setting solution on the spot is appreciated above all with larger decals on the fuselage.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the MiG-23 in 1:72 scale in the Polish version.
• Anyone interested in equipment operated in Central Europe.
• Builders replacing aged decals from a box.

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