1:24 de Havilland Mosquito Airframe Stencil / Data Marking (Part 1)

Decals in 1:24 for the de Havilland Mosquito - technical stencils and service data (part 1)

A sheet of technical stencils on their own for the Mosquito, that is the small service and warning lettering on the airframe. They are not national markings and they are not the markings of a particular machine, so do not look on it for roundels, code letters or serial numbers. The manufacturer divides the markings into separate sheets so that a modeler can put together only what is needed: the national markings for the Mosquito are in the ADD24C105 range and the markings of particular aircraft in the ADD24005 range. This is the first sheet of the series, so check the extent of the stencils on the box.

The real subject

Technical stencils are the small service inscriptions that were sprayed onto the real aircraft through a stencil: the markings of the fuel, oil and oxygen filling points, tire pressures, warnings against stepping on surfaces and the jacking points. On a model it is the detail easiest to neglect, and yet it is exactly what breaks up large uniform areas of color. In a large scale the stencils are moreover legible, so their absence is clearly visible.

Application tips

The stencils are small, so cut them out one at a time and work with tweezers. The sheet is applied with water: the decal is settled with a decal fixer, and on uneven surfaces a decal softener is added in several thin coats. A smooth gloss coat belongs under a decal; once it is dry, varnish the whole thing over.

Who the sheet is for

• modelers who want to finish the airframe down to the detail
• builds where the national markings and the machine markings are already in place from other sheets
• competition models, where the stencils are judged
• 1:24 scale, where the stencils are legible

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.