1:35 ATO(anti-terroristic operation), East Ukraine 2014-15. Part 2

What the set contains

Decals with markings of equipment deployed in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and 2015, in 1:35 scale. According to the name it is the second part of a series, so the supplier offers it alongside an earlier sheet with the same focus. The abbreviation ATO in the name stands for the Anti-Terrorist Operation, that is the official designation of the fighting in this area at the time.

Why it pays off on a model

Vehicles of these years were not marked according to a single key. Besides official markings they carried numbers, inscriptions and recognition marks applied hastily in the field, through a stencil and with a brush alike. A model that carries such markings stops being just a type of vehicle and becomes a particular machine at a particular time. For a diorama it is at the same time the simplest way to give the whole scene a place and a time.

How the decals are applied

Cut the decal as close to the artwork as possible and soak it for a few seconds in lukewarm water. Once it begins to slide freely on the paper, slip it into place and hold it there. Prepare the base glossy and smooth, or the edge of the film will show through as a matte outline. Press the water out with a cotton swab from the center toward the edges, help it over rivets and pressings with a decal softener, and once dry go over the whole model with a matte varnish, so that the glossy places merge with the rest of the finish.

Who it is for

For builders of present-day equipment and for authors of dioramas from eastern Europe. The model, paints and glue are not part of the package, unless stated otherwise.