1:48 RAF National Insignia/Roundels A1 Type.

British type A1 roundels, 1:48 scale

A set of Royal Air Force national insignia in the variant designated type A1. Xtradecal supplies it as a printed sheet for finishing a model that has already been built.

The differences between roundel types

British national insignia went through several changes during the war and their execution is distinguished by letters. The basic circle had a red center, a white ring and a blue rim. Type A1 came about by adding a narrow yellow rim around the outside, which made the marking visually larger and easier to read; it was usually carried on the sides of the fuselage. Other variants, by contrast, took colors away so that the aircraft stood out less in the field. Choosing the right type according to the date and place of service is one of the things that tells a carefully built model from an average one, and it is also the most common source of mistakes in a display case. It pays, therefore, to start from a photograph of the particular machine and only then to choose the matching variant of the marking.

Working with concentric circles

• Circular designs will not tolerate any ripple, so make the surface under them perfectly smooth first.
• Seat the marking so that its center lies on the axis of the intended position.
• Where the roundel runs across an engraved line, let the decal softener work and do not press on it.
• The yellow rim is the thinnest part of the design, so do not trim it short when you cut.

Intended use

For builders of British aircraft who want their national insignia sharp and in the correct period variant. The set is an accessory to a model, not an item to be assembled.