You can pre-order your copy using the button below. 13.03.2018
In this set:
- Oeffag Camouflage patterns sufficient for 2 models, each in a slightly different pattern.
- Flik 41J and the “Brumowski Distribution” patterns.
Applying the shaped decals.
Applying the shaped decals.
All the tiny shapes have been printed twice; one print exactly superimposed on the first, a prodigious piece of work by Fantasy Printshop as registration is well nigh perfect; This will prevent any opacity problems which might otherwise have occurred when applying a light colour over a dark one.
All the shapes are tailored to the Eduard kit, but should also be applicable to the Blue Max version, though we can’t guarantee this.
The choice of dark green colour is very much up to the individual modeller, but something akin to the shade shown in the colour drawings seems a reasonable guess. The very precise matches provided in Dr.O’Connor’s articles were apparently derived from spurious information from Rodney Gerrard and should not be regarded as in any way definitive. That said, they are probably as good a guess as any!
Ensure that a gloss surface (fully dry and cured) is applied before applying the decals; There is a large area of carrier film, inevitably, and care should be taken to eliminate any air bubbles and silvering.
Complete painting of all major assemblies and apply the decals to these before mounting the upper wing. Cover the ailerons, elevator and rudder before these are attached.
Wing panels
For the top wing we advise cutting the decal chord-wise into four separate parts (as shown on the accompanying drawings) with a new, sharp scalpel against a metal straight edge, before wetting them. Start application at the wingtips and align the decal with the tip profile and along the trailing edge; the leading edge should then position itself correctly. Smooth the decal section from the tip/trailing edge diagonally forward and try to avoid stretching it unduly. If trimming is needed along the upper/lower colour at the leading edge this should be done with the sharpest possible blade directly after application.
Next complete the central pieces, again working towards the centre, matching the pattern at the junction with the wing tip pieces and aligning again with the trailing edge; the central join behind the radiator is very short and any slight overlap or gap here will be virtually unnoticeable. A small piece of decal is included for the header tank in front of the radiator, some were painted but others left in a natural metal finish.
Fuselage sections
The part to fit around the cockpit should be cut down its centre line and each piece applied using the upper longeron panel line as its lower edge. If there is any overlap along the centre, this can be eliminated with a careful central scalpel cut (taking care to avoid damaging the underlying paint finish) and removing excess material from each side for a perfect joint. Use the same process for the rear fuselage top decal, fitting it around the base of the vertical fin.
Horizontal tail surfaces, fin & rudder and ailerons
These can all be covered with the single decal components provided, working from the trailing edge of the rudder, elevator and ailerons towards the front. The fin and tailplane pieces should be aligned with the leading edges and worked towards the rear.
Wheel discs
These have a central cut out in the carrier film and application will be helped if a radial cut is made from the centre to the rim.
Final finish
After the decals have dried national markings can be applied and the whole given a coat of your desired matt or semi-matt transparent finish. We don’t advise applying masking over the coated finish as it could lift the decals. If it is essential to do this (to obtain weathering effects at the rib locations, for instance) please exercise extreme care and reduce the adhesive strength of the tape by applying it a couple of times to a sheet of glass or a similar smooth surface.
All the tiny shapes have been printed twice; one print exactly superimposed on the first, a prodigious piece of work by Fantasy Printshop as registration is well nigh perfect; This will prevent any opacity problems which might otherwise have occurred when applying a light colour over a dark one.
All the shapes are tailored to the Eduard kit, but should also be applicable to the Blue Max version, though we can’t guarantee this.
The choice of dark green colour is very much up to the individual modeller, but something akin to the shade shown in the colour drawings seems a reasonable guess. The very precise matches provided in Dr.O’Connor’s articles were apparently derived from spurious information from Rodney Gerrard and should not be regarded as in any way definitive. That said, they are probably as good a guess as any!
Ensure that a gloss surface (fully dry and cured) is applied before applying the decals; There is a large area of carrier film, inevitably, and care should be taken to eliminate any air bubbles and silvering.
Complete painting of all major assemblies and apply the decals to these before mounting the upper wing. Cover the ailerons, elevator and rudder before these are attached.
Wing panels
For the top wing we advise cutting the decal chord-wise into four separate parts (as shown on the accompanying drawings) with a new, sharp scalpel against a metal straight edge, before wetting them. Start application at the wingtips and align the decal with the tip profile and along the trailing edge; the leading edge should then position itself correctly. Smooth the decal section from the tip/trailing edge diagonally forward and try to avoid stretching it unduly. If trimming is needed along the upper/lower colour at the leading edge this should be done with the sharpest possible blade directly after application.
Next complete the central pieces, again working towards the centre, matching the pattern at the junction with the wing tip pieces and aligning again with the trailing edge; the central join behind the radiator is very short and any slight overlap or gap here will be virtually unnoticeable. A small piece of decal is included for the header tank in front of the radiator, some were painted but others left in a natural metal finish.
Fuselage sections
The part to fit around the cockpit should be cut down its centre line and each piece applied using the upper longeron panel line as its lower edge. If there is any overlap along the centre, this can be eliminated with a careful central scalpel cut (taking care to avoid damaging the underlying paint finish) and removing excess material from each side for a perfect joint. Use the same process for the rear fuselage top decal, fitting it around the base of the vertical fin.
Horizontal tail surfaces, fin & rudder and ailerons
These can all be covered with the single decal components provided, working from the trailing edge of the rudder, elevator and ailerons towards the front. The fin and tailplane pieces should be aligned with the leading edges and worked towards the rear.
Wheel discs
These have a central cut out in the carrier film and application will be helped if a radial cut is made from the centre to the rim.
Final finish
After the decals have dried national markings can be applied and the whole given a coat of your desired matt or semi-matt transparent finish. We don’t advise applying masking over the coated finish as it could lift the decals. If it is essential to do this (to obtain weathering effects at the rib locations, for instance) please exercise extreme care and reduce the adhesive strength of the tape by applying it a couple of times to a sheet of glass or a similar smooth surface.
References
Principle references
consulted in the production of this decal sheet:
Acknowledgements
As already mentioned, the work of the late Dr.O’Connor is the basis for much of the content of this booklet and influenced a great many of the profile reconstructions which appear here. Apart from his series of C&C articles, his work on the Aces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, listed above and preceded by a series of articles in Scale Models Magazine (when under the editorship of Ray Rimell), opened a whole new chapter of interest for many First World War modellers. High time the C&C articles were updated and published in book form!
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