[skanchan95]

1:72 Sukhoi Su-27SK Flanker-B 6001, 370th Fighter Division, Vietnamese People's Air Force, Phan Rang Air Base, Vietnam (Hobbymaster)

The Su-27, NATO codename Flanker, is one of the pillars of modern-day Russian Military Aviation. Built to counter the F-15 Eagle, the Flanker is a twin-engine, supersonic and highly maneuvrable air superiority fighter. The Flanker is equally capable of engaging targets well beyond visual range and in a dogfight given its amazing slow speed and high angle attack manoeuvrability.

The Flanker is powered by two AL-31F afterburning turbofan engines, that are placed in separate, widely spaced engine nacelles.

The Su-27 has twin vertical fins fitted on the outer sides of the fuselage and twin ventral fins underneath. The airbrake is placed in the center of the mid-section of the aircraft behind the cockpit. The tricycle landing gear of Su-27 and Su-27UB has a single wheel on each strut. The nose wheel is fitted with a mudguard to protect against foreign object damage (FOD).

The Su-27 entered service with the Soviet Air Forces [Russian: Военно-воздушные силы, Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily (VVS), meaning "Military Air Forces") in 1985. The primary role of the Su-27 was long range air defence against American B-1B and B-52G/H bombers, protecting the Soviet coast from aircraft carriers and flying long range fighter escort for Soviet heavy bombers such as the Tu-95 "Bear", Tu-22M "Backfire" and Tu-160 "Blackjack".

There have been several related developments of the Su-27. The Su-30 is a two-seat, dual-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions. The Su-33 'Flanker-D' is a naval fleet defense interceptor for use on aircraft carriers. Further versions include the side-by-side two-seat Su-34 'Fullback' strike/fighter-bomber variant, and the Su-35 'Flanker-E' improved air superiority and multi-role fighter. The Shenyang J-11 is a controverial Chinese built version of the Su-27.

Systems and Avionics
The basic Su-27 is fitted with the SUV-27 fire control system, which incorporates the RLPK-27 radar sighting system, OEPS-27 electro-optical sighting system, SEI-31 integrated indication system, IFF interrogator and built-in test system. The fire control system in integrated with the PNK-10 flight navigation system, radio command link, IFF system, data transmission equipment and EW self-defence system.

The RLPK-27 system is controlled by the Ts-100 digital computer and includes the N001 pulse-Doppler lookdown-capable radar with a range of 80-100 km in the front hemisphere and 30-40 km in the rear hemispehere for a fighter-sized target. It can simultaneously track up to ten aerial targets in track-while-scan mode and provide interception of the top priority target.

The OEPS-27 electro-optical sighting system consists of the OLS-27 infrared/laser search-and-track system (IRST) and the Shchel-3UM helmet-mounted target designator and is controlled by the Ts-100 digital computer. The OLS-27 sensor is placed forward of the cockpit canopy in the centre. The system acquires and tracks aerial targets by their thermal signatures. The helmet-mounted sight and the laser range finder of the IRST can also be used to visually acquire and determine coordinates of air and surface targets.

The SEI-31 integrated indication system provides flight, navigation and sighting data on the ILS-31 head-up display (HUD) and head down display. The EW self-defence systems provides warning to the crew when illuminated by enemy radar and employs both passive and active countermeasures. The aircraft is equipped with the SPO-15 Beryoza RWR and APP-50 chaff and flare dispenser that is placed in the tail section between the engine nozels. In addition, the aircraft can carry the Sorbtsiya active ECM pods on its wingtips.

Armament
The Su-27 was primarly conceived and its primary role was that of an interceptor. While ti can carry a fully load of air to air mieeisl in its 10 weapn stations, it could carry bombs & cokrt pods ina secondary groudn attack role.
Guns: 1 x 30 mm GSh-301 cannon, 150 rounds

Air-To-Air missiles : Up to 6 x R-27R SARH or R-27T IR air-to-air missiles & 4 Up to 6 x R-60 or R-73 IR air-to-air missiles

Air-To-Ground Weapons - Various Unguided General Purpose and/or CLuster bombs & Rocket Pods

ECM Pods- Sobritsaya ECM Pods on wingtips

Pugachev's Cobra


The Cobra maneuver, first performed by legendary Russian pilot Viktor Pugachev in 1989 wile flying a Su-27, is a dramatic and demanding maneuver in which an airplane flying at a moderate speed suddenly raises the nose momentarily to the vertical position and slightly beyond, momentarily stalling the plane and making it a full-body air brake, before dropping it back to normal, during which the aircraft does not change effective altitude.

The maneuver relies on the ability of the Flanker to be able to quickly change angle of attack , which momentarily stalls the plane without overloading the airframe, and sufficient engine thrust to maintain approximately constant altitude through the entire move. IN many ways, the maneuver was the real life equivalent of Maverick's "I'm gonna hit the brakes, he'll fly right by" fantasy maneuver in an F-14 in the movie Top Gun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O9q6EJhssQ

Close Encounters of the Su-27
The Su-27 was involved in many intercepts of NATO & US aircraft. The most well known was the collision of a Russian Su-27 with a Norwegian P-3. On 13 September 1987, a fully armed Soviet Su-27, Red 36, intercepted a Norwegian Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft flying over the Barents Sea. The Su-27 performed a couple of close passes by the side of the P-3, colliding with the P-3 on the third pass. The Su-27 disengaged and both aircraft landed safely at their bases(https://theaviationgeekclub.com/that...e-barents-sea/).

Ethiopian Air Force Su-27s reportedly shot down two Eritrean MiG-29s and damaged another one during the Ethipian_Eritrean War at the end of last century. One of theose Eritrean MiG-29's fell to Ethiopian Air Force Capt. Aster Tolossa's Su-27 - probably the only female pilot in the world to have shot down an enemy jet in modern air to air combat. Although the story behind it is too good to be true, almost like a scene from a movie. She is said to have intercepted the Eritrean MiG-29, communicated with the Eritrean MiG pilot only to realize that he was her former instructor. She begs him to leave the airspace, which he doesn't and later she shoots him down.

Su-27SK service with the VPAF (Vietnam People's Air Force)
The Su-27SK was the Export variant of the Su-27S single-seater.S stands for Sereeynyy(Production) & "K" stands for Kommehrcheskiy (Commercial). It was exported to China in 1992-1996 and developed into Shenyang J-11.The Su-27SK had a reinforced landing gear, a MTOW of 33000 kgs and slightly downgraded avionics compared to the Russian Su-27S.

Vietnam became the second Asian country to purchase the Su-27 aircraft after China. In 1994, in an effort to modernize the VPAF, five single seat Su-27SKs and one Su-27UBK twin seat trainer were ordered. The first two aircraft arrived in May 1995, the remainder had been delivered by late 1996 to the VPAF. They equipped the 937th Fighter Regiment based at Phan Rang air base in Hau Giang province.In December 1996 an additional batch of two Su-27SKs and four Su-27UBKs was ordered. The single-seaters were accepted by the VPAF at Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia. In December 1997, the aircraft were airlifted to Phan Rang, shortly followed by the Su-27UBK two-seaters. However, the last two Su-27UBK were lost when the An-124 carrying the planes was lost in a fatal crash.Two Su-27UBK were delivered as replacements six months later in June 1998. This second batch went to the 935th Fighter Regiment at Bien Hoa air base, Dong Nai province. One Su-27SK (6007) was lost in a crash in 1998. Later the Flankers of 937th Fighter Regiment at Phan Rang were also transferred to the 935th Fighter Regiment at Bien Hoa, consolidating the fleet at Bien Hoa and to use Phan Rang to base ex-Polish Su-22M4/UM3K Fitters.In 2004, the Su-27s were transferred to 925th Fighter Training Regiment at Phu Cat and 935th re-equipped with SU-30MK2Vs at Bien Hoa.

The VPAF Su-27UB and Su-27SK Flankers are now being upgraded to Su-27UBK and Su-27SKM standards, to ensure their continued viability against modern threats. Although their flight performances provide excellent capabilities for visual range combat, the platforms’ avionics, sensors and electronic warfare systems date back to the 1980s meaning they are increasingly outmatched by those of neighbouring states such as China’s J-11B and J-16 fighters. The VPAF received its first enhanced Su-27UBK in late October 2019, after the fighter was sent to Factory No. 558 in Belarus for an overhaul. Belarus was reportedly chosen for the upgrades because of the very short overhaul time, although the country does not currently field any Flanker squadrons of its own. Belarus previously operated Su-27 fighters inherited from the Soviet Union, which have since been placed in storage, but the country has ordered a dozen more modern Su-30SM fighters from Russia which began deliveries in 2019.



Aircraft Type: Single Seat Air Superiority Fighter
Manufacturer :Sukhoi OKB
Crew : 1

Dimensions
Maximum Length: 21.935 m (71.96 ft)
Wingspan:14.7 m (48.2 ft)
Height:5.932 m (19.45 ft)

Weights
Empty:16,300 kg (35,935 lbs)
Normal Takeoff: 23,000 kg (50,706 lbs)
Maximum Takeoff:28,000 kg (61,730 lbs)

Performance
Engines: 2 X Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31F afterburning turbofans
Dry Thrust Per Engine: 75.22 kN (16,910 lbf)
Afterburner Thrust Per Engine: 122.6 kN (27,560 lbf)
Fuel Capacity: 11,975 l (3,163 U.S. Gallons)
Maximum Speed @ Altitude: 2,500 km/h (1,553.43 mph)
Maximum Speed @ Sea Level: 1,400 km/h (870 mph)
Maximum Mach: 2.35
Service Ceiling: 18,500 m (60,696 ft)
Range @ High Altitude: 3,900 km (2,423 miles)
Range @ Sea Level: 1,400 km (870 miles)
Maximum G-Load: 9
Takeoff Run: 650 m (2,132 ft)

Armament
Gun: 1 X 30 mm GSh-301 Cannon with 149 Rounds
Hardpoints: 8 X External Plus 2 X Wingtip Rails (Total 10)

Missiles
Air-To-Air : R-60/AA-8 Aphid, R-27/AA-10 Alamo,R-73/AA-11 Archer
Air-To-Ground: Dumb & Cluster Bombs, Rocket Pods, ECM Pods( wing tips)

Enjoy this Intro from the old Flanker flight simulator - Flanker 2.0.It was one of my favorite flight sims that had a flyable Su-27P & Su-33 and later received a massive upgrade and added a flyable MiG-29K. Flanker 2.0 is spiritual predecessor of the very popular flight simulator - DCS World (and its numerous addons)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjpPMPe5AiI

I still have the CD and fond memories of this classic flight sim..its a pity that it stopped working from Windows 8 onwards.



Loved that tagline- Falcons Beware!! There's a new bird of Prey on your Tail.


The thing I like about the HM FLanker, Tomcat & MiG-23 models is that they come packed in these beautiful thermocol boxes


The Model - comes with 4 X R-73 and 6 X R-27R air to air missiles:
























Close up pics - Outstanding detailing!!!










In-flight












The real VPAF Su-27SK:
6001 in three tone blue delivery scheme


After upgrade to Su-27SMK standards, the VPAF Su-27s received this sand /green paint scheme similar to their Su-30MK2Vs

[basuroy]

F4u-Corsair and Saab 35 Draken. Both 72nd scale.

[skanchan95]

Brilliant, as usual. Love the Draken. I have one from Altaya, but clearly it is no where as good as this hand built one like yours. Love the weathering and fluid leak effects that you implement on your models.

HAd been wanting to do this for while - My 1:200 Military Fleet..did not include the A400M as it does not have landing gear and my Italian C-130J wing broke because of clumsy me

[V.Narayan]

Sandesh, Foxbat is celebrating your cobra slide to the Red side. First that beautiful MiG-21 Bis and then an Su-27. Both such perfectly designed machines. You can see the rhythm of the designers thoughts. Congratulations on these two new acquisitions. And the Sea Harrier F/A.2. It somehow looks more handsome than the old sea Harrier FRS.1. I am resisting buying a Sea Harrier till HM come out with a IN version.

Basuroy - both those aircraft - Corsair & Draken - look very professionally made. Congratulations. The Swedes were always ahead of the other Western nations where design & balance went. Quite remarkable for a small country to staunchly remain independent in both fighter and submarines design & production.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Sandesh, Foxbat is celebrating your cobra slide to the Red side.

Thank you Sir. I am sure he does. But I have punched the Afterburner and powered my way out of that tail slide as the next two are true blue Amerikanski.

Seriously though, who doesn't love a Flanker - brute and svelte at the same time. Had been waiting on the Su-27SK since January.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

And the Sea Harrier F/A.2. It somehow looks more handsome than the old sea Harrier FRS.1. I am resisting buying a Sea Harrier till HM come out with a IN version.

Yes, an IN Sea Harrier would be a dream come true, especially in the ghost grey paint scheme with low viz Indian roundels. I long for an IAF MiG-29 livery in HM's model. HM's MiG-29 model easily trumps the JC/Wittyone.

Yes, I agree the F/A.2 looks better than the FRS.1.

[Foxbat]

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. It is powered by the Volvo RM12, and has a top speed of Mach 2. Later aircraft are modified for NATO interoperability standards and to undertake air to air refuelling. As of 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been built.


1/72 JAS-39C Gripen - 211 Squadron Czech Air Force "Tigermeet 2014"








The Real plane, quite a striking livery.


This is the first model I have built in about 20 years (last one I built was sometime between 1999-2001 as a child). Huge thanks to @basuroy for inspiring me to restart this hobby and telling me where I could get the kits.
Also big thanks to my wife (why don't you do something constructive in your life apart from staring at plane pictures on your laptop, desktop, phone and tablet all the time) for encouragement and Coronavirus for making me sit at home with so much idle time.

In support of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self reliant India) and Boycott China campaign this model is made in Poland(decals from Italy) and came with some paints, glue and brush which were put together in a kit in Germany.
Spray paint was from Thailand, hobby knife from Taiwan, additional paints from India along with masking tape.

It was all assembled on a desk made in Poland but by an Indian in India



Unfortunately this Indian sat on a IKEA chair made in China while assembling and used tweezers made in China also

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a light single-engine multirole fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab. The Gripen has a delta wing and canard configuration with relaxed stability design and fly-by-wire flight controls. It is powered by the Volvo RM12, and has a top speed of Mach 2. Later aircraft are modified for NATO interoperability standards and to undertake air to air refuelling. As of 2020, more than 271 Gripens of all models, A–F, have been built.

Well done. An excellently made scale model with no glue poking out or parts fitted at the wrong angle (a mistake I often made)!! Congratulations on your creation.

This is the first model I have built in about 20 years (last one I built was sometime between 1999-2001 as a child). Huge thanks to @basuroy for inspiring me to restart this hobby and telling me where I could get the kits.

Great work. I admire your patience. I doubt I have it myself any longer not to mention my fat butter fingers.

Also big thanks to my wife (why don't you do something constructive in your life apart from staring at plane pictures on your laptop, desktop, phone and tablet all the time) for encouragement and Coronavirus for making me sit at home with so much idle time.

Behind every man is a woman.......telling him to get his butt off that IKEA chair and do something useful....

In support of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self reliant India) and Boycott China campaign this model is made in Poland......
Unfortunately this Indian sat on a IKEA chair made in China while assembling and used tweezers made in China also

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

1/72 JAS-39C Gripen - 211 Squadron Czech Air Force "Tigermeet 2014"

Brilliantly done Foxbat. Love the paint scheme, especially the skull graphics on the canards.

[skanchan95]

1:72 Lockheed S-3A Viking (Bureau No. 159390) VS-29 "Screaming Dragonfires", USS Enterprise, 1970s(Hobbymaster)

This is the same Hobbymaster S-3 model that Narayan Sir had posted a while back in the thread but in a different US Navy squadron livery.



The S-3 Viking was a 4-crew, twin-engine turbofan-powered jet aircraft that was used by the U.S. Navy (USN) primarily for anti-submarine warfare. Later in its career, its role shifted to anti-surface warfare and aerial refueling. It was nicknamed "War Hoover" for the sound of its engines--which was similar to a vaccum cleaner's whine.

The aircraft can seat 4 crew members (3 officers and 1 enlisted) with pilot and copilot/tactical coordinator (COTAC) in the front of the cockpit and the tactical coordinator (TACCO) and sensor operator (SENSO) in the back.
View of the S-3 cockpit from the rear operator stations:


Entry is via a hatch/ladder folding down out of the lower starboard side of the fuselage behind the cockpit, in between the rear and front seats on the starboard side.


All crew members sit on forward-facing, upward-firing Douglas Escapac zero-zero ejection seats. In "group eject" mode, initiating ejection from either of the front seat ejects the entire crew in sequence, with the back seats ejecting 0.5 seconds before the front in order to provide safe separation (this was to prevent the pilots, who were more aware of what was happening outside the aircraft from ejecting without the rest of the crew, or being forced to delay ejection to order the crew to eject in an emergency; ejection from either rear seat would not eject the pilots, who had to initiate their own ejections, to prevent loss of the aircraft if a rear crewmember ejected prematurely. If a pilot ejected prematurely, the plane was lost anyway, and automatic ejection prevented the crew from crashing with a pilot-less aircraft before they were aware of what had happened). The rear seats are capable of self ejection and the ejection sequence includes a pyrotechnic charge that stows the rear keyboard trays out of the occupants' way immediately before ejection. Safe ejection requires the seats to be weighted in pairs and when flying with a single crewman in the back the unoccupied seat is fitted with ballast.

When it entered the US Navy fleet in 1974 to replace the Grumman S-2 Tracker, "he S-3 was truly the first multimission carrier-based platform. At the time there were light attack aircraft [A-7 Corsair II], medium attack aircraft [A-6 Intruder] and interceptors [F-14 Tomcat]. The S-3 originally had three missions: antisubmarine warfare (ASW), mine warfare and surface search and control. With the end of the Cold War and the diminished Soviet submarine threat, the S-3B was deconfigured from the primary ASW role to adapt to the more contemporary surveillance and sea control mission, and the crew was reduced from four to three--a pilot, copilot/tactical coordinator and tactical coordinator.

The aircraft has two underwing hardpoints that can be used to carry fuel tanks, general purpose and cluster bombs, AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-65 Maverick missiles, rocket Pods and storage pods. It also has four internal bomb bay stations that can be used to carry general-purpose bombs, aerial torpedoes, and special stores (B57 and B61 nuclear weapons). Fifty-nine sonobuoys are carried, as well as a dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) chute. The S-3 is fitted with the ALE-39 countermeasure system and can carry up to 90 rounds of chaff, flares, and expendable jammers (or a combination of all) in three dispensers. A retractable magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) Boom is fitted in the tail.

In the late 1990s, the S-3B's role was changed from anti-submarine warfare (ASW) to anti-surface warfare (ASuW). At that time, the MAD Boom was removed, along with several hundred pounds of submarine detection electronics. With no remaining sonobuoy processing capability, most of the sonobuoy chutes were faired over with a blanking plate.

The S-3’s anti-ship capability was used in both Gulf Wars: in 1991, a S-3 sank an Iraqi attack boat with conventional bombs, while in 2003 a S-3 destroyed an Iraqi command post with a Maverick in Basra.

Beginning in 1991, the S-3As in service were modified to S-3B standard, with upgraded avionics and a new APS-127V synthetic-aperture radar, giving the S-3B a significant ship-detection and SAR capability as well. Though the ES-3A was withdrawn from service in the mid-1990s, several S-3Bs were converted to littoral reconnaissance (Gray Wolf) and ground surveillance (Brown Boy) roles. With the reduction of submarine threats to the US Navy, the S-3 fleet is being gradually retired; those remaining in service have had their ASW equipment removed and serve primarily as tankers. Their role has been largely replaced by the SH-60B/F Seahawk helicopters, and, aside from a handful of test aircraft, the S-3 was retired in 2009.

S-3A 159390 1970s

At the time, the US Navy had not yet adopted low-visibility markings and still carried the more gaudy insignia used during Vietnam, along with the gray over white camouflage scheme. S-3A 159390 served with VS-29 ("Dragonfires," hence the colourful fire-breathing Viking ship tail insignia) aboard the USS Enterprise at this time; shortly after this picture was taken, the squadron transferred to the USS Ranger. It was the first Pacific Fleet S-3 squadron, and so likely this aircraft was brand new at the time. 159390 enjoyed a long career and was retired in 2005.









The TACCO and SENSO, sitting behind the pilots can view out of the aircraft through windows from their stations.








Not the deployable MAD boom (in this m,odel it is fixed and cannot be extended out)


S-3 with its MAD boom extended [Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD)is an instrument used to detect minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field and is used by military forces to detect submarines.

One of the things I adore about HM models - the greatest attention to detail even for the minutest details




The bomb bay is not openable but the following armament options for the wing stations are given with the model:
6 X Mk.82 500-lb GP bombs in Triple Ejector Racks




2 X 300 US gal (1,136 L) fuel tanks


2 X AGM-84 Harpoons










The bomb bay is on the bottom part of the fuselage right between the two engines





Note the Tailhook and sonobuoy ejectors


Nifty detailing in the cockpit

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Lockheed S-3A Viking (Bureau No. 159390) VS-29 "Screaming Dragonfires", USS Enterprise, 1970s(Hobbymaster)

Another terrific addition to your USN squadron mate. Bravo. You really have a knack of taking pictures of the scale models that tell so much. I am trying to learn by looking at the angles of your photos :-) . Indeed the S-3 was a marvel of packaging. Just imagine this aircraft was only a few feet longer than a MiG-21 or a Mirage III and yet they packed 4 crew, three mission profiles, an internal weapons bay and 6000+ kms of ferry range. Interestingly while the S-3 has retired after a distinguished service its predecessor the S-2 Grumman Tracker is still on the active inventory of the Argentine Naval Air Arm. Definitely budgetary issues.

Congratulations Sandesh. This motivates me to do some clicking of my own on the weekend. ;-)

[Jeroen]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

range. Interestingly while the S-3 has retired after a distinguished service its predecessor the S-2 Grumman Tracker is still on the active inventory of the Argentine Naval Air Arm. Definitely budgetary issues.
)

Love the Grumman Tracker. The Dutch had these too and were deployed on our only carrier at the time, HRMS Karel Doorman. (which was sold to the Argentine navy and it was still in active duty during the Falkland war. Scrapped since.

The current Argentinian Trackers have different engines from the original version I believe. Essentially turned it into a turbo prop. Way different from a rotary engine! Efficient, but the noise from those original engines was something else!

Jeroen

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Another terrific addition to your USN squadron mate. Bravo. You really have a knack of taking pictures of the scale models that tell so much. I am trying to learn by looking at the angles of your photos :-) .

Thank you Sir. I wish for an A-6 Intruder, but there is only brand that makes it in 1/72 scale - Century Wings and it costs a bomb.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Congratulations Sandesh. This motivates me to do some clicking of my own on the weekend. ;-)

Yes, please. Looking forward to them.

[Sutripta]

Noob question - does anyone make models of unglamorous aircraft like the C2 Greyhound?

Sutripta

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Noob question - does anyone make models of unglamorous aircraft like the C2 Greyhound?

Sutripta

None of the reputed diecast brands make one. There will certainly be plastic model kits of the C-2

Coming up next is an F-5E, but I need help and advice from our resident aircraft scale modelling experts - Foxbat and basuroy.

This particular model comes with a set of decals which has pilot names & aircraft serial numbers. It gives you the option of having your selected pilot name & serial number on the model. No, my question is how do I proceed to in the correct way and get this decals pasted at the right place without messing it up?





I have a fair idea how it needs to be done and where the decals need to be pasted. Cut the decal out using scissors, dip it in lukewarm water for 10 seconds using a tweezer, place it over the general area where you want it pasted. Slide the transparent part of the decal into place using an ear bud.

Is it the correct way? Where can I go wrong? Any thing I should be wary about? Once the decal is slid into place, is it permanent or can the decal(s) come out in the future? I really do not want to mess it up as this will be the first time I will doing something like this.

This is what it should look like finally if everything is done correctly(image from the internet):

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

I have a fair idea how it needs to be done and where the decals need to be pasted. Cut the decal out using scissors, dip it in lukewarm water for 10 seconds using a tweezer, place it over the general area where you want it pasted. Slide the transparent part of the decal into place using an ear bud.

That is more or less correct but put some soap in the water to make the decal sliding easier, I usually dip it for 20-30 seconds. Instead of using an earbud I use a fine paintbrush as its less likely to rip it. Tweezers are more likely to rip it so be careful to only touch the side paper.

After it dries it can still come off if someone touches it so you need to seal it some how. Ideally you should use a clear coat like this https://www.toychamps.com/product-details.asp?id=1245

But one alternative what I use is after the decal is dry mix some fevicol glue in water and make it very dilute. Apply a layer of this over the dried decal which is already in place and let it dry using an earbud. This will act like a clear coat protection from fingers.


P.S. thats an interesting livery, Swiss Air Force Aerobatics team?