HobbyDecal 1/48 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Stencils Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | February 2006 | Manufacturer | HobbyDecal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Stencils | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | ST48028 | Pros | Very nice dry-transfers |
| Cons | Skill Level | Basic | |
| MSRP (USD) | $13.58 |
First Look
HobbyDecal released a new set of dry transfers for the current rush of Super Hornet kits. This set provides a very impressive array of maintenance stencils for the F/A-18E and the F/A-18F Super Hornets. These dry transfers will enhance the Hasegawa and Revell-Monogram kits.
There are two sheets included in this set. The first has the full range of national markings, warning and danger markings, slime lights and a WIDE range of maintenance stenciling. The second sheet is a small sheet containing a duplicate set of national markings and intake warnings.
So why would you want to use these dry transfers instead of decals that are usually half the price? Two reasons - time and precision. When you use waterslide decals, you can only apply so many at a time before you run the risk of damaging or moving some while applying more. All you can do is stop after so many, wait for the 30-60 minutes for them to dry, then press on. With dry transfers, once they're rubbed into place, they're done. You can keep going as long as your attention span holds out.
As for precision, waterslide decals sometimes have a tendency to float if you haven't completely dried out the surrounding fluids. You might find a marking or two that have migrated into a new position or attitude before drying. Worse yet, the more decals you apply, the greater the chances for silvering - a decal that didn't properly adhere to the surface of the model. Against the backdrop of the grays worn by the Super Bug, any silvered decal would telegraph its presence to the casual observer. With dry transfers, there is never an issue with moving markings nor silvering. As with most computer programs you see these days, what you see is what you get.
If you want to go to the trouble of adding all of those maintenance stencils without the risks associated with conventional decals, these nice dry transfers are your ticket to success. Highly recommended!
My sincere thanks to Design & Marketing International for this review sample!