Antrvm Ratvs - Hobby Decal Fw-190 stencils in 1/32 scale

Hobby Decal Fw-190 stencils in 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rato Marczak (2004)

Summary
Description:	- Dry transfer (rubbing) type stencils to replace decals
Scale:	- 1/32
Price:	- 14.98 USD
Contents & Media:	- Three printed sheets and placement instructions.
Advantages:	- No silvering / no clear film. - Can be applied over gloss or flat finishes - Unbeatable system when applied over natural metal finishes
Disadvantages	- Cannot be moved during application. - May be difficult to appy over tight corners and protusions.
Recommendation:	- Recommended, particularly if you hate decals.

This is a great set of dry transfers by Hobby Decal. Product ST32003 comes in three sheets, printed in up to five colors. The subject is the Fw-190, and this item was released a few years ago, in the wake of the great long nose Doras released by Hasegawa. The instructions calls for a D-9, but the sheet can be mostly used in the D-13 or earlier A/F versions as well.

The quality of HobbyDecal printing is outstanding, and the register is good in my sample (I found a small fault in the blue layer). The set has many stencils and markings in common with other Luftwaffe subjects released by Hobby Decal

Hobby Decal product numbers indicate the current version of the set, showing that they are listening you about mistakes for possible future corrections.

Just like other items of their dry-transfer range, every single item is readable using a magnifying glass. Some items are duplicated, but most of them are not, so be patient during the application. I included a reduced version of the manuals below to allow a better appreciation the amount of work put on this set.

Placement instructions. (image courtesy: Hobby Decal).

Placement instructions. (image courtesy: Hobby Decal).

Placement instructions. (image courtesy: Hobby Decal).

Hobby Decal didn´t forget the propeler blade logos and the trim tabs. All dashed lines showing the fastening position of movable surfaces fixing plates are included. These items are very susceptible to silvering, and very fragile in conventional decals.

The stencils for drop tanks and bombs are also in the sheet, but their placement, however, are not shown in the instructions. Of course we are plenty of photos showing the correct position. The fuel/oil/coolant triangles are offered with the option of applying them complete or the white background triangle first, and then the yellow one on top of it. The last option should be used in case you don´t agree with possible register problems.

Hobby Decal line of dry transfers are not cheap products, but worth every cent, in my opinion. Decals are more forgiving, sure. However, dry transfers undoubtly have they place in modeling:

you can apply dry transfers directly over flat paints, and they won´t detract from the final appearance of the model, as they are flat too.
they conform to the surface details without setting solutions, but you can use them to further persuade the dry transfer.
they are unbeatable for natural metal finishes, an old nemesis for water slide clear films (althought not the case here).

Be very gentle when applying hot thinners directly over them, because they may melt the transfers. If you are not convinced, you can always apply the dry transfers on a piece of clear decal film and use them as an ordinary decal.

Review sample compliments of Hobby Decal. Thank you for your support.