Antrvm Ratvs - Hobby Decal Bf-110 stencils in 1/32 scale

Hobby Decal Bf-110 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:	- One printed sheet 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.

Another great set of dry transfers by Hobby Decal. Product ST32006 comes in a single sheet, printed in six(!) colors. This time the target (no pun intended) is the Messerschmitt Bf-110 - a long overlooked subject. The Revell Bf-110 kit is currently out of production (although still easily found) but you now have the magnificent Dragon offering, and there are very few aftermarket decals for them.

As usual, the quality of HobbyDecal printing is outstanding, and the register is perfect in my sample. The set has many stencils and markings in common with other Luftwaffe sets reviewed previously. You can use it on virtually any Bf-110 version.

I mentioned in the previous reviews that Hobby Decal has choosen to not include the placement instructions, and you had to download the necessary files from their internet page. At the time I was writing this review, I received all the instructions of my samples, indicating that the folks there are now shipping the sheets with printed instructions. A nice touch to those ´non-internet´ modelers. Hobby Decal product numbers indicate the current version of the set, showing that they care about possible future corrections.

Just like any item 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).

All the red walk-on dashed lines are included, as well as the fastening position of movable surfaces fixing plates. These items are very susceptible to silvering, and very fragile in conventional decals (when included). Moreover, Hobby Decal didn´t forget the propeler blade logos. Even the manufacturer identification plate is included, but in this case the lettering should be silver instead of the white provided in the sheet. I guess HobbyDecal simplified things here to avoid another color layer to take care of single item.

I compared all stencils in the sheet with AJ Press Aircraft Monograph #6. Pages 44-45 of the book brings drawings of all the stencils and their correct placement. This sheet not only provides all the items listed in the book, but also a few more. Except for the manufacturer plate aforementioned, I didn´t find any other miss.

The stencils for the fuselage rack is included, as well as the drop tanks lettering. The placement of the later, however, are not shown in the instructions. Of course we are plenty of photos showing their position, as these tanks were also used with the Bf-109 and the Fw-190.

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 eventual out of register problems. You have the option of using two types of oil flags (Rötring, an oil trade mark, or the usual C3) to be placed on top of the engine nacelles, just aft the engines. Check your references to know which one to use.

I´ve alse measured some of the items and compared with original blueprints: they are perfectly in scale.

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.