I have recently gotten my hands on two older 1:32 F-16 kits from the early 80’s. One I plan to build normally, the other I was hoping to make a USAF Thunderbird. One of the kits came with T-Birds decals, but I am afraid the are too old to be useful, so I hope to find new ones in case they fail. Any ideas on where I can locate a set in that scale?
You can get solid decal material in insignia red, white, and blue, and use the kit decal sheet to make templates. Copy the decal sheet and cut out the templates.
The vertical stabilizer and rudder, and the stabilator, can be painted white. Then the decal cut from the red template applied. The stars can be applied with paint sprayed over a masking template, made from the copy of the decals, with the stars cut out. Spray light coats so the paint does not bleed under the template.
The few decals that are relatively small can be used from the kit decals, if done carefully.
You could also use the decal copy to make masking templates and paint the colors on.
If you cannot find replacement decals it is going to be a lot of work to do a T-bird. It will be worth it. It is a great paint scheme IMHO. rangerj
Just wait, TwoBobs may be just the ticket…!!! I thought at one point Super Scale did the T-Birds…
Flaps up, Mike
If those two 1/32 kits you have are Hasegawa, they are models of the prototype F-16 which has several significant differences from the production models.
Protoype #1 had tail # 01567 and had the snazy red/white/blue paint job that the US sent to the 1975 Paris Air Show. The second prototype had the light gray/medium blue camouflage scheme and tail # 01568. Both were repainted in various colors during their lifetimes.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Blazer, if you can’t find a new sheet and aren’t sure what kind of shape your old decal is in, you might try this… Snip off a couple of pieces of clear area as big as you can find and see if they’ll slide and lay down without coming apart and don’t have any discoloration or other flaws.
If they aren’t in great shape, you might still be able to salvage the old decals with a couple of steps:
Spray a clear coat over the sheet. In some cases it can hold together an otherwise fragile specimen. If the glue isn’t holding well you can add a little white glue to your decal dipping water, and remember not to leave it in the drink more than a few seconds. Remember to do a couple of good clear coats after the decals are applied, since they can be prone to lifting or splitting otherwise, especially if you even have to handle the model.
Good luck!
Tally ho,
Larry
Ran across a set of them at my local Hobbytown and am pretty sure they ary 1/32 scale. will check and get back to you in a day or two.
My Bad wound up being revell F4-E Decals. Sorry to waste your time.