US codes - numbers, letters - in black 1/48

[corporate]

I've found sheets by Techmod (Poland) at Hannants, very expensive, but can anyone suggest alternative products and sources? I need to vary some kit decals to create alternative aircraft, Argentine Falklands jets that appear to have been finished originally with US Navy style codes. Thanks.

Tony

[Giorgio N]

Superscale had sheets covering very type of US style lettering. These are OOP unfortunately, but can still be found around.

Regarding the techmod sheet, check that they are proper US Navy letters and not USAF letters: these are different, with the USN lettering having 60 degree corners, while the USAF ones have 45 degree corners.

If you need black ones, an alternative is printing them on clear decal sheet with a laser or inkjet printer.

[pigsty]

Fantasy Printshop is definitely work a look for this sort of thing.

[corporate]

Thanks for the tips, chaps - I looked at Fantasy on Ebay and they have a decent selection of USA codes in black 1/48, but only 45-degree types not the 60-degree mentioned by Giorgio as standard for USN aircraft... Will keep looking! I haven't yet tried printing my own but I ought to since I use Photoshop routinely.

Tony

[AdAstraMasks]

Tony,

We can do you paint masks for these if you wish. Send us an e-mail at custom@adastramasks.com if you are interested.

Best regards,

Ian

[Giorgio N]

If you decide to try and print your own, I have a set of USN style numbers I've drawn myself. If you tell me which codes you need, I can put them together from the individual letters a numbers and send them to you in photoshop psd format.

This is an example of some codes I made for an old Airfix skyraider. Whatever is in black on this model is a home made decal, including the small Bu.Nr.

The codes look fuzzy, but it's just an effect due to them being placed over milions of rivets... the decals are actually very sharp.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Giorgio N

[corporate]

If you decide to try and print your own, I have a set of USN style numbers I've drawn myself. If you tell me which codes you need, I can put them together from the individual letters a numbers and send them to you in photoshop psd format.......................

Giorgio, many thanks for your kind offer. Nice (wingless) Skyraider! Maybe this will prompt me finally to experiment with DIY decals, something that offers huge possibilities. I'll put together a list of the codes I need sometime today (work permitting) and PM you, also ask your advice about which decal material for inkjet and so on.

Thanks again, Tony

[Giorgio N]

Eh eh, the Skyraider is a very old kit I built as a kid. At some point I stripped the paint with the intention of rebuilding it... when I saw how different it is from a real Skyraider, i just repainted it and used it to test decals. I didn't glue the wings yet, so it was easy to remove them to show the codes better.

Rearding materials, I can tell you that you need special paper. I use Bare Metal Expert's Choice sheets. Little Car has them in the UK, others might have them too. Microscale decal film liquid is also required, although I've used some clear plastic spray coatings with success. Last but not least, some patience is really needed ! But as modellers, we should be used to this..