History

After the end of the Second World War, the world's major Air Forces foresaw that jets would be the future of air combat. The RCAF wanted to use Meteors, but due to supply problems would up using de Havilland Vampire Mk. 3s to gain their early jet fighter experience.

First Impressions

This set provides markings for one aircraft from each of 410 Squardon and 442 Squadron in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Each subject is brightly coloured as was the fashion of the day.

Sufficient decals are provided to do both aircraft.

decal sheet

This set is contained on one rather small sheet, which makes sense because the vampire is a rather small aircraft.

Suficient markings are provided to do 410 Squadron's blue-nosed aircraft with the RCAF's short-lived blue and red maple leaf roundels as they appeared in 1949 and one of 442 (RCAF Auxiliary) Squadron's "Bat faced" Vapires from the squadron's days at Sea Island in the early 1950s. The markings are all neatly arranged on the sheet.

instruction sheets

The instructions come on one 8 1/2 X 11 sheet printed in full colour. It shows top and bottom, left and right side views of both subject aircraft. There is a note on the instructions regarding the uncertainty of the exact shade of blue used on 410's Vampires. Modellers who distrust the shade printed on the decal are advised to mask and paint the colour flash.

The instruction sheet mentions that the decals may be harmed by strong setting solutions. I did a test using portions of the incorrect fuselage flash and my poor old knocked-about Revell 1/72 Voodoo.

• 1. Solvaset
  
• 2. Micro Sol
  
• 3. Micro Set
  
• 4. No setting solution
  

The results show that used carefully, Solvaset did not damage this decal, and that used without any setting solution at all, the decal still conforms to the moulded detail. These days the question is moot given that Canada Customs does not allow Solvaset into the country, so obeying the instructions about its use is an easy decision.

This decal sheet is avalable for purchase directly from Canuck Model Products' website.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.