History

The RCAF is justly famous for the amazing commemorative colour schemes it applies to its aircraft for important anniversaries. These two aircraft are no exception.

First, 401 Squadron has painted one if its CF-18s as the annual display bird for airshows. 2015 being the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, it's entirely appropriately painted in a scheme reminiscent of the scheme the squadron's Hurricanes wore during the battle.

The second scheme depicts the special scheme worn on Sea King 12434 on the occasion of the type's 50th anniversary of entering RCN service in 2013. Special gold and blue markings were applied overtop the regular operational grey colour scheme.

First Impressions

These sets are produced to Canuck Decals usual high standard. The decal printing is crisp and carrier film kept to the absolute minimum. There is one small smudge on the review sheet, the first I've ever seen on a Canuck decals sheet. I think that it can be sorted out by careful trimming and a touch up with paint, but since it's a generic grey roundel, replacing it is straightforward, and I am confident that this smudge is confined to the review sheet only. The instruction sheets are also printed to the same high standard.

Decal Sheets

Set No. 035-48 consists of one sheet with all the necessary markings printed on it. A full set of stencils is provided, meaning that the kit decals will not be required. There is actually very little in the way of special markings for this scheme; most of it is the camouflage paint job.

Set No. 032-48 consists of two sheets. The first contains the bulk of the markings including the blue banners for the fuselage sides, and large yellow portions of the nose markings. The second sheet reproduces the nose markings in a more correct gold tone for those modellers who would prefer to reproduce the metallic tone the original had. Instructions for custom mixing the paint are included.

Instruction Sheets

The Sea King instructions come on 8 1/2 X 11 sheets printed in full colour. It shows top and bottom, left and right side views of the subject aircraft. There is an addendum sheet describing the metallic gold which was painted on the nose, and also a comprehensive set of instructions detailing the necessary modifications needed to produce a Canadian Sea King from the Hasegawa kit.

The F-18 instructions are printed in greyscale, but they are more than sufficient to complete the model properly. The correct shades for the custom-mixed camouflage colours are detailed using Tamiya paint mixes.

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 from the Voodoo sheet 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.


UPDATE: I have been contacted by Canuck Model Products with an offer to replace the smudged sheet. Canuck Models stands behind their product and will not knowingly allow a defective product to escape into the wild. In the rare event one does, they will replace it without question. Buy with confidence.

This decal sheet is available for purchase directly from Canuck Model Products' website. These special schemes often sell out quickly.

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