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First Look Review
132
RAF 8-Inch Serials
RAF 8-Inch Serial Numbers & Letters - WWII and 1946 Style
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by: Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]

Kit decals and aftermarket sheets for full colour schemes can be great, but you can hit the buffers if the serials have been printed in the wrong style or if you want to model a subject that hasn't been been covered as a ready-made set. This is when individual code letters and serials come into their own, and having a selection handy can be indispensable.

To meet this need Fantasy Printshop have released two sets of RAF 8" serials in 1:32, aimed at the WWII and immediate post-war period. The decals are available in two colours - Dull Red and Black - allowing you to tackle any standard subject of the era with confidence.

Each sheet contains multiple sets of letters and numerals in both solid and "stencil" styles, plus different forms in squared and rounded styles. At a glance I can see a dozen complete alphabets, so everything should be here to cover plenty of models, even allowing for the many variations in serial styles you may come across.

There are no instructions included, but you really don't need any - the only prerequisite is to have some accurate references for the particular airframe you're modelling.

As you'd expect with Fantasy Printshop , the printing is faultless - the definition is pin-sharp and excess carrier film has been kept to a minimum on the thin, glossy items. There's a little carrier film included to give strength where items might fold over on themselves, but it's trimmed so tight it won't interfere with accurate spacing of each element in a serial.

Each sheet is available now from Fantasy Printshop, Price: £6.95.

Conclusion
Sets like these are hugely useful for anyone tackling subjects that are otherwise overlooked or simply to replace inaccurate kit decals. While they may never set the proverbial world on fire, they are an important asset for anyone building WWII-era RAF subjects and I hope Fantasy Printshop also release them in other popular modelling scales.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent printing and a comprehensive collection of styles.
Lows: None noted.
Verdict: These are a very useful addition to any 1:32 WWII-era RAF aircraft modellers arsenal - whether it's to replace inaccurate markings or to tackle a subject that hasn't been covered in a ready-made sheet.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:32
  Mfg. ID: FP 1080
  Suggested Retail: £6.95
  PUBLISHED: Dec 19, 2018
  NATIONALITY: United Kingdom
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 88.37%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 92.00%

Our Thanks to Fantasy Printshop!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Rowan Baylis (Merlin)
FROM: NO REGIONAL SELECTED, UNITED KINGDOM

I've been modelling for about 40 years, on and off. While I'm happy to build anything, my interests lie primarily in 1/48 scale aircraft. I mostly concentrate on WW2 subjects, although I'm also interested in WW1, Golden Age aviation and the early Jet Age - and have even been known to build the occas...

Copyright ©2021 text by Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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