| Back in November of 2003, when I
posted a review of several
Leading
Edge CF-18 decal sheets, I mused in the writing that I really
wished I could find a set of these "20 Years" Hornet decals. I also
noted one of the decal sheets I was reviewing had a smudge. I contacted
Leading Edge by e-mail about the smudge and had a replacement in
short order.
What confused me was the size of the package when the replacement
arrived. I was expecting a six-by-nine inch mailer, which is all the
bigger the smudged decal sheet was. What I got was a nine-by-twelve inch
package. "Why so big?" I thought to myself as I opened the package.
Inside was the replacement sheet I requested. Additionally was a copy of
the "20 Years" Hornet decals. I was floored (and I still am). As I wrote
in the earlier posting, I had been searching for this sheet for some
time without any luck. To have one drop in my lap like this was beyond
words. Thank you Leading Edge.
The package delivering the decals was that large because the "20
Years" Hornet decal sheet is that large. The contents of what comes in
the package are in this picture. There is a huge 8.5x11 inch decal sheet
with all the major markings on it. Another smaller decal sheet provides
all the detail markings. A beautifully done color cover sheet is
included with a full four views of the aircraft to assist in painting
and decal placement. Then, there are four full notebook pages full of
extremely well done instruction telling exactly how to paint and decal
the model to achieve the final result. Some of the instructions are even
printed in full 1/48th scale.
Put simply, this decal set is everything I had read about it and then
some. You really need to see in person such a well made set of decals to
really appreciate their beauty. From the full color printing in the
decals to the attention to the finest details in the instruction sheets,
this is a true beauty of a decal set.
| To the right is a larger view of the full
color cover sheet for these decals. It is printed on a
smooth-surfaced photographic type of paper, not just laser
paper.
The detailing on this color cover sheet is great. You almost
could just use this sheet for finishing a Hornet model. Many
other decal companies would provide this alone for the
instruction, but the four page instructions provided by
Leading Edge go well beyond what this page shows and give
explicit detail instructions on exactly where to mask which
colors during painting so that the decals will align and
complete the aircraft's markings.
This is a very well thought out set of decals. |
|
 |
The following are images of the decals,
themselves. You will note that there are multiple sets of decals for the
upper and lower wings. Leading Edge has provided alternate decals
for the wings to assist the modeler with fitting the decals to different
model kits (with or without separate flaps).
Okay, I tried and failed. Short of finding something when I actually
use these decals, I can find nothing wrong with them. They are very
colorful, printed in register, with clear explicit instructions. They
provide extra decals to deal with varying kit shapes and details. And, I
really like the subject. What more could any modeler want?
Now, if I could only find some more images of the real "20 Years"
Hornet. I found one grainy shot on-line and two more in an Air Forces
Monthly special issue. I would really like to find a few more to round
out my collection of pictures before I start building the model.
A huge, big, enormous, whole-hearted thanks goes to Leading Edge
for providing me the review sample.
Highly Recommend (if you can find them)
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