Subject: Re: Decal Sheet Review
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Jared Hooper" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 15:33:33 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jared Hooper 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:03 PM
  Subject: Decal Sheet Review

  DXM Decals www.dxmdecal.com

  1/72 JASDF F-15J/DJ Aggressors 

  DXMD72001

  $14.50 from DXM Decal

  Product Article by Jared Hooper

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  The F-15J and DJ license built by Mitsubishi in Japan for the JASDF (Japanese Air Self Defense Force) and are roughly similar to the United States Air Forces F-15C and D.  There are some differences in antenna fit, depending on which airframe update and time frame the modeler wishes to represent.  Information regarding the various upgrades and the specific configurations of the Japanese F-15s can be difficult to come by in the outside of Japan.  To solve this problem the best reference option is the Japanese language book “Model Art Profile #04 F-15 Eagle of JASDF.”  Released in 2009, and unfortunately out of print, this book is the definite reference on the F-15J/DJ.

  Until the United States Air Force added F-15s to the inventory of the reactivated the 65th Aggressor Squadron in 2006, the JASDF was the only nation to operate the F-15 in an Aggressor role.  The dedicated aggressor squadron, the “Hiko Kyodotai,” is stationed at Nyutabaru Air Force Base and wears the image of a hooded Cobra on the tail of their F-15s.  All or their aggressor aircraft start with the standard combination of light and dark ghost grey that adorns all Japanese F-15s.  Some of the most colorful camouflage schemes ever worn by an F-15 are then applied over these base grey colors; however one aspect makes modeling them rather difficult. 

  In a tribute to the traditional Japanese dedication and attention to detail, every individual stencil on the aggressor aircraft is masked off before the camouflage is applied.  Additionally, any vents and some panel lines are also masked off.  This leaves blocks of grey surrounding any stencils or other markings on the aircraft where the colorful camouflage has been applied.  If all the masking involved only simple forms, this would be a more realistic option in scale, but unfortunately many of the more complex stencils have uniquely shaped areas of grey surrounding them.  In scale the most popular method to solve this problem with decals.  This option prints blocks of grey on the decal sheet before printing the stencils themselves, creating an effect like that seen on the actual aircraft.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  In 1/72 scale there has been a few marking options for these aircraft available, and none of them ideal.  Until recently the only aftermarket option in 1/72 is the second F-15 Stencil sheet (JD-23) from Platz Decals in Japan.  Printed by Cartograf, they are high quality, but very hard to find and purchase outside of Japan.  While not specifically identified as being for Aggressors the Platz sheet includes a full set of grey backed stencils for either a single or two-seater.  The downside to this sheet is that it does not include any side numbers.  That means that the correct numbers would have to be sourced elsewhere to represent the desired aircraft, and then individually masked.

  The other option in 1/72 has been to purchase one of Hasegawa’s Aggressor reboxings of their new tool F-15 kit.  To date there have been six of these, four of the DJ, and two of various single seaters, all of which were limited edition releases.  Unless you were lucky enough to pick up boxing number 00276 they only provided the side number s for one or maybe two schemes.  In order to build any other schemes, the modeler would have to address the aforementioned difficulties with the side numbers. 

  A new decal maker on the scene is DXM (Double Excellent Model) from Taiwan, and their first release in 1/72 includes options for five different Aggressor F-15s.  The decals are printed in Taiwan and are suitably thin and glossy.  The decals themselves are very finely printed, providing more detail than can be read by the naked eye.  Also included on the sheet are three sets of extra numerals, enabling other side numbers to be created by the modeler.  All of the appropriate decals are printed with the aforementioned gray backing.  Two full sets of stencils are in included in the sheet, a definite plus.  Marking options include: 

  F-15DJ #52-8088 from 2005, which is painted with a light blue and dark blue camouflage pattern

  F-15DJ #32-8081 from 2009, which is painted with a black and while camouflage pattern

  F-15DJ #82-8091 from 2006, which is painted with a dark green and black camouflage pattern

  F-15J #92-8912 from 2008, which is painted with a sand, brown and green camouflage pattern

  F-15J #92-8906 from 2004, which is also painted with a black and white camouflage pattern

          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  What really sets this package apart; however, are the extras that are also included with the decals.  There are two rolls of masking tape in the bag, one in 1mm width, and another in 2mm width.  These will be especially useful to mask the individual panel lines that don’t receive the camouflage paint.  There is also a CD with high resolution line drawings illustrating the camouflage schemes, an interactive decal placement guide and a 34 minute video showing tips and techniques for building the Hasegawa kit into an aggressor.  The video is without sound, but includes English subtitles.  Finally there is a helpful animation that shows how to navigate the menus, and how to use the decal placement guide.

  I noted two areas of difficulty upon close inspection of this sheet.  On my example the grey color was printed slightly out of register with the other colors.  The rest of the colors are in perfect register with each other, only the grey seems to be just a touch off.  Secondly the numeral “1” is in some cases approximately .25mm taller than all of the other numerals present on the sheet.  This error is does not seem to be repeated across all of the instances where the number appears.  I plan on making a small slice with a sharp blade and shifting it slightly so that it matches the rest of the numerals.  It is in my opinion a minor, fixable mistake.

  To my knowledge there is no North American Distributor for DXM decals yet, but they are actively searching for a partner.  Work is already being done to import them to Europe as well, so hopefully they will soon be easier to find outside of eastern Asia.  Their website can be found at www.dxmdecal.com.

  Over all I am looking forward to using this decal sheet and seeing how it performs over panel lines and responds the standard setting solutions.

  Thank you to DXM Decal and Power Modeling Magazine in Taiwan for the review sample.

  "Jared Hooper"