From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Jared Hooper" References: Subject: Re: Decal Sheet Review Date: Sat, 2 Apr 2011 15:33:33 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0177_01CBF14B.57303750" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0177_01CBF14B.57303750 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 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 -----=20 From: Jared Hooper=20 To: submissions@arcair.com=20 Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:03 PM Subject: Decal Sheet Review DXM Decals www.dxmdecal.com 1/72 JASDF F-15J/DJ Aggressors=20 DXMD72001 $14.50 from DXM Decal Product Article by Jared Hooper Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg = here =20 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 =93Model Art Profile #04 F-15 Eagle = of JASDF.=94 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 =93Hiko Kyodotai,=94 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.=20 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=20 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=92s = 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.=20 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:=20 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 =20 Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg = here =20 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=92t = 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 =931=94 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" ------=_NextPart_000_0177_01CBF14B.57303750 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC = today. =20 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=20 hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's=20 watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on=20 Earth.
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Jared=20 Hooper
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 = 1:03=20 PM
Subject: Decal Sheet = Review

DXM Decals www.dxmdecal.com

1/72 JASDF = F-15J/DJ=20 Aggressors

DXMD72001

$14.50=20 from DXM Decal

Product Article by=20 Jared = Hooper

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


The=20 F-15J and DJ license built by Mitsubishi in Japan for the JASDF = (Japanese Air=20 Self Defense Force) and are roughly similar to the United States Air = Forces=20 F-15C and D.  There are some differences in antenna = fit,=20 depending on which airframe update and time frame the modeler wishes = to=20 represent.  Information regarding the various = upgrades and=20 the specific configurations of the Japanese F-15s can be difficult to = come by=20 in the outside of Japan.  To solve this problem the = best=20 reference option is the Japanese language book =93Model Art Profile = #04 F-15=20 Eagle of JASDF.=94  Released in 2009, and = unfortunately out of=20 print, this book is the definite reference on the = F-15J/DJ.


Until=20 the United States Air Force added F-15s to the inventory of the = reactivated=20 the 65th Aggressor Squadron in 2006, the JASDF was the only = nation=20 to operate the F-15 in an Aggressor role.  The = dedicated=20 aggressor squadron, the =93Hiko Kyodotai,=94 is stationed at Nyutabaru = Air Force=20 Base and wears the image of a hooded Cobra on the tail of their=20 F-15s.  All or their aggressor aircraft start with = the=20 standard combination of light and dark ghost grey that adorns all = Japanese=20 F-15s.  Some of the most colorful camouflage schemes = ever=20 worn by an F-15 are then applied over these base grey colors; however = one=20 aspect makes modeling them rather difficult.


In a tribute to the traditional Japanese = dedication=20 and attention to detail, every individual stencil on the aggressor = aircraft is=20 masked off before the camouflage is applied.  = Additionally,=20 any vents and some panel lines are also masked off.  = This=20 leaves blocks of grey surrounding any stencils or other markings on = the=20 aircraft where the colorful camouflage has been applied.  = If=20 all the masking involved only simple forms, this would be a more = realistic=20 option in scale, but unfortunately many of the more complex stencils = have=20 uniquely shaped areas of grey surrounding them.  In = scale=20 the most popular method to solve this problem with decals.  = This option prints blocks of grey on the decal sheet before = printing=20 the stencils themselves, creating an effect like that seen on the = actual=20 aircraft.


Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg


In=20 1/72 scale there has been a few marking options for these aircraft = available,=20 and none of them ideal.  Until recently the only = aftermarket=20 option in 1/72 is the second F-15 Stencil sheet (JD-23) from Platz = Decals in=20 Japan.  Printed by Cartograf, they are high quality, = but=20 very hard to find and purchase outside of Japan.  = While not=20 specifically identified as being for Aggressors the Platz sheet = includes a=20 full set of grey backed stencils for either a single or=20 two-seater.  The downside to this sheet is that it = does not=20 include any side numbers.  That means that the = correct=20 numbers would have to be sourced elsewhere to represent the desired = aircraft,=20 and then individually masked.


The=20 other option in 1/72 has been to purchase one of Hasegawa=92s = Aggressor=20 reboxings of their new tool F-15 kit.  To date there = have=20 been six of these, four of the DJ, and two of various single seaters, = all of=20 which were limited edition releases.  Unless you = were lucky=20 enough to pick up boxing number 00276 they only provided the side = number s for=20 one or maybe two schemes.  In order to build any = other=20 schemes, the modeler would have to address the aforementioned = difficulties=20 with the side numbers.


A new=20 decal maker on the scene is DXM (Double Excellent Model) from Taiwan, = and=20 their first release in 1/72 includes options for five different = Aggressor=20 F-15s.  The decals are printed in Taiwan and are = suitably=20 thin and glossy.  The decals themselves are very = finely=20 printed, providing more detail than can be read by the naked = eye. =20 Also included on the sheet are three sets of extra numerals, = enabling=20 other side numbers to be created by the modeler.  = All of the=20 appropriate decals are printed with the aforementioned gray=20 backing.  Two full sets of stencils are in included = in the=20 sheet, a definite plus.  Marking options include:=20


F-15DJ #52-8088 from 2005, which is painted with a = light blue and=20 dark blue camouflage pattern


F-15DJ #32-8081 from 2009, which is painted with a = black and=20 while camouflage pattern


F-15DJ #82-8091 from 2006, which is painted with a dark = green and=20 black camouflage pattern


F-15J=20 #92-8912 from 2008, which is painted with a sand, brown and green = camouflage=20 pattern


F-15J=20 #92-8906 from 2004, which is also painted with a black and white = camouflage=20 pattern


 =20
Steve Bamford=20 will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here=20


What=20 really sets this package apart; however, are the extras that are also = included=20 with the decals.  There are two rolls of masking = tape in the=20 bag, one in 1mm width, and another in 2mm width.  = These will=20 be especially useful to mask the individual panel lines that don=92t = receive the=20 camouflage paint.  There is also a CD with high = resolution=20 line drawings illustrating the camouflage schemes, an interactive = decal=20 placement guide and a 34 minute video showing tips and techniques for = building=20 the Hasegawa kit into an aggressor.  The video is = without=20 sound, but includes English subtitles.  Finally = there is a=20 helpful animation that shows how to navigate the menus, and how to use = the=20 decal placement guide.


I=20 noted two areas of difficulty upon close inspection of this = sheet. =20 On my example the grey color was printed slightly out of = register with=20 the other colors.  The rest of the colors are in = perfect=20 register with each other, only the grey seems to be just a touch=20 off.  Secondly the numeral =931=94 is in some cases=20 approximately .25mm taller than all of the other numerals present on = the=20 sheet.  This error is does not seem to be repeated = across=20 all of the instances where the number appears.  I = plan on=20 making a small slice with a sharp blade and shifting it slightly so = that it=20 matches the rest of the numerals.  It is in my = opinion a=20 minor, fixable mistake.


To my=20 knowledge there is no North American Distributor for DXM decals yet, = but they=20 are actively searching for a partner.  Work is = already being=20 done to import them to Europe as well, so hopefully they will soon be = easier=20 to find outside of eastern Asia.  Their website can be found at=20 www.dxmdecal.com.


Over=20 all I am looking forward to using this decal sheet and seeing how it = performs=20 over panel lines and responds the standard setting=20 solutions.


Thank you=20 to DXM Decal and Power Modeling Magazine in Taiwan for the review=20 sample.


"Jared=20 Hooper"

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