Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hi all,

Just wondered how 21st and BBi apply the markings to their planes and vehicles. I'm a model maker and do use the airbrush quite a bit, but for the life of me I could not replicate the markings that they manage to apply. They all seem to be painted on? How is this achieved? I am amazed, just the love the fact that they don't use decals which would obviously have a backing film. The tiny stencils and the national insignias, all appear to painted on like the real thing. It's one of the reasons I got into collecting the planes. Any ideas how this is achieved- is it computer controlled? Can't believe that the production lines have airbrush maestros handpainting everything?

a process is used that is very similar to printing. So the markings are not decals or painted on but actually printed onto the surface of the model with a super fast drying ink.

aferguson wrote:a process is used that is very similar to printing. So the markings are not decals or painted on but actually printed onto the surface of the model with a super fast drying ink.

Aferg is right.. The process is called tampo-printing

You can sometimes tell that they are printed (without having know of the exact tampo-printing process beforehand) as sometimes the markings do not quite line up, overlap, or are tilted.

Thanks guys, had no idea but impressive nonethless. Just looking at some of the large national insignias painted on the bubble top P-47's particularly Eileen there's a feathered effect which to me looked as if it was airbrushed on. But hey I'm probably wrong, thanks for the input.

Mike wrote:

"For JoeS

For your enquiry on insignias.


On tampo printing insignias...the process is a rapid dry ink and a series of "masks" ( like a stencil) each colour is applied separately and by a machine...but essentially it is a hand held process to guide and position the mask..which is why you see some in-consistency in location.

Collectors would be very surprised to learn how many processes a model goes through in the manufacturing process...and still the price is so reasonable."

Aferg thanks for posting Mike's unexpected response to my question!

Message for Mike- thank you for taking the time to enlighten me on the subject. I'm certainly getting the impression that each plane goes through alot of processing prior to packaging. I'm an injection model making convert to 1/18 scale. I used to be a die hard model builder, but with what's being put out ready made, and the little time for such intensive modelling, I feel I'm getting a great deal. Thanks again for your reply.

Also in response to your assuring words, I'll 'hang in there' until the Corgi realises the market potential for 1/18 here in the UK. At a recent airshow a supplier- Aviation Retail Direct sold their entire complement of Wolf F-16's. They were stacked high, but two hours later they were gone. Thanks again.

Regards

Joe.