Stencils

[Nigel Bunker]

I have finished painting my Revell 1/72 Typhoon, and i have put on the national and squadron markings.

But my heart sinks at the thought of applying 50 or so stencils to the airframe. My head says it must be done, but my heart says don't bother.

Does anybody else not like all those stencils, or am i the only one?

[Brian da Basher]

I don't build a lot of modern stuff, Mr. Bunker, but on all my projects, I tend to take an "impressionistic" approach. If you give the viewer the impression, then I think you've succeeded. Follow your gut and don't forget, this is supposed to be fun!

Brian da Basher

[Damian2]

I hate certain ones on a very personal basis. Like the ones for the prop blades from the Hasegawa AU-1. They suck and even after 48 hours stuck to me more than the prop.

So they got tossed.

And are not being replaced.

JMNs can just bite me for that...

[Rafael]

Bite you, D2?!?!

They'll eat me, cuz I am totally, definately, and more positively contrary to apply decals to my models. As with you, they stick more to me than the subject, so I enjoy a collection of "naked" airplanes!

Rafa

[Nick]

I put on the obvious stuff such as cockpit 'Open Here' and some 'Do Not Walk' wing markings. When it gets a bit anal-retentive with dozens of the damn things I just say 'STUFF IT'!!!!

Impressionist is the way to go unless you really want to all out and stun people. Remember, it's scale modelling so most wording is invisible in real life from that distance.....    

Nick B)  

[Archibald]

Hmmm this remind me my very first model - Revell F-104G, 1/72 scale, 1996-
There was HUNDREDS of TINY stencils on the decal set.    
I'd chosen the worst model to start modelling...  
Well I only put the bigger stencils. Needless to say, result was not concluding, but I took my revenge years later with another German F-104G...  

[dragon]

Should all stencils decals go on?  You need to ask, what scale:?
1/4- It is so close to the real thing you might as well, just to keep it real.
1/32- All stencils must be put on, especially if they are readable.
1/48- Some stencils should be put on.
1/72- Would it be obvious if the stencil was missing?  Does it even show?
1/144- There are stencils?
1/400- You're kidding, right?
1/700- You are suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive disorder.  I have been told it is treatable. B)

[Jennings]

Hmmm this remind me my very first model - Revell F-104G, 1/72 scale, 1996

Oh my... I'm betting I have t-shirts that are older than you are Archie

I certainly have kits in my stash that are older than you!

J

[Jennings]

Should all stencils decals go on?  You need to ask, what scale:?
1/4- It is so close to the real thing you might as well, just to keep it real.
1/32- All stencils must be put on, especially if they are readable.
1/48- Some stencils should be put on.
1/72- Would it be obvious if the stencil was missing?  Does it even show?
1/144- There are stencils?
1/400- You're kidding, right?
1/700- You are suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive disorder.  I have been told it is treatable. B)

Where would 1/350 fit in?  I provided prop blade logos for the 1/350 B-25s for the Trumpeter USS Hornet.  Although in hindsight I needn't have bothered, since the airplanes in the Tokyo mission didn't have them applied

J

[Maverick]

I agree with many here.  Stencils are for the most part un-noticeable (I build primparily in 72nd). I add those that are obvious, ejection seat warnings, armament panels, etc, but as for the plethora that festoon most modern aircraft (and some WW2 and earlier) I simply say nyet!  Bugger the JMNs, I don't do the whole show thing and build for my pleasure alone.

Regards,

Mav

[gooberliberation]

Bugger the JMNs..

Now THAT, I wouldnt want to do.  

[upnorth]

What I don't like about stencil decals is when the kit or decal manufacturer gives you stencils the aircraft never wore anyway except in some marking spec paper.

I've got a 1/72 Sukhoi SU-24 Fencer and aftermarket decals for it. After digging up several pics of Fencers off the internet and getting my hands on the beautiful Aerofax book on the beast, I can safely say there will be several stencils not going onto mine simply because I can not find a single picture of an SU-24 with such stencils on it.

It reminds me a bit of when RoG's 1/32 Hawker Hunter came out. It had a decal sheet the size of a football pitch and the bulk of it was stencils. A buddy I had who bought the kit said it was a total waste of a decal sheet as most pictures he had seen of Hunters showed that they had a minimum of stenciling. From all the pictures I've ever seen of Hunters, I'd have to say he was right.

[Spey_Phantom]

i love modeling modern aircraft/helo's, but that stinciling is something i hate most of all, if it doesnt stand out, i dont apply it    

[Archibald]

Hmmm this remind me my very first model - Revell F-104G, 1/72 scale, 1996

Oh my... I'm betting I have t-shirts that are older than you are Archie

I certainly have kits in my stash that are older than you!

J

Nothing surprising, I'm as old as the Falkland war    Guess why I'm so interested by this one ?  

[nev]

Well, for whiffs you can certainly get away with the bare minimum - bang seat warnings and the like, who is to say you are wrong?

In 72nd, many stencil decals are oversized and overbright, and look much more obvious on the model than they do on the real thing.

OTOH, some subjects are literally festooned in stencils, and look wrong without them (eg JASDF F-4s)