Instrument Dial, Placard and Dataplate Decals

Airscale, 1/48 and 1/32 scales

Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Airscale launched their range of their simple but very effective instrument dial and placard sets back in 2011. They have made their name mainly based on their large range of WWI and WWII sets, available in 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scales. A few years ago they expanded their range to include early jets too.

Airscale has now applied their winning formula to modern aircraft cockpit instruments and placards in 1/32 and 1/48 scales.

The concept is very simple. Airscale provides individual decals in sets that may be used to enhance a kit cockpit or instrument panel. The individual decals may also be used to help scratch build a new instrument panel if you are not happy with the kit offering. The dial decals may also be used as individual overlays for a kit's plastic instrument panel. This is especially relevant if the kit has flat disks for the dials (such as most Tamiya 1/48 scale kits).

I find that the placard and dataplate decals really add character to a cockpit too.

The four new sets for modern aircraft are:

• AS32 DAN - 1/32 Modern Cockpit Dataplate and Warning Decals

• AS48 DAN - 1/48 Modern Cockpit Dataplate and Warning Decals

• AS32 HAC - 1/32 Modern Cockpit Instruments

• AS48 HAC - 1/48 Modern Cockpit Instruments

The decals are printed perfectly by Fantasy Printshop. Colour saturation is good, and carrier film is both thin and barely extends beyond the individual decals.

Some accessories might be described as quiet achievers. They are simple in concept, easy to use but they have a major impact on many models that you will build.

In my opinion, Airscale's instrument, cockpit placard and dataplate decals fall into this category. These markings will add an authentic finishing touch to virtually any modern aircraft cockpit that you are working on in 1/48 or 1/32 scale. The benefit from these decals increases with the scale too - they will look particularly good in 1/32 scale cockpits.

I have already used Airscale decals in many WWII projects including an Eduard 1/32 scale Bf 109 E-4/B, Tamiya's 1/32 scale P-51D Mustang, PCM's 1/32 Hurricane Mk.I and Great Wall Hobby's 1/48 scale P-61A Black Widow. In all cases, they have been a valuable addition and I have been delighted with their application an appearance.

Make sure you have Airscale decals at your elbow next time you are detailing a modern cockpit!

Highly Recommended.

Airscale Products are available online from their website

Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 1 April, 2016
Last updated 3 April, 2016

Back to HyperScale Main Page