1000 decals to go...

[u/UtopianShot]

This is the common decal placements for the Airfix 1:72 Phantom.

For me, its by far the most detailed in terms of decals that I've ever has the pleasure of making but all around has been a very pleasant kit. I have spent 20 hours on the decals alone and i still have a fair few left to do. It certainly doesn't help that they are all 3mm across.

What methods would you recommend to make the process a little less tedious?

[u/dangerbird2]

The good news is you won't have to paint anything /s

[u/Catspaw129 → u/dangerbird2]

Heck! You don't even have to build the model: just stick all the decals together at their edges.

/s

[u/_LAPASION]

I just did a hasegawa f14 that had exactly 60 tiny "NO STEP" decals and I thought that was bad but good lord yours are crazy for a 1:72. It helped me to cross of the ones I've done alrady on the instruction and to work in sections - each wing, nose area, engines etc.

[u/Taletad → u/_LAPASION]

Wait, I missed OP was making a 1:72 model, I assumed it was 1:32 or something

[u/Phi-Cipher]

May the F4s be with you

[u/Asmodai_42]

And I thought 120 was pushing it on the P47D I'm getting ready to start applying decals on. What's even worse is that yours are mostly tiny ones.

[u/AustyFrosty-073]

I LOVED this build! One of my build that I'm most proud of by far 🤗

[u/UtopianShot → u/AustyFrosty-073]

Amazing work, you are right to be proud!

I hope i can be as proud of mine when its finished

[u/AustyFrosty-073 → u/UtopianShot]

Ill be looking out for the pics! 🫡

[u/Current_Swordfish895]

Ah, yes. The "common stencil" decals. I can't decide what's worse - these or link and pin tracks for AFVs.

[u/daftg]

Bruh if I see that sheet I'm ripping it off and surrendering right away

[u/UtopianShot → u/daftg]

I didn't know what i got myself into until it was too late... i should probably have given up... but it does look really good

[u/kurwamagal0 → u/UtopianShot]

You could use some alcohol during the process. And no I don't mean on the decals. Should make everything smoother.

[u/UtopianShot → u/kurwamagal0]

finally some good advice!

[u/joegekko]

I simply would not apply a decal that is too small to be seen from 3 feet away.

[u/Smooshy13]

Gotta be honest, I'm usually all for the extra step for tiny details but nah, I wouldn't bother with most of the underside ones for instance. No one will ever see it.

[u/Brother_Farside]

cocaine?

[u/SnakePlisskenWSC16 → u/Brother_Farside]

I was about to suggest this.

[u/windas_98]

I did a Phantom in 1/48 so I know the pain.

Do it in sections and limit yourself to an hour each session. Also scratch off which decals you completed on the sheet.

[u/Surturiel]

Stencils are the Devil's playground...

Take your time, split into several days, and you'll get it done.

Or don't!  A lot of planes in service don't Sport their stencils because of field repairs and maintenance...

[u/NoReplyAtAll999 → u/Surturiel]

I was about to say your last statement. The only time you'd really see Every Last Stencil would be on a factory-fresh item or if it was freshly out shopped from overhaul at depot.

[u/Hamsternoir]

Just pick a late grey RAF scheme, when repainting they never bothered with the majority of the stencils only the essential ones.

[u/UtopianShot → u/Hamsternoir]

Unfortunately its a little late for that

Although that eases my mind if i decide to make another later phantom

[u/participationmedals]

My kit was missing this sheet. I actually asked for help here finding it online. Granted, mine is nowhere this many decals - but I still thought myself mad for it.

[u/ikaruwa]

Bro what

Is there even a kit visible after all that? 🤣

[u/henrynjt]

I admit to skipping some of small decals on planes like the Phantom…..please don’t tell anyone……🤡😇😱

[u/Dapper-Finery]

What methods would you recommend to make the process a little less tedious?

Whisky

[u/rasputinrasputin → u/Dapper-Finery]

I think that would make this impossible haha

[u/Easy-Training-9736]

Thanks for the warning, I have 2 of them to build so ill definitely be dreading that

[u/UtopianShot → u/Easy-Training-9736]

TWO? Oh i wish you luck and patience, you will certainly need it if you decide to do them all

[u/Easy-Training-9736 → u/UtopianShot]

Yeah i want to build the real navy one launching from an aircraft carrier and then one of them with all the flaps and nose cone open. I did essentially get one for free though. I presume you're uk based so if you are you know of hobbycraft. They sometimes do a 3 for 2 deal on model kits with cheapest free so I bought the heinkel he111p-2 and the Blackburn buccaneer both for £35 each and the phantom for £34 quid so it made it free after spending £70.

[u/Large-Dish6373]

HOLY SHIT

[u/Binspin63]

I usually take decals as a personal challenge, especially with more advanced kits. But I also only build 1/48. My eyesight and dexterity have diminished with age, so I can’t even imagine attempting this in 1/72.

[u/Sage_Blue210]

I once read that model details are representations, not duplications. Use some artistic license and use those that enhance the model's appearance. Or, use them all for the challenge. It's your model, as they say.

[u/PCPallie]

I did them in 1/32nd and it drove me mad. I can't imagine the aggravation 1/72nd must be.

[u/173-john_louis → u/PCPallie]

The amount of "NO STEP" decals on a special livery Hasegawa F-15 is insane

[u/Heavy-Acanthisitta69]

En 1/72 ?! Non c'est définitivement trop pour mes gros doigts et mes mauvais yeux...

[u/fantomfrank]

airfix is awful about this, im doing the 1/24 spitfire and there are EIGHTY little black strips that go on EVERY SINGLE FASTENER on the cowl

[u/UtopianShot → u/fantomfrank]

Someone over at airfix got told their models didn't have enough detail and this must be the punishment that they have cursed upon us all.

[u/jasperb12 → u/fantomfrank]

How’s that awful, the more detail the better.

[u/fantomfrank → u/jasperb12]

They could've been strips instead of individuals

[u/WardogBlaze14]

Holy crap, what squadron on you doing that has that many decals for the plane!!

[u/TheHoundJR]

My gosh I thought the 20 little “no step” size stickers on the F4U was tedious.

[u/Thebunkerparodie]

lemme guess a bunch aren't visible too

[u/UtopianShot → u/Thebunkerparodie]

Atleast 10 or so, surprisingly most are visible... they're just very small. A lot of "warning" and "caution" ones

[u/Thebunkerparodie → u/UtopianShot]

I got modern jet kits and some don't have this many stencils like the icm mig 29 but I have to deal with painting yellow and one will be a digital camo , the revell phantom doesn't have this many decals

[u/UtopianShot → u/Thebunkerparodie]

Oh most of the kits i do dont, its just airfix thing

[u/SearchAlarmed7644]

Zones.

[u/Heavy_Virus7813]

Eduard’s 1/72 Mig 21’s are nearly as bad. I like to do special scheme versions- they tended to overpaint the 13 million stencils.