Mehusla ALPs Decals: True 1/144 Scale WWI German Balkan & Iron Cross Markings ~ 1914 to 1918
*BY POPULAR REQUEST, NOW SOLD AS SINGLE SETS*
These generic water-slide decals are suitable for customising 1/144 scale WWI German warplanes. Ideal for Wings of Glory models, there are sufficient crosses on each decal pair-set to cover three scouts / small observation aircraft. Several sets have alternative tail insignia (e.g. white lined or unlined crosses), plus the following supplementary decals:
- Three pairs of aircraft production numbers (e.g. Fok. Dr.I 166/17)
- Three sets of aircraft load information decals (apply beneath port side cockpit)
- Albatros upper-wing radiator decals - apply over lozenge decals instead of painting. (Excluding sheets 18-1 & 18-8.)
Mehusla decals are Copyright © 1/144 Direct, all rights
reserved. They are printed by Y-K
Japan using an ALPs printer. This is a five colour device which employs
dot-matrix style printing and allows the production of white decals on clear
film. Mehusla decals are
produced exclusively for ‘1/144 Direct’, e-bay store.
There are eight different sets of crosses in this series, suitable for every phase of German aircraft marking from 1914 to 1918, detailed below.
Table of Overall Cross Sizes:
Sheet | Description | Size Over Cross + Outline (mm) | Airframe Type, | |||||
|
| A | B | C | D | E | F | No. / year * |
YK-18.1 | Early Iron Cross | 11 | 7 | 7.7 | 4.5 | 3.25 | 3.25 | Eindeker EIII/15 |
YK-18.2 | Black Iron Cross | 9 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Albatros D.V/16 |
YK-18.3 | Iron Cross + Line | 10 | 8 | 7.4 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 3.5 | Albatros/17 |
YK-18.4 | Iron Cross on Field | 9.8 | 7.8 | 7 | 5.5 | 4.75 | 3.5 | Albatros DIII/18 |
YK-18.5 | Thick Beam Cross | 10 | 8.25 | 7 | 5.5 | 4.25 | 3.75 | Fok. Dr.I / 17 |
YK-18.6 | Basic Beam Cross | 10.25 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4.25 | 3.75 | Fok. D.VII /18 |
YK-18.7 | Beam + Broad Line | 10.25 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4.25 | 3.75 | Fok. Dr.I / 17 |
YK-18.8 | Thin Beam + Line | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | NA | Fok. D.VII /18 |
* The air-frame types tabled are not the only aircraft models that used the described cross.
History of Designs
YK-18-1 Broad-foot isernes kreuz (iron cross) decals, plain black & black on white field - Sept 1914 to July 1916. There was no official formula for cross sizes or designs during this period. Initially, crosses were only applied to wings and rudder. Fuselage crosses were specified at an unknown date. Plain black iron crosses without white fields were not uncommon. During the early war period, crosses were often applied to both upper and lower wing surfaces!
YK-18-4 Iron cross decals, black on white field - July 1916 to Oct 1916. The German Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (Idflieg) specified that crosses had to be applied on a white field and were to be 500, 600, 700, 1000, 1200 and 1400mm square. Idflieg also standardised the iron cross design: height = H, width of foot = 0.4H, and radius of arm = 1.3H. (Note: Fokker disregarded the July 1916 directive to apply a thin white surround and continued with the full white field until the beam cross was specified in 1918.)
YK-18-2 Iron cross decals, black - Sept 1914 to March 1918. These plain black decals comply with the sizes specified in 1916 but have no white field.
YK-18-3 Iron cross decals, black with white line - October 1916 to March 1918. The white field was eliminated, and replaced with a 50mm white outline. The 50mm was not rigidly adhered to by all manufacturers.
YK-18-5 Broad balkan kreuz (beam cross) decals, black with white outline - March to April 1918. To avoid any confusion with Allied aircraft cockade markings, Idflieg directed that the iron cross was to be replaced with a beam cross. In the field, the existing iron cross markings were simply over-painted by ground crews, hence the broad cross width which, of necessity, matched the broad foot of the over-painted iron cross.
YK-18-6 Beam cross, black with white outline - March to April 1918. Where aircraft were painted in the factory during this transitional period, a simple more balanced looking beam cross with thin white surround was not uncommon.
YK-18.7 Standard beam cross, black with broad white surround - April to May 1918. Idflieg finally issued specifications that beam crosses had to be 400, 600, and 1000mm square, with arms having a width-to-length ratio of 1:4. Wing and fuselage crosses were to have a 150mm white surround. The tail cross surround was often thinner and not applicable where the entire tail was painted white.
YK-18-8 Thin beam cross, black with white outline - May 1918 to Nov 1918. Idflieg issued specifications that the arms of the beam cross were to have a slimmer width to length ratio of 1:8, with a white border 1/4 width of the arm. The arms on fuselage and wings were to be full cord size with no white outline on cross ends. Note, from May to June 1918, Idflieg initially directed that the horizontal arm was to be shorter with a ratio of 4:5 of the vertical arm. Such decals have not been provided but can easily be created simply by cutting the horizontal arms to the appropriate length. In June 1918, Idflieg directed that both arms were to be the same length, as represented by the YK-18.8 decals, this specification remaining in force until the war's end.
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APPLYING ALPs DECALS
The methods
described below are intended for mature and experienced modelers. They
are unsuitable for children.
If
you have long thumb nails, trim them short before working with ALPs decals.
Surface printed film ink lifts off when touched or manipulated by fingernails!
Before
commencing, you may find it helpful to read the general guide in my e-bay store
for applying water slide decals by clicking this link : Decal Instructions.
The decals have
been printed on full page film using an ALPs printer. This
means that decals should be closely trimmed to remove surplus
film before immersing in water.
To avoid trapped
air beneath any water slide decal and the resulting unsightly sheen
this imparts to your model after decals dry, before commencing,
apply a light coat of high gloss acrylic varnish to the model's
surface and leave to dry.
I strongly
recommend the use of 'decent' small thin-bladed sharp scissors for cutting out
decals. (Course or blunt scissors can leave rough edges on the backing
paper/film, which can result in decal 'collapse and death' when trying to
remove them from the saturated backing paper.) Cut as close to the decal
artwork as possible, leaving the smallest surround of clear film.
It is essential
to use 'warm' water to soften water-slide decals. Keep the water warm
throughout decaling work. Only soak one decal at a time. Soak each decal for
between 10 to 15 secs, depending on water temperature. If it is not completely
mobile after 15 secs, to avoid the risk of it 'floating off', you can
remove decal from water and lay it backing paper down on
a dampened sheet of kitchen roll until it is fully mobile. Warning:
unless the backing paper is fully saturated and the film adhesive fully
softened before you try to slide the decal off, it may collapse!
On Shapeways'
models, or if your model has deep paneling or engraving, to get each decal to
fit as snugly as possible (for that professional printed-on appearance) use a
decal softener such as Micro-set. Apply the Micro-set to the model's surface
where the decal is to be placed and then carefully position the decal. After a
few moments, using a small square of folded damp kitchen towel, apply
increasing fingertip pressure to 'meld' the softened decal into the surface
detail.
To avoid any
confusion, using a DVD permanent marker, I number the blue Micro-set bottle and
cap with a large # 1 and the red Micro-sol bottle and cap with #
2. Micro-Clear, I mark with # 3.
To further
enhance the decals appearance, allow the decals to dry on the model for
approx 20 to 30 mins and then using a soft art brush, apply a quick generous
wash of Micro-sol to each decal's surface. The decals may wrinkle but do not
touch them! Wrinkles straighten out while the decals slowly meld to the model's
surface.
Where it is
necessary to apply one decal on top of another, for example an
Iron Cross onto streaked camouflage, apply a thin coat of acrylic gloss
varnish over the applied streaked cammo decal. Allow to fully dry
and then apply the Iron Cross decal using the Micro-set method described above.
When you have
completed all decal work on your model, to protect the full-film decal
paint (and yield a realistic finish!) it is essential to apply a thin coat(s)
of 'acrylic' mat varnish.
Note: avoid
enamel and all other spirit-based varnishes. These 'dissolve' full-film type
decal paint.
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For scale comparison, refer to
the guide in my e-bay store by clicking this link : Scale Comparison.
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POSTAGE AND PACKING
UK only: Postage free.
Rest of the world: First set as per listed
price. Each additional set + £0.10
Recorded Delivery & tracking is required on all transactions valued
£40.00 and over. Please await combined invoice which will include
the following:
|
Value of goods: |
£1 to £40 |
£41 to £70 |
£71 to £99 |
|
UK Recorded: |
£1 |
£5 |
£5 |
|
Overseas Recorded: |
£6 |
£6 |
£6 |
Goods outside UK are posted via standard international Air-mail.
Models and other bulky goods are mailed twice weekly, normally Wednesday
& Friday.
Decal orders are posted next working day when payment is received before
16:00 hours. When payment is received after 16:00 hours, decals are posted
within two working days.
Typical delivery time following dispatch: under 3 working days in UK / 5 to 8 working
days outside UK, but depending on location.
PAYMENT
Please complete payment within 3 days of purchase.
To reduce processing time of your order, if you intend to purchase other
decals, please
do not pay for items individually, but use basket until your
purchases are completed and then make a single payment on combined invoice.
Enjoy . . .
