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Thread: New Decal sets 1/144 Direct

  1. #1

    Default New Decal sets 1/144 Direct

    Last weekend I was chatting with Flying Helmut who was quite enthusiastic about some new decal sets currently being designed by Mehulsa/ 1/144 Direct on eBay.
    After seeing the scans Tim had
    I contacted Mehulsa myself and am also quite excited now myself.
    It is intended to make a number of Squadron sets of decals for, initially, Battle of Britain.
    Each decal set will give enough for 6 Brit squaron aircraft and 8 a German fighters.

    Initially the decals will include 609 Sqn (Spitfires) and 303 (Hurricanes)
    III9/KG53, 1.2/KG53 both He111, a Schwarm each from Gruppe 1,2,3&4
    The side decals are an all in one, so includes letter Roundal or cross and letter/ number, all correctly spaced so you cut out the whole decal and place on the side of the aircraft.

    These are due out in the next few weeks and will expand if the range is successful.
    After speaking to Matt, they will all be released in 1/144, 1/200, 1/285-1/300 and 1/350. Comments / requests always welcome.
    In fact I asked about 19 Sqn and I received a mock up set of 19 Sqn decals a short while later.
    I will look forward to seeing if these actually get made as I will indulge.
    I can't post pics as yet, due to obvious reasons but will ask if Mehulsa is ok with me doing so.
    My impression and I know Tim is the same, is oh yes please.
    Keep a watch out chaps and if successful you may get your favourite unit

  2. #2

  3. #3

    Thumbs up

    Oh goodie! More cool decals.
    Hopefully some Pacific Area ones eventually.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by gully_raker View Post
    Oh goodie! More cool decals.
    Hopefully some Pacific Area ones eventually.
    hi Baz, Matt is open to suggestions/ requests for units for this new range.

  5. #5

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    That's going to fill a gap in the market & make for a lot of happy gamers - well played Matt !

  6. #6

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    I love Mehulsa's decals, Chris. It's nice to see his openness to meeting customer requests. His site on ebay uk is lots of fun to stumble through and discover just what's available for repaints/new models. As I get into the WW2 side of things (eventually...) the new sets will come in handy.

    All the best,
    Matt

  7. #7

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    The good news is that Mehulsa has joined the Drome as of this evening.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  8. #8

    Mehusla
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    Many thanks for the welcome. Look forward to becoming acquainted.

    Matt

  9. #9

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    Great to hear, Rob! His inclusion here can't do anything but help broaden the availability of choice for those of us who like to build or repaint - and hopefully it will help his bottom line, too.

    I shall have to go welcome him officially after I post this...

    All the best,
    Matt

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mehusla View Post
    Many thanks for the welcome. Look forward to becoming acquainted.

    Matt
    Outstanding news! Welcome to the 'Drome, Matt!

  11. #11

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    Welcome Matt, good to see you here

  12. #12

    Mehusla
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    Thanks, all. But before we can fly together, which I'm looking forward to, I may need to master navigation in the Aerodrome...

    Cheers, Matt

  13. #13

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    Glad you're here, Matt! You'll have fun stumbling around the site - I know I always do...

    All the best,
    Matt

  14. #14

    Mehusla
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    Morning 'chaps',

    Love that collective noun, and I suspect here in the Aerodrome it will not sound out of place or affected. I was hoping to post some images of the proposed new decal range for discussion, but realised last night, having browsed the site, that it could well be considered advertising. My aim was to invite comments on the make-up, range, preferred squadrons, etc., and so I've pushed a request upstairs for clarification. Meanwhile, I've posted draft images into my 144Direct Facebook page.

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006253787477

    The series has gone through several evolutions. The final RAF fighter set design will be as per the RAF Squadron 19 set (requested by Boney10) and include '1941, daylight fighter fuselage bands' + '1942, larger diameter underwing roundels.

    Happy gaming, Matt
    Last edited by Mehusla; 04-05-2015 at 12:44.

  15. #15

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    Good morning O Wingman.
    I'm sure you will soon get to grips with the idiotsyncrasies of the site that has become a second home to so many of us.
    Your decals have been a Godsend to many of us and with these new ones pending I'm sure that will continue to be the case.
    It is just good to get the chance to say thanks in person.
    Incidental to your first remark here, "chaps" is indeed almost apropos on the Drome. To be politically correct I will sometimes use the phrase chaps and chapesses, but none of the ladies here seem to mind being referred to as chaps. In modern parlance it seems to have lost its specific gender connotation anyway.
    Fly safe, and watch your six.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  16. #16

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    Welcome Mehusla Your decals I bought on Ebay are Enjoy your stay in the Drome
    <img src=http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=2554&dateline=1409073309 border=0 alt= />
    "We do not stop playing when we get old, but we get old when we stop playing."

  17. #17

    matt56's Avatar May you forever fly in blue skies.
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    I really like the idea of a combined side/fuselage decal, Matt! It certainly will save time for applying decals to generic aircraft. And one could always cut and mix and match for specific aircraft...or are you combining the national markings and letter/symbol codes to replicate specific aircraft for those squadron sheets?

    ANYWAY...these will make it easier to do up planes when I take the WW2 plunge...

    All the best,
    Matt

  18. #18

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    Oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh , thank you Matt, I will certainly be buying a Set of those 19 Sqn decals.
    I hope you can post the pics here although I understand your concern, as
    I told you, you will find your decals in use quite a bit on this site, so if they are used to illustrate the new sets and to solicit ate comments, I don't see an issue, but you right to check.
    Heading over to your facebook page now to drool

  19. #19

    Mehusla
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    Hi Matt,

    WWII waits with baited breath . . .

    Yes, where space allows per sheet, I'm designing the decal sets to include spare letters / numbers / etc to allow flexibility with mix-and-match also in mind. I'm hoping to include perhaps one extra roundel, tail flash, etc., to cater for 'accidents' when applying. Some sets are fully generic, like the Bf.109. I haven't checked yet - time constraints while 'scrambling' to get the Battle Britain series completed - but I'm hoping these can also be applied to different periods and other later types - e.g Fw190A, but I'll need to check this out before listing the decals.

    Matt

  20. #20

    Dom S's Avatar
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    Yes, 109 style side codes are fine for 190s too - some new ones were added when units were enlarged, but the older markings were still used, just not necessarily by the same subunit. (Eg. An early war 4th staffel marking would become a 5th staffel marking later on.) The only bit that really dates for the fighter side markings is the use of red numerals, which were mainly early in the war. There's a great summary here:

    http://rhorta.home.xs4all.nl/jgmark.htm

  21. #21

    Mehusla
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    Hi Dom

    Thanks for that. It was really the height / placement of the font that I had concerns about, although I hope they will prove to be compatible. I swithered about whether to use red or black for the Bf.109 Gruppe II markings on this Battle of Britain Series because of the restricted use of red. The truth is, I adore red markings on German aircraft, so went with this colour especially since I wanted them for applying to my own models. If the series proves sufficiently popular - it's impossible to predict - then later I hope to produce a supplementary black set. For reference, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #25, record that one of the earliest attacks by a Bf.110 Zerstorer was carried out in Poland . . . against a Ju.87! The Zerstorer pilot, Falck of 2./ZG 76, spotted an aircraft with flashes of red on the upper wings, and assuming this was over-painting of white on Polish insignia, dived to attack. Fortunately his aim was off, for he finally recognized that it was a Stuka with a red letter on the upper wing. Osprey #25 also state that it was Falk's reporting of this that led to the over-painting of such markings on German aircraft and the development of the more distinctive broad-chorded Balkenkreuz. So even before the conflict between German red markings v the Soviet Red Star, red was becoming questionable - a lesson the British and Americans would subsequently learn in the Pacific theatre.

    Cheers, Matt

    P.S. We shouldn't think too harshly of the Zerstorer incident, reportedly the first RAF pilot killed in air combat was through 'friendly fire' during the Battle of Barking Creek.
    Last edited by Mehusla; 03-05-2015 at 05:00.

  22. #22

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    Great a bit more info to add to my growing knowledge about these strange WW2 variations.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  23. #23

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    Hi Matt, welcome to the drome
    just back from your FB page, my wallet is already trying to hide, I have these Dornier 17s and Ju88s and Heinkels and the list goes on

  24. #24

    Mehusla
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    Hi John,

    Ju.88s are next on the list; I had hoped to start yesterday but other things (like learning to navigate through the Aerodrome Forum) took my attention. I'm considering Blenheims after the Ju.88s for a bit of balance, so any thoughts on preferred squadrons welcome. I also want to fit in Ju.87s and Dorniers . . . but accurate research / good source photographs are the time swallowing hurdles for each set. So, once again, any help, references and photographs especially profiles (of both sides where possible) are most welcome.

    Matt

  25. #25

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    Hi Matt,
    Welcome to the 'drome!
    With the decals you have shown on facebook if you are planning on also doing them in 1/144 will you make the sheets larger or omit some choices due to the larger size in 1/144?
    AND you know that Blenheim decals are MOST welcome in BOTH 1/200 and 1/144 too

    regards
    Peter

  26. #26

    Mehusla
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    Good evening, Peter,

    Or is it morning where you are? Thanks for the welcome. Re the Battle of Britain releases, although the larger 1/144 sets are still evolving because of the size/capacity issues you rightly questioned, to avoid compromising the available decals per set, I'm leaning toward supplying them in complimentary pairs. The primary sheet in each fighter set (e.g. Spitfire or Hurricane) will be wing roundels and flashes. The supplementary sheet(s) with specific squadron markings (e.g. say 19 or 609 squadron) will complete a pair-set. This will enable additional squadrons to be attached as supplementary sheets . . . when time allows.

    I'm delighted to say that a limited range of the first printed sets have just arrived in stock, so they should be listed by the weekend, with more to follow directly.

    Cheers, Matt

  27. #27

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    morning actually (11:20 AM)
    That sounds like a very sensible way of doing the 1/144 decals

  28. #28

    Mehusla
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dom S View Post
    Yes, 109 style side codes are fine for 190s too - some new ones were added when units were enlarged, but the older markings were still used, just not necessarily by the same subunit. (Eg. An early war 4th staffel marking would become a 5th staffel marking later on.) The only bit that really dates for the fighter side markings is the use of red numerals, which were mainly early in the war. There's a great summary here:

    http://rhorta.home.xs4all.nl/jgmark.htm
    Hi again, Dom,

    I've compared the measurements for the crosses and Gruppe markings for the Bf.109 v Fw.190, and am pleased to confirm the fuselage combination sets are all suitable for Fw.190As. They will not be suitable for Fw.190Ds. The size of the balkencreuz on several of the Fw.190A aircraft profiles I measured were marginally smaller on later models, but I'm being picky and certainly this should not be an obstacle for 1939-42.

  29. #29

    Dom S's Avatar
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    Result - always handy if you can get double duty from them - my 1/300 ones happily get used on both types.

  30. #30

    Mehusla
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    Yes, Dom,

    "Double duty" is indeed a welcome real bonus. I carefully examined the Battle of Britain Bf 109 decals over a wide range of later Fw 190s, and while as an obsessive accurist I might argue that the Gruppe mark abaft the balkencreuz is a tad above fuselage centre on Fw 190s, while on some staffels the balkencreuz appears 'marginally' large, this is magnifying glass territory, and virtually impossible to see, certainly below 1/144 scale. These variables are so tiny that, as you say, Bf 109 decals are well within acceptable tolerances for Fw 190A's.

    Delighted to say that the first batch of Spitfire and Bf 109 decals were released yesterday on e-bay. Others to follow.

    Happy gaming, all!

  31. #31

    Mehusla
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    Morning, Chaps,

    I've exchanged several e-mails with Herr Oberst, and regret to advise you that in my initial excited enthusiasm to chat with you about my Battle of Britain 75th anniversary commemoration range of decals, I've trampled over the site rules regarding advertising. I do apologise to all concerned and hasten to add that advertising was certainly not the focus of my coming to party with you in the Drome. In conclusion I have been informed by Herr Oberst, quote:

    "In regards as to how you should proceed on the site, as a non site sponsor/advertiser, your postings there should be that of a normal player and not as a business. This would include not using the site to advertise current or new releases as well as using the site to inquire about what types of decals the other users might like to see."


    Unfortunately, this rules out much that I'd be happy to discuss.

    Kind regards,

    Matt

  32. #32

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    Hi Matt welcome to the Drome. Love the decals. I have a feeling you could be getting quite a few PMs requesting special runs , me included


    I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
    Coming down is the hardest thing

  33. #33

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    Hi Matt, sorry to hear about the restrictions, but I can certainly understand Herr Oberst's (and the Aerodrome's) position.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mehusla View Post
    Unfortunately, this rules out much that I'd be happy to discuss.
    I hope this does not preclude you from maintaining a presence here... perhaps (I know nothing of the specifics) a look into becoming a site sponsor would permit some latitude? Or, if you're a clever-handed modeler -- as are many here -- you could display your wares via well-documented AARs?

    Either way, I'm pretty sure Paul has the right of it... you'll most likely receive a number of PM enquiries concerning the product regardless.

    Best of luck, either way.

    Chris

  34. #34

    Dom S's Avatar
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    Unfortunately it's always going to be tricky ground - the fact that the site is effectively a commercial competitor rather than a neutral observer of the hobby is going to make things awkward.

  35. #35

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dom S View Post
    Unfortunately it's always going to be tricky ground - the fact that the site is effectively a commercial competitor rather than a neutral observer of the hobby is going to make things awkward.
    I can see that.

  36. #36

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    Hi Matt
    Since this site, and nobody with a commercial interest in this site, produces any decals, I personally don't see the problem; but, rules are rules, and we have to abide by them.
    Rest assured I will continue to correspond with you privately off-site, and will continue to relay said correspondence directly to all my gaming friends, Aerodrome members or not.

  37. #37

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    Matt welcome to the site I am about to PM you after I finish this post. Happy hunting, watch your 6 and join you in the mess for a tipple with the rest of the chaps.
    See you on the Dark Side......



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