Please note that Aviaeology has a website that is currently under revision. Aviaeology requests that purchases be made thru their eBay store.

For those who have purchased decals from Aviaeology before, you are already aware of the high quality of their products, and you are also aware of the excellent documentation that Aviaeology provides to its customers.

For first-time buyers, here is a summary of the process followed by Aviaeology. At the time of this review the Aviaeology website is under renovation, so please go to their eBay store at https://www.ebay.ca/str/aviaeology. Once a purchase is made, an automatically generated email will appear in your inbox. Attached to that email will be the documentation portion that accompanies the decal set in PDF format. For those who purchase their Aviaeology products from a third-party vendor (such as your local hobby shop), there is a “chit” within the product packaging that directs the purchaser to register their purchase/ownership with Aviaeology via email. The PDF documentation will soon follow via a return email. The most recently produced documentation allows for the viewer to “zoom in” on-screen, up to 800 to 1600% ! This documentation is “golden” and is a significant aid to the modeler in making sure that the orientation of the decal is correct when applied to the model. The pdf documentation represents a considerable amount of research by Aviaeology and is protected under various copyright laws, so a sample of this documentation is not included in this review.

Aviaeology has a history of offering high quality decals. This sheet is no exception. It is the product of extensive research of Beaufighter Mk. XICs and TF.Xs used by Coastal Command. Not surprisingly, the research revealed variations in marking styles and alternatives in markings are included in this set of stencils and data markings.

You’ll not get fuselage codes or national markings on this sheet. Included are those stencils and data markings that one finds on RAF and RCAF aircraft. This set includes “ airframe maintenance/data markings, including a number of factory and field-applied variations” that research uncovered.

The decal instructions state that this set is “compatible with all Beaufighter finish schemes except the early-war overall Night (Matte Black) nightfighter scheme.”

The decal sheet provides a sufficient number of decals to complete at least one 1/32nd scale model.

In addition to the “decal placement” illustrations, Aviaeology includes a decal “Preparation & Application” list. Following these 12 suggestions will greatly assist the modeler in successful application of the decals. Aviaeology also recommends that if a decal softener is too be used, it should be the “mild” solution that is used. In plain language, “Micro Set” is preferable. “Solva Set” should be used with some caution and in diluted form (mixed with water). In my experience I’ve found that Micro Set is sufficient to the purpose.

Please note that this same set of stencils and data markings is available in both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale, and for the same price as the 1/32nd decal sheet. If you’ve used Aviaeology decals then you are already aware of their ease of use and high quality. If you’ve not had and experience with Aviaeology then you’re in for a treat!

Thanks to Aviaeology for providing the review sample. This product is highly recommended.