Double Xcellent Model puts together a great package when they release a decal set. I’ve used their F-15 JASDF set for stencils in the past and was excited to try out a full set of DXM decals. Right off the bat, the instructions impress. Clear and colorful, as well as easy to read. This was the first of two sets I have to review and what caught me off-guard at first was trying to find the decal numbers on the sheet, fortunately DXM provides a second sheet in the pack that has the decal numbers in large white circles on it to use as a reference. There are no miscellaneous numbers to clear off the decal paper when you place them in water this way. This is a totally different approach in the decal world, and as a modeler, I can appreciate that.

To try them out I decided doing a tail flash would be a great way to check how they perform; how long does it take to release from the paper, tendency to curl, thickness, ease of application, resistance to silvering, and how they react to setting and solvent compounds. The pictures I’ve included show the tail done with a black gloss finish. Right away I learned to be patient, these take a minute literally to release from the backing paper. Do not rush this and they will slide off nicely. I used Micro-Set for placement. There were no issues, and I was able to move the decals around as much as I wanted before rolling out the air and setting them in their final resting place. I then used Micro-Sol to fix them to the tail, and there were no issues. These decals show no silvering with very little effort. They also molded easily to the panel lines and even in 1/48 scale you can see how well they settled into the recessed rivets with only Micro-Sol. A final flat coat had them looking double Xcellent for the model.

I highly recommend these decals! Many thanks to DXM and IPMS/USA for these decals to review!