You could paint your insignia BUT making insignia from Solartim can be quick and easy and can be cut to the exact size you want.

1. Decide on the exact size you want the insignia to be. If you are making an RAF roundel, use the scaling diagram to proportion it. You may need to draw your insignia on paper first, the paper can then be used as a pattern and draw it on the back of the Solartrim.

2. Cut the Solartrim shapes, circles are best cut using a circle cutter on the face of the Solartrim.

3. Assemble the insignia, leave the largest piece on its backing but peel off the surplus.

4. Add some detergent to water, peel off the backing of the other peices under water and "float" them into place in sequence. As each piece is added, squeegee the surplus water with a pad of dry tissue. Allow to dry completely.

5. Peel the complete insignia off the backing under soapy water and "float" onto the model.

USEFUL TIPS

1. If you have trouble drawing on the back of the Solartrim in spite of using a quality ballpoint (none of that cheap rubbish!!), wipe the back of the backing paper with a thinner.

2. Solartrim tends to roll up when unrolled and may form wrinkles. To remove the wrinkles, open the trim on a large flat surface coloured face up, and tape down the long side at the middle. Then secure the backing at each corner (double sided tape is the easiest). carefully lift the Solartrim from the backing to the centre (or however long you need for the insignias) and use the empty tube the trim came on as a roller from the centre to the end. Repeat for the other side if required.

3. When a narrow border is required around an insignia (eg a red star surrounded by a narrow white border), cut the red star first and apply it to white Solartrim, the cut around the star. This is easier than trying to position a red star on a white star.

4. Rather than puncturing the centre of an insignia, tape a small piece of scrap ply to the centre of the solartrim and apply the spike of the cutter to that piece of ply.

5. To store your insignia if you don't apply it straight away, place it between two pieces of thick cardboard.