Manual for flags to download in PDF HERE

Flags are made by thermo-sublimation printing method on the synthetic cloth Whisper.
ATTANTION! – Flags must not be treated by acetone-based varnishes, paints or thinners and synthetics.
Damage will occur – dissolution of color and destruction of the product.
Flags are printed in such way that their appearance and size ratio correspond to the historical facts, because there were regulations on the size of flags and banners given by all admirality's. Most of the time the size of the flags was in relate to the size of the ship, especially to its width. 
Main flag in full size have a same long as width of ship. These the flags was use in oficial situation, battle and similar. Then was next main flag which have size 1/2 or 1/3 of Main flag. These flags was use in next common situation. Was regulations determine when to use the flag of a given size.
Also, the size of the flags in the available sets is adapted to the size of the ship parts from the kit.​ This is especially true for the flagpoles at the top of the masts. There is an imitation of the “cloth strip” on the pole side of the flag, by which flags were attached to the pole or lifting rope.

Prior to use, iron the flags over a damp cloth or better through a low temperature food baking paper. Long-term exposure to high temperatures will damage the cloth itself and the flag print. There are two ways of flag printing: The older one is one- sided – there is a need of gluing two sides together (see the workflow below) and recent version with both-sided print.

Workflow for both-sided printed flags:

After the several attempts to strengthen the cloth before cutting to avoid clogging of the edges and to enable shaping, I came up with the very simple method: To spray flags with hairspray or treat with the liquid laundry starch so that the cloth is drenched.

After the flag has dried, we will cut it off. In case of banners and some flags, where printing of the lower side exceeds front side, we follow the front side.

We gently water the flag after cutting, then shape as it ripples in the wind so that we use oblong objects to hold flag between them.

Procedure can be repeated until we are satisfied with result.

Then we fix the flags to the flag rope or pole.

Workflow for one-sided printed flags:

Cut out the flags from the arch with a little outreach. 

Confect every flag carefully, preferably on the window to precisely overlap both sides and fix them by crossing over the edge. You can highlight the edge – iron it by the moderately warm flatiron over the moist duster! High temperature could damage the printing made by the thermosublime method! 

Spread glue on the one half of the flag. Recommended glues are for example UHU Eflex, Kores glue gel, and other. Do not use disperse glues because the canvas is not hydrophobic! Use glue on one half properly (or another gel glue that comes through the material so you can correct both layers after assembling in case of some inaccuracies)

Again assembly both halves precisely on each other and push out excess glue and bubbles.

Let the glue to dry out a bit and then cut out the precise shape. 

In the end give the flag a finale shape – the flags in the wind and fix it. The fixation can be done by inserting the flag between pencils or you can use other round shape things, thereby the flag will be warped.

You have a lot of time to do all the glue steps. The glue dries itself in few hours – I recommend to wait until the next day! After the glue is entirely dry the flag will harden and it holds the configured shape.

For the long flags (the pennant) is printed beside each other due to the technical reasons. You have to cut out the flags with a little outreach and use the glue (follow the instructions above) and after that place the flags at each other precisely and stick together. You can also stick the flags together in the beginning with the superglue and this produces the same situation as the folded flag. One half of the flag is made as a wide belt. After gluing cut out the flag by arrow-shaped. The second wider part gives you a space for a small imprecision in gluing.

I wish you nice results. Radek Beseda, HiSModel