1:6 WWII Road Signs #3

WWII Road Signs, part three in 1:6 scale — a printed sheet from ETA diorama

Another sheet in the range of printed period markings for large dioramas. The paper print is meant to be cut out, backed and set into a scene with figures and vehicles in 1:6 scale. It is not a waterslide decal and not a kit — the package holds no plastic or photo-etched parts. The period images serve purely as a backdrop to make the scene convincing.

Paper against a decal — why it makes a difference

A decal copies the shape of the surface and disappears into it; paper, by contrast, stays a separate object with a thickness and an edge of its own. That is exactly why it suits signs that are meant to stand free in a scene. The thickness does have to be dealt with, though: glue the design to thin plastic or metal sheet, cut the outline only once it is dry and blacken the edge. Check the contents and the dimensions of the sheet against the actual print as you plan.

Tips for building the sign and weathering it

Make the post from a wooden strip, a tube or a wooden stick and sink it into the base rather than merely gluing it to the surface — a large sign is heavy and tips over easily. Reinforce the joint with a wire pin. Build the weathering up in layers: a thinned brown wash into the joints, light rubbing of the edges with a dry brush and a dust shade working from the bottom up. A hint of rain in the form of thin vertical streaks is effective too. Seal it all with matte varnish — glossy paper would give away in the scene that this is a print.

Who the sheet is for

• Builders of dioramas in 1:6 scale
• Collectors of large figures who are completing the setting
• Modelers who assemble a backdrop from several sheets in the range
• Anyone after a quick accessory with no sanding or filling

This is a printed paper accessory for a diorama, not a model. Glue, paints and material for the posts are not included in the package.