1:35 Street Name Signs C - English

Street name sign decals, the English version, 1:35 scale

This set from Matho Models is meant for building dioramas and vignettes in 1:35 scale. It holds decals of street name signs with English lettering, an element that gives a scene a particular place and a guide to scale. It is neither a model nor a kit but a decorative accessory that you stick onto a backing of your own. The exact number of signs and the size of the sheet are stated on the box.

What the set suits

Street name signs are among the details that in a photograph of a diorama give away the setting at once. The English version suits scenes from a British or North American setting, and equally buildings in places where English signage was used. You will usually make the sign itself from thin plastic or card, stick a decal on both sides and mount the whole on a wire or a section post. The set is part of a wider range, and the manufacturer also offers versions with lettering in other languages.

How to apply the decals

Coat the surface the decal is meant for with a gloss varnish. Cut the motif out as close as you can, dip it in lukewarm water for a few seconds and let it rest until the backing lets go. Slide it onto the moistened spot, set it with a brush and press the water out with a soft cloth. On the flat surface of a sign a softener is usually not needed; it suits rather when you stick a decal onto brickwork or another broken-up surface and it has to settle into the texture. Once dry, seal it with varnish and only then add the patina, so that the sign fits into its surroundings.

Who the set is for

• Builders of dioramas and vignettes in 1:35 scale.
• Those who want to give a scene a particular local color.
• Modelers building street settings, crossroads and the corners of buildings.
• Those who make their own signs from plastic and are only after good lettering.

This is a decal accessory for a diorama, not a model. Posts, buildings, paints and varnishes are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.