1:35 British 33rd Armoured Brigade From Normandy to Holland. Sherman, Firefly IC and VC

Decals 1:35 for the tanks of the British 33rd Armoured Brigade

A set of decals in 1:35 scale from Star Decals. It concentrates on the markings of the armored equipment of the 33rd Armoured Brigade during the advance from the Normandy bridgehead all the way into the Netherlands. It is intended for models of the Sherman medium tank and its re-armed Firefly IC and VC versions.

The unit and the theater

The 33rd Armoured Brigade was an independent British armored brigade, that is a formation that was not permanently part of an armored division and was attached to infantry formations as direct support as needed. Its campaign led from Normandy through northern France and Belgium into the Netherlands. The core of its armament was the Sherman; the Firefly was the same tank re-armed with the long 17-pounder anti-tank weapon and was issued to the troops only in single examples, because it alone could reliably deal with well armored targets. The letters IC and VC distinguish the hull on which the conversion was made.

How to apply the markings

Level the area under a decal with a gloss varnish first; on a smooth surface a marking will settle without a pale edge. British vehicles wore their insignia on the fenders, on the sides of the hull and on the turret, so try the position out dry and stick a strip of masking tape down as a guide. Unify the finished markings with a matte varnish and only then add the mud and dust effects; working dirt looks credible precisely when it covers the insignia in part.

Who the set is for

• Modelers of British armored equipment of the Western Front
• Builders of Shermans who want a particular unit instead of generic markings
• Dioramas from the campaign between Normandy and the Netherlands
• Collectors of British markings in 1:35 scale