1:72 Decal Waffen SS Division markings

Division markings of Waffen SS units, 1:72 scale

A decal sheet from the Hungarian maker HAD models with the division markings of Waffen SS units from the Second World War, drawn for 1:72 scale. The product is not a kit but an accessory: water-slide decals meant for marking a model of a military vehicle that has already been built and painted.

What the sheet solves

Division insignia were simple graphic symbols, usually applied with a stencil to the fenders, the bed or the sides of vehicles, and they served to identify the unit a machine belonged to. In 1:72 scale these motifs are very small and painting them by hand is practically impossible, so they are done by decal alone. Good printing with fine registration and a thin carrier film is essential here, because otherwise a small symbol would blur into an illegible smudge. The sheet is useful wherever the decals supplied with a kit offer only a narrow choice.

Application and tips

Small decals are harder to handle. Cut them out closely, work with flat-jawed tweezers and carry them to the model on the tip of a damp brush. The surface underneath has to be smooth and glossy, otherwise a small motif silvers at once. Once it is in place, blot the water away, press it down and use a decal softener so that the film is drawn into the relief of the fender. When it is dry, spray the model with a flat or semi-flat varnish and only then weather it. In a small scale less is more, because a heavy wash would bury the small markings.

Who the sheet is for

• modelers of military vehicles in 1:72 scale
• builders who need to assign a model to a particular unit
• makers of dioramas in the smaller scales
• modelers for whom the markings supplied with a kit are not enough

This is a decal sheet, not a kit. The model, paints and varnish are not included in the package.