1:16 German Armoured Forces symbols - part 1

Symbols of the German armored forces in 1:16 scale, part 1

A set of decals with the military symbols that appeared during the Second World War on the vehicles of the German armored forces. It is not a kit or a part of a model, but an accessory for a modeler that gives a finished model period-accurate markings. The series is divided into numbered parts, and this sheet is part 1.

What the markings were for

Markings on combat vehicles had a practical function: tactical symbols distinguished the kind of unit and its place within a larger formation, while further signs served to tell vehicles apart within a unit. For modelers today they are above all a historical source that makes it possible to place a model in a particular context instead of a general rendering. The set is material for reconstructing the look of a vehicle, not a collector's item in itself.

How to work with the decals

• The surface under a decal must be glossy, otherwise the carrier film will show.
• Place the symbols according to period photographs or documentation for a particular vehicle.
• A softener helps a decal follow plate joints and rivets.
• Seal the markings with a matte varnish and only then apply dust and mud.

Who the set is for

The set suits builders of large vehicle models in 1:16 scale, both static models and radio-controlled machines. It comes into its own wherever a modeler wants to assign a model to a particular unit and not rely only on the decals supplied with a kit. Given the size of the motifs it also suits diorama scenes where a vehicle is in the foreground.