1:16 German Armoured Forces symbols - part 8

Symbols of the German armored forces in 1:16 scale, part 8

A sheet of decals with the military symbols that appeared during the Second World War on the vehicles of the German armored forces. The product is an accessory to a finished model, not a kit. According to the name it is part 8, that is one part of a longer numbered series.

What the markings were for

The symbols on vehicles carried organizational information: the kind of unit, its place within a larger formation, the sequence number of a machine. Without them a model looks indefinite and cannot be tied to any particular situation. Modelers therefore reach for separate sheets, which offer a wider choice than the decals enclosed with a kit, and add them according to period photographs.

How to work with the decals

• Coat the place under a decal with gloss varnish, as a matte surface gives away the edge of the carrier film.
• Cut the motif out as close to the print as possible and release it in warm water.
• Settle it with a brush, and on larger symbols press the air out from the center outwards.
• Once dry, seal it with varnish and only then work with washes and pigments.

Who the set is for

The set is for modelers who build vehicles in 1:16 scale and want markings matching a particular unit and period. It suits static models and radio-controlled machines alike, where the large areas of hull and turret set the markings off. It also serves as a replacement when the decals from the original kit have been damaged or yellowed with age.