1:35 Stamp Font STENCIL

Vallejo Stamp Font - stencil with stamped lettering, 1:35

This is neither a kit nor a paint. It is a stencil from the Spanish brand Vallejo, that is a sheet with an alphabet and numerals cut out in a stamped style, through which paint is applied to a surface. Such lettering appeared in reality on wooden crates, boxes, sacks and packaging - exactly where text was printed quickly and without any claim to neatness.

Where you use it in a diorama

Cargo is the detail that makes a scene believable. A bare crate looks like a blank, a lettered crate tells what is inside and where it came from. The stencil gives you freedom: you write exactly what you need, in any length and layout, which no decal sheet allows. Sprayed lettering also enters the texture of the wood - the paint clings to the raised grain and stays thinner in the grooves, exactly as with a real stamp.

How to work with stamped lettering

First lay the text out dry, so that you do not run out of space at the end. Place the stencil, press it down and spray square to the surface with very thin paint; with small letters it goes double that one heavy coat will certainly creep under and the text will run together. A stamp is meant to be deliberately imperfect - gaps, uneven density and slightly turned letters look truer than a perfect line. Once dry, the text can be toned down with a light pass of the base color or with a wash. Clean the stencil straight away and let it dry flat.

Who it is for

• Builders of dioramas with supplies and cargo
• Modelers who make their own crates and boxes
• Anyone who needs any text at all rather than a fixed set of decals
• More experienced airbrush users accustomed to small motifs

The stencil is a painting aid. Paints, thinner and diorama material are not included in the package. Ventilate while spraying.