Scale Specialties

1/160 WWII Decals

review by Bill Rutherford

I've just received three sets of these new decals, 160-001 British Armored Division I - NW Europe 1944-45, 160AC-001 US National Insignia, and 160AC-002 German National Insignia. They were designed in cooperation with the Game Figures Inc.'s Minifigs WW II range in this scale and are quite nice, having been printed by Micro-Scale, and are up to that company's normal high standards. The British an-nor set includes a wide range of useful markings, including divisional flashes, squadron markings, bridge classification plates (for most of the British AFV types in NW Europe), stars, and divisional insignia adequate for an entire armored division, in platoon (I model per troop) terms. Divisional insignia are included for the 7th, the 11th, and the Guards Divisions. The US sheet includes several types of national insignia spanning the war years, ranging from early red-centered stars, through the grey subdued MTO/ETO markings, up through the late-war stars 'n bars we're all familiar with. There are something over 100 markings included, which should be sufficient for several aircraft.

The German sheet is similar, with 110 crosses in two styles, as well as 40 tail markings... In all three cases, the decal sheets came accompanied by clear instructions on their application - not just onto the model, but describing which vehicles got what markings and where, which aircraft types carried which national insignia, etc.

The aircraft sheets were designed specifically for the new Minifigs 1/160 scale aircraft and the notes describe specific applications to those aircraft (e.g., USAAF Spitfire IX - how was it marked?) This was quite welcome, as was the altogether unexpected source references tossed in for good measure on the British sheet... The British sheet sells for $6.95 and the aircraft sheets, for $4.95 apiece. I think they're very good value for the money - the aircraft markings lend themselves to a wide variety of uses and the British armor markings - well, there simply is nothing else available in this scale for British armor, and nothing in other scales that match their variety and detail...

I understand that their next sets will include a sheet of British aircraft markings (roundels, squadron codes, and serials!) and a sheet of German Panzer Division markings... You should be able to pick these up at your local game shop but if you cannot get them there, contact Scale Specialties directly at PO Box 4996, Anaheim, CA 92083-4996 or visit them on their website at http://www.ss-sms.com... Recommended!

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