WWII AFV decals

[ochoin]

Yes. Sounds a godsend as I was contemplating painting these on vehicles. But I'd need guidance on what I'd need for what. I'm trying to build historical, named US, British & German forces for Normandy.

donald

[RMD]

by RMD » 07 Jun 2023 22:57
Excellent idea in including a few HQ Sqn diamonds in the squadron sheet

That was your idea, mate. Feeling a bit goldfishy, are we?

No, my idea was to have a separate HQ Sqn sheet. Including them with the other squadrons is a much better idea.

[Spanner]

by RMD » 08 Jun 2023 18:52
No, my idea was to have a separate HQ Sqn sheet.

That may happen too, mate, I've done up a HQ SQN sheet. It's up to what Geoff decides, I'm just doing some sample sheets to give him an idea of what he can do. I think his best bet is to print shelf stock for overseas retailers and do print on demand for Oz and NZ, but I also know SFA about print businesses. My main interest at the mo' is getting a sheet of mitre fronts done for my 18mm SYW stuff. Including the correct front for the RWF (they were done before I saw the two in the regimental museum in Caernarfon).

by ochoin » 08 Jun 2023 18:05
Sounds a godsend as I was contemplating painting these on vehicles.

Painting is doable, mate, but decals do it faster and, I think, better. What organisation scale are you doing? One model equals a troop or squadron, or one model equals one vehicle? If the former then the below may be of interest- if Geoff decides to go ahead with the decals.

[ochoin]

Rapid Fire. 3 Shermans are a company.
Is there a website/book that explains WW2 markings? Preferably in 1 syllale words + pictures?

donald

[Etranger]

Rapid Fire. 3 Shermans are a company.
Is there a website/book that explains WW2 markings? Preferably in 1 syllale words + pictures?

donald

Many, often complex and contradictory.... The Flames of War website generally has decent primers for each nation/period. It's probably the easiest starting point. https://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=110

[Spanner]

There's a few sites out there, mate. As well as the FoW site ET linked to there's:

British- Squire Bev's site at http://www.uk-tank-markings.co.uk/. Or you can ask our typing encyclopaedias- RMD, Fredd, etc.

German- https://panzerworld.com/german-unit-insignia for divisional symbols and https://panzerworld.com/german-armor-ba ... al-numbers for the vehicle numbering. http://ftr.wot-news.com/2015/02/24/germ ... estretiak/ talks about the cam and markings used, with some good photos.

US- Wiki is your friend https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... rld_War_II, but https://www.museumofamericanarmor.com/b ... arrier-0-3 is comprehensive.

Italy- https://www.gf9.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=856

I'm not that interested in the eastern front, so don't have any links to hand. I'm sure one of the members can fix you up, though.

[Wg Cdr Luddite]

I don't do 15mm, my mindset is for 6mm.
That said, I strongly dislike transfer sheets that cover specific specific units at 1 to 1 or even at 1 per troop.
Typically my games involve multiple battalions and I like to paint up my units as belonging to different divisions and brigades; it adds variety.
My feeling is that a plan to please all the people all of the time may not work. There is a reason existing manufacturers do it like they do; they know what sells.

[Spanner]

Each to their own, WCL, and that's why I told Geoff I'd ask around to see whether there's enough interest. I prefer 1:1 tactical games for post-1918 miniatures, hence the interest in SQN sheets. A typical sheet with decals for five different squadrons/regiments or tank types means up to 80% of the average sheet is wasted (which makes the 20% I use quite expensive).

[ochoin]

Dal,
I'm working on getting these, based on the Normandy campaign:

US:
An armoured division (2nd Armoured Div) + 2 armoured (tank) regiments, SP artillery battalion, Tank Destroyer Bn.

An infantry battalion (3/116th Infantry) – truck borne

A recce troop (29th Recce Troop) – 2 x M8 armoured cars + jeeps & troops

British:
An armoured Division ( 7th Armoured) + 2 tank squadrons, SP artillery battery, AT regiment

An infantry battalion ( 7/Green Howards) + trucks

I need a Recce unit of some sort.

My thinking is an infantry battalion for small games, the armoured division for bigger. Add the infantry & the Recce to that for really big games.

Germans:

I haven't worked out what but the same model as above.

So, transfers for that lot. I also need a pile of stars of different sizes.

donald

[Spanner]

Donald, it depends mainly upon the rules you use. At one end you have one model representing a company/squadron or even a battalion, at the other each infantryman is represented by a figure. From what you say it will be the former. Then there's the size of the figures, as well. "15mm" is usually 1/100 scale vehicles, 20mm is 1/72 or 1/76. Or you may want to go with micro-armour if you're fighting divisional battles. WCL shows what you can do with them (viewtopic.php?f=6&t=50&start=410)- very detailed and their size can turn a table into a large battlefield.

For British recce you have two choices- the division's armoured recce regiment (with Cromwells, using the same organisation as an armoured regiment, and 7AD also used Cromwells, Stuarts and Fireflies in the armoured regiments) or an armoured car regiment (corps assets with light and heavy armoured cars).

For US markings and stars for the Allies then I'd recommend I-94 (https://i-94enterprises.com/). Very good quality decal film and Mr Mark Softener makes them conform very well to the models' details. For the stars look at US-107 to 109 and US-125 for vehicles. But you may need a few sheets depending upon the rules you use.

For the nasties you have lots of choice. 21 Panzer with a lot of obsolete and converted French vehicles, 2 Panzer with a mix of Panther and Pz IV, even the SS mob and some independent StuG and Tiger units. If you want to do the campaign from landing to Falaise then you'll be spoiled for choice. There's a few sites with German orders of battle and what they had in detail.