Air recognition roundal Applying Decals
with Wayne Turner.

In this article I’ll show you what you get in the pack, what they are used for and how to apply them to your British vehicles.
Battlefront TV
Basic Decal Guide
Blake demonstrates the basics of applying decals.
Applying Decals to Zimmerit
Blake demonstrates how to aply decals to a Zimmerit covered surface.

Visit the Battlefront TV channel on YouTube here...
What You Get

Inside the pack you get four identical decal sheets, enough decals for any force from British force in North Africa.

Included are 4 different Armoured Division Insignia, representing the 1st Armoured (Rhino), 6th Armoured (mailed fist), 7th Armoured (Desert Rats) and 10th Armoured (fox head).

Regimental Tactical Numbers: 40 for the senior, 86 for the 2nd and 67 for the junior armoured regiments, and 60 for the motor battalion, all in red for the senior Brigade.

You also get the tactical geometric symbols to identify your squadrons in your armoured regiment. Red for the senior regiment, yellow for the 2nd regiment and blue for the junior regiment. The triangles are for A squadron, squares for B Squadron and circles for C squadron.
GE940 Desert Rats decals
What you need Applying Your Decals

Once you have painted your tank, armoured car or truck you can apply your decals.

You will need a shallow container of warm water, a chisel shaped brush (size 2 or 3), paper towels, a pair of scissors or hobby knife, and a surface to cut on.
Step 1

First cut out the decals you need for your tank, you may like to trim  them closely, but they do come with predefined over-gloss, so you can just cut them out without too much care.

If you were to toss the whole sheet in the water the decals would all float off as individual pieces (I wouldn’t recommend this!).
Step 1
Step 2 Step 2

Next put the decal you’re planning to add to your tank in the warm water (I used one of our thin blisters as a water tray).

After about 20 seconds the decal will start to slide away from the backing paper.

Tip: Because of the small size of the decals once cut out it’s sometimes easier to pick them up to put in the water with a damp brush.

 

Step 2

Step 2
Step 3 Step 3

Use your brush to separate the decal from the paper. Then use the brush to pick the decal from the water, make sure the decal is face up on the brush. Sometime the decal will try and wrap around the brush, it can be flattened by brushing along a flat surface.

Step 4

Use the brush to float the decal onto the tank surface (a), once the decal is floating in a small pool of water the brush can be slid from under it.

While the decal is floating use the brush to adjust its position by sliding it around (b).

If it becomes too dry to move add some more water with the brush.

Step 5

Once in position, dry the brush on a paper towel or similar, then use it to soak up the excess water on and around the decal (c). The decal can be flattened out during this process as well.

Step 4
Step 5



Once you’re happy with the decals position and you’ve removed the excess water leave to dry (d).

On the 40 here I’ve placed it on and then had to adjust it slightly so it sat square.

a: Decal on brush face side up

b: Decal in rough position

c: Adjusting the position before soaking up the excess water

 

On some decals you may have to touch up a little of the paintwork afterward where there is a little over-bleed on white.

a: Decal on brush face side up

b: Sliding the brush from the under side of the decal leaving a small pool of water behind

c: Smoothing out the surface of the decal and removing water

Step 5
Complete Voila!

The decals add that finishing touch to your tanks!

a: Picking the decal from the water, remember face side up.

b: Slid the decal onto the model surface

c: Adjust the position

d: Decal before drying

e: Smoothing off the decal

f: Mopping up the excess water

g: Final smoothing and drying

Once finished just coat your models as normal with some matt varnish.

Applying the roundal
Complete tank Air recognition roundal
Arm of unit number Roundal position
Divisional markings Tactical symbol Now your tanks can belong to a particular unit, this Sherman II is a member of C Squadron, ‘The Bays’ ~ The Queen’s Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards), 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division.

Decals are easy to use; so don’t be afraid to give them a go. You can practice using one of the divisional markings you don’t intend to use on piece of painted card or an old model.

Wayne


Last Updated On Sunday, April 29, 2018