| Date of Review |
July 2005 |
| Manufacturer |
Archer Fine Transfers |
| Subject |
Set AR35209B; U.S. Gauges and Interior Stencils; price US $8.95
Set AR35209W; U. S. Gauges and Interior Stencils; price US $8.95
Set AR35210S; Generic Placards (black on silver); price US $9.95
Set AR35210W; Generic Placards (black on white); price US $995
Set AR35210X; Generic Placards (black on brass); price US $9.95
Set AR35211; US Interior Placards; price US $7.95 |
| Scale |
1/35 |
| Pros |
All cleanly printed with amazing levels
of detail and readable under a jeweler's loupe; perfect
finishing touches, especially for softskins |
| Cons |
May seem expensive, but many models
can be done with one sheet |
| Skill Level |
Basic |
| MSRP (USD) |
$8.00-$10.00 each |
Woody Vondracek is the best one I know at doing up markings
and detailing sheets, and these latest six from him are absolutely
gorgeous. While some modelers squawk about the prices (realize
each sheet is only about 1" x 2.5") it is the quality
of the sheets and their ease of use that makes them a true
winner.
The first two (209) provide the dashboard markings found
on most US armored and softskin vehicles from about 1940 to
the present. The sheets each include dial faces for (left to
right on the sheets) oil pressure, tachometer/engine hours
gauge/ speedometer/odometer, water temperature, and more oil
pressure gauges. The rest of the markings are standard placards
painted on in the cab or driver's compartment area – weapons,
equipment stowage, and warnings. The white instrument faces
appear, from collectors shows, to be correct for tactical vehicles
up to about mid 1942 (jeeps, trucks, M3 White Scout Cars, and
M2/M3 halftracks in particular) and the black faces from then
to the present. I suggest getting one of each, for the white
stencils are more often found on OD vehicles and the black
ones on white backgrounds such as inside tanks or APCs.
The second three sheets are the standard plates screwed onto
the dashboard or other area of a tactical vehicle, such as
shift patterns, construction data, winch operation directions,
etc. They will do a lot for a jeep (I may have misread it,
but while FORD and BANTAM show up well, I could swear the other
one reads WILLIS and not WILLYS. But since it's about 2 point
type it may just be my eyes.)
The last one covers decals stuck on various parts of the
inside of armored vehicles for stowage. There is a large sense
of humor at play here which is obvious under the loop as well,
but I won't spoil it for anyone who wants to get even with
judges!
Overall these are all winners and once again Woody has responded
to modelers' needs with really useful items.
Thanks to Woody Vondracek of Archer
Fine Transfers for the
review samples.
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