Requests from our customers do not fall on deaf ears at
Scale Specialties. But inasmuch as Rome wasn't built in a day, the N-scale
decal line has evolved at its own pace. Consider please, our decals are intended
for utilization by the serious historical wargamer/model builder. If all we
had to do was produce markings and insignia for a single, double, or even
triple model presentation, the task would be quite simple. However, as we
are producing for the historial gamer, you can be assured there will definitely
be more than one, two or three units involved in a gaming move. As such it
has been necessary for us to research to a greater depth to provide these
insignias, markings and unit identifications. Our offerings found for some
specific German units provide marking sto duplicate full company level participation.
In a similar manner, the U.S. Armored Division decals will offer great flexibility
and utilization for the gamer and maintain absolute historical accuracy. Selected
Armored divisions will allow a wargamer to play simulations ranging from
North Africa, Sicily, Italy and through Northwest Europe. The first four
decal sheets to cover this subject are shown and listed below. These, however,
are not all the sheets which will eventually comprise the armored division
offerings. It is envisioned the number will eventually grow to no less than
eight sheets (most likely more.
The quarter coin in front of the Stuart indicates the size of both the
Minifig miniature and the size of these decals.
UNITED STATES NATIONAL VEHICLE INSIGNIAS
Catalogue No. 160-004 - Price $5.75 each sheet
This sheet is devoted to various size American stars, ranging from 6" through
60" stars of various configurations including plain, circled, and segmented
circled presentations. Utilization of these stars while covering most of the
Mediterranean and European theatres, would generally be found in use in the
Northwest European theatre. Other theatre-specific presentations will be
found and described later. Two additional special purpose star offerings include
the 20" gas detector stars and for those lacking some physical dexterity in
the painting departmnet, 20" "painted out" stars. Instructions accompanying
the sheet will provide location and size for the varioius vehicles found in
these theatres of operation.
For illustration:
These photos show the generic stars in a variety of configuration.
Yes, Virginia -- there was a star on the Long Tom.
UNITED STATES ARMORED DIVISIONS - PART I - FIRST
ARMORED DIVISION, 13th ARMORED REGIMENT - NORTH AFRICA - 1942
Catalogue No. 160-005 - Price $5.75 each sheet
Peculiar to the United States Army armored divisions of the 1942-43 period
is the use of yellow stars and bars and what would appear at first glance
the most difficult geometric insignias. Each company and platoon within the
company featured a geometric design which in fact easily distinguished the
platoon and company to which the vehicle belonged.
Note yellow bar.
These features are provided in both yellow and white colors which reflect
the changing mood of the Army's higher command. Additionally, one of the light
tankk (M3-Stuart above) has been duplicated with a yellow star (the sheet
contains #'s 1-17) and its respective platoon shown as two red bars on the
arm of the star. In similar fashion, red numbered stars are provided on yellow
or white stars for one of the medium tank companies. The original width of
the colored bars on the tank's turret was 4", only those with the steadiest
of hands and finest of paint brushes should attempt to place this marking!
If you don't fall into that category, we have provided appropriately scaled
colored bands to be cut and placed on the respective tank turrets. Apart
from the 20" stars mentioned above, 18 and 36" versions are provided should
the modeler/gamer wish to utilize these for their "victory parade". Remaining
markings on the sheet consist of 20" circled white stars on a blue or faded
blue background (these were used int he North African theatre of operation
as well as Siciliy, and last but not least, the U.S. 48-starred flag applied
to various combat vehicles during the invasion of French Morocco.
Note faded blue star at front. Red circled star applies to sheet No.
160-007 below.
UNITED STATES ARMY ARMORED DIVISIONS - PART II
- FIRST ARMORED DIVISION, 13th AND FIRST ARMORED REGIMENTS AND 4th ARMORED
BATTALION - NORTH AFRICA AND ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS
Catalogue No. 160-006 - $5.75 each sheet.
NOTE: Many of the identification numbers/codes
are in WHITE and are difficult to see - we will post later a sheet with a
modified background for visibility.
Adding additional detail to the U.S. Army armored divisions,
this sheet offers various vehicle registration numbers as well as U.S. Army
designators for specific vehicles which would be found in service with any
of the armored units. These include registration numbers for Jeeps, M4 Sherman
medium tank, M3 Lee medium tanks, and M3/M5 Stuart light tanks. Following
this will be bumper identification codes for the First Armored Division,
its combat commands and subordinate units, including the tank regiments/battalions,
field artillery, armored infantry, reconnaissance and engineering units.
The unit subdivision is brokend down to the representative number of company
vehicles, i.e., D-10 (10th vehicle of D Company). Additional details
found on this sheet include vehicle bridge classifications, representative
bumper codes for the 1st Armored Division's 47th Medical Battalion along
with red cross markings for an ambulance and its vehicle registration
number. And, last but not least and hard to believe, and harder even to see
-- three inch bumber stars!
Another vehicle was chosen by Tom Dye of Minifigs to show off the Ambulance
configuration.
Here he uses the identification strips and the cadeuceus.
The guys examining the tire are from an Artillerty crew pack of Minifigs
impressed into service for ambulance maintenance duties.
Note the identification number in blue as it wraps around the rear of the
light tank.
Onwards to 160-007:
UNITED STATES ARMY ARMORED DIVISIONS - PART III
- FIRST ARMORED DIVISION, FIRST ARMORED REGIMENT - NORTH AFRICA, SICILY AND
ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS 1942-43
Catalogue No. 160-007 - $5.75 each sheet.
Completing the markings and insignia for the First Armored Division in North
Africa, this sheet provides the markings and insignias for the Frist Armored
Regiment of that division in similar fashion as that found on Sheet No. 160-005.
Accompanying the company and platoon geometric symbols are 20" stars provided
in both yellow and white colors, as are the regiments' insignias.
While the First Armored division reequipped and rested, the 2nd Armored
divisiontook up the mantle and participated in Operation Husky, the invasion
of Sicily. For this operation the lessons from the latest campaign were implemented
whereby needed changes for rapid identification of vehicles in combat could
be obtained. A specific directive was issued whereby the American star was
to be surrounded by a wide colored or white circle. Three variants of this
order are provided, as well as red, blue and yellow surround ring colors and
several painted out variants as actually found in combat. Blue background
circle stars are also provided as a carry-over for the 2nd's vehicles in
Sicily from North Africa.
The vehicle below illustrates the painted out star.
MORE LATER...