Review of Archer 1/35th scale
German Helmet Insignias
Archer Waterslide Decals
No. AR599044
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $ 9.95
No. AR599044
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $ 9.95
This set of waterslide decals holds a sheet that has 133 German Helmet Insignias for over 45 figures.
The sheet comes in a stapled-shut clear cello bag, with a stiff card, the instructions and a tissue to protect the face of the decal sheet.
The instructions consists of a single sheet, printed on one side and folded in the center to create 2 pages.
Page 1 says it is a waterslide type decal, printed by Cartograf of German Helmet Insignias.
Below is Archer Fine Transfers address at:
205 NW Railroad St.
Youngsville, NC 27596
Also their web address at:
The sheet comes in a stapled-shut clear cello bag, with a stiff card, the instructions and a tissue to protect the face of the decal sheet.
The instructions consists of a single sheet, printed on one side and folded in the center to create 2 pages.
Page 1 says it is a waterslide type decal, printed by Cartograf of German Helmet Insignias.
Below is Archer Fine Transfers address at:
205 NW Railroad St.
Youngsville, NC 27596
Also their web address at:
Page 2 begins by saying WHAT GOES WHERE.
Insignias for all branches of Germany’s Armed Forces were applied so that they were centered underneath the helmet ventilator hole on the respective sides and are perpendicular to the rim.
The helmet insignias are illustrated.
Letter A insignia is Waffen SS national insignia. Ordered to be deleted in summer 1940 for camouflage reasons. Continued to be seen in large numbers up to late 1943. Still seen in limited numbers as late as 1945.
Letter B insignia is also Waffen SS national insignias. Worn in 1935,was supposed to be deleted in Summer 1943, but was still in limited use as late as 1945.
Letter C insignia is Wehrmacht. All branches of the Wehrmacht (German National Armed Forces, Heer, Luftwaffe an Kreigsmarine) used the Reich Wappenschilder on the right hand side of their helmets. This was ordered to be deleted in the Autumn of 1940 for camouflage reasons, but it continued to be used by some manufacturers until mid 1944 when stocks were depleted.
Letter D insignia is Heer Wehrmacht Adler, worn from 1935. It was supposed to have been phased out by the production plants by 1943, but was still on helmets leaving the production plants as late as 1944.
Sometimes letters B, D & E often appeared as the only decal on helmets from 1942 on.
Insignias for all branches of Germany’s Armed Forces were applied so that they were centered underneath the helmet ventilator hole on the respective sides and are perpendicular to the rim.
The helmet insignias are illustrated.
Letter A insignia is Waffen SS national insignia. Ordered to be deleted in summer 1940 for camouflage reasons. Continued to be seen in large numbers up to late 1943. Still seen in limited numbers as late as 1945.
Letter B insignia is also Waffen SS national insignias. Worn in 1935,was supposed to be deleted in Summer 1943, but was still in limited use as late as 1945.
Letter C insignia is Wehrmacht. All branches of the Wehrmacht (German National Armed Forces, Heer, Luftwaffe an Kreigsmarine) used the Reich Wappenschilder on the right hand side of their helmets. This was ordered to be deleted in the Autumn of 1940 for camouflage reasons, but it continued to be used by some manufacturers until mid 1944 when stocks were depleted.
Letter D insignia is Heer Wehrmacht Adler, worn from 1935. It was supposed to have been phased out by the production plants by 1943, but was still on helmets leaving the production plants as late as 1944.
Sometimes letters B, D & E often appeared as the only decal on helmets from 1942 on.
Photo instructions for applying Archer Transfers using either the wet media paper or the dry method can be found on their website.
I want to sincerely thank Archer Fine Transfers for this review set. All their products can be viewed on their website at:
Highly recommended.