1:144 US Army 24″ lettering – Black and Blue

What the sheet contains

This is a decal sheet in 1:144 scale with the lettering of the United States Army. The figure of 24 inches says how tall the characters are on the real machine, that is just under 61 centimeters; converted to 1:144 scale the height of a character works out at roughly 4.25 mm. The lettering is on the sheet in two color versions, black and blue, so you can choose according to the base the lettering will go on. The range of characters and their breakdown are given in the instructions supplied by the manufacturer.

• 1:144 scale
• the lettering of the United States Army
• the size of the characters matches 24 inches, in scale roughly 4.25 mm
• a black and a blue version on one sheet
• wet decals, applied from water

How to apply the decals

These are wet decals. The base has to be smooth and glossy, so go over the model with a gloss clear coat before applying them. Cut the character out as close to its edge as you can, dip it in lukewarm water for a few seconds and let it rest until it starts to slide on its backing. Then slide it into place, press the water out from under it with a cotton bud, working from the center to the edges, and soak up the excess with a cloth. Over rivets and edges a decal softener helps the motif settle without creases.

Tips for setting the lettering

Lettering is built up character by character, so it pays to stick a strip of masking tape on the model as a guide line and keep the row and the spacing to it. Work from one end of the lettering to the other and align the position of each character while there is still water left under it. Let the finished lettering dry undisturbed and seal it with a clear coat at the end, which makes the edges of the decals disappear.

Who it is for

The sheet is for modelers who build American army machines in the small scales and need to add or replace lettering. The package contains the decal sheet only; the model, paints and clear coat are not included, unless stated otherwise.