Introduction

Any army needs ways to mark up crates of supplies. In WW2 this would be using stencils and paint - modern stickers weren't invented yet. While there are various decals and dry transfers available for crate markings, these Matho stencils offer another more authentic way to get the job done.

Contents

There is a single sheet of photo-etched brass carrying 21 different markings. These include 88mm Flak 18,Flak 41, Pzgr 39/43, Kwk 36, 75mm Pak 40, Kwk 40, and Stuk 40. Then there are a number of other useful labels like Kraftstoff (fuel), Wasser (water), and others. Sadly there is no explanation in the package, so you need to do your own legwork. The sheet is fairly thin and bendy, and the individual stencils are held in by four tiny attachment points.

Use

Reaching for a set of Tamiya ammo crates, I hit the web to find appropriate markings. I stuck the stencils down with tape, masking off all except the one I needed (to limit overspray). THen I shook up a rattle can of Games Workshop black paint and gave it a shot. The 75mm Kwk 40 box had a flat side, and the result was pleasing. But the 88mm Tiger crate had raised battens, and the stencil could not lie flat - the result is of course fuzzy. I didn't try stippling, but it too would require the stencil to press against the crate for best results. Of course, real crates no doubt suffered a range of quality stencilling!

The other thing is that a "workshop" scene could have a number of stencils stacked up waiting for use - just cut them out and coat them with paint!

Conclusion

This is an interesting way to add authentic stencils to crates and barrels in WW2 German scenes.