Introduction

This 2007 release by Archer Fine Transfers is a set of miscellaneous M1 helmet markings for the 101st Airborne as well as U.S. Navy and American Red Cross during World War II. This set provides enough transfers for several figures in each type depending on your needs.

review

When I received the set I checked with several books and web sites to determine the accuracy of the set. Everything that I checked showed that Archer is right on the mark with this set and the transfers represent all combat units of the 101st Airborne during World War II. Also represented are the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, the 501st, 502nd, and 506th Parachute Infantry Regiments, the 321st and 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalions, the 377th and 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalions, the H.Q. Divisional Artillery, the 81st A.A.A. Battalion, the 101st Divisional Reconnaissance Platoon, the 326th Engineer Battalion, the 101st Divisional Signal Company, the 426th QMC Company, the 801st Ordinance Company and the 326th Medic Company. This provides a wide range of applications in a single set.

The quality of this set is what I would consider very high. For their size, they are very clear and crisp in detail and are printed very well with no bleeding of colors. They are very thin and adhere nicely. didn't use all of the transfers, only a few. As a first time user, I was impressed at the ease of use of the transfers. You just place then where you want to apply them and rub them with a blunt instrument. Due to the small size, I used a round toothpick and it worked fine. They came off of the carrier sheet very nicely and without any effort. The user just needs to make sure that the transfer is placed where you want it to be since, as a dry transfer, once they are in place they can't be moved.

The transfers come packaged in paper and are contained in a plastic bag. On the back of the paper insert are representations of all of the 101st Airborne combat units and identifying information for each unit. There is also the American Red Cross symbol and the identifying information for it as well as information for the number strings used by medics. There were two things that I found as a problem with the instructions and packaging, the first was the lack of instructions on the package warning not to touch the transfers with bare fingers. As a first time user, I had two of the transfers stick to my finger as I was examining the set! The second was the lack of instructions for the application of the transfers. I had to go to the Archer Fine Transfers web site to obtain instructions.

All in all this is a very nice set and I look forward to using other sets from this company.