Archer Fine Transfers 1/35 M2 Halftracks in North Africa Decal First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | November 2006 | Manufacturer | Archer Fine Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | M2 Halftracks in North Africa | Scale | 1/35 |
| Set Number | AR35222 | Pros | Nice dry-transfer markings for the new DML M2A1 Half-Track kit |
| Cons | Skill Level | Experienced | |
| MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
First Look
I was admiring the new dry transfers from Archer produced to 'fix' the politically correct markings included in the Trumpeter 1/35 BR 52 locomotive kit. I read a review on these and that prompted me to pick up a set from Archer's website for my own BR 52 project.
While I was there, I noticed that they've also released a series of dry-transfer sets for the new DML M2A1 half-track and decided to pick up a number of them since we'll be seeing a variety of US half-tracks coming from DML, Trumpeter, Tamiya, and others. Here is one of them.
This set provides cockades of a variety of sizes for the hood and sides of the vehicles. A number of US flags are also provided in a variety of sizes as well. Yes, these are circa WW2 flags with 48 stars. The printing is nicely done. According to the instructions, there are enough markings for one vehicle plus a few spares 'just in case'.
So what's the big deal about dry-transfers? There are a number of pros and a few cons with these type of markings:
Pros:
- Markings rub on to the surface of the model
- There is no clear backing on dry transfers, the decals end a the edge of the color
- Dry transfers will go onto any clean surface
- No need to gloss coat your flat paint to avoid decal silvering
Cons:
- Once the markings are placed, you can't move them
- Difficult to apply to compound surfaces or surfaces with heavy detailing
Archer's dry transfers are nicely done and are in perfect register.