Decal Details (aka I-94 Enterprises)

German Decals and U.S. Stars, Serials, Bumper Code Decals

For Aircraft and Armor in scales 1/72 to 1/600

Reviewed by  Howie Belkin, IPMS# 16

MSRP: $3.00 per sheet Sets of 2 water slide decal sheets per polybag, each 2" x 3-3/4" for 1/72 down to 1/600 scale! Kit manufacturers have been releasing more and more excellent aircraft and armor models in 1/72 and smaller scales leaving the modeler with the dilemma of not having alternate decals. In fact, many of these kits don't even come with decals. That's where Decal Details comes to the rescue! For a long time they've been serving Wargamers and are no stranger to them. Headquartered in Michigan, they attend many Wargamer shows and conventions in the Midwest. They were a new discovery to me in the East Coast and if you build small scale models you'll want to check them out. First, they have a large range of small decals.

This particular review will concentrate on the German aircraft and armor decals, and British aircraft decals they provided. Each polybag provides two copies of the same decal so you can cover a lot of models with them. They provided a sample of GR-119 with 1/144 and 1/100 German crosses and swastikas in various styles and sizes. It's marked for JU-87s and HS-129s but I'm sure they'll fit small fighters like BF-109s to medium bomber like JU-88s. Sheet GR-100 has 1/285 - 1//600 scale crosses and swastikas which in addition to a/c, the crosses are suitable for 1/72 down to say, 1/285 armor. In fact, the crosses could also be used as kill markings on 1/72 and larger a/c models! BR-111 is for 1/285 British WWII roundels and fin flashes in numerous shapes and sizes. The yellow surround is provided as a separate decal (on a white disk for opacity). Registration was dead on. Each decal is separate - these are not solid sheets of decal film where you have to cut out each decal. Decal Details also provided other samples. NW-100 is white outlined turret numbers for 20mm which could be used on 1/72 armor and possibly smaller scales down to 1/87 I'd say. Dave Winfree, the owner, puts some thought behind each decal layout. On this sheet, instead of only giving you numbers 1 thru 0 and repeating them (which he does provide), he also follows the German numbering system for a unit, including R0 numbers. NW-102 is NW-100 reduced for 1/285 scale with solid white turret numbers. Both of those sheets have each row of numbers on a solid strip (not sheet) of clear decal film. You only have to slice in front and behind your number to separate it from the others. GR-114 has white tactical markings #1 suitable for 1/72 to 1/87. These indicated whether the vehicle belonged to a halftrack unit, anti-aircraft, and so on. MI-1-09 has WWII German and Italian front (long narrow for the bumper) and rear (not quite square) white license plates with black WH, WL, SS and red RE prefixed numbers. GR-111 is one of their division markings sheets. This one has 15mm and 20mm (again, 1/72 down to 1/87, possibly 1/144). It has Nordland and Wiking insignia in different sizes as well as in the different styles each division used throughout the war. Other division sheets are available and each marking is a separate decal.

Decal Details also sent me some of their small scale U.S. decals sets. Sets #U.S.-125 and 128 have white and yellow serial numbers and unit bumper codes for 1-1/2 ton trucks, deuce and halves, Ambulances, trailers, M-8 Greyhounds, M-5 Stuarts and M4 Shermans. Not just number sheets like the old Micro Scale decals where you had to cut out each individual number and try to properly position it. Decal Details has done that for you! In addition to the vehicle serial numbers, they've created sets of bumper codes that make sense and identify the U.S. "Army," and "Division" for the left bumper or side, and "Company" and "Vehicle Number" on the right side. No more bogus serial or unit numbered 1234567890! Set #US120 is an early WWII/North Africa sheet for M3 Halftracks, M3 Stuart, M3 Lee and M4 Shermans with white stars on two shades of blue circles in a couple of sizes, yellow turret stripes, and especially welcome blue-grey serial numbers. US-130 has more N. Africa markings including the geometric yellow and white battalion and company markings. All of these could fit 1/87 up to 1/72 vehicles. Their webpage shows many more sheets. With few exceptions, each decal is separate - these are not solid sheets of decal film where you have to cut out each digit, code or star. Also supplied were #US-110 different size yellow and black stars, with and without circles, #US-108 white stenciled stars and plain stars and finally #US-109 stars with and without stenciled circles especially suitable for the smallest ones you'd need on a 1/72 jeep or else for armor down to 1/285 scale. Decal Details first got my attention with set #US-115 which would fit 1/72 and smaller models, and consisted of white U.S. Armor names and slogans. There wasn't a lot of contrast between the white decal names and the light blue backing paper. I contacted the distributor/mfr, I-94 Enterprises, and learned that if you "color" the back of the paper (not the decal side!) with an erasable marker, you'll be able to read the white names. Dave Winfree, the owner, recommends red but black will do too. Just make sure it's an erasable marker. These are just some of the many armor and aircraft decals Decal Details Beacon Publications by I-94 Enterprises has. They also have all kinds of decals from WWI roundels of most combatant nations through to modern low-vis markings, in 1/285-1/300 a/c & armor, 1/87-1/76 (20mm) armor, 1/285-1/300 aircraft, 1/100 aircraft, 1/144 aircraft and armor "and more." I like the fact that each marking has some space from the next one making it easy to cut out the one you want. Most decals are on their own separate carrier film, the registration was dead on on my samples and the color was opaque. There was even enough contrast between the white decals and the blue backing sheets. I highly recommend them with a caution that they are thin and should be handled with care. Decal Details by Beacon fills a need for the smaller scale modeler. You'll find them in better hobby shops, especially wargaming shops. Check their website at www.i-94enterprises.com or call (269)-945-3185 9am-10pm EST. If no answer, please leave a message. Or write Decal Details Beacon Publications by I-94 Enterprises. 2195 Tamarack Cove, Hastings, Michigan, 49058-7735. Direct sales as well as trade accounts welcome. Thanks to Dave Winfree of I-94 for the review samples.

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