MiniArt German & French Traffic Signs 1930-40s (35633 & 35645) 1:35

[Mike]

German & French Traffic Signs 1930-40s (35633 & 35645)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

MiniArt have been creating a range of military and martial signs for your dioramas, and have now moved on to make sets for the general populous during the 1930s and 1940s that aren’t related to the war.  Speed limits, warning signs and distance markers that were there before the soldiers came, although some of the direction and distance signs would have been removed as the enemy advanced, but people still needed a clue how fast they can drive and whether they needed to give way at the next junction.  These sets arrive in shrink-wrapped figure boxes with a painting of the contents on the front and brief instructions on the rear.  There are six sprues in grey styrene in the German box and seven in the French box, plus a decal sheet on blue paper in each that contains all the painted descriptive fronts of the signs. 

 

Each sign is metal, and some of the larger signs are also made from a few sections, with the joins and fasteners are visible at the rear.  There are plenty of decals on the sheets, so many options that could be spread over multiple dioramas.  A few alterations are called out on the back of the boxes, with the German set removing the decorative ball from the top of some of the poles and giving instructions how to install multiple bracketed signs on one post.  The French and German signs have a few smaller placards merged with the main sign that have the route or sign numbers on them, which are removed from all the French signs, but left in situ for some of the German signs.  Their bases differ too, with the French having a fluted rectangular shape, while the Germans have tapering cylindrical footings.

 

 

German Traffic Signs 1930-40s (35633)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French Traffic Signs 1930-40s (35645)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Dioramas rely on the minutiae of the background to give a "lived in" look to the terrain, and signage is essential for all but the straightest of roads.  The painting guide calls out suggested colours and the minor adjustments to some of the signs as well as how to build up the bases.

 

Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of