US Semi Trucks

This set covers the following vehicles:

• Autocar U7144, 3990th Truck Company, Red Ball Express, France, 1944.
• Autocar U7144, 3610th Truck Company, ABC Express, Antwerp, Belgium, 1944.
• Autocar U7144, 3610th Truck Company, ABC Express, Antwerp, Belgium, 1944.
• Autocar U8144T, 554th Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion, Near Borth-Wallach, March 1945.
  

Modelers should be aware that the drawings used in the instructions are only meant as a help for placing the decals, and not for the specific features of the tank; references for three vehicles are given, but which might be somewhat difficult to source (Véhicules Militaires Magazine N°17).
Surprisingly, three of the marking options are presented as 4-view color drawings, while the fourth is using a picture (which I guess comes from a technical manual). Given that the four marking options are quite similar, the only reason I see is that the latter is the sole U8144T in the set.
After studying the instructions, I was at a loss about where some of the markings (ABC 513 931 and ABC 513 208) should go, until Andy Smith told me they were for the trailer.

The set doesn't mention which kits would be the best suited to take these decals, but I guess Airfix might be a good source.

Looking at the decals themselves, it is immediately clear that they are printed to a very high resolution, with only a very slight trace of pixelation; even the smaller items are still readable. The only thing that gives them away as not being printed by the big decal companies is that they are printed on continuous film. Being laserjet printed, it is also wise to protect them before weathering starts on the model.
Something very peculiar to Braille Strike's recent series of decals is that the colors are printed first and the white at the end. This means that you have to flip the multi-color decals over when putting them on the vehicle.
On Braille Strike's website and on the instructions we can read "WARNING: Color decals are printed in mirror, please flip them over when applying on the model.", which might be confusing as they don't apply to the white-only decals (there are no color decals in this set). Fortunately, the markings are readable, so you can tell which way they should go, while for the stars, it doesn't really matter.

My scanner always has trouble scanning white decals on a blue background, that's why the image from the Braille Strike website has been included on the right.

Conclusion

Braille Scale continues to expand its series of well-printed decals and this set is no exception.

Review sample kindly provided by Braille Strike.

Article Last Updated:
18 April 2020
20 October 2020