Soviet Marking System (WW2)?

[Extra Crispy]

As I start to do a major refurbish of my Soviet army, I'd like to up may game a bit, so to speak, and start using more decals. My Germans have a ton of camo so look pretty smashing without them. But that plain Soviet green needs help.

As far as I can tell there really was no widespread, consistent marking system for unit or tank number like most of the other countries used?

Is that correct?

Also, an image search turns up many turrets with white recognition stripes of various kinds. Some clearly for air recognition, some I'm guessing for ground. I'm talking about these:





I'm guessing these were also just unit by unit and not really done on any consistent basis? I was thinking they would add a little visual interest to the army AND make it easy to differentiate different units if each unit had a specific marking style?

And since I'm going to do them anyway, besides GHQ and I94, who else makes suitable decals? Dom's Decals doesn't do 1/285.

[pmskaar]

Hi Mark

This is an area that has is no consistent answer because I don't think there is that much consistency. You see examples of Soviet tanks with no markings at all and some that are fairly elaborately marked.

Soviet markings are a bit of a mystery to me. I usually just make up a numbering system for my units that works for me. The GHQ set provides decals for 2 complete tank brigades from the 2nd Guards Tank Corps and the 10th Guards Tank Corps from late World War II.
I used the ones for 10th Guards because I like the system although my T-34/85s will see action as part of almost any unit that had them.

Different units did use different marking systems and at different times as well. I think things got a bit more standardized as the war went on but I sure there are plenty of exception to anything that I say.

As far as decals go, I have used both the GHQ and I-94 and like them. I do think that some of the slogans that I-94 has are a bit smallish but at least they fit. To see some I-94 decals you can check out my T-34/41, T-34/42, and T-34/43 in the GHQ catalog.

I have also used Microscale Industries as well. They make a large sheet of Russian numbers, stars and slogans.
Here is my critique. The slogans in this case are a bit on the large size. To see a couple of samples on models you can check out my KV-1 and Russian Sherman in the catalog. The one on the Sherman hull will virtually fit on no other vehicle in 1/285th scale.
I think the sheet has too many red stars and could use more and maybe slightly larger numbers in some cases. They do provide numbers in white, red, and even yellow on the sheet. To see an example of the number you can check out my SU-122 which is in the catalog. I used the Microscale numbers on that one and they fit well.

Microscale also make German and American WWII decals as well. I have used a few of these as well. My critique of the German decals is that there is no system at all in the numbering. They are just a bunch of random 3 digit numbers so if you want to make a real 3 digit tactical number you will have to do some cutting and pasting to get the ones you want. The U.S. star selection is pretty decent overall.

Does anyone have regular contact with Dave Winfrey from I-94. I have left e-mails and a couple phone messages. Just wondering what is going on.

I hope this helps.

Pete

[Extra Crispy]

Thanks Pete:

I guess RHIP applies. So, being the boss I'm just going to go with what looks good to me.

[RedLeif]

Mark - I'd recommend the book : "The Eastern Front: Armour Camouflage and Markings 1941 to 45" by Zaloga and Grandsen. It has great images of some soviet and German camo schemes. Your Air recongnition turret marking images are not disimmilar from others I have seen in print.I've not seen those types on anything but t-34/85's though. so not sure they were used on the ealier /76 models.

regards,
Leif