Old French Commercial Signs

 Introduction

Matho Models increases their range of 1/35 decals with item 35117, a sheet of Old French Commercial Signs.  Matho Models is known for his wide range of diorama products spanning decades: plants; 3D printing; photo-etched fences; resin items; ceramic walls; decals; and more. While Matho Models focuses on 1/35, these decals are suitable for other scales.

Highs: Crisply printed on thin carrier film.  Opaque printing.  They can be used with many scales.

Lows: No lows if you soak the decal per the instructions.

Verdict: These decals are a joy to use.  They allow the modeler create an atmosphere of location and era.

Old French Commercial Signs

Model railroaders of the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF, the French National Railway Company) and its predecessors should find these decals essential to identify businesses along the layout.

These decals are crisply printed with opaque ink upon very thin carrier film.  Matho Models states the following features:

•    water-slide decals with separated film (they come off automatically one-by-one, no need to cut to the edges)

•    semi-matte finish

•    ultra-thin decal will adapt well to any surface

•    Hi-definition printing gives a crisp result, even in the smallest details

•    colors are accurate and colorfast

•    1:35 scale, but can also be used for other scales

The printed area of the decals extend almost to the edge of the decal film.  No trimming involved.  

However, only a few multiple-word decals are printed as individual decals.  Individual words are printed as separate decals for most of the decals.  No doubt this was done to avoid large areas of carrier film with nothing printed upon it.

Instructions

Matho Models includes directions for use of these decals on Old French Commercial Signs' webpage.  What is listed about only soaking the decals for 5-10 seconds - pay heed.  My first decal began to curl in the water and it was difficult to unwrap it.  The next decal was 5-10 seconds in the water and performed beautifully.  Mecanique Generalle Location Auto was placed over a gloss clear coat.  It dried without silvering.  Droguerie was placed over dry wall.  While it set without silvering, there were some bubbles.  Those were removed with weathering.

By the way, Mecanique Generalle Location Auto was placed on a 1/87 building, while Droguerie is on a 1/35 (close to model railroad No. 1 Scale) building.

Except for the curling (operator error) these decals are a joy to use.

Conclusion

Old French Commercial Signs are a winner for Matho Models, I believe.  The crisp opaque printing, exceptionally thin carrier film, and minimal excess film along the edges are what decals should be.  I am not disappointed by the individual decals for each word of some signs as it minimizes the chance for silvering.  The only potential low is if you soak the decal too long and they curl.

I find these decals to be a joy to use.  They are versatile in that they can be used with many scales.  They allow the modeler create an atmosphere of location and era.   Recommended.

Please remember to mention to vendors and retailers that you saw this product here - on RAILROAD MODELING.