Plus Model out of Czechoslovakia continues to add to its list of quality aftermarket and modeling supply products; this time with a package of wooden (yes wooden!) warning signs identifying an active mine field – perfect for a diorama, or even amongst a pile of detritus found in the back of a Maultier.

The package contains enough material to create 30 signs of two different styles. The signs and their posts are made from soft, laser-cut wood that look terrific.

The parts are protected in a sturdy plastic sleeve to prevent damage in shipping, and can easily be removed from their wooden ‘sprues’ using a hobby knife. Once clipped and touched with a sanding stick, they can be assembled using white glue or any other adhesive suitable for gluing wood.

I had high hopes for these unique additions to dioramas since they were actually made from wood and would therefore(hopefully) carry the appearance of scale wood grain without a lot of work. Unfortunately, I felt the laser printing is not dark enough to look right on its own, and coming up with a simple method to bring out the imprints proved frustrating.

I first tried a simple filter of Mig Wash Brown, which resulted in a slightly darker surface, but did not add any definition to the sign verbiage.

Next I tried coating the signs with two coats of Future acrylic. Once that was dry, I tried to carefully paint the verbiage using Mig Dark Wash. The wash immediately soaked into the wood, the Future having no effect.

I then tried using a thin black Sharpie on another ‘Futured’ sign and it seemed to work better but still ran along the grain in places, leaving much to be desired.

Finally I tried painting the verbiage using Model Master Raw Umber enamel with a very small brush. This I felt worked best, although the process was tedious and the enamel paint, even though relatively thick, still flowed ‘outside the lines’ in places.

Conclusion

Plus Models’ Wooden Signs are an interesting addition to the variety of after-market diorama accessories available from this productive company out of Czechoslovakia. The laser-cut verbiage on the signs is sharp and well done, and the posts are sturdy and well crafted.

The definition of the burned surface verbiage however is weak, being too light against the background wood grain, and the surface too porous to accept normal washes and finishes. If you want more definition you will have to paint over the verbiage using paint or a felt marker in order to create a sign that can be easily read in this scale.

That said, I still recommend this Plus Model product for any modeler who wants to add a little realism to their work with quality after-market products. The signs are unique, and with a little work, will look great.

I would like to thank the Plus Model for providing this product for review, and to IPMS USA for giving me the opportunity to review it.