willysmjeeps.com

I am getting ready to stencil and looking at photos I have seen both the hood star with a single point toward the windshield and reversed with the single point toward the grill - what is the correct hood star orientation? In TM9-8012 the pictures are unstenciled also the factory storage lot M38 photos have hood numbers but no star. I think I remember a AR850-5 giving the location and circumference on vehicles but not the orientation.

All of the applicable regs to use and display of the national star all give recommended sizes and orientation. Weather the star point goes forward or aft depends on the date of the reg. The regs dated before 1950 all have the point aft. After 1950 the point goes forward. Most regs do not give a specific diameter. They simply the largest size that will fit the available surface. For you this does not mean the largest star that will fit on the hood. For vehicles with folding windshields the star if used on the hood must be visible (recognizable) with the windshield in either up or down position.

Thanks Wes - after 1950 it points aft.

After 1950 it points forward towards the grill!