An open letter to decal manufacturers

[PR19_Kit]

Gentlemen (and Ladies if there are any)

Is it REALLY too much trouble to supply your products in zip-lock bags that are large enough to contain the product itself? I've lost count of the number of decal sheets and instructions that I've either had to fold or cut to get them back in the packets that I've just taken them out of!

Either that or you could make the instruction sheets just a tad, say 2mm, narrower so they go back in again. It may even SAVE you money that way?

There are some manufacturers who get it right, our own Colin Frieghtdog being one of the good guys, but a certain company that have just closed down are by FAR the worst offenders! 

[raafif]

but a certain company that have just closed down are by FAR the worst offenders! 

That's why they closed down ... P*!#@ customers off.  I've only had one sheet with that problem but I used some marking immediately so no fuss.

A bigger problem is getting kit sprues back in their boxes -- problems with Wing Nuts, Hasegawa & many more brands   Perhaps I shouldn't open a kit just to look at the parts before building it

[pyro-manic]

Honestly never had that problem. But boxes, on the other hand - yes, been there. Though there are plenty of instances of the boxes being several times too large as well - space for at least one more kit inside, often more!

[PR19_Kit]

Though there are plenty of instances of the boxes being several times too large as well - space for at least one more kit inside, often more!

The classic case of that in my Loft is the Pavla Robinson R-22 kit. This comes in a standard Pavla sized box, around 11 " x 8" I guess, and the model is about 5" long assembled! 

[NARSES2]

I sympathise Kit, I have that problem all the time with transfers, drives me nuts 

Haven't had a problem with boxes, indeed large boxes are usefull for doubles and even triples of the same kit  Must admit I do sympathise with the manufacturers who use a standard size box as it cuts down costs which is good news  Just wish Revell would move to tray type boxes, don't like end opening ones for varying reasons.

[Old Wombat]

Just wish Revell would move to tray type boxes, don't like end opening ones for varying reasons.

Yeah, like where do you keep the sub-assemblies while you're building, if not in the (tray) box?

(Just bought my 1st Revell kit for several decades, a Unimog, & was most peeved by the box.... same goes for too many figure boxes eg: Dragon, Tamiya, ICM, Trumpeter, etc.)

[Nigel Bunker]

I have got to agree with Kit. in some cases I have had to replace their ziplock bag with one of my own which enables me to easily move the decal sheet and instructions in and out of it.

[PR19_Kit]

I just got three packs of Eduard etched stuff from the Big H and they're JUST the same! 

I couldn't actually remove one of the frets until I'd slit the side of the packet all the way to the end! Ridiculous.....

[Howard of Effingham]

here, here!

kit, i can only agree that decals, if bagged ought to come in bags that are bigger than the decal
sheet by a margin that makes it easier to take said sheet out of bag. you are right a former decal
producer was bad one for this, but there were others. and like you say, etch-brass fret manufacturers
are bad for this too. 

one thing though in firms like hobbyboss and trumpeter's favors is that their decals are packed in the
right sized bag and the protective sheet that many decals have come with over the years, is taped to
the back of the decal sheet.

[darthspud]

I  may be in the minority, but decals from kits if not in danger of imminent use get placed between two sheets of heavy paper and filed safely away from paint,glue, maskol.
Top sheet has all the kit details written on it prior to use.
Freightdog, Model Alliance, etc decal sets are stored in the same way, just without the kit cross ref. Mainly as i buy sets for 'planned-future' use and not for specific kits.
Left over decals go into a large card file and used as needed for whiffery or when i find the kit provided ones are damaged,wrong, or faded.