[CLLCTR5]

Ara1,

Thanks for the fully detailed response! That's good stuff!

Regarding the swastika placement on the tail...without being able to contact Joe more than once in awhile (he's a pretty busy guy) I can speculate almost for certain based on past history that this was not a "decision" by TFM on the placement...rather an errant communication between TFM and the factory in China. For instance I was not aware of the exact swastika placement on the real bird ... but I do know that the "442" badge on TFM's 1970 Oldsmobile 442 was placed slightly too low because even though the factory had a representative photo with which to work from...they still (likely one solitary worker) inexplicably placed the badge touching the pinstripe instead of slightly above it. Nobody knows...maybe not even the factory worker...why.

It's like just the other week I put all of our mailing labels too low on our diecast catalogs we mailed out and the machine at USPS read the zip code on the return label because of it...now why did I do that??? Here I am pointing the finger at me. We had to re-route 400 catalogs because of that...lol.

It is not an excuse but the reasoning is pretty clear...they are usually between 300-1,000 factory details that need to be explained to workers that have never seen a 442 (or an HE-111) and invariably one or two details slips through the cracks. It's not fun but at least it's just collectibles and not brain surgery .

Best Regards,

Randy

[CLLCTR5]

P.S. Rest assured after I peek at our few remaining HE-111's in stock I will inquire about swastika placement...

[stalag8611]

WOW. This discussion is a great example of what should occur on sites of this type. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

[Ara1]

Thanks Randy. Ouch on your catalogs... at least you now know for the future.

I love the FM He 111 and I will be most likely configuring one as an early Oct '39 machine with four crosses on the wings, and the split swastika on the rudder/fin. I plan on using my modeling / decaling skills to do this. I've also given fleeting thought to constructing an He 111Z five-engined towplane variant based on three FM diecasts (one for the spare engine) but will leave that project on paper. It would be awesome in diecast, though.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by CLLCTR5

As for the decals...because of the very slight curvature of the actual wing which is replicated in scale on the model very closely...pad printing becomes impossble. Try to think of it like trying to put a rubber address stamp on a golf ball (this is an exaggeration to make a point). At some point the stamp cannot completely cover the entire curved surface. TFM decided that instead of not replicating the oversized crossed ME-111...they would decal it.
Randy

Randy,
I remain unconvinced. Here's two examples why: C1's AVG P-40 and EI's Tex Hill P-51. Both models have pad printed graphics that curve / wrap around both sides of the nose; this is a greater curvature than the upper side of the He-111's upper wing. I also remain unconvinced because I have another model from FM/A (Flying Tigers A-10) where not only was the similar surface to the above mentioned surfaces water slide decaled, but flat surfaces with no curvature also decaled. Flat surfaces. Why? I don't know, but whatever the reason it is shoddy compared to the beautiful finish which C1 and EI give their models. Water slide decals... one reason I will always do better homework before purchasing another FM/A. Of course, I do not have to concern myself with this issue when considering a C1 or EI.

(BTW... I got the E198 yesterday. It is much more acceptable than the E200, thank you).

[CLLCTR5]

Sorry Elmer...comparing the HE-111 to the much MUCH smaller P-40 and P-51 is beyond oranges and apples. The curvature of the leading edge alone spans much MUCH more of a distance and area....and does not allow for adequate pad printing.

Glad we were able to satisfy your needs please do not hesitate to contact me in the future for any needs or advice!

Best Regards,

Randy

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by CLLCTR5

Sorry Elmer...comparing the HE-111 to the much MUCH smaller P-40 and P-51 is beyond oranges and apples. The curvature of the leading edge alone spans much MUCH more of a distance and area....and does not allow for adequate pad printing.

Glad we were able to satisfy your needs please do not hesitate to contact me in the future for any needs or advice!

Best Regards,

Randy

You are right, the surface area does span a larger section, yet the areas on the previously stated models curve and wrap much more sharply. If FM/A couldn't pad print, they should have looked at option 2: create a mask and paint it. If that couldn't be done, they should have applied the decal more professionally... the decals I have seen come no where close to professional application. I am not a professional, but I can apply decals with micro sol and micro set on a smooth surface that will adhere perfectly into panel lines and rivets (with a high quality decal). Two light coats of sealant, and you can hardly tell it is a decal (as long as you clip close to the graphic, which FM/A also does not do).

This argument about whether or not they can, would, could, or didn't is really pointless, however. The proof is in the pudding; their decals still look shoddy. They have a long way to go to rise to the standards of EI and C1.

[CLLCTR5]

Originally Posted by Elmer

You are right, the surface area does span a larger section, yet the areas on the previously stated models curve and wrap much more sharply. If FM/A couldn't pad print, they should have looked at option 2: create a mask and paint it. If that couldn't be done, they should have applied the decal more professionally... the decals I have seen come no where close to professional application. I am not a professional, but I can apply decals with micro sol and micro set on a smooth surface that will adhere perfectly into panel lines and rivets (with a high quality decal). Two light coats of sealant, and you can hardly tell it is a decal (as long as you clip close to the graphic, which FM/A also does not do).

This argument about whether or not they can, would, could, or didn't is really pointless, however. The proof is in the pudding; their decals still look shoddy. They have a long way to go to rise to the standards of EI and C1.

Elmer,

Thanks for the reply! As I stated in an e-mail to you after I received the model back I was very relieved to see that the decals actually looked very good to me. Being the self deprecating person that I am I thought I was just clueless as to the look, but lo' and behold I garnered some opinions from the Saturday locals and they all agreed...it's a spectacular looking model and the decals might not be as bad as you think to others.. Of course most of the guys that I asked on our Saturday get-together already owned the model, so perhaps they are biased...lol.

The most important part of all of this is that YOU do not like the decals...and that is 100% your right. But as I also stated earlier...E200 is my best selling HE111 and I think the reason is because it is simply a very good looking model. With decals. It's all about diversity my man and you have a very very specific pet peeve and you have every right to own it. I'm just very glad we were able to make you happy with E198. It's all about that.

P.S. like I also stated my customer base (several dozen locals and about a dozen internet regulars) has absolutely no interest in EI, and marginal interest in C1. So there is yet another example of whom likes what. We're all different...every single last one of us. Thank goodness!

Have a good one and have fun collecting!

Best Regards,

Randy

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by CLLCTR5

you have a very very specific pet peeve...

Actually, I have more pet peeves than this with many FM/A models (e.g. exposed screw heads, trench-like panel lines, lack of rivet detail, no positionable control surfaces, no optional gear positioning, no display stands, no optional pilots, sloppy painting, glaring seams, no or little jet engine intake and exhaust detail) and with FM's mgt: an inflated sense of what their models are worth. Compare the details with C1, EI, and 1:72 models... HM, GA. FM is not making high quality models anymore; they have been distanced by other companies that have set a higher standard for their models.

You mentioned in another thread that FM is gearing itself for an exciting 2008 release year. I will keep an open mind... if they make high quality models I will cheer them on and buy them; I want high quality models no matter who makes them.

[CLLCTR5]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Actually, I have more pet peeves than this with many FM/A models (e.g. exposed screw heads, trench-like panel lines, lack of rivet detail, no positionable control surfaces, no optional gear positioning, no display stands, no optional pilots, sloppy painting, glaring seams, no or little jet engine intake and exhaust detail) and with FM's mgt: an inflated sense of what their models are worth. Compare the details with C1, EI, and 1:72 models... HM, GA. FM is not making high quality models anymore; they have been distanced by other companies that have set a higher standard for their models.

We agree to disagree...as a collector I prefer to collect TFM over most other diecast (partially because I prefer 1/48 scale...HM is the best in 1/72) and as a dealer I prefer to spend my inventory budget more on TFM than anything else. This is also what our customers prefer. Other brand names have been introduced, some have failed...some are hanging on...but the TFM items are by far the biggest crowd pleaser. Not sure why we disagree so very much on this but if I removed my own emotions from the equation the statistics are still overwhelmingly in favor of TFM.

Best Regards,

Randy