[PappyB]

You just never know what you are going to get!

IN the past two weeks I've got in three original CDC 1:48 Phantoms -- the Royal Navy Omega, RAF Firebirds, and Sundowners. These all came in the silver/blue boxes without the windows that markes them as "second generation" CDC releases.

The first two were all water-slide sticker decals, which were in poor condition (on the Omega at least -- the Firebirds was okay, more or less). The Sundowner is entirely pad-printed and is simply gorgeous -- nabbed it for $40 on ebay -- and it doesn't have those over-size wingtip fuel tanks either,

My very first Armour model was a Robin Olds F-4, and it comes in the original Red/tan box -- it is 90% pad printed (just the Scat noseart is a sticker).

FM catches a lot of the flak for this disparity from one model to the next in the same livery, but this issue predates FM taking over the line (and I think FM has it under control now as all the FM models I've seen in the last 3-4 years appear to be all pad-printed graphics??) CDC did the same thing even with the 1:100 line -- some are all stickers, some are pad-printed. Bizarre!

Sure makes it fun opening the box -- "did I get ripped off, or the bargain of the week"? goes through my mind....

I'll have pics of the Sundowner later...

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by PappyB

You just never know what you are going to get!

IN the past two weeks I've got in three original CDC 1:48 Phantoms -- the Royal Navy Omega, RAF Firebirds, and Sundowners. These all came in the silver/blue boxes without the windows that markes them as "second generation" CDC releases.

The first two were all water-slide sticker decals, which were in poor condition (on the Omega at least -- the Firebirds was okay, more or less). The Sundowner is entirely pad-printed and is simply gorgeous -- nabbed it for $40 on ebay -- and it doesn't have those over-size wingtip fuel tanks either,

My very first Armour model was a Robin Olds F-4, and it comes in the original Red/tan box -- it is 90% pad printed (just the Scat noseart is a sticker).

FM catches a lot of the flak for this disparity from one model to the next in the same livery, but this issue predates FM taking over the line (and I think FM has it under control now as all the FM models I've seen in the last 3-4 years appear to be all pad-printed graphics??) CDC did the same thing even with the 1:100 line -- some are all stickers, some are pad-printed. Bizarre!

Sure makes it fun opening the box -- "did I get ripped off, or the bargain of the week"? goes through my mind....

I'll have pics of the Sundowner later...

So true Pappy! Some of my FM's are awesome (the Sundowners F-4 being one) and some are just dogs.....ruff! I've been fortunate in that a majority of my FM/Armour aircraft have been nice (fit & finish).

My two worst experiences were a B-25 with two left main gears and an F-18 with the canopy completely fogged over. It looked like a 1/48 scale pilot was toking up in the cockpit!! Needless to say I sent them right back for a refund.

BTW, I think my B-25 was a Friday afternoon special....how else would you explain both main landing gear facing the same direction?!?

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by PappyB

FM catches a lot of the flak for this disparity from one model to the next in the same livery, but this issue predates FM taking over the line (and I think FM has it under control now as all the FM models I've seen in the last 3-4 years appear to be all pad-printed graphics??) CDC did the same thing even with the 1:100 line -- some are all stickers, some are pad-printed. Bizarre!

Pappy... you know my feelings about FM/A, and many may think I am a harsh critic, or overly critical. Nevertheless, I must point out that not all FM/A models in the last three to four years are all pad printed. Case in point: the He-111 oversized crosses (2006 release). And... does anyone know what year the Flying Tigers A-10 came out. If four years ago (2004 or later) there is another example of a model with water slide decals. It may be true that far fewer models in the past three to four years have water-slide decals, but I would not yet bet that the company has disbanded this practice altogether.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Pappy... you know my feelings about FM/A, and many may think I am a harsh critic, or overly critical. Nevertheless, I must point out that not all FM/A models in the last three to four years are all pad printed. Case in point: the He-111 oversized crosses (2006 release). And... does anyone know what year the Flying Tigers A-10 came out. If four years ago (2004 or later) there is another example of a model with water slide decals. It may be true that far fewer models in the past three to four years have water-slide decals, but I would not yet bet that the company has disbanded this practice altogether.

My flying tigers A-10 was pad-printed, except perhaps for the nose I think... the mystery continues! (I got it in 2002 or 2003 and sold it last year. If the nose was a sticker, it was really well done.)

And I think the HE-111 may have been an exception due to the large size of the crosses, perhaps? Corgi does this with its models on some of the trickier markings... I've an He-111 due in this week, BOB version, so we'll see what that one's like.

I don't really mind when I get a FM that has a couple sticker decals, but I definitley don't care for the all sticker approach!

[weiwencheng]

Totally understand. I purchased the Bavaria F-104 and it had both of the fuel tanks glued on backwards. Luckily, I was able to get a refund.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by weiwencheng

Totally understand. I purchased the Bavaria F-104 and it had both of the fuel tanks glued on backwards. Luckily, I was able to get a refund.

LOL! I haven't run into anything like that yet -- and I've probalby had 25-35 FM models go in and out of the collection over the years. My new B-25 looks to have a bit of a paint gaff on the cockpit top, though, as in, they forgot to paint it! Otherwise, it's a beaut...

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by PappyB

My flying tigers A-10 was pad-printed, except perhaps for the nose I think... the mystery continues! (I got it in 2002 or 2003 and sold it last year. If the nose was a sticker, it was really well done.)

The nose, the hell's angel, and the squadron marking on the tail were all water-slide... but, as you pointed out, that release may be as old as six years now.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Your title alone says it all......Pappy
I feel the same way when i get a plane
from them...You never know what your gonna get.
JP

[trex0770]

Regarding decals on the FM planes, will a clear coat or like item applied ruin the decal or preserve them (keep them from pealing or yellowing over time)?

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by trex0770

Regarding decals on the FM planes, will a clear coat or like item applied ruin the decal or preserve them (keep them from pealing or yellowing over time)?

Been wondering about that one myself...