Kits-World Decals quality

[Alex.B]

Hi everyone!

I've purchased these three 1/72 sheets from Kits-World:

 

- KW172064 (P-38)

- KW172106 (P-47 Bubbletop)

- KW172132 (P-47 Razorback)

 

The first two are nicely and crispy printed, but the third one (172132) is HORRIBLE!

Decals are so thick that almost look like a 3D printed sheet.

US Roundels, nose arts, stencils, basically everything is completely unusable.

 

I've written them asking for clarifications, but I had no answer at all.

 

Anyone had similar experience with one of their sheets?

[Greg B]

Yup, but in regards to their 3D decals. Nowhere near the quality of Quinta, Eduard, Redfox or Kelik and the instructions are very poor.

[Dr. Quack]

I had an identical problem with their transfers for my 1/48 Granby Tornado. Having bought them from Hannants I sent them (Hannants) an email with pics. I get a fresh set from Kits-World very quickly, and they were a vast improvement. It's almost as if they sometimes get the 3D printing and conventional printing mixed up.

Q

[dogsbody]

Great! I hope my 1/72 Beaufort decals are okay. I haven't tried them yet.

 

 

 

 

Chris

[Dave Swindell]

22 hours ago, Greg B said:

the instructions are very poor.

So they're improving then? the ones I got didn't come with instructions..

[Greg B]

2 hours ago, Dave Swindell said:

So they're improving then? the ones I got didn't come with instructions..

I grabbed the MB MK.7 Phantom seat set. The instructions were a picture of the seat with the decals in place. Gave up on them pretty quickly. As the early Quinta sets for the ZM phantoms came with enough for 3 seats in each set, raided a couple of sets and used them. 

[Adam Poultney]

I have their 1/72 Vulcan markings sheet. All of the decals are noticeably thick (like half a mm!) and all are inaccurate. They are under-scale, the artwork is incorrect on squadron markings, colours are off. I cannot recommend them. I haven't used any of them. I wouldn't care for a replacement as they are noticeably inaccurate regardless of how thickly they are printed.

 

Their 3d instrument panel ones I used on my 1/72 Vulcans however have been excellent although I didn't use the belts just the instrument panels.

[Alex.B]

22 hours ago, Adam Poultney said:

I have their 1/72 Vulcan markings sheet. All of the decals are noticeably thick (like half a mm!) and all are inaccurate. They are under-scale, the artwork is incorrect on squadron markings, colours are off. I cannot recommend them. I haven't used any of them. I wouldn't care for a replacement as they are noticeably inaccurate regardless of how thickly they are printed.

 

Their 3d instrument panel ones I used on my 1/72 Vulcans however have been excellent although I didn't use the belts just the instrument panels.

You are describing exactly how my bad decal sheet looks like.

That's really a shame as the subject is very interesting, and the other two sheets that I've bought at the exact same time... are just fine.

[SoftScience]

Recently tried to use their Buccaneer sets and like the others said, they are very thick. They also don't settle well over panel lines, and Mr. Mark softer makes their edges curl up and in. Small details, like text on stencils is smudgy or non-existent, and the numbering guide for the stencils in the instructions doesn't always match the numbers on the sheet. The blues on the RAF roundels also seem to have a slight purple hue. 

 

On the plus side, the decals adhere very well, and don't silver. Nevertheless, not very well executed. Overall a D+, using the USA scholastic grading system.

[TheKinksFan]

On another thread someone wrote that the later sheets are printed by BOA from Czechia, I assume they are the good ones. But as Kits World doesn't print anything by themselves, we have no idea which ones are good and which are bad, unless the carrier film looks exceptionally thick on. I have had good results with their decals, but I'm afraid some of the sheets in my stash will be of the thick variety. 

 

Accuracy is of course a totally different matter, even the good ones could be full of mistakes.

[speedy]

I've had a torrid time with my 1/32 Tornado today. First time I've purchased these as it had the subject I wanted. I put them in water and whilst sliding off the paper they wrinkled and rolled and some tore (picture wet tissue paper). I couldn't unroll some of the edges and they look terrible. The white writing was translucent and one of the nose arts is way oversized compared to internet pictures. These were so thin, so the other extreme to the above posts. I was fuming after all my hard work to be compromised by a poor quality product for high end prices.

 

I wouldn't recommend these to anyone.

Edited October 29, 2024 by speedy