discussion instruction sheets

[Guest]

having only just got in to this hobby,one thing keeps striking me.why are the instruction sheets in most of the kits printed in black and white with little boxes pointing to each part numbered with a paint colour code,would it not make life easier for most people if the instructions were printed in colour showing each piece in its respective colour. i know there are vast colour differences and schemes for each kit but would it not make life easier.............sitting here now ready to be flamed for asking such a stupid noobie question..!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ian M]

Cost of a black and white print; peanuts. Cost of a colour print; Loads of peanuts? I'm sure in the first instance its a cost thing. Then there is the colour issue. What they say is the right colour might not be the same as every one else thinks.

There is an increasing amount of manufactures that are starting to do a colour print of the paint guide of the compleated kit though. Also in some respects a black and white line drawing is easier to comprehend than a colour picture. It sounds odd but its true, other wise all technical hand books would be in colour.

I must confess that Having seen some of the newer kits from Italeri, with "computer graphic images" insted of a line drawing, I think that is a move in the wrong direction. Rather a photo of the part than a bad graphic with 'fuzzy' detail.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

Not a stupid question at all. One of the issues has to be cost. To print even near accurate colour for the parts would be a very expensive addition to the cost of the kit. Also, as with kits that do have colour sheets for camo patterns, especially on aircraft, the colours are not very accurate and only really give a 'representation' of the correct colour, they still have to have the colour codes as well. It just isn't practical, affordable or accurate enough to use a print out on its own.

 

[Guest]

Not a stupid question,but what if you are colour blind they are not much good too you. Cost as well as colour printing can get very expensive.

Tony..

Darn Graham you beat me to it.

 

[Guest]

Mmmm, three simultaneous answers based on the same principle. Either we are all right or.... all wrong lol, I am plumping for the all right.

 

[Guest]

I agree we are all right.

Tony..

 

[Guest]

i am really stupid but the main reason i asked is because last night (dont all fall off your chairs laughing) i spent 20 minutes searching through sprues for a numbered part that i could not find then started to fire up my pc to vent some steam off to the shop i purchased the kit from, only to realised slightly later i was searching for a paint code rather than the part number.....felt a bit stupid but its ok cos no-one was watching!!!!

 

[Guest]

Hey, we have all done that one lol.. It aint stupid, it is all part of the madness that is modelling

 

[Guest]

i am really stupid but the main reason i asked is because last night (dont all fall off your chairs laughing) i spent 20 minutes searching through sprues for a numbered part that i could not find then started to fire up my pc to vent some steam off to the shop i purchased the kit from, only to realised slightly later i was searching for a paint code rather than the part number.....felt a bit stupid but its ok cos no-one was watching!!!!

Haha, thats funny, but now you have told us we all know

I was going to say about the colour blind thing. Black and white print makes it easier to understand. I suspect thats why Humbrol stamp the colour code on the paint lids. You may not see the resulting painting effort, but you know its right

Off-topic - I had a colour blind friend who wanted to be a bomb disposal expert in the army. I really didnt have the heart that they didnt take volunteers nor did they take colourblind people in Bomb disposal

 

[Guest]

I have done it a few times. Done it with Komet I am building at the mo,spent ages looking for a part that doesnt exist.

Tony..

 

[Guest]

Mmmm, colour blind bomb disposal... "errr, should I cut the slightly medium grey wire or the slightly lighter grey?"

 

[Guest]

boom !!!!!!!

 

[Guest]

Bugger, should have been the slightly darker grey wire...............