Inadequate instructions...

[Cols]

I don't know whether this is a topic that has been addressed before, so if I'm resurrecting an old topic - please forgive me; however, whether or not this is a fresh topic, I am still quite angry/annoyed/exasperated. However, I'll get on with the matter...

A few days ago, I visited a fellow N-Gauge modeller who asked me if I could apply etched name/number-plates and add the headcodes to three of his Dapol "Westerns". That was not a problem, as the etched plates were included with each loco, as were the four-character headcodes. I brought the three locos home, and got started on this little task. Fitting the number and name-plates was no problem. Next came the fitting of the headcodes - the easy bit, or so I thought. Each loco box contained the the headcodes and I realised that one actually had a wide range of options, if one mixes and matches the pairs of letters/numbers. So far so good. This was going to be easy... a few years ago I had added headcodes to my Dapol "Hymek", so I assumed that the codes for these "Westerns" were self-adhesive, as they had been for the "Hymek"; so, I checked Dapol's instruction sheets for the "Westerns" to confirm this...

NOTHING!! No mention at all of the headcodes, let alone what type they were! No hint of whether these were self-adhesive or water-slide decals. I picked at one with a No.10a scalpel blade to see if it would lift, as would a self-adhesive decal - and wrecked it! It must be a water-slide decal... Which they were. so I completed the job with no further problem.

After this infuriating experience, I checked another forum to see if there was any mention of this source of irritation. I was surprised to read that one correspondent found that the headcode decals with his "Western" were self-adhesive, and another found that they were water-slide - and so it went on; there is an inconsistency here! Surely it is about time that Dapol wrote its instruction sheets from the modeller's perspective, and not assume that all who purchase one of their diesel models know all that there is to know about the loco on which they have just spent a not so insignificant sum. If they are giving the purchaser an opportunity to add some individuality to their loco, then surely providing information as to what type of decal is included is basic customer information. Additionally, telling the modeller what the recommended method of attaching the etched plates to the model comes under good customer information.

I have been an active modeller since I was 9 years old - I'm 80 this year - and I have seen inadequate plastic kit instructions from time to time, but never have I seen such arrogant assumption from a manufacturer that, if the purchaser was willing to spend a considerable sum on the product, the purchaser must already know everything about either the prototype or the model - what about a newcomer to the hobby who may not have  that background information? As an experienced modeller, I had no problems with either decals or etched plates. Surely, however, a few words on the instruction sheet about "these black and white numbers" found loose in the box, and how to use them, is a basic courtesy to the customer? 

Again, my apologies to all who've waded through this expression of annoyance. I'm glad to get it off my chest - but I'm still very annoyed. I wouldn't be surprised if Dapol was not alone in providing inadequate information to their customers.