Transfers, Decals, and pronounciation of Deckals/Deecals

[Bob G]

A long time ago there were "transfers" in all Airfix kits.
Then around 1970 along came Revell with their Americanisms and they started to talk about "Decals".

As I'd never seen this word before, my Dad and I pronounced them Deckals. We all did at school too.
On Revolution's broadcasts recently, Ben was pronouncing the word as Dee-cals. This was news to me, after 59 years on the planet a word I had got wrong for over 50 years! Perhaps. I had always called the Japanese Zero fighter manufacturer Mushbitsy, for instance.

So does anyone know where the word "decals" came from originally, how to pronounce the word properly (are they de-califragilistic or do they deck all transfers), and what's wrong with the proper English word "transfers" anyway?

Bob

PS next word lesson will be Dappol vs Daypol, and then after that Sonny vs Soney (SONY).

[Buzzard]

So does anyone know where the word "decals" came from originally, how to pronounce the word properly (are they de-califragilistic or do they deck all transfers)

IGIFY and found this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decal

[Newportnobby]

In my youth Airfix kits came with transfers, not decals.
When these decals came in I pronounced it as 'deckals' and always will.
'Deecal', to me, is just another example of 2 countries separated by a common language.

[Bob G]

Well I never.

I would not have expected Wikipedia to have that info.
I am full of decalcomania.

However, I'm with @Newportnobby on this. I feel it should be deckal even if this is wrong and I don't really think to be edgeukated otherwise

Bob

[dannyboy]

I am always surprised at the amount of information that is available on Wikipedia  However, I have always pronounced decal as dee-kal.

[NScaleNotes]

However, I have always pronounced decal as dee-kal.

Yep, me too, but that probably doesn't mean much considering I've always seemed to struggle with and/or misunderstood English pronunciation despite it being my mother tongue. For example, I always used to get told-off for saying place names like Bicester wrong.
Then there's words like Cockburn... 

I don't know whether there is any connection but I also struggle to learn foreign languages and when I lived in London people from the Netherlands were convinced I was also from the Netherlands because of the way I would say certain words.

[ntpntpntp]

"dee-kal" here, though I used to say "deck-all" decades ago.  I think SWMBO was partially instrumental in my change, from her familiarity with the word in art and design.  Plus I suspected a French origin without having ever seen that wiki page.  Probably should be more like "day-kal" 

[trkilliman]

Growing up in the 60s with Airfix kits it was always transfers.  Nowadays I've been converted to a Deck-All chap.

I eagerley await the chance to once again buy some Modelmaster "Deck-All's" through the NGS.

[Ditape]

I was brought up on transfers and still refer to them that way but I have been known use deck-als.

[njee20]

Dee-cal for me!

[Bob G]

We are currently running at Deck-als 4 votes, Dee-cals 4 votes
I didnt think it would be so evenly matched.

[Yet_Another]

Perhaps some people have transferred their allegiance?

(My pronunciation is somewhat context-specific, but all Airfix kits have transfers).

[Jim Easterbrook]

I called them transfers until I recently started model making again, when I started calling them dee-cals. Then I found people saying deck-als, so I started trying to say that instead.

I think I'm going back to dee-cals now.

[37214]

Transfers. If I did have to call them something else, it would be deck-all.

[Graham]

sounds like it could be a separation at the Watford Gap, being a Southerner I always say deecal. Now being even further south still call them deecal.