Have you ever contacted a model company for a refund?

dirkpitt77

Member since
January 2006
From: NW Washington

Have you ever contacted a model company for a refund?

Posted by dirkpitt77 on Friday, March 2, 2012 8:09 PM

We've all heard of the kit so bad that the builder ended up tossing it in the trash, but what about a kit that frustrates you so much you feel compelled to contact the manufacturer for a refund? It goes against the entire philosophy of being a modeler in the first place, and improvising, adapting, and overcoming, but I felt the question had to be asked.

I suppose it's the geezer in me (in my young 39 years), but I am so frustrated with the decals on this Polar Lights 1/1000 U.S.S. Enterprise Refit kit, that I am tempted to contact them and see what they are willing to do for me. The decals are thick, and not responding at all to my decal fluids (Micro Set and Sol). It takes much work to get them to conform to curves, and most have wrinkled or not conformed at all, instead sticking out into space. In spite of trimming the outside edges, some are still overly large for their assigned location, and intermittently split, crack, and tear as if they are of varying thickness. I've about had it with them. The decals alone have driven me from almost completely happy with the kit, to extremely unhappy, even though the rest of the build has gone well.

Where does the point come when modeling skills end and it becomes a matter of the money you spent having been wasted on a product that didn't perform as advertised?

Suck it up? Stick it in a dark corner? Toss it? Write Polar Lights and *** like an old geezer? What would you do?

--Chris

"Some say the alien didn't die in the crash. It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

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padakr

Member since
October 2008
From: SE Pennsylvania

Posted by padakr on Saturday, March 3, 2012 8:06 AM

Chris,

I wouldn't give up on it yet. Have you tried Solvaset? It is stronger then Micro Sol.

And I don't think I would ask for a refund anyway. If the decals were off register, or a sprue missing, or badly molded, I would contact them and see what they would do. But for problems in assembly or finishing a "not high quality kit", no.

Paul

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dirkpitt77

Member since
January 2006
From: NW Washington

Posted by dirkpitt77 on Saturday, March 3, 2012 4:43 PM

I picked up some Solvaset today. I'll try that, I guess. We'll see.

--Chris

"Some say the alien didn't die in the crash. It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

Reply

dirkpitt77

Member since
January 2006
From: NW Washington

Posted by dirkpitt77 on Sunday, March 4, 2012 11:11 AM

Well, the Solvaset IS stronger than the Micro Sol, I'll give it that. BUT- some of the decals still did not respond to it, so I'm going to chalk it up to some sort of decal fault. I finished essential markings on it this morning and threw it on the shelf. I'll wait a day to throw a clear coat over it and call it good. Done with this one. Tongue Tied

"Some say the alien didn't die in the crash. It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

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RedCorvette

Member since
January 2006
From: Sarasota, FL

Posted by RedCorvette on Monday, March 5, 2012 8:42 AM

Not familiar with Polar Lights kits, but I have had other kits over the years with major decal troubles.

The Monogram decals of the 70's & 80's were notoriously thick, didn't respond to most setting solutions and actually had a semi pressure sensitive adhesive (they worked best if you applied pressure with a warm cloth after getting them into positiion). I also got frustrated several times by ESCI decals that would literally fall off the model after they were dry.

Most recently I fought the decals on the Revell Target Reynard Indy car. My last resort was some liberal coats of Future to finally get them to adhere to the compound curves.

Nothing wrong with giving the manufacuturer some feedback and asking for their advice and perhaps replacement decals.

Mark

FSM Charter Subscriber

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ruddratt

Member since
February 2006
From: Smithers, BC, Canada

Posted by ruddratt on Monday, March 5, 2012 10:03 AM

When all else fails, I bring out the big guns in the form of Gunze's Mr. Softer & Mr. Setter. This is some pretty potent stuff, and I reserve it for when my usual solutions fall short.

Mike

"We have our own ammunition. It's filled with paint. When we fire it, it makes pretty pictures....scares the hell outta people."

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Hans von Hammer

Member since
June 2008
From: Iowa

Posted by Hans von Hammer on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 12:22 PM

dirkpitt77

Well, the Solvaset IS stronger than the Micro Sol, I'll give it that. BUT- some of the decals still did not respond to it, so I'm going to chalk it up to some sort of decal fault. I finished essential markings on it this morning and threw it on the shelf. I'll wait a day to throw a clear coat over it and call it good. Done with this one.

Solvaset, Micro-Sol, Testor's Decal Set... Phooey..

Use white vinegar..

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