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Posted by Ralph Wood on September 26, 2026, 19:41:39, in reply to "Re: NO Instructions rant!"
Ah, I see. Thank you. I really don't like PE, so avoid it "at all possible costs." So, PE doesn't even register in my brain..."detail sets" had to be 3d printed. What else is there? LOL.
Literally about one year before "the 3d printed revolution" hit, I broke down and bought myself a packet of PE Nulka launchers. They came with instructions. Still, one had to fold brass sheet into little rectangular boxes. And, though I never attempted them, I am pretty certain they would indeed have come out over scale...nice tall rectangular brass "towers." I am now the contented owner of "oodles" of 3d resin in-scale Nulkas.
I am very glad you got your Pontos set, with instructions. 
Previous Message
good afeternoon, I appreciate your response, in the 3D world I agree, printed parts are obvious what they are replacing, I'm more speaking of the photo etch world.. some parts on a PE sheet are obvious what they are and where they go, others not so much at all! I just ended the problem and paid for a good Bismarck set by pontos for my bismarck, it comes with detailed instructions about their particular kit..thanks Previous Message
Why would you be buying detail sets if you don't know what details you should have? My advice would basically be: Know your subject.
Somebody in China who does know the subject, and the kits of it out there, designs a print file. He then either sells it to, rents it to, or pays to have it printed (collecting from sales) by, one of the many industrial printing companies in that country. They turn out batches of them in between doing "real" work...like auto parts, for example. They just print 3D. They "don't do paper." These batches then distribute to "a crop" of Ebay sellers who pick up boxes of the things periodically and put them online. They "don't do paper," either. They just sell what came in their boxes. The original software creator would need to then also have an instruction file which he would likewise send to a printing company, who would print up batches which now have to magically be somehow united with what the 3D printer places are boxing and distributing.
It simply doesn't work like that. The money is in the part, not the instructions, so the software guy doesn't bother. He knows what he designed, why he designed it, and where it belongs on the model, and assumes that you do too if you purchased it. He's not a kit designer. They create and sell whole kits. They gather decals, instructions, kit parts, PE, boxes, etc. from various sources they've contracted with to have those things made. Then, they put it all in a nice package and put it on the market. Different business model completely. Home cottage industry printers will occasionally also spring for having instructions made because they find it helps sales. But, "China" (particularly Ebay) "don't work like that." Guy sends software to factory. Boxes of printed items are made and sent. Ebay sellers either receive batches sent, or pick them up as necessary. Nobody in that chain is in the "kit" business. They just sell parts.
Don't buy if you don't know what you're getting. Or, don't expect to be shown after purchase if you do buy. Be prepared to figure it out. Previous Message
can anyone tell me why the vast majority of detail sets coming from China have NO instructions??? I have had this issue on too many occasions to re count! what do the chinese have against assemby instructions for their detail sets?? anyone else have this issue?? what do you do about it? thanks guys..
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