Tamiya customer service response - missing (prohibited) decals?

[pjgtech]

Hi, I recently bought (via amazon) a set of Tamiya German gun crew figures, see photo:

When I received the kit I noticed that it had no decals, which should have been mostly insignia for the troops.
I double checked the amazon item, as I remember seeing the decals on the item photos, see 2nd photo, a screenshot of the item showing decals. You can see the small sheet of decals behind the sprue....

So I fired off a message to Tamiya customer service via their website, asking for some replacement decals and got this short reply this morning....

"thank you for your request, this decal will be removed from this model as it contains over 95% prohibited symbols."

I assume they mean the decals have been removed, rather than will be? So looks like no decals for me for this set.
So I think I might return this set to amazon, as I don't fancy trying to paint insignia on these figures, my painting skills are not up to it, and the kit will not be complete IMHO without insignia. I appreciate they may not be appropriate now, but they would certainly be historically correct.

Political correctness gone mad? (again) What does the groups hive mind think?

[boatman]

YES this is disgracefull as they are modelin the german soligers an want you to buy their kits as they really were but then because its to do with hitler they try an defife histstory an they are sellin you a kit which is not correct yes if i was you return them for your money back

[Gern]

Hi Peter. I've got some 1/35 decals for WWII German figures. Not sure if they're for M/G troops but you're welcome to them. I'd put pics up but my 'puter doesn't want to link to my phone. PM your address if you want them.

[pjgtech]

Wow, what a great offer, many thanx, I have pm'd you my details, and I will obviously be happy to pay for the decals and postage, cheers

[Tim Marlow]

It’s Illegal for them to sell anything including such images in a lot of countries these days, so they just don’t include them. This is a fairly old set I think, so the illustrations probably date to before some of these symbols were prohibited. It does mean that the illustration is misleading though, so I would expect you to be due a full refund.

[pjgtech]

Having looked at the box art, etc all I can see if a couple of German eagle badges and iron cross insignia, can't see any swastikas or similar, so can't really see what the fuss is about, just more whitewashing of history, [Sigh!]

[pjgtech]

Small update, so I also contacted amazon (earlier today) and went through the return and refund process.
Amazon initially said they were looking into it, but just had another look and its now updated to show I have been refunded and that I don't need to return the item, presumably because its such a low value item?

[OldWalrus]

Amazon are pretty good at writing off stock when they make an error, I recently bought a 'wrap thing' to carry charger leads and a booster battery, they sent me the manufacturers box of 4! I contacted Customer Services who simply said thank you for your honesty and keep the lot!

[Tim Marlow]

Having looked at the box art, etc all I can see if a couple of German eagle badges and iron cross insignia, can't see any swastikas or similar, so can't really see what the fuss is about, just more whitewashing of history, [Sigh!]

Nothing to do with whitewashing history. It has everything to do with ensuring it doesn’t happen again.
See here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bans_o...er%20countries.
The Nazi eagle is a banned symbol, and they do actually clutch a swastika in the claws. If Tamiya included them they would not be able to sell the models in the countries indicated. I suspect when this kit was originally released the rules were not as tight as they are now, but Tamiya have had to comply with the ban to keep marketing in those areas where it exists. I know they are tiny decals, but these sort of rules tend to be blanket bans for ease of administration. There are plenty of aftermarket sources for these if you really feel you need them.

[spanner570]

There are no Eagle or Swastika decals supplied with these figures.

There are simply 5 different sets of helmet insignia. Nothing else....
The reason the decals are no longer supplied is one of the insignia belongs to the infamous SS.
That is why they are no longer available with this kit.

Ron

[pjgtech]

Didn't get any decals with my kit, no helmet insignia, nothing.....

[spanner570]

I know you didn't receive any decals. Just trying to help clear up just what decals would have been supplied.

Ron

[pjgtech]

Didn't realise eagle is clutching a swastika. I dont pretend to be a history buff or expert in insignia.
IMHO it is whitewashing. I know why they do it, to appease the hard of thinking and easily offended.
My view is history should be shown in all its detail, so we can learn from it.
Erasing parts of history does nothing but hide it IMHO.
If I bought a WW2 US figures & decals were missing I would be disappointed.
NB: I have also ordered a set of US troops, so hopefully they will have their decals?
Anyway, sorry, off topic, don't want to get political, just peeved that decals (any decals) not included.

[Tim Marlow]

Didn't realise eagle is clutching a swastika. I dont pretend to be a history buff or expert in insignia.
IMHO it is whitewashing. I know why they do it, to appease the hard of thinking and easily offended.
My view is history should be shown in all its detail, so we can learn from it.
Erasing parts of history does nothing but hide it IMHO.
If I bought a WW2 US figures & decals were missing I would be disappointed.
NB: I have also ordered a set of US troops, so hopefully they will have their decals?
Anyway, sorry, off topic, don't want to get political, just peeved that decals (any decals) not included.

Sorry to labour the point, but you have completely missed what I mean. Tamiya are not whitewashing history, they are simply complying with regulations that exist in a number of countries so they can continue to sell their product. The countries that have banned these symbols are those, in the main, that suffered most under its wearers, so I’m sure they feel justified in banning this symbology. All we are doing is sticking plastic together and throwing paint at it. It’s really not worth getting bent out of shape about.

[pjgtech]

Agreed, lifes too short, etc, but I am a grumpy old man, so quite enjoy a good rant, LOL....

[PaulTRose]

Thing is it dont really matter cos all branches of the German forces fazed out the helmet decals only a few years into the war......by '43ish ones that did have them would probably been painted over

[PaulinKendal]

The link that Tim Marlow mentions is worth a closer look. It seems that much of the legislation that Tamiya is seeking to comply with could (arguably) permit the sale of those decals.

For example, in Austria there are legal exemptions for the use of these symbols in works of art (it may be a stretch for us to describe our models as 'works of art', but I think most people would consider it a fair description.)

Most of the legislation bans the production, distribution and display of these symbols primarily where they are being used to promote fascist or totalitarian ideologies - not something most modelmakers are doing with the decals, I hope!

But there are some jurisdictions where the production and distribution of these symbols appears to be much more all-encompassing, so it no surprise Tamiya is playing safe like this.

[Airborne01]

There are aftermarket sets out there if still required mate.
Steve