17 A DECALS

[mike]

Yes Mike, that is a reproduction decal. Some collectors hate the way the original decals deteriorate and they completely remove them in favor of the reproduction decals. It does make the model show better and some collectors would rather have a nice display model.

Thanks Joe, I agree with you.

[kwakers]

Do you see the way Mike's Blue model shows the same discolored and chipped up background problems Joe, while the Maroon and Green variations he has shown us to compare do not. That is what I have continually found on almost 50% of the blue only 'used' decals, but never that same discoloration and decomposition on the later 17A and B model Vans. When Mokosex showed his blue version, that decal damage was so typical for that color only for models I have seen over the years, I thought possibly the earliest logo used on the Blue Vans may have been done with the solvent style decals rather than the later water slide type with a heavier clear background that survives better through the years and remains clear??
I must admit to having 13 different Mint 17A and B variations Joe, and only another 2 that are very good, so my knowledge of any well-used Van decals may not be as extensive as your experience with them. I would never question your experience at all, just cause our teacher to 'study' a crash course as Moko's Post made me do this A.M........ kwakers

[Tinman]

Do you see the way Mike's Blue model shows the same discolored and chipped up background problems Joe, while the Maroon and Green variations he has shown us to compare do not. That is what I have continually found on almost 50% of the blue only 'used' decals, but never that same discoloration and decomposition on the later 17A

My experience has been as I mentioned ... plenty of green vans with badly deteriorated decals and gummy backgrounds. Until the internet caught on, most of my trading and buying was done in the deep south. It's very humid here and temps are high in the summer. Attic temps can easily reach 140* F (sometimes even higher). Add in the usual enviormental factors and perhaps the heat might have made things worse for models here. Regardless, I've purchased green models from many other areas that also had the same problem.

You are correct about the early models being slightly different, the decals did change slightly at some point early in the switch to green. However, I'm fairly sure all of them are waterslide.

[kwakers]

We Northern Yanks had our collections displayed in our cool basements, so heat may be the deteriorative (Even my spellcheck hates that one..... ) source I had never considered here. Thanks for the proper info on these. Dick