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Just wondering if anyone has come across this shield decal before with the numbers 55 or 2 number 5's. The 1st 5 is on the top left of the shield and the other is outside the shield on the right hand side. They certainly look like they are part of the decal itself and don't look to have been added at a later date. The model is the dark blue version.
ozboxrox

Stray letters and digits are sometimes found on Lesney details. To me, the most probable explanation is that these were manufacturers' identification codes printed on the edges on the sheets of transfers which became detached when the decals were wetted. Floating free in the water, they eventually ended up on a decal as it was removed from the dish and, once on the vehicle, dried in position.
I think the sides of the M1a Autotanker are particularly prone to this, perhaps because of the size and colour of the decals concerned.

I agree with Hugh in His assessment, as I see this happening in the plastic kit modelling hobby. Decal sheets are made with all the information on the thin film that makes up the design, race number or department emblem as in Police, Fire and Ambulance logos, not on the carrier, the blank sheet of card you are left with once the decals have been removed.

In plastic kit modelling you are advised to cut-out the design you are using, not put the whole sheet in Water at the same time...resulting in a dish of mixed decals all floating around together.

The model above is another good factory oops!

Ghosthunter.

I think this is pretty cool, even if a "factory error". And whilst there are a couple of chips, it is in beautiful condition and very hard to find this one without chips and nice clean decals like this.

Cheers,
Gavin

Very interesting and thanks for sharing! The explanations given make sense and certainly something to keep an eye out on for decals. It would make sense that the decal sheets had the model code (55 in this case) printed somewhere on the decal sheets so the factory could make sure the proper decals were matched with the right models during assembly.
Thanks,
Bill