I’m glad you guys are finding this amusing, as I also do. But remember how cheap these kits are. Aren’t you glad that they skimmed on the texts rather than the kits? It’s probably more expensive for them to hire someone with perfect English than a skillful craftsman to make the mould. As an ethnic Chinese I’m proud of what Trumpeter and DML are cranking out these days. As a kid building models in Hong Kong in the 70s, I didn’t understand the English or Japanese on the boxes and instructions either, but I managed with the diagrams. Wai Kong is probably right in saying that they used machine translation. Here’s my edited translation from their Chinese website:
“Soviet KV-2 Tank
KV-2 (a.k.a. KV-2M 1941 model) entered production at the same time as KV-1M 1941. The special feature of KV-2 was the shape of its turret (the infamously mistranslated “quick-fried tower”). The turret, equipped with a 152mm howitzer, was basically an elongated hexagonal shape that looked like a giant box. Unfortunately, due to its excessive weight, the turret could hardly rotate unless it was on a level surface. Because of this deficiency, KV-2’s were used in actual combat only to provide suppressive fire (“thermodynamic power inhibit”) against the German army (“virtuous soldiers”), and not for tactical breakthroughs in counter-attacks.”
Come to think of it, their research may be as dubious as their translation. So you didn’t miss much. Not to bore you with too much information, I’ll stop here. For those interested in how on earth those mangled phrases could come about, I can offer my theories.
Makes me wonder how “Trumpeter” became their logo , what were they really trying to say ,maybe their real name is "horny brassy " models co. Well i think its time to "backstroke"outta here.
CFR [oX)]
These are the “health and safety warnings” from the Science Treasury instructions:
(they’re the same for all of their kits)
CAUTION
Make sure to read instructionsted below before assembling.
Adult supervisior shud also read instruct-ions when assembled by
childfed 12or younger.
-
This being anassembly kitread the insinstuctions before assembleing.
-
Tear jpand throw thepiastic bagsconta ngkit pars as chldredmay suffocate
by swallowingor wearing over head. -
Out the parts off properly and thfow the waste parts into dustbox at cnce.
-
Do not play with the parts for any other pjrpose as sone parts may be too sharr
more caution and careneeded for familise with infants. -
Do not swallow any parts and oyt -off chips keep away from reach of dhilbren.
-
Wrong or careless usage of nipper cutter file ect may hurt the assembler.
-
Be cautious as follows when using adhe-sives andior paints:
A. Do not use in closed room to avoid poisning toxic.
B. Do not use near fire to anoid flammability.
And here’s the parts list from their Churchill Mk.I kit:
Starbooard cartwheel = hull side
Notor pate tine cartwheel = sprocket half
Notor pate tine carwheel casing
Left notor pate fork = sprocket mount
Gharry subplate = lower hull
Gharry casing = upper hull
Rook rear tine cartwheel
Rook rear tine cartwheel casing
Right notor pate fork
Lefe outside cartwheel
Gasoline tank casing = translated correctly for once (upper fuel tank half)
Gasoline tank fundus = lower fuel tank half
Cehassis backboard = rear hull
Cehassis foreplate
Right rook rear fork = rear hull side
Left rook rear fork
Left carwheel trestle = suspension arms
Right carwheel trestle
Endo left carwheel = suspension wheels
Endo right carwheel
Turnplate casing = turret
Turnplate fundus = turret base
Cehasis window casing = driver’s hatch
Midst barrel = hull MG barrel
Thief barrel = coaxial MG barrel
Turnp late catch = some sort of stowage item
Gasoline tank splint = fuel tank mount
Cehassis = turret mantlet (NOT the chassis)
Notorpate left autobulb = left headlight
Turnplate window = turret vision block
Turnplate rear box = turret storage box
Turnplate dexter box
Cehassis casing
Ordnance billot = hull gun barrel
Midst gun billot = main gun barrel
Turnplate tip casing = turret hatch
Gasoline left casing = engine ventilator
Gasoline right casing
Gharry gate = another turret hatch
Left pull Bar = exhaust
Right pull Bar
Soldiery platform = stand for crew figure
Soldiery = crew figure
Notor pate right notor lamp = Right headlight
Their other kit instructions feature equally warped translations.
MOUAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH
MKMT2003, thanks very much for the fine translation. That makes a lot more sense, wouldn’t you say guys?
CFRUssell’s question of what Trumpeter’s real name is supposed to be is a very valid question I think. If anyone could find somthing on that id mail um a free dictionary!
Drawde- great stuff my friend[:D].
You’re welcome, gringe88!
“Trumpeter” is actually a good translation of their Chinese name, as you can see by their graphic logo what musical instrument they had in mind. One may translate it as “trumpet player”, but that doesn’t sound as good. The Chinese name suggests to me they had the military trumpet in mind, as a signally device.
Matt …my question was partly for fun and not that valid… but thanks to MKMt we have some idea as to the logo’s origin , well im still “backstrokin” outa here.
CFR [oX)]
Darn, I thought the Quick Fried Turrets might have been a left over phrase involving T 72s. Greg
after getting whacked with 120mm APFSDS rounds you mean? [:D]
Thats what i invisioned also .
CFR
my other choice as to what ‘quick-fried tower’ meant was something along the lines of a cast turret, which may be they’re idea of it, since i dont know of any chinese tanks with welded turrets, and much of their tank force was originially based off of russian cold war tank designs, which of course were cast. thats about as close as i can get.
Great kit, very good value for money spent.
Thank you for getting the wording understandable.
Why not sell it to the bosses in Sanxiang?
These kind of misstakes are so easily avoided, but yet I agree with you;
The kit speaks for itself.