Ever read the English descriptions on the sides of some foreign model boxes? Some are really funny to read, though they’re getting somewhat better.
I understand the difficulties in translation, some things in certain languages just do not translate to English and vice-versa. But it’s still a laugh now and again.
Hmmm… I can see it now on the side of the Panda 32nd B-17 box:
<> One American B-17 Airplane plastic assembly models. * Scale: 1/32 The length is long and it’s full width is wide. * The traces of rivets and detail look extremely real outside. * The interior detailed cockpit inside realize the original. * The gunner turret are make exactly like the real one. They can turn around.* Included: highly authenticate decal marking for full size WWII England B-17 in Europe for real appearance. * No glue and paint included inside. * Model is for experience only, for adult. Not for child.
There was a 1/48 F-4E released back in the late 60’s that had some very funny decals. The pilots name was Jack Poker and the WSO was named Victor Face. The warning on the gear door read “Candy ree not do clear away”. The tail hook warning was “town look danger”. I think the person that made the decals used only the english he knew . A lot of the decals just had letters that spelled nothing.
Yeah, that happens across the board here in Japan as well. Actually has a bit of a cult following.
You’d think someone would run it by a native English speaker once before printing it on a package.
But, if you wanna keep costs down…
To be fair, though, I’ve seen some very silly Japanese written on packaging and product literature by non- native Japanese speakers.
The best that I’ve ever seen was on an old Bandai kit of a BMW motorcycle with sidecar. The first step on the decal instructions read “Froat decal on water.”
AHAHAHahahahaaaa LMAO blackwolf, I love your B-17 description!!! [:D] (It’s full width is wide!!!)
I have laughed till it hurt at some of those descriptions and wish I’d held on to them. I can’t remember which one it was now but I remember one fighter description went something like this.
The F-16 (?) has very fast speed and manuver to gain the superior air.
Anyone ever bought a “USS Joe Washington”?
I love the “Zhengdefu” Brand description of my Bradley(which won’t look too bad once the sandbags are in place…) I’ll get the box out later today to get y’all the description.
One of my favorites has been on Italeri boxes for years. It’s just a red circle with a slash through it over a drawing of a baby’s face and the cryptic passage “-3”
Well, I guess Toddlers of 4 years old in Italy must be a pretty talented lot if the low end age limit of the kit is three year olds.
At three, I was still working out with wooden alphabet building blocks, I didn’t have my first kit till I was 7.
Well - even for me (not native English speaker) it looks and sounds very funny ! But it only means, that English is not an easy language at all ! ;o)) Aleksander
I’ve heard English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Is there another language where the sentance “I’m going to pare a pair of pears.” is possible?
“They’re getting their a**** handed to 'em over there.” (in reference to any Buffalo sports team playing an away game)
With so many different spellings and meanings to what ultimately sounds like the same word, English can sometimes be confusing to the foreigner. Hell, it’s even confusing to some of the folks who “speak” it.
But, I used to work with a kid who was from Thailand. Let me tell you about really confusing languages, and phrases that don’t translate from English… Did you know that they have no real equiv to “Wasssssuuuupppp?” You do now. [:p]