Funnel / Stack colored stripe

[baz]

Subject: Funnel / Stack colored stripe

When at the factory the other day and chatting with Andrew we discussed the funnel / stack colored stripe. I asked why was its color different from the large wrap-around pilot house striping and why is it there. Andrew grinned and said the decision to have it was decided above his pay grade and its color is supposed to match the large wrap-around pilot house striping. Well it doesn't on my R-21EC (see photo below). Since nothing at all is inside the stack I may just cut a rectangle on its stern facing area and make a small hatch-like door and use the extra storage for flags and misc stuff.

The only function the stack has presumably is to provide a surface to attach the cleat for securing the flag line from the jackstaff (term ?).

 

[Mr. T]

I thought the color band on the stack matches the hull. Did they change this?

 

[baz]

I'll ask as that makes more sense to me. Thanks... 🙂

 

[baz]

Well, I asked and here's the official (from Andrew Custis) edited response...

Ranger has changed the funnel striping on all model boats now. I was told I was the lucky one as the stripe change for the R-21EC started with my build. :evil:

The stripe is a decal and can be removed and the funnel would return to all white.

IMO... I suspect the decision to use a decal for the funnel strip was related to the manufacturing cost of applying the stripe in the molding process. Either that, or it's a much easier thing to have a stock of all white funnels and then simply apply a colored decal of choice at time of a sale.