AMT/Ertl rep says: "Your Hobby is dead"
Mi...@dhcinc.com
My name is Mike from Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. If you have not heard of
us we are a mostly plastic model shop, opened in 1976 by my father Dan.
We have a small website online but have spent the past 24 years
operating our local shop here in Newport News Virginia, catering to
mostly plastic modelers, but this is not an advertisement for us. I feel
compelled to share an experience I had at a hobby show in Norfolk Va.
this past Sunday which left me shocked and thinking for the rest of the
day.
As you may know, the die-cast company “Racing Champions” has acquired
AMT/Ertl/Esci. You may have seen their new 2000 catalogue which is
mostly die-cast and a smattering of plastic kits. When I approached
their table I immediately noticed that three quarters of it was proudly
covered with their latest line of Nascar collectables. Of course I asked
about what their plans for future plastic kit offerings would be, but
maybe I shouldn’t have.
While sporting his Racing Champions golf shirt, their representative
informed me that plastic kits were dead. He claimed that since the
average age of modelers was so high, their customer base would be dying
off. Since they are not passing it down to their kids, the plastic model
as we know it would cease to exist in just a few years and pre-painted
body snap kits will probably replace them. He also claimed that die-cast
collectables are the way to go and the wave of the future. I disagreed
and asked how I would compete with the mass marketers such as K-mart,
Wal-mart, and Target. He said their price for a certain seven dollar
item would only be two dollars less than mine. Two Bucks? Where would
you buy it?
So now I have come to a conclusion. AMT/Ertl has given up, sold their
company to yet another group who tries to convince the public that a toy
car, made in China for about the price of a half a cup of rice, is going
to be a rare and valuable collectable in 5-10 years. Give me a break! I
would hope people are much smarter than that, especially in 5-10 years.
But for now, AMT will take it when they can get it, and sit around in 5
years wondering where it went.
Forget about all of those classic AMT car kits, the great line of
Mirages by Esci, or even their 1.72 scale armor line. According to this
company, your hobby is dead.
MI...@DHCinc.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. Website:
HTTP://www.dhcinc.com
14363 Warwick Blvd Ordering:
HTTP://www.dhcinc.com/secorder.htm
Newport News V.A USA 23602 E-mail: d...@dhcinc.com
Phone(757)874-5708 FAX (757)874-3746 Mon-Fri 12-8pm Sat
10-6pm EST
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ajsandusky
in my garage. Or my last bill from the hobby shop. John39437
Denebrian Slime Devil
and the S3's I opened all had a printed tag with Made in Mexico on them.
Now, this is just one more reason to finally give the snub to a sell-out
company.
If they want to go diecast, then they can get in their best-rolling diecast
car and ride straight to hell. Funny, I dont remember seeing any damn
diecast pieces of crap at the last three shows I went to.
David Campbell
Mi...@DHCinc.com wrote in message <392B115A...@DHCinc.com>...
AMPSOne
owner of a shop in Britain he is possibly correct.
The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
trickle of new kits would be released. Revell is hung up in Germany over a
change of owners who wanted the Binney & Smith (i.e. Crayola) distribution but
not the kit manufacturing section.
Revell GmbH's armor kits are apparently going to suffer, and even then, the
most recent one (the Panzerhaubitze 2000) was apparently molded in Poland to
cut costs as well.
DML is concentrating on their 1/6 scale "Fighting Men" series and sees more
profit and expansion there than in their plastic kit lines. Shanghai Dragon
will continue to crank out the older kits.
Tamiya is still concentrating on the Japanese home market.
Italeri was an unknown, but had very few offerings scheduled for actual
release.
From my point of view, the brightest hope is east of the old Iron Curtain. Only
the Russians, Ukrainians, and Poles show a desire to forge ahead with new kits,
and there is a flow within Russia and Ukraine to create totally viable kit
manufacturers. Zvezda, Maquette/RPM, SKIF, and ICM appear to be the new leaders
and are buying up the marginal "small fry" and their kit lines to make that
work.
I'm not sure how this will pan out for aircraft modelers, but at least there is
some bright hope for armor modelers (unless you are relentlessly into German
armor, which may fall by the wayside as the former USSR countries proceed with
subjects of interest to them.)
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
Kurt Hollenbach
past several new-tool kits of theirs were really quite nice, such as the
1971 duster and the 1957 chevy. I was pretty upset to see that they stopped
making aircraft, the 1/72nd c-135 series is really neat, I am disapointed
that I screwed up my KC-135A (the first one they released in the series I
don't know for sure if it's an A or not)and now you can't get them any more.
hopefully if they decide to quit the plastic business they can at least sell
their tools, I mean they have some great stuff in their archives, the old
MPC stuff, The new tool aircraft such as the b-70, the b-52, c-135 series,
not to mention all the old ESCI tools.
I'd still like to see them release the C-135 series as a 707 Airliner. That
would be great, would anyone else buy one? I would want to build several.
Denebrian Slime Devil >thegrid.net> <locutus@<<DONTSPAMME> wrote in message
news:7OBW4.8410$RO1.1...@nntp3.onemain.com...
Haywire
hobby is dead. But then I take a closer look at the problem with the hobby
and realize what makes me think that it is dead.
My father, who got me into the hobby, was only interested in WWII German
Armour and Figures in the 1.35th scale. His hobby is mainly fed by presents
from myself and my brother. We have come to realize that he has EVERYTHING
that the hobby has to offer for this genre. I am seeing nothing really new
or interesting in this area. I see figure kits that I remember wanting 20
years ago. There is very little that is NEW in this area of modeling.
Then I look at the genre that I hobby in... I am mainly into SCI-FI models.
Unfortunately, IMHO, I believe that the major companies could really care
less about this genre. They have this opinion that of it is not Star Trek or
Star Wars, then it is not worth modeling. The model kits that I have seen
have been very simple and have been skimped on the detail. Hell, most of
them are snap fast, snap fast does not make me feel like a modeler unless I
convert the thing. ANd except for the Phantom Menace, I have yet to see much
that is new. Why not a Y-Wing or a Tie bomber, or the Executioner, why the
same models from 25 years ago??. I have to get expensive garage kits of the
models that I want, or I have to rely on Japanese imports ten years after
the models are discontinued.
I do not think the hobby is dead because no one out there wants to buy
anything. I think the hobby is dead because the companies do not want to do
anything to bring new life into the hobby. They just rehash the same old
model kits. I believe that if these companies actually did a poll of what
new and built it they would be golden and the hobby would flurish.
Sorry, this is more a rant than anything intellectual, but it is my feelings
on the whole hobby...
ever the insane,
haywire
*** By major modeling companies, I am refering to ERTL/AMT, Testors,
Italerie, Tamiya, Revell-Monogram, I understand that these companies are
mostly American companies and do not represent the entire industry as a
whole.
I am happy with the new blood Dragon has brought in and the work Bandai has
been doing (I just wish Bandai would get its stuff over here quicker so that
I could actually see the model and not order over HLJ)
José Herculano
> Mirages by Esci, or even their 1.72 scale armor line. According to this
> company, your hobby is dead.
Tamiya will be heart-broken to know the hobby is dead ;-)
--
José Herculano
Mike
This,
> My father, who got me into the hobby, was only interested in WWII > German Armour and Figures in the 1.35th scale.
<snip>
> I am seeing nothing really new or interesting in this area.
Then this,
> I see figure kits that I remember wanting 20
> years ago. There is very little that is NEW in this area of modeling.
And then this,
> I think the hobby is dead because the companies do not want to do
> anything to bring new life into the hobby. They just rehash the same old
> model kits. I believe that if these companies actually did a poll of what
> new and built it they would be golden and the hobby would flurish.
> ever the insane,
> haywire
You truly are insane. I do agree about the SF genre though.
--
Mike Dougherty
Toronto, Ont.
Canada
Mike
>
> The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
> Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
> trickle of new kits would be released.
I've heard this same rumour every year since I got back into the hobby.
If they do go on hiatus at least it will give me a chance to whittle
down my unbuilt pile. I've also learned not to take what shop owners
tell me as being gospel, they are often wrong. I find that I know far
more than most of the hobby shop owners around here, often putting
orders in for stuff that they insist isn't or will not be available. I
just tell them to keep it on file and get me one when it appears.
Maiesm72
the first few months of this year I think that the spokesman is fortunately
wrong.
On the other hand how many AMT/ERTL kits have YOU purchased in the last couple
of years?
I think that this person was looking in the wrong direction. I also wonder if
his stockholders have heard about the comment?
Sounds like this person needs to find a new line of work. Soon.
Tom
Mi...@dhcinc.com
Please don't take issue with me. I disagree with this man. I do not think the
hobby is dead and neither do the customers that keep my shop open as well as our 2
local IPMS Chapters, Tidewater IPMS and Hampton roads scale modelers.This rep has
probably never put a plastic model together in his life. I am sure if he had any
idea what the Tidewater IPMS hat I was wearing at the time meant, he would have
chosen his words more carefully.
I think you are right about the new foreign made kits. They have generated
interest for modelers on subjects they were not even aware of. When a customer says
to me "I did not know the Chinese had these kind of ships", (refering to the
Zhendefu kits) , "let me try that Chinese destroyer".......... It has to be good
for the hobby.
MIKE@DHC
AMPSOne wrote:
> I'd take quick issue with Mike but having just heard even worse news from the
> owner of a shop in Britain he is possibly correct.
>
> The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
> Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
> trickle of new kits would be released. Revell is hung up in Germany over a
> change of owners who wanted the Binney & Smith (i.e. Crayola) distribution but
> not the kit manufacturing section.
>
> Revell GmbH's armor kits are apparently going to suffer, and even then, the
> most recent one (the Panzerhaubitze 2000) was apparently molded in Poland to
> cut costs as well.
>
> DML is concentrating on their 1/6 scale "Fighting Men" series and sees more
> profit and expansion there than in their plastic kit lines. Shanghai Dragon
> will continue to crank out the older kits.
>
> Tamiya is still concentrating on the Japanese home market.
>
> Italeri was an unknown, but had very few offerings scheduled for actual
> release.
>
> From my point of view, the brightest hope is east of the old Iron Curtain. Only
> the Russians, Ukrainians, and Poles show a desire to forge ahead with new kits,
> and there is a flow within Russia and Ukraine to create totally viable kit
> manufacturers. Zvezda, Maquette/RPM, SKIF, and ICM appear to be the new leaders
> and are buying up the marginal "small fry" and their kit lines to make that
> work.
>
> I'm not sure how this will pan out for aircraft modelers, but at least there is
> some bright hope for armor modelers (unless you are relentlessly into German
> armor, which may fall by the wayside as the former USSR countries proceed with
> subjects of interest to them.)
>
> Cookie Sewell
> AMPS
--
Minimum Order $10.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Az hosers
only because the youth generation is too stupid and lazy to do anything and
most of "US" (Myself not included in this catagory) Take way too fucking long
to finish a model if ever!--I will go buy a kit and slap it together in a few
days time-JUST FOR FUN! Sure I have serious projects--but anything over 6
months is way too long a time frame to build!--So if you dont want to see
Plastic Modeling End! BUILD! Finish a model for once! Way too much "thinking
and planning-and far too little building! Of course there are the fringe
lunatic Females who write columns about how to keep thier hubbies (read that
work dogs) from wasting precious $$$ on models! Oh not to metion a certain
organization whose yearly meetings just seem to have to top the previous years
even if it means going into financial ruin!
Ya maybe plastic IS dead!
ProMedeler#33393
John Walker
hiatus - except for poor old Airfix. sigh!
JohnW
"Mike" <gre...@lunaticfringe.org> wrote in message
news:392B04...@lunaticfringe.org...
> AMPSOne wrote:
> >
>
> > The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
> > Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
> > trickle of new kits would be released.
>
>
Al Superczynski
>...how many AMT/ERTL kits have YOU purchased in the last couple
>of years?
Lots of their cars, Tom. I'd really hate to see them drop
plastics (as if I didn't already have plenty of kits to play with)....
Al Superczynski, MFE
IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968
Check out my want and disposal lists at "Al's Place":
http://www.up-link.net/~modeleral
"Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to,
and the critics will flame you every time."
Frank May
customer service,I bought the last of their kits about a year ago.I
don't even want them to give me a freebie.
Chris Douglas
probably aren't going anywhere. And smaller companies, which don't necessarily require corporate-level profits to make
investors happy, like AM and Classic Airframes and many of the aftermarket producers, probably won't have much trouble
hanging in there (at least, not any more trouble than usual).
But yeah, as corporate acquisitions take place, you'll find that certain parts of the companies acquired might get axed
because they aren't profitable enough (not even not profitable--just not profitable *enough*).
You see it happening some in the gaming industry. Big companies like Hasbro buy companies because they own rights to
particular franchises, like D&D, but when the software development sectors aren't as profitable as simply owning the
franchise, the divisions are the first to get the axe, even if they do good work.
The only thing you can be sure if is that where genuine market gaps arise, somebody will move in to fill they. They just
won't be megacorporations.
--Chris Douglas
------------------------------------------------------------
Policies are judged by their consequences, but crusades are
judged by how good they make the crusaders feel.
-Thomas Sowell
------------------------------------------------------------
John Beaderstadt
Didn't you say you were leaving this group?
--
"I tried to imagine the easiest way God could have done it."
--Albert Einstein
Chris Douglas
> ...
> Then I look at the genre that I hobby in... I am mainly into SCI-FI models.
> Unfortunately, IMHO, I believe that the major companies could really care
> less about this genre. They have this opinion that of it is not Star Trek or
> Star Wars, then it is not worth modeling. The model kits that I have seen
> have been very simple and have been skimped on the detail. Hell, most of
> them are snap fast, snap fast does not make me feel like a modeler unless I
> convert the thing. ANd except for the Phantom Menace, I have yet to see much
> that is new. Why not a Y-Wing or a Tie bomber, or the Executioner, why the
> same models from 25 years ago??. I have to get expensive garage kits of the
> models that I want, or I have to rely on Japanese imports ten years after
> the models are discontinued.
>
Sci-fi probably is dying, as it's always staked its success on the kid market
(hence the generally low production standards--kids don't care, right?). But
now kids are growing interested in Pokemon cards and toys and the like, not
plastic kits. So you either reorganize your sci-fi modeling to appeal to
adults, which probably means upping the quality significantly, and hence the
price, but your profits drop even further, if there are any at all. Truth is,
the sci-fi section of any contest I've been to is pretty spartan compared with
WW2 aircraft. That tells you something which genre is probably more fiscally
viable.
On the bright side, what you'll probably see is people who really love sci-fi
subjects taking over, doing stuff that'll probably be harder to find but at
least of higher quality, and of more esoteric "enthusiast" subjects rather than
the mass-market crap. With all the Star Trek resin stuff out there, it seems
things are moving that way already.
charles nims
>The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
>Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
>trickle of new kits would be released.
>
releases have already slowed to the aforementioned trickle. AMT has
abandoned this market after some promising releases. Airfix the same.
Academy appears to as well and has released nothing the past year or so
except old Hobbycraft offerings. They have done quite a few 1/72 new kits,
however. Minicraft has done little in 1/48 lately. They seem to be
concentrating on the 1/144 airliners.
The big kahuna, Tamiya, has 4 kits I think scheduled this year. However,
three are slight variations of previous releases. Very welcome but not as
impressive as their recent past schedule. Hasegawa, of course, brings out
the F-104 this year which certainly forgives a multitude of other sins, but,
like Tamiya does not match their recent record. Pro-modeller has the F-86D,
also long awaited, and maybe one or two others. AM of course never has
released more than 1 kit a year, I'm not counting multiple versions of the
same aircraft.
Hobbycraft continues an impressive schedule both in quantity and subject
matter. Their quality sometimes discourages purchases though. That's about
all the mainstream injected molded mfgrs. Who can really complain given the
vast number of fantastic kits released in the last 5 years. Still there
remain those tantalizing subjects you just wished they had got around to
before possibly bailing out. Maybe they will still get to some of them.
Charles
Pat & Mary Caffrey
this stuff..they couldn't mold them fast enough. All I can say is, thank goodness for
folks like Polar Lights, and even Revell Monogram.
Even when I was a kid (I'm 41 now), outside of the Star Trek kits, AMT didn't do
much for us then either.
jerry 47
group of consumers, are very small. I have tried getting kids interested by
giving them kits and books about planes and ships, but they build one and
then just yawn. There doesn't seem to be much interest. And, mostly, we ARE
getting older and our hobby WILL probably die with us. I have seen and read
several articles about the hot investments for the next twenty years. They
are nursing homes and funeral parlors. That seems to be where most of us
modelers are heading. They can bury the kits with us, because there won't
be any interest in them after we're gone. AMT/ERTL are only facing the
reality from which we will too soon pass.
Jerry 47
<Mi...@DHCinc.com> wrote in message news:392B2E5B...@DHCinc.com...
> > The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
> > Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
Az hosers
>>of years?
I too build lots fo thier cars-and several aircraft in past year!
Fmbrett1
>From: "jerry 47" gaho...@hiwaay.net
>Date: 5/23/00 9:53 PM Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: <simh1g...@corp.supernews.com>
>
>I think AMT/ERTL are correct. Although all of us buy and build, we, as a
>group of consumers, are very small. I have tried getting kids interested by
>giving them kits and books about planes and ships, but they build one and
>then just yawn.
Do you guys recall when we were kids and walked into the model section of
the Downtown Woolworths.. man were in heaven. We couldn't wait to get the
latest kit from the Green Hornet, the batmobile, Seaview, Spindrift(land of the
giants). There were a lot of shows on TV to model after. As far as aircraft..
there was 12 o'clock high that urged us to hurry to get the B-17 and Mustang,
Combat with the tanks etc. Now other than cartoons and the Star Trek series(
which I feel cater to adults) there are few shows that would entice kids to get
a model depicting some spacecraft,plane or fantasy figure. (Model a Pokemon Yea
right!) I'd hate to think of the hobby as dying, but unless there is a stimulus
to entice our future modelers to the shops, it may be the case. Deny as we may.
I currently have 200+ kits(80% Vietnam era aircraft)and as I told my loved
ones.. You'll know when its my funeral.. just look for the hearse with the
U-Haul attached. If I don't take them with me they will probably get thrown
away. And as they say Truth Hurts. Oh yea model prices might have a bit to do
with it. I may not and hope I'm not right, but its an opinion.
Tom Cervo
been around long enough to know that I'll be seeing their dreck at the
KayBee/Toy Liquidators outlet nearest you in two years max, sold at prices that
won't cover original shipping costs. Wait and see.
Gail Brown
http://www.ertltoys.com/corporate/about/feedback.cfm
Kevin
<Mi...@DHCinc.com> wrote in message news:392B115A...@DHCinc.com...
> Forget about all of those classic AMT car kits, the great line of
> Mirages by Esci, or even their 1.72 scale armor line. According to this
> company, your hobby is dead.
> MI...@DHCinc.com
DMeriman
Mike,
Been some time. Nice to see you on the board.
Sorry to have to agree with the factory rep. Yes, the 'hobby' is dying. The
craft of model building, even the lessor involved activity of kit assembling,
will be lost after the current generations have left the planet.
No more buggy whips either. Things change.
Keep up the good work there at Virginia's best hobby shop, Mike.>If you have
David D. Merriman, Jr.
r/c submarines, 'the only way to fly!'
"Barns! Cargrave!... Come back here!!!"
Kim A. Fowler
coming years. I've got enough to keep me busy and interested until I
die (I'm 41). I really do think we're in the ''Golden Age of
Modeling'' right now, but golden ages always come to an end sooner or
later. As far as AMT/Ertl and companies who think like them (not just
in the modeling industry), I say screw 'em. Screw 'em all.
I do worry, however, that at some point I may not be able to find
paint to put on all these nice models I've been collecting. Or the
''environmentally harmful, carcinogenic'' chemicals I need to glue
them together.
Guess I better learn how to make my own!
Kim A. Fowler
Photographer/Graphic Designer
Boise, Idaho USA
ANTI-SPAM MEASURES IN USE
Add my last name to the front of
the E-mail address to respond.
VMaddux
kits in the pasted but felt they fell short on the XB-70. I like
the ESCI kits a "Maybe" they will turn up again under another
name. But look we do have Hasagawa coming out with kits that we
needed like the New F-16 and a new 1/48 F-104 would Monogram
have updated there kits of these planes. No I'm not knocking
Monogram/revell since they came out with the F-15E Rafel and F-84
So if AMT fell then it wouldn't be much of a loss,There are
other and better companies out there. Who knows if we keep
supporting AM they may surpass all the others
Thats my 2 cents worth
Vince
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David Fleming
>IF!!!! Diecast is the wave of the future AND!!!! Plastic modeling is dead--Its
>only because the youth generation is too stupid and lazy to do anything and
>most of "US" (Myself not included in this catagory) Take way too fucking long
>to finish a model if ever!--I will go buy a kit and slap it together in a few
>days time-JUST FOR FUN! Sure I have serious projects--but anything over 6
>months is way too long a time frame to build!--So if you dont want to see
>Plastic Modeling End! BUILD! Finish a model for once! Way too much "thinking
>and planning-and far too little building!
You know, in his own unique way, our AZ friend may have a point !
David
Remove 'nospam' to reply
David Fleming
wrote:
>Hello RMS,
>My name is Mike from Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. If you have not heard of
>us we are a mostly plastic model shop, opened in 1976 by my father Dan.
>We have a small website online but have spent the past 24 years
>operating our local shop here in Newport News Virginia, catering to
>mostly plastic modelers, but this is not an advertisement for us. I feel
>compelled to share an experience I had at a hobby show in Norfolk Va.
>this past Sunday which left me shocked and thinking for the rest of the
>day.
> As you may know, the die-cast company “Racing Champions” has acquired
>AMT/Ertl/Esci. You may have seen their new 2000 catalogue which is
>mostly die-cast and a smattering of plastic kits. When I approached
>their table I immediately noticed that three quarters of it was proudly
>covered with their latest line of Nascar collectables. Of course I asked
>about what their plans for future plastic kit offerings would be, but
>maybe I shouldn’t have.
> While sporting his Racing Champions golf shirt, their representative
>informed me that plastic kits were dead. He claimed that since the
>average age of modelers was so high, their customer base would be dying
>off. Since they are not passing it down to their kids, the plastic model
>as we know it would cease to exist in just a few years and pre-painted
>body snap kits will probably replace them. He also claimed that die-cast
>collectables are the way to go and the wave of the future.
He would say that, wouldn't he ?
> So now I have come to a conclusion. AMT/Ertl has given up, sold their
>company to yet another group who tries to convince the public that a toy
>car, made in China for about the price of a half a cup of rice, is going
>to be a rare and valuable collectable in 5-10 years. Give me a break! I
>would hope people are much smarter than that, especially in 5-10 years.
>But for now, AMT will take it when they can get it, and sit around in 5
>years wondering where it went.
AMT/ERTL gave up on plastic kits years ago, especially on the aircraft
side. Consider why they didn't reissue such sought after kits as the
Harriers and F5s. They just didn't figure the aircraft market (OK, WW2 was
the 'thing', but...).
The adult 'collectible' market IS growing - people who like to have a line
up of models, but not the pacience or time to build them. Look at the
Ultimate Soldier series, or DMLs fighting men (Action Man for adults), or
even the small scale aeroplanes (Corgi etc).
With luck, the 'new' range of WW2 movies may encourage youngsters into
modelling, but.......
Graeme
a model before as a kid. I think its become a hobby that appeals to an
"older" market. Especially given the relative price of new kits.
GD
The Raven
away a major share of the plastic model market to their competitors, which
will make the likes of R/M happy (although R/M is for sale isn't it?).
If AMT/ERTL think they can convert plastic modellers to die casts, they
should have done some more market research. Some modellers might collect die
casts but it's not quite the same as actually building models. There's no
way you'll covert any significant portion of the plastic modelling market to
die casts.
If he really thinks that the existing modellers are so ancient, and ready to
die, he had better go and do some research. I bet he's some 20 something
that thinks anyone over 30 must have one foot in the grave.
With that sort of attitude I would have asked for his supervisors name and
advised them if that's the official AMT/ERTL marketing direction they can go
and take a flying leap, they wouldn't be getting business from me (if I was
a hobby retailer)!
What is it with some of the model company's now? Must be all that stupid
investor frenzy, stock market crap.
--
The Raven
** WARNING:- This message may contain a RAVEN (tm) social comment.
** Sometimes I'm wrong (but only sometimes).
** SPAM ME AT YOUR OWN RISK!
<Mi...@DHCinc.com> wrote in message news:392B115A...@DHCinc.com...
> Hello RMS,
> My name is Mike from Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. If you have not heard of
> us we are a mostly plastic model shop, opened in 1976 by my father Dan.
> We have a small website online but have spent the past 24 years
> operating our local shop here in Newport News Virginia, catering to
> mostly plastic modelers, but this is not an advertisement for us. I feel
> compelled to share an experience I had at a hobby show in Norfolk Va.
> this past Sunday which left me shocked and thinking for the rest of the
> day.
> As you may know, the die-cast company "Racing Champions" has acquired
> AMT/Ertl/Esci. You may have seen their new 2000 catalogue which is
> mostly die-cast and a smattering of plastic kits. When I approached
> their table I immediately noticed that three quarters of it was proudly
> covered with their latest line of Nascar collectables. Of course I asked
> about what their plans for future plastic kit offerings would be, but
> maybe I shouldn't have.
> While sporting his Racing Champions golf shirt, their representative
> informed me that plastic kits were dead. He claimed that since the
> average age of modelers was so high, their customer base would be dying
> off. Since they are not passing it down to their kids, the plastic model
> as we know it would cease to exist in just a few years and pre-painted
> body snap kits will probably replace them. He also claimed that die-cast
> collectables are the way to go and the wave of the future. I disagreed
> and asked how I would compete with the mass marketers such as K-mart,
> Wal-mart, and Target. He said their price for a certain seven dollar
> item would only be two dollars less than mine. Two Bucks? Where would
> you buy it?
> So now I have come to a conclusion. AMT/Ertl has given up, sold their
> company to yet another group who tries to convince the public that a toy
> car, made in China for about the price of a half a cup of rice, is going
> to be a rare and valuable collectable in 5-10 years. Give me a break! I
> would hope people are much smarter than that, especially in 5-10 years.
> But for now, AMT will take it when they can get it, and sit around in 5
> years wondering where it went.
> Forget about all of those classic AMT car kits, the great line of
> Mirages by Esci, or even their 1.72 scale armor line. According to this
> company, your hobby is dead.
> MI...@DHCinc.com
>
>
The Raven
"Maiesm72" <maie...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000523181624...@ng-cp1.aol.com...
> With hundreds of new kits out of all sorts of subjects in all scales just
in
> the first few months of this year I think that the spokesman is
fortunately
> wrong.
>
couple
> of years?
>
10 kits in just the last 12 months, should indicate something seeing as I'm
just one average car modeller!
> I think that this person was looking in the wrong direction.
Wrong direction! I think he got on the wrong boat.
> I also wonder if
> his stockholders have heard about the comment?
Obviously his broker gave him bad advice. I wonder if the comments of a
couple hundred AMT/ERTL customers could sway investors..........
>
> Sounds like this person needs to find a new line of work. Soon.
>
Sounds like he needs to learn something about a market before trying to tell
it where it should be going!
> Tom
The Raven
so seriously. Sometimes we need to just slap a few together.
--
The Raven
** WARNING:- This message may contain a RAVEN (tm) social comment.
** Sometimes I'm wrong (but only sometimes).
** SPAM ME AT YOUR OWN RISK!
"Az hosers" <azho...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000523185013...@ng-ce1.aol.com...
> IF!!!! Diecast is the wave of the future AND!!!! Plastic modeling is
dead--Its
> only because the youth generation is too stupid and lazy to do anything
and
> most of "US" (Myself not included in this catagory) Take way too fucking
long
> to finish a model if ever!--I will go buy a kit and slap it together in a
few
> days time-JUST FOR FUN! Sure I have serious projects--but anything over 6
> months is way too long a time frame to build!--So if you dont want to see
> Plastic Modeling End! BUILD! Finish a model for once! Way too much
"thinking
The Raven
"Gail Brown" <gail...@home.com> wrote in message
news:QnJW4.43932$au2.4...@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com...
> If you have any questions or comments for ERTL, go to this page!!
> http://www.ertltoys.com/corporate/about/feedback.cfm
>
> Kevin
>
I have done so and hope that all other modellers do the same.
Tom Hiett
> If what the rep said has any truth about it then AMT/ERTL has just given
> away a major share of the plastic model market to their competitors, which
> will make the likes of R/M happy (although R/M is for sale isn't it?).
Revell is probably thinking the same thing.
> If AMT/ERTL think they can convert plastic modellers to die casts, they
> should have done some more market research. Some modellers might collect die
> casts but it's not quite the same as actually building models. There's no
> way you'll covert any significant portion of the plastic modelling market to
> die casts.
They needn't attempt to convert anyone, only replace them.
> If he really thinks that the existing modellers are so ancient, and ready to
> die, he had better go and do some research. I bet he's some 20 something
> that thinks anyone over 30 must have one foot in the grave.
Business decisions and cycles preceed the effect on the consumer end by quite
a bit. Take NTSC TV (US standard). They call it dead in my department. From
the consumer side, a replacement is years way. Every store I go to has
VHS tapes for sale and its hard to see its demise is here. But on the business
cycle its a mature technology on the far side of the product bell curve.
There is no new innovation being done, no new growth areas, manufacturing
efficiency was maximized long ago. It may be in wide use but it offers
no new incentives for the equipment manufacturers.
> What is it with some of the model company's now? Must be all that stupid
> investor frenzy, stock market crap.
They used to be run by enthusiasts with goals, dreams, and objectives beyond
just profit. Now they are ran by businessmen/women with no interest in
the hobby, only the business side, which means maximum profit for the next
quarter.
Tom
--
Tom Hiett e-mail: thi...@iastate.edu
Designer-Illustrator-Modeler Iowa State University
Check out my vintage race pics at:
www.public.iastate.edu/~thiett
Dave Pluth
Just look on ebay for AMT kits. Most of their kits that retail from
$14-$22 go on ebay for less than $10. It kind of says something about
their real "value".
-Dave
On 23 May 2000 22:16:24 GMT, maie...@aol.com (Maiesm72) wrote:
>With hundreds of new kits out of all sorts of subjects in all scales just in
>the first few months of this year I think that the spokesman is fortunately
>wrong.
>
>On the other hand how many AMT/ERTL kits have YOU purchased in the last couple
>of years?
>
>I think that this person was looking in the wrong direction. I also wonder if
>his stockholders have heard about the comment?
>
>Sounds like this person needs to find a new line of work. Soon.
>
>Tom
>
>
Bobby K.
wrote:
>(Model a Pokemon Yea
>right!)
Actually, there are unassembled PLASTIC kits available of the Pokemon
characters (monsters). Obviously, they are all made in Japan by TOMY. I
currently have about 30 of these kits. The detail on the kits will rival the
latest from Hasegawa/Tamiya etc.
If anyone doubts me, feel free to contact me via e-mail, and I'll gladly
send along a few photo's of the kits.
Bobby
"Modelling for 25 years....and still cannot get it right"
JB
I guess I fall into the category of someone who was really, really into the
hobby as a kid in the late 70's, but then around 8th grade and a couple of
moves around the state, lost interest as sports, friends, girls!, music,
etc, took what little financial resources, space, and time I had. I mostly
built aircraft and cars, and remember lots of Monogram's and Revell's as
most of my kits were bought at the local Long's drugs with my meager paper
route earnings and whatever I could weeze out of the parents. I do remember
a Christmas present of a sweet Tamiya John Player Special F1 car that my old
man bought me, and I remember the occasional trips to real hobby shops and
the first time in Vegas like overwhelming sensory overload that produced.
At the end, my mother tossed away a bunch of uncompleted kits, I can't
remember what happened to the completed ones (even the ones at a hobby shop)
and that was about it. In high school, college, grad school, and on to
work, I still remained interested in history and read a lot of books and so
forth, but didn't really think about making models for a long time.....
Flash forward to late last year as my old man is doing some research on my
Mother's great uncle who was a ball turret gunner in a b-17 in WWII and who
died over Germany. He got a ton of info and so forth, and that sparked
interest in me looking for a b-17 model and maybe putting one together that
had the correct numbers and squadron markings and so forth. I remember
building the huge monogram one back as a kid, and burning it in the backyard
or shooting it with a bb gun (wierd kid)! This led me to a hobby shop, and
was amazed at the enormous amount of kits and the quality of the high-end
kits that were available.....this sparked interest and in no time, I had
started buying kits again, and of course all the supplies.......I have since
built many models, and built a huey and a chinook for the old man like he
rode in Vietnam.....
anyway, I think the hobby isn't dead, and if one steps away for a while, it
can be very rewarding to return, I find it relaxing and the finished
products make great display items for the office, etc....
PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
Wierd......good that there are such great websites out there!
Why aren't there any after market decals for helicopters and a huge 1/48
chinook model out there?!
JB
OXMORON1
>PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
Never happened, two separate magazines and publishers.
Thank Goodness!
Oxmoron1
Spudgun
>Do you guys recall when we were kids and walked into the model
>section of the Downtown Woolworths.. man were in heaven.
I most certainly do! I used to buy all my kits there at one time.
Sadly, that's all gone. I'd agree with the idea that the hobby is on
it's way out. Although there is always something on my workbench,
I take more care building it and (therefore) it takes longer to build. As
a result, I buy fewer kits (used to buy and build 1 a week as a kid).
Kids of today don't seem to be interested in kit building. There's
nothing on offer that they can relate to. To them, armour, ships,
aircraft, etc are all boring. The kit makers are effectively killing
themselves by not making entry level kits that'll attract todays
kids (Pokemon kits anyone?).
Spudgun
We couldn't wait to get the
latest kit from the Green Hornet, the batmobile, Seaview, Spindrift(land of
the
giants). There were a lot of shows on TV to model after. As far as
aircraft..
there was 12 o'clock high that urged us to hurry to get the B-17 and
Mustang,
Combat with the tanks etc. Now other than cartoons and the Star Trek series(
which I feel cater to adults) there are few shows that would entice kids to
get
a model depicting some spacecraft,plane or fantasy figure. (Model a Pokemon
Yea
DMeriman
>PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
>
Did not. Two different publishing houses. SM is/was Challenge, FSM is Kalmbach.
JP5844
<gaho...@hiwaay.net> wrote:
>I think AMT/ERTL are correct. Although all of us buy and build,
we, as a
>group of consumers, are very small. I have tried getting kids
interested by
>giving them kits and books about planes and ships, but they
build one and
mostly, we ARE
>getting older and our hobby WILL probably die with us. I have
seen and read
>several articles about the hot investments for the next twenty
years. They
>are nursing homes and funeral parlors. That seems to be where
most of us
>modelers are heading. They can bury the kits with us, because
there won't
>be any interest in them after we're gone. AMT/ERTL are only
facing the
>reality from which we will too soon pass.
>Jerry 47
>
news:392B2E5B...@DHCinc.com...
>> Hello,
You may be right. Especially in the age of the computer and
instant gratification.
I remember as a kid having to do yard work with my older
brother (he used to cut grass and I did the edging with a pair of
grass clippers...BLISTER CITY)in order to earn money to buy the
kits I wanted.
Of course, all of saturday morning and possibly saturday
afternoon would be spent building these kits (mostly the 1/72
offerings by Revell in the mid 60's) with little thought given to
painting or detailing.
But as I progressed and wanted more and more to create
something pleasing to the eye, I developed an inner discipline
and attention to detail by following the instructions, painting
as suggested, and waiting between steps for the glue to dry.
As it turned out, I became a helicopter mechanic, and it was
during this time that I realized how useful those skills that
I developed as a child helped really were. I also realized why my
parents didn't mind that I was engaged in something constructive.
Now if some recreational task involves more than a few hours
or even minutes to get results, it's looked on as useless and
boring. The idea of doing a good job because of personal pride
and integrity is long gone.
Now it seems the only way to get any quality work completed is
through the promise of some tangible reward, but even that is no
gaurantee of quality.
If it can't be accessed or downloaded in less than five
minutes it's useless. So who is to blame. I think we (if you're
over 40 and have kids) all are if we haven't tried to pass these
skills on to the kids. Turn the television off, put limits on
computer use, make kids work for what they want, don't give them
everything they want just to keep them quiet.
But don't be mistaken, this isn't just about modeling, I see it
where I work, the average age of the aircraft mechanics where I
work is somewhere in the lower to mid 40s. We have a hard time
finding experienced people because no one wants to work on
aircraft anymore, just like they don't want to build models. It
takes too much time and effort, and more often than not, you
don't see immediate results.
Just my opinion,
Jonathan Primm
JP5...@aol.com
Al Superczynski
wrote:
>Just look on ebay for AMT kits. Most of their kits that retail from
>$14-$22 go on ebay for less than $10. It kind of says something about
>their real "value".
It could just be that shipping costs keep the bids down......
Al Superczynski, MFE
IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968
Check out my want and disposal lists at "Al's Place":
http://www.up-link.net/~modeleral
"Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to,
and the critics will flame you every time."
lecook
(this is long, but I hope its entertaining!)
AMT/Ertl and a lot of the other kit manufacturers don't seem to get it, the plastic
model market has not died, it has just changed.
It used to be a market where modelers started off buying kits when they were kids,
and then carrying on from there.
But that's not happening anymore, instead most "new" modelers are starting to buy
kits in their 20s and 30s. And their expectations of a model kit are completely
different than a ten year old. And every year there are more and more twenty and
thirty year olds, but none of the model companies seem to realize those are the age
groups they should be marketing their kits to. WHAT AM I SAYING, they don't market
their model kits to anyone! When was the last time you saw a commercial for plastic
models? Or a ad for model kits in a non-modeling magazine or comic book? They chuck
their plastic out of the molds and ship it off to department stores, hobby shops and
hobby wholesalers and then never raise their hand to market them, the lazy
un-capitalistic b@sterds! Not only that but the internet drops right in their laps!
A cheap and easy way to market any product! But most of the websites for the model
companies only show that they haven't got a clue!
You would think they would do up a little colorful banner sign that says something
like, "If you want to know more our models and learn how to model visit our website..."
And have it hung above their kits in the model aisle of every store and shop. And
just in case that's missed also have a slip inside every model box that says the same
thing.
And what should be waiting at the company website for the "virgin" modelers?
1. They should have a "very" illustrated guide to model building, that then goes
on to illustrate and demystify most modeling techniques, and all to be
illustrated with "step by step" pictures.
2. To support and reaffirm number 1, they should have videos available for sale
on the website that cover all the techniques in live action. And they should
probably make genre specific videos. A cheap way to do the video production is
to follow the example of Steve Iverson over at CultTVman's Science Fiction
Modeling webpage: http://www.CultTVman.com/video.html
I think the format Steve uses is that modelers videotape themselves and then
send those to Steve and then Steve then selects and then edits everything
together. Where model companies might crinkle up their noses and say the videos
aren't professional looking, that could help sell them! It could be marketed
as "For modelers, by modelers!" And they could further market the videos and
the models together by having something on the website that appeals to peoples'
vanity... "Wouldn't you like to see yourself modeling in one of our videos?
Wouldn't you like to show it to all your family and friends?"
3. There should be Q&A / "shoptalk" message boards for every modeling genre and for
each a administrator/s that, if not an expert in the modeling genre, is at least
well informed about it.
4. And why don't they try out an affiliates program like Amazon.com? How many modeling
websites are there out there? And most would be happy to feature jpegs of boxcovers
of their favorite models, with links back to the model company's website where
visitors can buy the kit direct and online, and maybe for a discount too!
Do they think Amazon.Com is doing so well because there's trillions of people all "rabid"
about buying books and videos? It's not like Amazon.Com has been aggressively marketing
themselves all over the internet, and in magazines and on television for the last several
YEARS... (that is sarcasm folks!) :-)
And lastly there's a large deterrent to modeling. In every department store, there's
Testor's "wonderful" sticky, stringy model glue in a tube. This product alone killed all
my early enthusiasm for the hobby. Here's a short anecdote, how many out there have had a
similar experience:
People occasionally buy model kits for birthdays or christmas for young (7 to 13) kids,
and give them a tube of testors glue with it. The key here is that the people buying the
models generally know absolutely nothing about model building and neither do the kids.
The kid starts cutting/twisting the model parts off the sprue, which is really fun, but
then comes that wonderful moment of gluing them together... Oh the wonderful strings of
glue slime dripping and clinging everywhere, and gathering on kiddy hands, and look they
etch little fingerprints so wonderfully and deeply into the model plastic. Its not long
before the model and the youngin's hands are a gluey mess. And they, being young children,
loose their temper and then their interest in the model. To be blunt this is a PROFIT
LOSS for the modeling companies, but they don't seem to be in any sort of hurry to combat
this common problem.
The person that bought the model then makes the decision that its not up the kid's alley
or that the kid's just an ungrateful little snot, either way they don't buy anymore models.
And over the years every time I talk about building models with my friends they usually
recount a very similar experience.
I could not build a decent model until I finally found out about liquid cement, I could
not believe how straight forward the use of liquid cement was. But it was never advertised
or suggested in the model instructions, nor the use of it gone over in diagrams in the
modeling instructions. Plus it was fun to watch the liquid cement disappear into the
schemes, oh capillary action I love thee! :-)
Of course someone might say, well if you, or any kid, had went to a modeling club you
would have found out about liquid cement. But I wasn't interested in the club aspect then,
I just wanted to build a model in my room and sit it on a shelf, and aren't most first time
modelers the same way?
I think it would help model companies if they tried to pressure Testors to minimize their
sticky tube glue and maximize their liquid cement, and if the model companies suggested
its use in their documentation, and explain the method of its usage.
--
Ledon Cook, AMA #54, ink...@bellsouth.net, ama...@yahoo.com
Anime Model Addicts
http://www.geocities.com/amaclub/
Al Superczynski
<Spu...@back-up.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
>Kids of today don't seem to be interested in kit building. There's
>nothing on offer that they can relate to. To them, armour, ships,
>aircraft, etc are all boring.
Kids much prefer model cars over all other subjects, at least
here in the US.
>The kit makers are effectively killing themselves by not making entry level kits that'll >attract todays kids...
It's *not* for lack of trying. Witness the explosion of snap
kits, and even pre-painted models, in an obvious attempt to draw new
blood to the hobby. I hope it's successful.....
JB
Modeler at a store and just assumed they had changed the name....thanks,
OXMORON1 <oxmo...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000524132702...@ng-fv1.aol.com...
> As part of his message JB asked....
>
> >PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
>
lecook
> characters (monsters). Obviously, they are all made in Japan by TOMY.
Bandai and a third japanese company have also put out Pokemon models.
Dean Eubanks
>>$14-$22 go on ebay for less than $10. It kind of says something about
>>their real "value".
>
> It could just be that shipping costs keep the bids down......
Definitely! I factor shipping in on any bids I make on current kits. Don't
win many of those auctions. ;-)
Dean
AMPSOne
again, now look at the guys whining for things like their KC-135 kit which is
OOP.
I recall getting the 1960 vintage Revell Space Station for $2 at a dimestore in
1964. Couldn't give them away back then. Last one I saw for sale in 1999 was
going for $625.
What goes around comes around.
Cookie Sewell
AMPS
jayca...@my-deja.com
something of a "TOY" company. They've been into diecast a long time.
I can totally understand that they believe that Plastic Scale Models are
"dead". I have a lot of their kits and their subjects (primarily
aircraft) are of interest to me. BUT! Their quality kits are mostly
Esci re-releases! Thanks for the A-20's, Tigercats, and P-40's, but
they're just not up to modern standards.
Would you rather have a Ertl/AMT Hs-129 or the new Hasegawa kit?
It's a no-brainer. And their Star Trek kits have horrible fit problems
and the large pieces are frequently warped.
The hobby is dead when WE say it's dead! or Tamiya, Hasegawa or Revell
say so...which isn't in the forseeable future. Look at all of Tamiya's
new releases at the Japanese hobby show in all those scales! Look at all
the aftermarket parts and decals now available . Don't let Bubba Diecast
Nascar worry you too much. Amt/Ertl may be dying in this line but our
hobby is very healthy.
Jay Carrell
Houston, TX
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
ducatid...@my-deja.com
46 aircraft. They're certainly as much fiction as fact.
Paul Francis
ducatid...@my-deja.com
in the thread.
One of Ledon's points was about not being ready to join a club and
elsewhere on this board you can read about people having problems
recruiting. Modelling doesn't HAVE to be done in clubs, of course, but
it is one way of sharing ideas and experiences and all that and
increases in club membership would help keep things going.
I'm 47 with twin 14 year old sons, whom I have bought models for and
built models with. But their ideas of what they want to build are not
mine, of course. They like Warhammer gaming, which is more painting
than kit building (though there are tank and other kits in the genre).
The point is, that if new younger modellers don't "appear", then
modelling will gradually die out as we won't live forever. We grew up,
a lot of us, in the golden sixties when plastic was cheap and the OPEC
of the seventies changed that and modelling as a whole. It is now not
cheap. I'm not sure when and where after-market resins and etches came
along, but they add to the cost and that's why, rather than slap a kit
together quickly, people want to spend time on them. One answer to
making sure manufacturers are happy to manufacture is of course to
build more kits, but then there's a spiral of cost and
time/effort/reward and I'm not sure where that will end. Even the big
Japanese players might find they just are not making enough money
sooner or later. Those 1/32 F16s (?) Tamiya have cost $120 (GBP80)
over here and I'm not sure how many people in the world can afford that
sort of money.
So it might be dying, it might just be heading for a slump. If we all
stopped buying right now and just concentrated on the loft piles we all
have, no new kits would be bought for, well, days. The manufacturers
do not need to advertise, as there's a gene in us all which just makes
us go "yes please" when we hear about some kit or other (all my time
out of the hobby (yep, another born-againer), I would look at new
releases and sigh - "why didn't they do that kit when I was building
kits").
They'll only keep producing as long as we keep buying and we can only
try to introduce younsters to modelling; shame about all the computer
games and so forth, which weren't there to distract us years ago.
Barry Johnston
Scale modeler magazine and Finescale Modeler are NOT one and the same. They are
two completely different magazines. Scale modeler got its just rewards.
Bejay
JB wrote:
> PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
> Wierd......good that there are such great websites out there!
>
Dave Pluth
I think that has something to do with it, but I believe that the kits
also aren't worth much on the open market. I bought two F7F's, a A-20
and two P-61's for $5 each on ebay. Even with the shipping factor
that is $10-$15 below the retails on those kits when most new kits go
for just about cost or above.
-Dave
On Wed, 24 May 2000 12:51:21 -0500, Al Superczynski
<mode...@up-link.net> wrote:
>On Wed, 24 May 2000 13:47:33 GMT, dpl...@j-aircraft.com (Dave Pluth)
>wrote:
>
>>Just look on ebay for AMT kits. Most of their kits that retail from
>>$14-$22 go on ebay for less than $10. It kind of says something about
>>their real "value".
>
> It could just be that shipping costs keep the bids down......
>
Fmbrett1
>Of course, all of saturday morning and possibly saturday
>afternoon would be spent building these kits (mostly the 1/72
>offerings by Revell in the mid 60's) with little thought given to
>painting or detailing.
Boy did you hit it on the nose. I remember those Saturdays. No I didn't have
a workbench.. just some newspaper on the living room floor, a tube of glue and
the kit. Those were the days.
HMS Lion
market has increasingly gone over to the snap-together kits. The adults are
demanding more sophisticated products (though I have noticed that RM is
rereleasing a lot of their older kits with moving parts - SOMEONE is buying
them, and I'd bet the average age is 12).
The situation is like model railroading. The train-under-the-Christmas-tree
market withered, but the hard-core hobbyists took up the slack.
V/R:
Mike McDaniel
JP5844
fmbr...@aol.com (Fmbrett1) wrote:
>
> Boy did you hit it on the nose. I remember those Saturdays. No
I didn't have
>a workbench.. just some newspaper on the living room floor, a
tube of glue and
>the kit. Those were the days.
>
>
insisted that I put them together in the garage, and that could
get pretty damn cold in the winter, but who cared I just got a
(fill in the blank) and I wasn't going to wait until it got
warmer to put it together!
Mike Settle
>
> On Wed, 24 May 2000 13:47:33 GMT, dpl...@j-aircraft.com (Dave Pluth)
> wrote:
>
> >Just look on ebay for AMT kits. Most of their kits that retail from
> >$14-$22 go on ebay for less than $10. It kind of says something about
> >their real "value".
>
> It could just be that shipping costs keep the bids down......
>
Undoubtedly true, but just last week at the local Toys R Us, I bought
several of the AMT '57 Bel Airs for $3.33 each and a couple of the '69
Muscle Car Gift Sets (Torino, Hurst Olds, & Barracuda) for $9.97 each.
Other AMT kits were on similar specials. If Revell/Monogram stuff was
also on special, it wasn't marked.
--
Mike Settle
Rama Lama Watt Da Ell
Temple of Mangled Plastic
Temple Procrastinator of Model Completion
I am not agent #1908 of the non-existent Lumber Cartel (tinlc)tm
Al Superczynski
<set...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>...last week at the local Toys R Us, I bought
>several of the AMT '57 Bel Airs for $3.33 each and a couple of the '69
>Muscle Car Gift Sets (Torino, Hurst Olds, & Barracuda) for $9.97 each.
>Other AMT kits were on similar specials. If Revell/Monogram stuff was
>also on special, it wasn't marked.
If the local store here in N. Little Rock is any indication
Toys-R-Us is getting out of plastic models. There's less than 25% of
one side of one island devoted to them now.
Shane Weier
Tom Hiett wrote in message ...
>Business decisions and cycles preceed the effect on the consumer end by
quite
>a bit. Take NTSC TV (US standard). They call it dead in my department. From
>the consumer side, a replacement is years way. Every store I go to has
>VHS tapes for sale and its hard to see its demise is here.
Boring aside from me - NTSC uses VHS, PAL uses VHS, SECAM uses VHS - the
three common TV standards pre-HDTV (SECAM, PAL and NTSC) refer to the way
the signal is encoded and transmitted. For example NTSC uses 500 lines of
pixels and PAL uses 625 giving it a considerably better picture quality
VHS and Beta are recording standards for videotapes, and appropriate to all
three encoding schemes.
(I own a VHS VCR which will play back NTSC, SECAM or PAL tapes on my PAL TV,
but it won't play Beta videos)
All terribly OT, but it's usefull to be able to play back foreign tapes as
research material!
Shane
Shane Weier
lecook wrote in message <392C184B...@bellsouth.net>...
>
> Do they think Amazon.Com is doing so well because there's trillions of
people all "rabid"
>about buying books and videos? It's not like Amazon.Com has been
aggressively marketing
>themselves all over the internet, and in magazines and on television for
the last several
>YEARS... (that is sarcasm folks!) :-)
Amazon.com is doing well because of advertising - but only until the market
realises that it has never made a profit. (Last FY, loss was over a quarter
billion $US IIRC). Then it'll collapse like a balloon.
But your point is well taken. Model companis don't advertise worth a damn.
Here in Australia B&S (Revell Monogram) rana series of cinema adverts a year
or so back, then dropped it entirely and went back to grass roots publicity
(providing sponsorship for model shows etc) thus losing the "new" modeller
market again.
OTOH there are two model *shops* I know of locally who buy TV spots in prime
time pre Christmas and other times all through the year. At least one of
them is doing very well out of it. Seems that some people are willing to
give it a go.
Shane
Ken
has led to them canceling most of their non-auto kits.
Some examples:
Aircraft
The XB-70, we waited how long for an injection kit in 1/72 scale, and
they can't get parts of it right, even after seeing the sole survivor?
The B-52H (my current project), the engines don't have they auxiallry
doors around the intakes, there are none of the antenna bulges, a
fraction of the blade antennas, and the raised ejection seat detail on
the fuselage is missing.
Sci-Fi
No new Star Wars Ep4-6 kits, still the same old MPC kits that are
starting to show their age. The stuff from Ep1 was good, especially
the tank, this is probably one of their better sci-fi offerings.
Star Trek
Lack of constant scale has hurt this line, even some the of the "new"
kits. Plus, we wait years for ships, then they are ill-fitting or a
weird scale. Look at the USS Reliant, we waited over 10 years for it,
and it looks like someone slapped it together from an Enterprise-A,
plus it didn't even include a stand!
I'm not againt AMT/Ertl, I just think they could have done a better
job on kits that were long-awaited with the resources available to
them.
I do think that the die-cast market will die off in a few years when
the NASCAR craze begins to die down as the public goes to something
else.
*****************************************************************
*Ken Lilly Classic Video Game Collector & Aviation Nut *
*ampl...@technologist.org.com *
*remove .org to reply *
*When diplomacy fails, send in the B-52s. *
*Quarters are gov't issue video game tokens. *
*****************************************************************
SVanaken
entrepeneur will offer to buy or lease the ESCI molds and reissue some of these
kits that so many have been asking for.
Cheers,
---- Scott Van Aken IPMS Canada 5729 (Southwestern Illinois Branch,
Eh?)----
---- Modeling Madness Webzine ----"http://modelingmadness.com" ----
Shik
spent building these kits (mostly the 1/72 offerings by Revell in the mid 60's)
with little thought given to painting or detailing."
I actually used t'take current projects to school with me. Come study hall (or
an open period senior year), the kit would be pulled out of the locker &
plopped down in front of me for 45 minutes. I'd even leave a couple permanently
there to work on; my first version of the USS Galaxy was built entirely during
these times.
I'd even paint the buggers there as well. The funny thing is that I attracted a
lot of interest from people as I calmly sat there building & painting these
things...well, OK, most of the time I swore the air purple trying to realign
the damned warp pylons, but that was expected of me (still is). As I'd be
building, people would asking we what it was or what I was doing now, & I'd
calmly explain & tell them why it had to be that way. The best part is when Kim
Fletcher & Melissa Mikolaycik watched me paint tiny little sensor strips on a
Nebula-class starship; they were amazed that I had such control, patience, &
attention to detail, to wahich I replied, "Yeah...& consider this: if I'm this
way on a model, think of how great I must be in bed."
If only they made a paint as rich as the read their faces turned....
Shik
"What inspiration will today's challenger bring, & how will the Iron Chef fight
back? The heat will be ON!!"
Sanctum Sanitarium--conveniently located at http://shiksworld.iwarp.com
The Raven
thing that could happen which would invigorate the plastic modelling
industry is another major historical event such as a war or alien invasion.
You only have to look at how various wars have provided subject material and
enthusiasm to build models.
I'm not saying that I want wars to happen but, it's clear that this led to
the birth of modelling.
[Flame suit: ON]
--
The Raven
** WARNING:- This message may contain a RAVEN (tm) social comment.
** Sometimes I'm wrong (but only sometimes).
** SPAM ME AT YOUR OWN RISK!
<ducatid...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:8ghn31$3lg$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
DMeriman
>thing that could happen which would invigorate the plastic modelling
>industry is another major historical event such as a war or alien invasion.
>
>You only have to look at how various wars have provided subject material and
>enthusiasm to build models.
>
>I'm not saying that I want wars to happen but, it's clear that this led to
>the birth of modelling.
>
>[Flame suit: ON]
>
Agreed.
May I suggest: 'Man's Greatest Outdoor Activity' has been the foundation of the
success of model kit sales throughout the world.
So have other killing activities: car racing, guns, instruments of torture and
death, airplane racing, space shuttles, etc.
The male of our species has a fascination with death and death threatening
activities. The activity of killing is in fact an intrinsic aspect of the male
personality. This fascination with those tools of death is evidenced in the
interests expressed, and activities engaged in, by healthy young males. "Jimmy!
Bang, bang! I got you ... your dead." Male play.
The majority of model kits depict killing machines. The stuff of play for young
males.
I suggest that the recent decline in kit sales is due in part to the liberal
'whoosification' of the American male through the media and the current Federal
Administration. The inclusion of homosexuals in the military, and the practice
of teaching our children in public schools that there is little if any division
between boy's and girl's. This 'gender norming' is killing this nations
competitive spirit.
No competitive spirit, no interest in conquest with its attendant killing, no
desire to assemble kits of subjects that foster and feed our youngsters blood
lust.
Cause and effect.
If we don't find new worlds to conquer soon we, as a nation, will shrivel up
and die. At this time in our history we are dangerously stagnant, if not
degenerating.
Semjase
>thing that could happen which would invigorate the plastic modelling
>industry is another major historical event such as a war or alien invasion.
Umm, only if the aliens in question decide to promote it. Variation III
beamships of interest?
S.
Bobby K.
wrote:
>Bandai and a third japanese company have also put out Pokemon models.<
The third company is actually Chinese. Their name is Audley. Look at the
fine print on all the boxes, TOMY holds the licences on all the kits.
Bobby
"Modelling for 25 years....and still cannot get it right"
Mat Irvine
<amp...@aol.com> writes
>I'd take quick issue with Mike but having just heard even worse news from the
>owner of a shop in Britain he is possibly correct.
Lets not get toooo despondent here - things maybe ain't that great with
the industry - but its been a lot worse (oil crisis time..)
>
>The shop owner's comments were that many of our favorites (Revell GmbH,
>Italeri, DML, and Tamiya) were going on a sort of hiatus and that only a
>trickle of new kits would be released. Revell is hung up in Germany over a
>change of owners who wanted the Binney & Smith (i.e. Crayola) distribution but
>not the kit manufacturing section.
We have yet to see exactly what is happening to the 'Revell Group' take-
over, but that isn't B&S - that is still part of Hallmark.
>
>Revell GmbH's armor kits are apparently going to suffer, and even then, the
>most recent one (the Panzerhaubitze 2000) was apparently molded in Poland to
>cut costs as well.
Revell AG (They haven't been GmbH for ages) has been moulding in Poland
for years, it isn't new.
>
[Snip]
>Italeri was an unknown, but had very few offerings scheduled for actual
>release.
Italeri has over 30 new kits scheduled for 200, and about half that
number again as reissues - which I wouldn't say is that bad -and
Italeri's record for actually releasing kits it announces is pretty
good.
>
Shall we keep smiling.......? (OK maybe not..)
mat
MAT IRVINE <m...@smallspace.demon.co.uk>
URL http://www.smallspace.demon.co.uk - to be updated - SOON!
Mat Irvine
<mode...@up-link.net> writes
>On 23 May 2000 22:16:24 GMT, maie...@aol.com (Maiesm72) wrote:
>
>>...how many AMT/ERTL kits have YOU purchased in the last couple
>>of years?
>
> Lots of their cars, Tom. I'd really hate to see them drop
>plastics (as if I didn't already have plenty of kits to play with)....
>
>Al Superczynski, MFE
Can't really see AMT as such dropping plastics - that what that name
does? However I could see Racing Champions dropping AMT - which means
AMT and MPC - and Esci for that matter - could re-emerge - maybe buy up
Lindberg - means AMT gets its '34 Ford Pick-up back??
Just a thought...
Mike
>
> I suggest that the recent decline in kit sales is due in part to the liberal
> 'whoosification' of the American male through the media and the current Federal
> Administration. The inclusion of homosexuals in the military,
Oh ya, that's what I hear all the time, it sure causes me to not buy
kits.
--
Mike Dougherty
Toronto, Ont.
Canada
jthm...@arvotek.net
a-dozen or so East European entrepreneurs who intend to release some
brilliant new product this year. I think it's AMT/Ertl that's dead,
basically from the a** up, as they say...
John Thompson, laughing all the way to the hobby shop...
HobbyOasis
>Sci-fi probably is dying, as it's always staked its success on the kid market
>(hence the generally low production standards--kids don't care, right?). But
>now kids are growing interested in Pokemon cards and toys and the like, not
>plastic kits.
Actually if we could get the Gundam Wing kits we could sell these. Wish I had a
buck for every kid that's asked so far. Apparently this is to be a Toys-R-Us
item.
Dave Henk
Jacksonville, FL
Imapilotru
an AMT/Ertl rep!!!!! Maybe he should be selling manure, but he won't sell any
to me. I just got a free sample!! What talent does it take to build crap like
that. I haven't spent all these years honing my talents to build his shit. Good
try my man, but go find another job!!!!!! And leave people with talent and
ambition alone. Maybe you could sell it to your family, are they as stupid as
you are????
jerry 47
toluene glue while they're doing these days.
Jerry 47
JP5844 <jp5844N...@aol.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:066ee278...@usw-ex0103-024.remarq.com...
DMeriman
yeah! Stop picking on us poor kit assemblers!
Braungart
How about Testor's "Crash Bandicoot"?
Regards,
John
\^|^/
(o o)
-------------o00o-(_)-o00o-------------
C.R. Krieger
>While this will sound incredibly non-politically correct I think the best
>thing that could happen which would invigorate the plastic modelling
>industry is another major historical event such as a war or alien invasion.
>
>enthusiasm to build models.
>
>I'm not saying that I want wars to happen but, it's clear that this led to
>the birth of modelling.
Whether you're politically correct or not, for us CAR GUYS, this is could be one
of the worst things that can happen, or it could be one of the best. On the
down side, how many 1943-'45 automotive subjects have YOU ever seen in glossy
paint? On the up side, the greatest American muscle cars ever built (as well as
the last real STOCK CARS) were done while we were involved in that
'unpleasantness' east of Cambodia & Laos.
--
C.R. Krieger
"Ignore 'em, m'dear, they're beneath your dignity." -W.C. Fields
RLM
in Finescale Modeler?
RLM
<Mi...@DHCinc.com> wrote in message news:392B115A...@DHCinc.com...
> Hello RMS,
> My name is Mike from Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. If you have not heard of
> us we are a mostly plastic model shop, opened in 1976 by my father Dan.
> We have a small website online but have spent the past 24 years
> operating our local shop here in Newport News Virginia, catering to
> mostly plastic modelers, but this is not an advertisement for us. I feel
> compelled to share an experience I had at a hobby show in Norfolk Va.
> this past Sunday which left me shocked and thinking for the rest of the
> day.
> As you may know, the die-cast company "Racing Champions" has acquired
> AMT/Ertl/Esci. You may have seen their new 2000 catalogue which is
> mostly die-cast and a smattering of plastic kits. When I approached
> their table I immediately noticed that three quarters of it was proudly
> covered with their latest line of Nascar collectables. Of course I asked
> about what their plans for future plastic kit offerings would be, but
> maybe I shouldn't have.
> While sporting his Racing Champions golf shirt, their representative
> informed me that plastic kits were dead. He claimed that since the
> average age of modelers was so high, their customer base would be dying
> off. Since they are not passing it down to their kids, the plastic model
> as we know it would cease to exist in just a few years and pre-painted
> body snap kits will probably replace them. He also claimed that die-cast
> collectables are the way to go and the wave of the future. I disagreed
> and asked how I would compete with the mass marketers such as K-mart,
> Wal-mart, and Target. He said their price for a certain seven dollar
> item would only be two dollars less than mine. Two Bucks? Where would
> you buy it?
> So now I have come to a conclusion. AMT/Ertl has given up, sold their
> company to yet another group who tries to convince the public that a toy
> car, made in China for about the price of a half a cup of rice, is going
> to be a rare and valuable collectable in 5-10 years. Give me a break! I
> would hope people are much smarter than that, especially in 5-10 years.
> But for now, AMT will take it when they can get it, and sit around in 5
> years wondering where it went.
> Forget about all of those classic AMT car kits, the great line of
> Mirages by Esci, or even their 1.72 scale armor line. According to this
> company, your hobby is dead.
> MI...@DHCinc.com
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
>
> Denbigh Hobby Center Inc. Website:
> HTTP://www.dhcinc.com
> 14363 Warwick Blvd Ordering:
> HTTP://www.dhcinc.com/secorder.htm
> Newport News V.A USA 23602 E-mail: d...@dhcinc.com
>
> Phone(757)874-5708 FAX (757)874-3746 Mon-Fri 12-8pm Sat
> 10-6pm EST
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
>
>
>
RLM
you'll need a bomb shelter. Damn Commie Chinese.
RLM
"DMeriman" <dmer...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000525093648...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
> >While this will sound incredibly non-politically correct I think the best
> >thing that could happen which would invigorate the plastic modelling
> >industry is another major historical event such as a war or alien
invasion.
> >
> >You only have to look at how various wars have provided subject material
and
> >enthusiasm to build models.
> >
> >I'm not saying that I want wars to happen but, it's clear that this led
to
> >the birth of modelling.
> >
> >[Flame suit: ON]
> >
>
> Agreed.
>
> May I suggest: 'Man's Greatest Outdoor Activity' has been the foundation
of the
> success of model kit sales throughout the world.
>
> So have other killing activities: car racing, guns, instruments of torture
and
> death, airplane racing, space shuttles, etc.
>
> The male of our species has a fascination with death and death threatening
> activities. The activity of killing is in fact an intrinsic aspect of the
male
> personality. This fascination with those tools of death is evidenced in
the
> interests expressed, and activities engaged in, by healthy young males.
"Jimmy!
> Bang, bang! I got you ... your dead." Male play.
>
> The majority of model kits depict killing machines. The stuff of play for
young
> males.
>
> I suggest that the recent decline in kit sales is due in part to the
liberal
> 'whoosification' of the American male through the media and the current
Federal
> Administration. The inclusion of homosexuals in the military, and the
practice
> of teaching our children in public schools that there is little if any
division
> between boy's and girl's. This 'gender norming' is killing this nations
> competitive spirit.
>
> No competitive spirit, no interest in conquest with its attendant killing,
no
> desire to assemble kits of subjects that foster and feed our youngsters
blood
> lust.
>
> Cause and effect.
>
> If we don't find new worlds to conquer soon we, as a nation, will shrivel
up
> and die. At this time in our history we are dangerously stagnant, if not
> degenerating.
>
Stephen Tontoni
pretty blindly.
I'd say the hobby is not dead, but is riding a false wave of security. If
you're involved in any clubs at the local level, you might notice that the
members are getting older and older. Without new blood coming in, the
hobby isn't dead, but is definitely dying.
Of the things that are contributing to its demise:
technology: computers, sega, etc are all taking youth away from the hobby
values: things that kill (the vast majority of what we model) are unpopular
cost: the Frog kits that cost us .98 cents now cost $5.00; good stuff at $20
lack of role models: when was the last time you built a kit with a kid?
So it's the golden age of modelling regarding technology, but it's like
the flash of a light bulb winking out for the last time. I've no regrets;
it's just the way things are. And to do my part, I have a young protege
who I give kits to, who I build stuff with, and for his mom's piece of
mind, stuff w/o guns.
--
Stephen Tontoni
ton...@halcyon.com
Seattle, Washington
The Raven
trend being seen throughout most of modern world.
Regards
--
The Raven
** WARNING:- This message may contain a RAVEN (tm) social comment.
** Sometimes I'm wrong (but only sometimes).
** SPAM ME AT YOUR OWN RISK!
"DMeriman" <dmer...@aol.com> wrote in message
eri...@my-deja.com
Mat Irvine <m...@smallspace.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <20000523163553...@ng-fb1.aol.com>, AMPSOne
> <amp...@aol.com> writes
[snip]
> >Revell GmbH's armor kits are apparently going to suffer, and even
then, the
> >most recent one (the Panzerhaubitze 2000) was apparently molded in
Poland to
> >cut costs as well.
>
> Revell AG (They haven't been GmbH for ages) has been moulding in
Poland
> for years, it isn't new.
And the polish made kits are among the finest Revell kits around !
> >Italeri was an unknown, but had very few offerings scheduled for
actual
> >release.
>
> Italeri has over 30 new kits scheduled for 200, and about half that
> number again as reissues - which I wouldn't say is that bad -and
> Italeri's record for actually releasing kits it announces is pretty
> good.
Sofar Italeri is bang-on-schedule with its new releases.
> Shall we keep smiling.......? (OK maybe not..)
I know I will as far as the hobby is concerned :o)
-- Eric.
Al Superczynski
>> The majority of model kits depict killing machines.
Not so. Model cars are by far the most popular plastic kit
subjects. I doubt that most real cars are *intended* as "killing
machines"...
DMeriman
>>> The majority of model kits depict killing machines.
>
> Not so. Model cars are by far the most popular plastic kit
>subjects. I doubt that most real cars are *intended* as "killing
>machines"...
Is too.
NASCAR and the like are vehicles of race -- the expectation of crash/death is
their allure.
Or are you one of the rare ones who watch races in the hope of observing expert
Driver's running a perfect race without the blemish of a 'crash' or two?
Be honest here.
CultTVman
I don't think so. Maybe in the eyes of companies like Racing Champs who don't
know the market. Maye to corporate conglomerate like Binney and Smith that
owns R/M. These guys don't know how to sell, or make models.
Chains like Toys R Us continue to carry models, and keeps trying to make them
work. Their business methods are very different from those of other
companies in the past. They rely on product to turn over in a quick manner.
They make their profit up front, then dump the remaining product at low cost.
This gives them room to bring in new product. You can bet they would not
continue to carry kits if they were not making money on them.
The hobby business has changed. Old methods dont work any more. Companies
need to change for the new marketplace. This includes model companies.
One area that could really help the hobby is if the companies would market and
promote model building to a greater degree. Model ads were everywhere 20 and
30 yrs ago. If you want to sell kits, you need to reach out to the people
that will build them.
The hobby is not dead.... Look at the little success of Polar Lights. Look
at the continued success of model publications. The IPMS still exists and
sponsors shows all over the country and world. Modeling on the web is bigger
than ever.
Don't give up the ghost yet
Steve
Steve Iverson
Cult...@aol.com
CultTVman's SF Modeling Page---> http://CultTVman.com
Join CultTVman's SF Modeling Mail list---->Send "Subscribe SF Model" to
SFMD...@aol.com
Mark Schynert
dmer...@aol.com (DMeriman) wrote:
> >
> >>> The majority of model kits depict killing machines.
> >
> > Not so. Model cars are by far the most popular plastic kit
> >subjects. I doubt that most real cars are *intended* as "killing
> >machines"...
>
> Is too.
>
> NASCAR and the like are vehicles of race -- the expectation of crash/death is
> their allure.
>
> Or are you one of the rare ones who watch races in the hope of observing
expert
> Driver's running a perfect race without the blemish of a 'crash' or two?
>
> Be honest here.
>
>
>
> David D. Merriman, Jr.
Sorry, not so for me--crashes ruin too many races. I no more wish for
crashes than I wish for Mark McGwire to pull a groin muscle (I don't root
for him either, but I like watching him strike out when he plays my team.)
Crashes and/or injuries are a part of sport, and I certainly have no
problem with a nice tackle in football, but I want to see every
participant available for every minute of the contest, whatever it may be.
Probably explains why I don't care for boxing either. I got over the
demolition derby stuff about age 17, when I was involved in a real
accident. I enjoy watching races, not kinetic exhibitions of destruction.
Mark Schynert
--
Rama Lama Rana Catesbiana, Temple of the Little Vegetables
³I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.²
Oliver Cromwell, to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1650
Al Superczynski
wrote:
>I enjoy watching races, not kinetic exhibitions of destruction.
And I have little or no interest in racing per se to begin with.
I just like the cars. No NASCAR at all though past the point they
started using caricatures of factory stock cars.
Mike
>
> NASCAR and the like are vehicles of race -- the expectation of crash/death is
> their allure.
>
Then demolition derby kits should be top sellers.
Stefan Banaszak
>
> > (Model a Pokemon Yea right!)
>
> How about Testor's "Crash Bandicoot"?
>
Bill Banaszak, MFE
Tanker
AMT sucks no matter how you slice it or where you send them......they could
come back here and give 80,000 people jobs and they would still suck.
Tanker
--
"My biggest critics were guys who knew nothing about what I modeled. Most of
them were IPMS members."
cco...@us.hsanet.net
wrote:
>snip<
>AMT sucks no matter how you slice it or where you send them......>snip<
>
>
>
You may not be familiar with them, but the new tool car models that
AMT has released in the last couple of years are VERY nice kits.
Regards,
Chuck C.
Frank McCurdy
Fmbrett1 wrote:
> >I think AMT/ERTL are correct. Although all of us buy and build, we, as a
> >group of consumers, are very small. I have tried getting kids interested by
> >giving them kits and books about planes and ships, but they build one and
> >then just yawn.
>
> Do you guys recall when we were kids and walked into the model section of
> the Downtown Woolworths.. man were in heaven. We couldn't wait to get the
> latest kit from the Green Hornet, the batmobile, Seaview, Spindrift(land of the
> giants). There were a lot of shows on TV to model after. As far as aircraft..
> there was 12 o'clock high that urged us to hurry to get the B-17 and Mustang,
> Combat with the tanks etc. Now other than cartoons and the Star Trek series(
> which I feel cater to adults) there are few shows that would entice kids to get
> a model depicting some spacecraft,plane or fantasy figure. (Model a Pokemon Yea
> right!) I'd hate to think of the hobby as dying, but unless there is a stimulus
> to entice our future modelers to the shops, it may be the case. Deny as we may.
> I currently have 200+ kits(80% Vietnam era aircraft)and as I told my loved
> ones.. You'll know when its my funeral.. just look for the hearse with the
> U-Haul attached. If I don't take them with me they will probably get thrown
> away. And as they say Truth Hurts. Oh yea model prices might have a bit to do
> with it. I may not and hope I'm not right, but its an opinion.
A couple of things to consider...I'm 48 and when I was a kid, WWII was recent
history, as was Korea, Vietnam was just over the horizon, there were several action
TV shows and there were no Game Boys, Nintendos, computers, etc. Modeling didn't
have the competition that it does today. With the exception of that awful show, NAS
Pensacola or whatever it is, the only military exposure kids nowadays get is when
Clinton sends troops to Haiti, Somalia, or Kosovo and CNN plasters it on the tube.
Not that we need a serious war, but exposure to subjects that were modeled in the
50s and 60s were much more on the forefront in those days. We were in a space race
and every boy in high school had a desire for a fast car and an AMT model of it as
opposed to having an expensive one and a Tamiya model of it like the kids of today.
Times have changed and I'm afraid there may be more than a bit of truth in the
possibility of this hobby slowly dying. To kids, I'm afraid, model building is a
lot like the Boy Scouts, it's a nobel pastime, but better left for the nerds. It's
just not COOL and the model companies are too much a smaller part of a non-related
corporation that was just looking for a tax write-off.
Frank McCurdy
IPMS USA 10660
Frank McCurdy
JB wrote:
> PS: why did Scale Modeler magazine become FineScale Modeler?
There is no relation to the two. Scale Modeler went the way of the dinosaur
because it was a piece of crap that people quit buying.
> Why aren't there any after market decals for helicopters and a huge 1/48
> chinook model out there?!
There are and good question. There are good 1/72nd versions.
Mike
As were the last few 1/48 aircraft kits.
--
Mike Dougherty
Hunting polar bears in
Toronto, Ont.
Canada
Coaster
> wrote:
> You may not be familiar with them, but the new tool car models that
> AMT has released in the last couple of years are VERY nice kits.
We built the new '62 Catalina for our club project last year.
Warped floorpan, huge gates on chrome parts, runs in the chrome and to top
it off the rear wheels wouldn't fit the tires and the wheels would go in
the wells.
I had to strip the chrome and metalize them. Tried to use vise to get the
wheel halves to mate. And I would have had to open up the wheel wells or
narrow the axle for them to fit. Not an option on a finished body and
chassis. I had to use the wheels from a Revell '60 Vette to finish the
kit.
Had it not been a club project it would have been added to the incomplete
AMT, Revell, and Monogram kit pile.
Ken
--
Coaster (aka Ken Hartlen)
khartlen.snip_this_bit.@interlog.com
Visit my Motorcycle Modelling page at http://www.interlog.com/~khartlen
cco...@us.hsanet.net
wrote:
>snip<
>Times have changed and I'm afraid there may be more than a bit of truth in the
>possibility of this hobby slowly dying. To kids, I'm afraid, model building is a
>lot like the Boy Scouts, it's a nobel pastime, but better left for the nerds. It's
>just not COOL >snip<
Earlier today (before I read the above post) I was browsing in the
local hobby shop. A man came in with his son who looked to be about 6
years old. After oohing and ahing over some of the model kits, the kid
said "Dad, isn't the hobby shop the COOLEST place?" When I heard that,
I thought of this thread.
In my corner of the world the hobby is thriving. My teenage daughter
is a model builder. (Assembler? ; ) A few years ago my son-in-law
became involved in the hobby, and this year my 6 year old grandson has
assembled (built? ;) several snap kit cars. He loves to go to the
model club meetings with his father and I.
One thing we need to remember, modeling is very much a niche market. I
don't think the hobby would grow that much if the manufacturers
mounted a major marketing campaign. I also participate in motorcycling
and flying. Not everyone wants to be, can be, or SHOULD be a
motorcyclist or a pilot. I think the same applies to modeling. The
people who have the aptitude and temperment to be modelers will find
the hobby if they haven't already.
Modeling has been around since before I was a child. I'm sure it will
still be around, in some form, when my grandson is my age.
Regards,
Chuck C.
cco...@us.hsanet.net
<khar...@shell1.interlog.com> wrote:
>Snip<
>Had it not been a club project it would have been added to the incomplete
>AMT, Revell, and Monogram kit pile.
>
>Ken
>
>--
>Coaster (aka Ken Hartlen)
>khartlen.snip_this_bit.@interlog.com
>Visit my Motorcycle Modelling page at http://www.interlog.com/~khartlen
>
Well, Ken, my experiences with AMT kits have not been as bad as your
seem to be. Same with Revellogram kits, which you seem to put in the
same lowly category with AMT. Granted, these kits don't have the "fall
together" fit of, say Tamiya kits. But they cost only half as much. I
think they are a good value.
BTW, I really like your motorcycle model web site. Keep up the good
work!
Regards,
Chuck C.
Joe Hegedus
cco...@us.hsanet.net wrote:
> Not everyone wants to be, can be, or SHOULD be a
> motorcyclist or a pilot.
Damn Straight! I shudder to think what the skies would be like if it
were as easy to get a pilot's license as a driver's license!
BTW, Chuck, it looks like I'll be able to make the 10th.
Joe