New AMT and Revell kit announcements.

[Veyron]

http://www.modelcarkits.com/cgi-bin/...gi?read=335893

[slk320]

Sadly, there does not seem to be any "Hot Hatch series cars or the "Tuners" series cars... It looks like Amt and Revell had dropped the ball again by not following current trends...

The thing is, even the hot rodder guys bought the Integra kit, but the younger modelers intrested in tuner vehicles are not much interested in the 71 cougar

I think the future of the hobby is to follow the trends, but I guess AMT and Revell are still living in the past

[flyonthewall]

I quite fancy the Grave Digger kit

[Okiemodelbuilder]

All of the AMT announcements posted on the HHMB are reissues only. No info has been posted regarding new tooling. I have a hunch that we'll see more F&F cars including an RX-7. I have seen the diecast RX-7 and RC2 will be sharing stuff between diecast and plastic in the future.

[willimo]

Originally Posted by slk320

I think the future of the hobby is to follow the trends, but I guess AMT and Revell are still living in the past

The future of anything is never to follow trends. Trends go as fast as they come. And though the import trend is rather big and growing, it doesn't hold a candle to the size of the domestic model market. The manufacturers, surprisingly enough, do quite a bit of market research. They are very much living in the present, even if you don't like it.

[slk320]

You are right of course, but at some point the youth market (those under 30), who did not grow up around the A-La kart George Barris creations can't share the passion of older vehicle that was not their first car, their first drag experience and their fond memories in the back seat of the 1966 Nova..

I am simply saying that it would be nice to see subjects that I can personaly relate to... (I think even domestic manufacturers recongise the need for that, hence their introduction of the tuner series and movie cars)

I have built a fare amount of hot rods, the 32 fords, the 69 Camaros and the likes, but I see the chnage in the hobby and I hope they do too...

Back in the 60's and 70's AMt and Revell used to issue "parts packs" to customize their cars with new webber carbs, lake pipes and headers, etc. Its time for them to do the same with the current crop of street tuners.

The same kid the waxed his first 59 Caddy and cruised the boulevard with his friends is the same kid today who is waxing his import. polished his Dragger exhaust and puts on the tuner decals. Trends are trends and even in the smallest town USA the kids are driving imports. Hondas, Acuras, VW, Toyotas and NIssans are our first cars and our fondest memories and the reality we live today. I love old cars, but they are not MY memories, nor are they from MY youth...

Just my

I know everyone has an opinion, and I respect all of yours.

Thanks for listening.

[Veyron]

Originally Posted by Okiemodelbuilder

All of the AMT announcements posted on the HHMB are reissues only. No info has been posted regarding new tooling. I have a hunch that we'll see more F&F cars including an RX-7. I have seen the diecast RX-7 and RC2 will be sharing stuff between diecast and plastic in the future.

AMT's die-cast RX-7 and Eclipse are 1/24 scale, unlike what Revell did with theirs which are 1/25.

[Snooker]

Nice kits, but I want to build Eleanor

[willimo]

The youth market really isn't into models. The lions share of people on the market for models are people who were the kid waxing their Caddy.

I agree that they should get on the ball with parts packs and better 2-in-1 kits (for both domestic and import, but espescially import). The future probably will be in imports and cars and parts of that nature. However, the present isn't. We'll probably have to wait for 10, 15 years before our particular automotive interest is reflected in the model scene. AF is not a very good cross section of the model making community, I imagine the average age in here is around 20, where the average age of the entire model making market is closer to 40, or 45.

But anyway, yes, I do wish they made more kits that I'd want. But I just don't forsee it happening, or really see it making a lot of financial sense for the companies.

[Sigmaman]

Ive only been into imports for 18 months or so after building US muscle for 12 years.The trend to imports is as big here as anywhere else.Its more affordable than Aussie or US muscle.I still build muscle cars,but the import trend has injected new life into my modeling.

[Okiemodelbuilder]

Originally Posted by Veyron

AMT's die-cast RX-7 and Eclipse are 1/24 scale, unlike what Revell did with theirs which are 1/25.

Look at the diecast RC2 Eclipse the next time you go to Wal-Mart. It looks identical to the kit. I have seen the diecast kits of these cars too. They have the same rims and tires as the plastic kits.

I think RC2 labeled the diecast cars 1:24 scale because of their history with 1:24 scale diecast NASCAR. I believe they are the one in the same.

[supratuner]

Ive noticed when im at walmart looking at paint or some thing i will always see guys about 20 with tatoos all over thier bodys and looked like they just smoked a doobie come in and buy the ITR or Civic kit at walmart, kinda weird.
When im at my local hobby shop i notice that every one there is old and looks like santa

Id have to agree that import models will be a lot bigger in 5 years or so, my

[tonioseven]

Originally Posted by supratuner

Ive noticed when im at walmart looking at paint or some thing i will always see guys about 20 with tatoos all over thier bodys and looked like they just smoked a doobie come in and buy the ITR or Civic kit at walmart, kinda weird.
When im at my local hobby shop i notice that every one there is old and looks like santa

Id have to agree that import models will be a lot bigger in 5 years or so, my

I actually agree!! Then there's guys older than me going through the Hot Wheels bin like crazed lunatics! I rarely see younger modellers in the model section of Wally World.

[larrygre]

Originally Posted by tonioseven

I actually agree!! Then there's guys older than me going through the Hot Wheels bin like crazed lunatics! I rarely see younger modellers in the model section of Wally World.

Right you are, Tonio.

We saw both AMT/Ertl and Revellogram jump on the lowrider bandwagon big time, and they are still there. But when it comes to imports and tuners, both manufacturers barely have their toe in the water. Let's face it, for the past, say 20 years they have been listening mainly to us old farts waxing poetic about 59 Chevies and Chrysler 300Cs, modern street rods, and more roundy-round decal cars (aka NASCAR). But some of us old farts learn new tricks!

Gregg and I had a major phone conversation the other day about how staggeringly large the tuner phenomenon really is. You'll see a lot more space in MCM dedicated to tuners, but that does not mean that "old school" will disappear. Its finding the balance that's the hard part of being a magazine editor, and Gregg is doing a great job of it.

There are strong rumors that Fujimi and Aoshima have a new US distributor. That's great news. Maybe greater visibility for these kits? Let's hope so.

But there is another factor too, and that's American acceptance. I've seen, in 21 years of being involved with the hobby on a more than casual level, that Americans can be just as xenophobic as the Japanese are accused of being, in many instances even more so. I've seen modelers pass by Tamiya's Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler without even caring how good they are, or if they are of American subjects: they "ain't American 'cause their Jap kits". Ever see Tamiya kits in Wally World? Sam Walton was so pro-American he would never have allowed it. But now you can get Maisto and Bburago at Wally World. AMT may be an American brand but the kits are made in China. Wal-Mart stocks them by the boatload. That would have given Sam Walton heartburn to say the least. Middle America still loves their NASCARs, their pickup trucks, and their vintage rods. Not a problem, but how many Middle Americans, so to speak, are accepting of the tuner phenomenon?

The tuner phenomenon breated new enthusaism into the real car and model car hobbies. And that to me is a real Godsend. Let's see if AMT/Ertl and Revellogram see the validity in that argument - and act accordingly.

Best regards,

[hirofkd]

Originally Posted by larrygre

There are strong rumors that Fujimi and Aoshima have a new US distributor. That's great news. Maybe greater visibility for these kits? Let's hope so.

It's not a rumor. The company is called Blue Fin Corp, and they are sole distributor of Aoshima. They also carry Fujimi, and they are working with Honda USA to sell Honda related Fujimi kits exclusively.
I know who they are, and what their strategy is. Let's see how well they do, compared to the past Aoshima and Fujimi distributors in the USA.