Question on new models

[CrateCruncher]

Does anyone know a freemason? I have a retaining wall that needs wor..... Oh now I get it.

[guiwee]

Heres a thought do most of you guys get your models and etc. from
your local hobby store? Or do you order from e-bay and online? Or
are you guys like me and try to do both.
I realize the hobbyshops are having a hard time in this economy and
all. But sheesh my lhs wants $70 for a ferrari fxx and the new 370z!!
Im sure I can find a cheaper price than that online!!! And that
includes shipping

[CrateCruncher]

Now Guiwee, don't make us warn you again. Do you think this is some kind of BS discussion forum?

I buy/sell most of my models on eBay because its usually out of production. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. It evens out. I buy supplies local.

[guiwee]

Okay Okay Okay I quit allready..nothing wrong with discussion though... if its about models!!
Ive been warned....as you say!!1(lololol)

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by guiwee

Okay Okay Okay I quit allready..nothing wrong with discussion though... if its about models!!
Ive been warned....as you say!!1(lololol)

Guiwee, you might well be owed an apology. There is of course nothing wrong with a discussion about modeling, and that really is all you have been doing.

Unfortunately in any community, there is history that newer members will of course be unaware of. There often are topics that have come up regularly, and if you've been a member for long you might see them come up again and again and again. Some members who have endured many iterations of certain topics might be particularly unenthusiastic about revisiting them again. Some topics have been so played out again and again that few people who have been here more than a year or so will have any interest in seeing them come up.

Yet at least to new members, these can be new topics. And it is by no means your responsibility to be aware of these historical discussions (or even to avoid them). You really haven't done anything wrong- you've simply hit on a topic that has come up time and again, and has always resulted in a long and pointless thread of useless speculation and much expression of peoples disconnected paranoias and desires.

The most irksome topics tend to be the ones that simply go nowhere, because they cannot get anywhere (e.g.- we will never be able to complel a kit maker to make a kit, or understand why they don't). But of course until you've seen these topics, you may be yet unaware that they go nowhere.

Some other favorite topics here are:
-What kit does everyone want to see made? (everyone has their own different fetish)
-Which company makes the best models? (depends what you consider a good model)
-What color should I paint my...? (build for yourself, damnit!)

You have really only expressed interest in a discussion about modeling- some thing we all (at least in theory) should be interested in. Unfortunately there are a number of people here who have been there, done that, gone nowhere, and aren't interested in getting there again. If you feel like you've been treated with inappropriate harshness, I apologize.

[guiwee]

Thats the problem with the written word. It cannot always express the tone
one wishes to convey!! Mp youve always been pleasant and cordial to me ..so by no means was I offended,affronted,or anything else you can think of.
I can see your point and its a very good one.I havent been a member of this
community long enough to know about such topics. But being a member for a short while ive seen stuff come up again and again. So I can understand where you are coming from MP.
The original question was why dont they make more kits?
It was explained very adequately in the preceding posts...then it kind if went from there. But see you guys around...ta....ta...

[hirofkd]

Originally Posted by guiwee

Heres a thought do most of you guys get your models and etc. from
your local hobby store? Or do you order from e-bay and online? Or
are you guys like me and try to do both.
I realize the hobbyshops are having a hard time in this economy and
all. But sheesh my lhs wants $70 for a ferrari fxx and the new 370z!!
Im sure I can find a cheaper price than that online!!! And that
includes shipping

I buy domestic kits from local stores, and imports on the Web. I did the same when I lived in Tokyo; I bought JP kits locally, and got Revell USA or Revell Germany kits online or from eBay.

As for the 370Z kit, I tried to get a quote from Hobby World (Aoshima's online store), and it turned out to be 3700 yen. (2720 for the kit + 980 for SAL air to USA). You might want to give it a try.

[guiwee]

Sorry to revisit this old topic again..but i just had to say im sure we in the modeling world are pleased by tamiyas latest realeases...dbs...722...lotus 78....Im gonna get all 3 !!! Apparently tamiya has listened to us because they have finally stepped up
and produced.. To make them keep producing ill buy 2 of all 3 !!!! Cant say they didnt make money off of me!!! lol
Btw the 722 looks like the slr but maybe with a different part or two kinda looks identical to me.
So all you guys who posted must be feeling good right about now!!!

[CrateCruncher]

Thanks for bringing this one back Guiwee. It was a fun thread. Yes, the Japanese injection manufacturers have been releasing a lot of automotive plastic lately but frankly I'm at a loss as to why? Christmas came early for me with the spanking new Honda RC-166 racer. Wow. Anyone care to speculate why we're suddenly being showered with so much attention???

(..and my retaining wall is more wonky than ever so if anyone catches a free mason send them my way!)

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by shonin

The biggest threat to plastic kits is definitely die cast. Look at the availability of die cast vs plastic kit at any major retail outlet or hobby stores.

True. And look at eBay. The market is swamped with old kits!

Tooling for new kits is expensive. Any new Tamiya and Fujimi kits would be competing with their own older kits, and good ones too, not to speak of inexpensive kits from Revell and other manufacturers.

The U.S. may be a big market overall, but most American modelers prefer military. And most American car modelers prefer American cars. At a typical SoCal show, you'll see over 90% American subjects from old Revell and MPC kits.

For Japanese manufacturers, there's nothing encouraging in that situation.
All they see is a shrinking market, and one which has been headed in another direction for quite some time. Most American modelers would not be interested in anything they would offer except Mustangs and 'Vettes. Most American modelers don't even care about Ferrari, or about ALMS cars.

The market for European subjects is almost entirely in Europe. Since I prefer Euro subjects, I wish that weren't true, but it's a reality the manufacturers have to face.

So who is going to invest in new products when the biggest potential market is shrinking and it's overwhelmed with cheap competing products?

Business is about return on investment - ROI. In other words, making money for their stockholders. They don't care which market they sell into; if they can get a decent ROI, they will invest the money and produce the goods. Tamiya can and will build any kind of kit they believe will bring a profit, and right now that's mainly military.

[grundski]

This thread should be closed and locked down. It is really full of misleading and total bull. There is probably one or two comments that are true, but used as proof for personal opinions. I've never read so much untrue utter opinion. If you believe this thread, I have some beachfront property for sale in Chernobyl.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by grundski

This thread should be closed and locked down. It is really full of misleading and total bull. There is probably one or two comments that are true, but used as proof for personal opinions. I've never read so much untrue utter opinion. If you believe this thread, I have some beachfront property for sale in Chernobyl.

Uhh, where did that come from?

If we locked threads because they consisted mostly of unsubstantiated personal opinions, we wouldn't really have much to talk about....

[drunken monkey]

i like turtles

[Slash.Snakepit]

Originally Posted by grundski

This thread should be closed and locked down. It is really full of misleading and total bull. There is probably one or two comments that are true, but used as proof for personal opinions. I've never read so much untrue utter opinion. If you believe this thread, I have some beachfront property for sale in Chernobyl.

You always have CTRL+W or even ALT+F4...less keystrokes to show your indignation...