Automotive Forums Kit of the Year!

[Layla's Keeper]

Figured it'd be good form to celebrate the kit manufacturers in the same fashion we celebrate the builders with AFMOTY.

Very simply, it's a People's Choice scored vote for the best All New kit of 2006 that'll take place through the Second and Third weeks of January.

In the weeks leading up to it, we'll need to compile a list of new plastic kits released in 2006. Hope you all are up to lending a hand with that.

[gasman03]

good idea, Scale Auto Magazine used to do a fantastic job at doing the Kit of the year but they dropped it for some unknown reason, top of the list will prohibably be the Tamiya SLR, followed by the Revell Magnum, Testors Charger, and the Revell 06 Z06

[bigfrit]

I m not really against this...
but I think it will be easier with some sort of grading skill, because a kit can be good because it's a popular subject, or the kit just can be good because of the moldings and engravings???


Oli

[Layla's Keeper]

The idea is that, as a people's choice, is that it's a measure of the popularity of newly released kits. This year seemed to be a good spread of releases, so it's a bit of a crapshoot in my book.

A critical judging panel to determine best quality kit of the year would require that at least three people owned a copy of every new kit released this year, and then we'd have to determine a universal review scheme to apply to the kits.

[bigfrit]

Yeah, not really simple, so just popularity then, like a pageant of who makes the "coolest", maybe not best kit per se.

[MPWR]

Sure, could be fun. But I have a hard time imagining that anything could beat (or even come close to) the Tamiya SLR. It simply created more interest, buzz, and notoriety than anything else this last year, or even the year before. No reason not to do it (especially as I'd be intersted in seeing a list of kits put out this year), but it seems like it could easily be over before it's started.

I see the value of recognizing manufacturers for cool kits, but strangely it's been a looooong time since a year in which a new kit as excited me as much as a rerelease.

Incidentally, I think it might be of equal (or more) value to recognize aftermarket products as well. Kit manufacturers are going to release whatever they want regardless of what we say or do here (seems a bit like voting for the sun to rise). But a smaller company putting out great decals or PE is much more likely to appreciate our support and enthusiasm. Maybe we should consider a separate category them also?

[Layla's Keeper]

Question would be should we honor the best new aftermarket accessory of the year, or the aftermarket company that best served builders this year?

But certainly we could add an Aftermarket category, and a "best reissue" could be done too. Like gasman03 said, Scale Auto Enthusiast used to do this all the time, but for reasons less cynical people don't care to cite, no longer attempt.

[Jay!]

Neat idea.

Points to Aoshima for making a 1/24 SR20DET!

Points to Fujimi for several rad kits; Miata is a prime example...

etc...

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

Question would be should we honor the best new aftermarket accessory of the year, or the aftermarket company that best served builders this year?

Hmmm, good question. I think I could see arguments for doing it either way. But it could be a bit of a challenge to compile a good list of all accessories put out in the last year. I suppose a thread could be started for people to 'nominate' accessory manufacturers by listing favorite individual products released this year, and then the manufacturers themselves could be voted on.

But I definately like the idea of categories to include more than just new kits. It seems like a good way to support the model car industry as a whole.

[blubaja]

Good idea. Um..Revell something something.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

The SLR is pretty awesome (should be for the $$$), the Fujimi MX-5 is completely unexpectedly great, but I have an FXX sitting 25 mins. away that I get tomorrow (it was released just before Christmas in Japan) and I think that kit will trump the SLR.

[NOMADGAMER]

'06 Camaro gets my vote for 'simple build'

[freakmech]

Ummmm, hello MFH 512BB with 3M livery!?! SLR could have been great giving all the "out of body" engine pics i have. But yawn to that. Aston Martin DBR-9, anybody remember the release of this super-hyped kit? So yeah... Revell something something.... wonder why i havent been on this forum much lately... oh and the release of the Tipo Birdcage was'nt much of a deal either.... blah

[klutz_100]

I understand the idea LK, but when I think about it (in the context of the MS comp, AFMOTY etc.) it seems like it could easily become purgatory on Earth!

The simple approach (1/24 plastic kit only) then opens up the can of worms question called curbside vs. full engine.

Then there's the issue of resin kits. My choice for Model of the Year would be one of the resin releases in 2006 (not the SLR for example). Why should these be excluded.

Finally, if you open up a category for full-detail resin kits then I agree it would be worthwhile and justified to add an after market section.

At this point I think to myself - "Is this do-able?"

Popular choice voting? On such a wide spectrum of catageories? Recipie for big headache IMO

I don't want to sound negative, but I just wonder how relevant and meaningful the final result will be of such a beaty pagent?

[ariel]

My vote is for all new releases with out them this hobby would be in a faster down ward spiral. Thanks Tamiya for the SLR and FXX.
AL