THE FUTURE OF PLASTIC MODELING

Hey, welcome to the forum! Hope you'll enjoy it here.

I don't see the decline. There's some maturing, yes, but not a decline. $1.50 kits are indeed gone, but so is $1.29/gallon gas, and 50¢ 20oz cokes. There's been doom and gloom about computers/video games killing it in the '80's, and the hobby is still here. It's really been in good shape since the '90's, especially in the automotive categories, it really is the golden age right now.

Glenn

Actually, depending on how much a model builder is willing to spend and if that person has access to swap meets or "stash " buyouts. the hobby can still be less expensive than other hobbies.

Examples of more expensive hobbies might be:

photography:

http://www.calumetphoto.com/

the price of a modern digital SLR can make list price of even a new tool 1/32 P-51 Mustang look modest.

another example- metalworking:

http://shop.prox-tech.com/c/lathe-milling-systems_lathe-pd-230-e

OTOH..........if a model builder avoids buying models when introduced and doesn't mind buying older kits- swap meets can provide decent buys on occasion.

As for the decline of the hobby,

someone is buying kits in numbers sufficiently large to warrant designing and selling new kits ranging in price from under $10 for a new tool AIRFIX aircraft model, to kits costing even $229 or more, though my limit lately has been between $2 and $10 at swap meets 

Maybe there is some misunderstanding.  I'm not really talking about the price of kits, I'm talking about interest.  Kids lack the desire to take up the hobby.  Can you name a local retail outlet to buy or promote kits today?  Sure if you live in a large city you may have access to a hobby store.  I live in a rural community in the midwest.  There are no such places, not even Wal-mart anymore. There was a time when about every store carried them, but now none do.   I work with kids as a Police Lieutenant and have found that they no nothing about modeling as they have no access to it or desire.  Again I feel that the hobby is slowly dying along with balsa models.

As I do not have access to statistics, I can only relate what I see just as you have stated your observations. 

I see new kits being designed and built, and someone in Revell is really good at talking Wal Mart and Meijer stores into adding kits to their inventory while traditional brick and mortar hobby shops in the Chicago area continue to close.

Perhaps FSM has access to reliable statistics? 

I would like to know who is buying kits at retail in Wal Mart and Meijer when the very same Revell kits can be purchased for 40 to 50 pct off at Michaels Crafts and Hobby Lobby.

Your probably right,but what is happening is that a lot of the modelers on the forums are getting their kids interested in building.I just went to Armorcon last month and many of the parents had their kids there with them buying and building,having a great time.We see young people on the forums also.Overall there are a lot of modelers out there,but small compared to the electronic device people.We have always been a niche.We just need to keep encouraging our kids,grand kids,nephews and nieces,and the seed may grow quickly or later on when they reach adulthood,but there will always be a core to carry on the hobby

Three years ago on this forum there was an informal poll taken about when members built their first kit, and how old they currently were. Just about everyone here has told the story of their time in the hobby, and the majority follow a strikingly close path: first model at 7 or 8, building declines or stops in the mid-to-late teen years, and resumes roughly around 30 after college, marriage, and family started. Thus the community is renewed with those who choose to return to the hobby.

Of course, the days of boys going to the local drugstore to buy a $1 or $2 kit are gone, as are the days when those same boys played a pickup game of ball in the sandlot, or traded baseball cards and put them in the spokes of their bicycles. But, there are young folks exploring the hobby, and my club- the Southern Maine Scale Modelers- is very active in promoting the make-n-take program, doing several events each year. The families and scout troops (boys and girls) love this, and we have seen a few inquire more about the club and hobby.

The numbers and demographic may not be what they once were, but it's far from dead and the industry is certainly alive and well. And yes, for those who don't want to pay $50-$60+ for a new kit, the vendor tables at contests are where deals are had.

Hi :

  Although in rural areas , I Can agree with you , there is this .I noticed at our county fair this year these .A  Display by 4H , one by The local Cub Scouts and one by Boy Scouts .what were the displays ? model ships , planes and armor as well as a stunning display of cars by the biggest troop of Girl scouts in the area .Hobby dead , I really doubt it .Now Lieutenant if you would try a little outreach trending in that area one on one I think you would be pleasantly surprised .At least I would hope so .

I guess it depends on the individual.  I tried to get my 9 year old grandson (very intelligent) interested by working side by side with him, showing him how to get started on a kit building for his model railroad.  His attention span lasted about 10 minutes, then he was off chasing his dog around the basement.  He never showed any further interest, so I finished the model for him and didn't try any more.

FWIW........stopped by the local Barnes and Noble bookstore to check the magazine rack.

Only one plastic model magazine on the rack........not FSM.

A lot more wood working magazines were displayed in the location that used to hold five plastic model magazines......

I suspect that it will likely evolve into something else. Just as this hobby evolved from wood carving. At least according to the oldest here who tell us of the earliest plastic model kits being plastic parts coming with wooden pieces that needed to be carved to shape before the two could be glued together to make your finished build. I hear all this talk of 3d molding/printing using computers and think that perhaps, that may be the future of this hobby.

Boy this topic is toxic to say the least. For what it's worth, agree the hobby's up against some stiff competition in the form of iPods, laptops, video games etc. Add to that the general decline in attention spans and the notion of instant gratification....well you get the idea. As far as anecdotal evidence goes it does seem less than ideal for growth in the hobby. That said, I think there'll be enough newbies to sustain it and as some others have suggested perhaps it'll evolve in spite of our worries.

Those stupid electronic gadgets have replaced guitar playing too, as a hobby or vocation. Most of my students in the last ten years have been over the age of 30. It's getting harder and harder to find school-aged kids who want to commit to really learning an instrument these days.

I dunno, I find myself in the model aisle at Hobby Lobby surprisingly often because they stock certain modeling staples I use (and not available at my LHS). I have noticed a lot of fathers and grandfathers (and even some moms) choosing kits with boys who have a gleam of excitement in their eyes. I don't think all hope is lost at all.

I do not believe manufacturers spend time and money designing new tool kits selling for

aprox. $10  retail if they think no one will buy the kits.

$10.00?

       Where you been shopping ? The cheapest kits I've seen at Hobby Lobby were in pricedown groups because of say missing pieces .Everything else started at $14.89 . I have seen a few at my local Hobby Shop and they were in the consignment group .

Only Airfix is turnng out new tooled kits that cost under $10 nowadays...

stikpusher

Only Airfix is turnng out new tooled kits that cost under $10 nowadays...

Either that or trying to entice in the young builders. 1/72 is a great scale for youngsters to start out and mom/dad wont feel bad about a kit cost like that. The only other company doing kits in that price range for beginners is Pegasus models..

My first model kits were either HAWK 1/48 or  AIRFIX 1/72 scale kits.

I stopped buying 1/72 models due to lack of detail but it appears I will be buying AIRFIX again.

I haven't purchased the Pegasus kits yet as I already have some unbuilt 1/48 scale kits of those subjects but the prices are tempting.

last kits I bought for $10 (Wally Mart) were the 21st Century Ju87B, Bf-109 F and G, and the Macchi 202 and 205.

Kits are decent for the price but decals were excellent.

Dunno yet about decal quality of the new AIRFIX kits.

Yeah those 21st Century kits were worth the cost just for teh decal sheet alone. I have their A6M3 in my stash. The Pegasus kits are great introductory kits with options for the beginner of seasoned modeler. As long as you are not expecting a Tamigawa uberkit, you will get your moneys worth there. My first aircraft kits had to mostly have been Hawk, both 1/48 and 1/72. Thats what the local store had when we walked over when I was a wee lad...

I view the Pegasus kits as an inexpensive method for expanding a collection of specific aircraft camo / markings schemes without spending Tamiyagawa prices.

Worst cost would be for aftermarket decals...and i will probably be sifting thru those at dealer tables for the Butch O'Hare swap meet next month

I agree the Pegasus 1/48 "Snap" kits are excellent starter kits and even decent subjects for the more advanced modeler.  The kits are cheap, well detailed and offer excellent decals.  The only major problem with these kits are they ARE NOT made of polystyrene plastic and WILL NOT react to any plastic model cements.  I like to fill and sand joints, therefore I like to use cements even on "Snap Tite" models.  The only thing I have found that works is liquid Cyanoacrylate (Super glue).

Babalu1201

I agree the Pegasus 1/48 "Snap" kits ............... ARE NOT made of polystyrene plastic and WILL NOT react to any plastic model cements.  

I was not aware of that.

I will make certain I use super glue