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Who Decides?

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  • Member since
    September 2013
Who Decides?
Posted by cvsaylr on Sunday, December 6, 2015 4:15 PM

This subject has been bothering me for quite some time now and I'd like to see what your thoughts are on the subject. Who or what determines (for any given model manufacturer) what models are produced and how long a certain model will be in production? For example, why can't I find a C-47 or C-54 in 1/48 scale while I know these models have been produced in the past? Yet I can still buy a B-24C or B-29 both of which have been in production for probably twenty years or more?  Pretty much the complaint, if there really is one, is that there are a whole bunch of modelling subjects that either have never been made or have, in my opinion, been discontinued too soon. It certainly can't be because of a timespan (noting that WW 2 ended 70 years ago but models of WW 2 equipment are still being turned out). Why, for example is there a lot of German, American, Japanese and Russian equipment but hardly anything that was produced by France or Italy? Maybe it bothers me most because I like 1/48 and 1/35 scales over, say, 1/72 and a lot of what IS out there isn't available in my favorite scales. I'd like to know what you folks think just for the sake of discussion.

Dave

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: State of Mississippi. State motto: Virtute et armis (By valor and arms)
Posted by mississippivol on Sunday, December 6, 2015 5:09 PM
It all boils down to, "Can I make money producing this model?". For quite a few subjects, the answer is no.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Sunday, December 6, 2015 5:42 PM
Tamiya has two french fighters. Hasegawa has a few Italian fighters. Bombers and such your stuck with smaller companies. I don't think there ever was a 48th C-54. That would be pretty big

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, December 7, 2015 8:50 AM

Resin kit mfgs find their nitch producing kits for those who want something- a less popular subject- that would not otherwise make money in a die-cast styrene kit.  Resin kits take much less investment up front.  However, since these cottage industries do not sell nearly as many kits, they cannot afford to advertise very much.  Also, bigger wholesalers and major hobby chains stay away from their products.  Thus, it is much harder to be aware of these kits.  FSM forums are one way to find them.  Ask about a desired subject in the appropriate genre forum (in the modeling subject domain) and hope someone there will know of one. Also, belonging to a local model club gives you friends to ask.

The resin kits, because they are produced in lower quantity, tend to be expensive, not of major mfgr quality, and sometimes require modeler to supply some materials and aftermarket parts.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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