2nd expensive Revell Germany Kit with an Injection mold defect main part

Hello Wilbur!

In my opinion, if you have a choice between being upset and not being upset, choosing to be upset is the wrong option...

Then again - Revell has a very good customer service. You write them about a problem with a part and they send the part, no questions asked. Shipping across the ocean takes some time, and additionally, as a very nice lady at Revell once told me - there's always a mountain of requests for parts around christmas, so maybe the 5 weeks you're writing about could have something to do with that.

Of course it would be better to get good parts right away, but we can't change what already happened, can we? I wish you fast delivery of good parts for your model and good luck with your build, have a nice day

Paweł

They have a customer service form to request parts

https://www.revell.de/en/service/service-form/model-building.html

It sucks, but its imposible to inspect every piece unless of course the price of that $100 kit goes up a lot in order to pay who know how many staff to check each and every part. Machines are fallible so errors/defects are bound to slip through random quality control checks. This is exactly why new automobiles comes with a warranty. Revells warranty is free part replacement at their expense. The last tiny ship gun sprue they sent me cost $8 to ship from Germany no questions asked in about 3 weeks. 

Are you wrong to be upset? Maybe, maybe not. Unhappy upon discovering the flaws, of course. But if you let this get you so upset that you having a physical reaction like elevated blood pressure, then you might need to relax a bit.

Just a thought, are you buying these kits online or from a hobby shop that you visit. If the latter, it is usually an option at shops to inspect kits that you intend to buy. The shop owner has an interest in your customer satisfaction as well as the kit company. Online shopping allows no such luxury until it's too late. If yo been bitten twice by Revell Germany kits, this might be a good idea. I've never had a bum experience like that from them myself. Other companies yes. 

And one more rapid fix for the PBY canopy would be to check and see if there is a vacuform canopy available. For a few bucks, that would save you some time. I had to do that on a few occasions rather than dealing with customer service for a couple canopy issues myself. One self inflicted, one a short shot. 

Happy modeling.

Pawel

Hello Wilbur!

In my opinion, if you have a choice between being upset and not being upset, choosing to be upset is the wrong option...

Then again - Revell has a very good customer service. You write them about a problem with a part and they send the part, no questions asked. Shipping across the ocean takes some time, and additionally, as a very nice lady at Revell once told me - there's always a mountain of requests for parts around christmas, so maybe the 5 weeks you're writing about could have something to do with that.

Of course it would be better to get good parts right away, but we can't change what already happened, can we? I wish you fast delivery of good parts for your model and good luck with your build, have a nice day

Paweł

 

Man That is some really beautiful thinking! Are you like a jedi? All kidding asisde you are absolutely right Pawel!

I've been in business since 1985 and I know customer service better than anyone.  Revell's response is unacceptable to me for this consistant issue.  Had I not started the kit before I discovered this I would have sent it directly back to Scale Hobbyist for a full refund. 

From this point forward I will open every Revell Germany kit, if there is a major defect on any part , I send the whole kit  back to the retailer for a refund or an inspected kit returned to me intact and buildable.

Now I wait 5 weeks for this part. It's the last time.

Buying kits at the LHS (he is at full retail)  ended for me a decade ago. I save at least $1500. a year buying online.  A full dollar saved on every bottle of paint with no tax and the delivery cancels out.

Wilbur Wright

I recently started the Revell Germany 1/48th PBY...

Is that a brand-new tooling, distinct from the 1/48 Monogram kit, or is it just a release of that kit?

modelmaker66 - thanks a lot, glad you like my writing and may the scale be with you!

Paweł

As far as I know it's the same mould Baron.  New decals less the crew figures. 

Another example of a good idea to check all sprues before you begin.  

5 weeks doesn’t sound as bad as you might think. I had an anchor from their 1/72 U-boat take a few months. For a Revell of Germany kit the request goes from RUS to ROG. The Germans do take their time, then it's sent out (I'm sure it's not the quickest mode) goes back overseas and then we have to wait for our own postal service. I wouldn't let it get to me until a few more weeks.

I sent an email requesting the status of the anchor and all I got back was an email with the heading in German that translated into “response to email” and something to the effect "were working on it, don't bother us anymore" in the body. About 2 weeks later it arrived. The Germans are to the point.

Hasegawa on the other hand had a canopy to me within a week. Their US contact is Tower Hobbies in Champagne Il. Good ole Tower Hobbies.

 HOLY SMOKES!!!!

When did that become a $100 kit???

I bought my first example for $25.99 about 12 years ago....bought another as a "get well" gift for a friend (and fellow member here) about 5(ish) years ago, and that one was $32 and change. Both were retail at the LHS...and both had the crew figs too.

Problems with parts are not unheard of, and the delivery time is not out of line for ROG....I just take it as it comes, and table it til the parts arrive.  It is what it is, if we like it or not. 

fermis

 HOLY SMOKES!!!!

When did that become a $100 kit???

I bought my first example for $25.99 about 12 years ago....bought another as a "get well" gift for a friend (and fellow member here) about 5(ish) years ago, and that one was $32 and change. Both were retail at the LHS...and both had the crew figs too.

 

When Revell Germany issues a Revellogram kit, the price goes up markedly. I think I paid $25 or so for the Pro Modeler boxing of the PBY-5 when it was a new release. Even the last Revell USA issue of the kit was running no more than $40 or so when I saw it in shops here. 

modelcrazy

 

I sent an email requesting the status of the anchor and all I got back was an email with the heading in German that translated into “response to email” and something to the effect "were working on it, don't bother us anymore" in the body. About 2 weeks later it arrived. The Germans are to the point.

 

Yup, that is German culture. Speak the point. lol!

Your experience with Hasegawa was much more rapid than mine. Time wise, they took MANY months. But they did send me the whole sprue tree and not just the part I needed, so lots of stuff for my spares bin. So it all balances out.

I'm in the middle of an RoG kit now, making their Iron Maiden 747 into a Dreamlifter.  No specific errors, per se, but the molding is really crappy.  I am sure this kit simply uses old molds with new decals, so I have no idea of how old the molds are.  But this is a common practice in the industry, including a new release using old molds from a former competitor.

It is nice, though, to get a kit made from new molds, using the latest molding technologies.  The molding in some new kits is so good, I see that technology making a real dent in the resin aftermarket business.  I would be interested to read an article in Fine Scale or elsewhere about how they do this newer technology.

I'm so sorry to hear of such unfortunate circumstances.  My wish for you is to have this issues handled promptly and for you to continue your build.  

On another note relating to quality control, I'm building a Tamiya 1/32 Mosquito their current flag ship model.  This kit is amazing and superb!  Maybe you need to switch to kits like this.  IMHO, I can definately recommend Tamiya's 1/32 kits and of course all of their top quality engineered kits.

Another great kit company is Zoukei Mura, check them out.  Ultimately, have fun with what you're doing as this is a great hobby and I want to personally thank you for always supporting my builds my good friend!

Toshi

fermis

 HOLY SMOKES!!!!

When did that become a $100 kit???

I bought my first example for $25.99 about 12 years ago....bought another as a "get well" gift for a friend (and fellow member here) about 5(ish) years ago, and that one was $32 and change. Both were retail at the LHS...and both had the crew figs too.

 

This kit which is Revell DE 04507 is the postwar search and rescue marked PBY 999. Kit is $99 retail. I paid $75 at Scale Hobbyist (he is terrific) .  It's $99 at the LHS plus 6% tax.

Don, the kit is very finely molded, in fact the detail the rivets etc are stunning.  The damaged clear part almost looks like the machine ran out of clear styrene and the back corners are like cellophane tape, literally that thin and unusable.  Maybe this is human error in loading the aggregate or letting it run out on the injection machine.

In any case I'm starting a run out of Ferrari models this summer. The coordination for painting and assembly is very different than for military models.   It's really a different state of mind as you are painting almost daily.

I really didn't want to open that can of worms until this plane was done over the next month.  Now that can't happen.   If I start the complex Ferrari builds,  then  right in the middle of that mess the new canopy will arrive. 

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your problems with your kits.  On a side note though, for me in Virginia I've found that its not necessarily less expensive to buy off the internet than from my local hobby shop because a few years ago the state instituted a policy where they require you to pay the sales tax on your internet purchases at the end of the year, as part of your state tax return. 

Pat

That stinks Pat! So you have to keep track of all your internet purchases?

Hi,

Pretty much, though if I put it on a credit card or Paypal I have a record at the end of the year.

Pat

Well for me that is a bright side, at least we don't have a sales tax here.................yet

I would not be upset specially being a ROG model. They are turning out some real beauties at VERY affordable prices like the new 1/32 Me262 and Spitfire. 

It's a very good idea to inspect a model upon arrival to determine that all is ok. These problems do happen now and then with any manufacture. Just be glad it wasn't Academy or Trumpeter since they have 0 customer service.

I know where your coming from wilbur , this is from my newly arrived heller victory 1/100 , the main stay part of the ship , hopefully heller come to the party

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Get w/Revell (USA) on the web.They are your only choice.Ask them for a replacement.

Silver

Get w/Revell (USA) on the web.They are your only choice.Ask them for a replacement.

 

His model is Revell of Germany. From previous experienec, if one contacts Revell USA they will say to contact ROG for the part (s).

One half of the fuselage in  my Revell Germany 1/32 Spitfire was injection mold defected at the cockpit and was unsuable and unfixable.  It took 5 full weeks to get a new part.

Saying they have great customer service, meaning I have to wait 6 weeks to get a replacement part is unacceptable to me as a businessman of 35 years. What I want is my money back. Period.  Which Scale Hobbyist would do if I hadn't started the kit.    Revell is cleary having injection mould issues or quality control issues. From now on I don't start any Revell Germany kit until every part has been inspected.  If there is a defect then I send  the kit back to the retailer for a refund.  No more waiting over a month on a new purchase that retails at over 100 dollars.

Now I wait 5-6 weeks to get a new canopy. It sucks, and will not happen to me again.

Waiting 5 to 6 weeks for a replacement part, being sent by the company at no cost to you, from Europe to North America is not unreasonable. This is only a hobby, not a situation where people's lives are at risk. Sure, one slipped thru the cracks of quality control. It happens. Even from the Japanese model companies everybody fawns over. My Hasegawa P-47 had a warped lower wing part. I dealt with it and did not come here to gripe about the company. The time I did need a part from them, it took far longer than 6 weeks to arrive. Life goes on, lighten up a little.