Sex sells...

sorry , but sexuality is the motive force of the world--i showed my wife the add and she said 'aw c'mon!'-- but that was it-- ladies and gentlemen it is almost 2006--things are just gonna move faster-- the add doesn't bother me at all--- i'm 53 yrs old if anyone reading this needs a demographic  -- lol --- thanks--- treadwell

I think this is something we will probably start to see more often. It seems like everyday our values and morals sag as a nation. I don't buy car magazines for girls, Sport Compact Car doesn't have models with their cars. I buy a mag to see cars, I don't want some woman standing on the hood and me contemplating why the owner let her dent the hood of his new car with those goofy looking shoes SA and FSM are two mags I can let my daughter and nephew look at without worry. Hopefully they keep it that way.

I guess I'm open minded but sex has never bothered me. I'd rather see a scantily clad girl than somebody dropping bombs or shooting at somebody, a common theme in scale model advertising. I guess It bothers me a bit that the notion of sex is less palatable than that of violence.

I thihnk they should get rid of them, the other day i was looking at the website and a huge pic of a womans behind popped up just as my dad walked in!!!!

It took a while to convince him it was a model making site, rather embarrasing as you can probably imagine 

Well the ad has certainly worked. We are all talking about it and they have now got a free ad on this site. Personally, I do not like the ad because it was featured in a family magazine that I read and is inappropriate. I think this sort of advertising should be saved for mags with a more aduilt theme. Just my two cents worth,


Darren.

richter111 wrote:

Ok guess I can weigh in here.... I have 8 kids, 5 boys, 3 girls.  I have seen each of them build a model, and it always is a relaxing family time.  To me, above all else thats what this hobby is about.  With that said, the ad is slightly offensive to me, but thankfully it's not worse.  By the way I am a geeky nerd, Im married to a fine looking woman, and obviously the 8 kids imply something besides modeling has been going on in my home......... Ric

LOL Stryrene and Glue as an aphrodisiac. Who would have thunk!!

Ok guess I can weigh in here....

I have 8 kids, 5 boys, 3 girls. 

I have seen each of them build a model, and it always is a relaxing family time.  To me, above all else thats what this hobby is about. 

With that said, the ad is slightly offensive to me, but thankfully it's not worse. 

By the way I am a geeky nerd, Im married to a fine looking woman, and obviously the 8 kids imply something besides modeling has been going on in my home.........

Ric

Zen_Builder wrote:

Hey, it might get the youngsters involved in the figure(non-military) side of the Hobby. Great advantages there can be many original design kits that cna be sold cheaply because no copyright exists. But generally I feel the same thing those ladies are a nuisance and often hide good detail on a car, etc. But than I was told on my Grandfathers knee that only 2 things make the world go round: money and sex. And often one is used to get the other.

 

Sorry Zen-Builder but I do not agree with your statement.  This kind of advertising or pictures are not going to get youngster involved. They will stare at the pics and get their emotions going for other things.  You signature icon is no help either (IMHO).  I turned my daughter away from this site because I did not want to explain what she was looking at.  I like a nice looking woman too but to have one showing of her wares in these types of magazines or any where is down grading.  No wonder women feel like it is their looks that guys want.  Youngster do not need to think or see this now or ever.  I truthfully, money and sex do not make that world go round.  Most millionaries, have had nothing to do with the sex part.  Of course this IMO.

 

Yeah, how dare they use models to sell models!

Well, I guess the advertising worked...we're all talking about it.  I personally don't agree with it, but it is used in just about every media campaign out there.  Nothing's sacred, I guess, not even modeling...

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bgrigg If you want to see sexist ads, check out the women's magazines. The image you've posted is fully dressed compared to most of the ads in Cosmo or Redbook. Come to think of it "Sex sells..." is a provocative title, isn't it?

Good point Bgrigg.
That's always been something that puzzled me...anybody interested in looking at scantily-clad ladies - and I do mean scantily only had to look in your average, middle of the road women's magazine. Plus, just look at the topics on the cover!!! And we guys only think about sex???!!
I remember a number of years back, an ad appeared in several guitar magazines. It featured a very attractive young blond girl wearing a small, but not-too-revealling white bikini, standing in about a foot of water (???), holding a "Dean" guitar. There was no text except for the "Dean Guitars" logo at the bottom. I remember the ad to this day, but only because the "letters" section of the magazine the next month had a couple of letters of complaint about it. Otherwise, I would have paid it hardly any attention.

HAHA, I was reading a tamiya model magazine today at barns n nobles while getting a cup of coffee on my way back home from work. all of a sudden I came across that ad. since I held the magazine up when I read it, embarrassed as I was, I immediately and instinctively felt there were eyes behind me already picking out that page. Pity I wasn't able to carefully actually read through the list of kits on the ad or what the ad was really for. LOL.

Actually I find certain resin and other figures more questionable... You know ladies with swords and boobs that are so big they could shield her from any arm on the battlefield, girs in schoolgilr outfit (that's why I find Manga a bit disturbing), ladies in interesting underwear with no pants on in different suggesting poses (which brings up the question about pink paints...) and so on. they're cute (according to my girlfriend), but if you worry about young folks, AND especially about the image these figures suggest to "other" people from ~us~... You know, nerds with no social life, with no prospect of a date, building and painting naked women instead... well, these are more of a problem, I guess. (If there is a problem at all.) At any way, I usually don't tell people I build models and have a degree in Molecular Biology because they think I'm some kind of a weirdo playing with toys and cloning people from dead babies. Sad, isn't it?
And a nice butt is nice in a modelling paper as well . ;)

Obviously the trick works because everyone's talking about Eduard and their masks..

There's no such thing as bad publicity, obviously..

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rexford Absolutely everything. It has to do with a model builders inablility to get laid.

Maybe you

Hi

Just my two pence worth......I agree its a cheap way to attract attention to the ad, but surely the fact that is has generated so much interest and discussion (positive and negative) means that sadly the ad campaign is working. When you think of masks people here will think of that ad first I would bet. I am not saying its right or wrong, just pointing out the end result !!

Dave

QUOTE: Originally posted by trowlfazz Remco-that ad really doesn't say a good fit to me-more like a too tight bra and a too loose blouse. Not to be confused with Too-loose LaPants-the famous French artist!

Irony isn't really popualar where you are from, is it?

The Eduard slogan is a pun and I find it funny.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rexford Absolutely everything. It has to do with a model builders inablility to get laid.

HAHAHA....funny but also true at times.

Eduard could also be pointing out the aftermarket parts that women use to gain a sucessful career in modeling?...heehee

QUOTE: Originally posted by dkmacin I haven't seen the ads, nor will I go look for them, or hide them if I do see them. Relax a little folks, it's not that big a deal. Don

on that.

Luc

Actually DJ-did not really mean progress-just being facetious. Remco-that ad really doesn't say a good fit to me-more like a too tight bra and a too loose blouse. Not to be confused with Too-loose LaPants-the famous French artist!

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 OK, Drew. Drew, what has this image to do with scale modeling?

I think it's hilarious!

And it tells a lot about the product, a nice tight fitting mask so no paint wil bleed under it.

Mmmm... Not quite certain what you're trying to say there , Trowlfazz... However, if you call that progress, it's a rather sad state of things in the great land of yours...

Here in Ohio you can have your car car washed or your house cleaned by topless women-that's progress. No market is yet available for bottomless men or pointless people.

Well, often breasts include a lot of aftermarket parts to look that good?

And I am not at all grubby!

Kidding aside though. If you want to see sexist ads, check out the women's magazines. The image you've posted is fully dressed compared to most of the ads in Cosmo or Redbook. I think this is a non-issue, and I hope that one of the (few) women that do post on these fourms, take an interest in this thread, and let us know what they think.

Come to think of it "Sex sells..." is a provocative title, isn't it?

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 OK, Drew. Now to answer your question, war, wounds, blood and gore is not something you find in advertisment very often, is it?

Actually, every issue of FSM there's a full page color ad for come company selling 1/35 scale figures and armor accessories that always feature wounded or dead soldiers! It's pretty hard to miss.

QUOTE: I personally am not involved in scale modeling for the lure of the uniform, nor for promoting or glorifying any army or political movement. I build scale models because it's fun and brings me closer, through research mostly, to understanding and own a piece of History. Other may reach the same goal by collecting stamps, taking pictures, reading,..

That's fine. I agree completely, but I was writing about my wife's reaction to the warplanes on my shelf. It's not your perception of the hobby, or mine, but a woman's that I was writing about. I don't know a lot of women that love tanks and fighter planes.

QUOTE: Eduard's ad is not a reflection of the state of the hobby. The hobby has never been any better. Their business is obviously thriving, and they may well be the most active, pro-active, responsive company involved in the hobby today. Eduard's ad is a joke, a kind of a gamble. I do not see, and I hope I won't ever, see Airfix, Heller, Tamiya, Trumpeter,... using bikini-clad women to sell their products in magazines (or elsewhere).

I disagree. The fact that the hobby has never been better is probably the reason that Eduard is using a tongue in cheek ad to mimic the advertising strategy used for everything from razors and shampoo to cars.

QUOTE: Now I wonder what they will come up with to advertise their PE sets which I've never been able to fit properly into the kits they were designed for..!? Grubby, hairy men with loose and stained underwear???

That, my friend, is a glorious idea!

Warm regards,

Absolutely everything. It has to do with a model builders inablility to get laid.

OK, Drew.

Drew, what has this image to do with scale modeling?



It's designed for men who will look at the cleavage, look at the main text, have a giggle while using the reptilian part of their brain to make a connection between the two. I'll admit it, It's smart advertising; they know who their customer base is. Just a shame it's so tacky and so degrading to women. Maybe I'm just too concerned. Indeed, maybe some ladies here will tell me, and us, what they think..?

Now to answer your question, war, wounds, blood and gore is not something you find in advertisment very often, is it? I personally am not involved in scale modeling for the lure of the uniform, nor for promoting or glorifying any army or political movement. I build scale models because it's fun and brings me closer, through research mostly, to understanding and own a piece of History. Other may reach the same goal by collecting stamps, taking pictures, reading,..

Eduard's ad is not a reflection of the state of the hobby. The hobby has never been any better. Their business is obviously thriving, and they may well be the most active, pro-active, responsive company involved in the hobby today. Eduard's ad is a joke, a kind of a gamble. I do not see, and I hope I won't ever, see Airfix, Heller, Tamiya, Trumpeter,... using bikini-clad women to sell their products in magazines (or elsewhere).

Now I wonder what they will come up with to advertise their PE sets which I've never been able to fit properly into the kits they were designed for..!? Grubby, hairy men with loose and stained underwear???

Well, Drew-perhaps a scantilly clad astronaut would help! ;-)

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 So, do you think having ads like the ones Eduard is putting in mags will make more women want to give it a go? Sorry, but those 'Tight Fit' ads stink of the 'chauvinistic pig hobby' syndrome... So I do think it is a big deal. It's about respect.

I'll ask you directly, in a friendly manner: do you think an ad with a model in tight clothing is more offensive to women than all the ads with military hardware and figures showing wounds?

I personally had a lot more explaining to do to my wife, when we first started dating, about why I model military planes, than anything having to do with scantilly clad females.

She was afraid I was some sort of a war monger until she got to know me better.

I think there are much bigger issues than one set of advertisements from Eduard.

For instance, my wife is enthralled by anything having to do with space exploration. When we go to the Air and Space Museum, she loves the space stuff but gets bored with the WWI stuff ( I like it all!). She would be more likely to model a Mercury or Apollo capsule than a plane of any kind.

But when was the last time a real space model was featured in a modeling mag? I remeber a few covers of FSM, but the majority of articles are warplanes and tanks. And who can blame FSM? That's what modelers want to see.

My point is that the Eduard ads are a symptom of the state of the hobby, not the cause.

We have some women modelers who post here. I wonder what they think?

Regards,