Trumpeter Discussion.

[:0]Boycotting not's the answer. I've heard about their F4F kit and I'm disappointed, but let's face it - overall Trumpeter's the best news we've heard in a long time. I have Trumpeter's USS Arizona, and for the money, it's a great kit. I also have their new USS Hornet, and its quality is right up there with Tamiya and Hasegawa. The way I see it, the company's growing (and learning) and there's bound to be some mistakes along the way. So far I've heard (and seen) a lot more good than bad about Trumpeter. Let's give 'em a fair shake before we start boycotting them!

I have purchased the Trumpeter Mustang and for the price this kit it is not focused on a younger building class. I see it presented to an older group ( 30+ ?) and if it is for an older class of builders then the company should listen to it's customers, even if it means a kit they put out is a dud, they sould pull it and learn from it's mistakes. I'm not a "rivet counter" but their Mustang did have some shabby engineering. It's not the idea that you could fix it, it's the cost of buying this kit only to have to do major surgery on it. If it was "close" to being presentable, adding more details which we all like it may not be so bad but to have to rework it so much to get it to the "starting " stage where a quality kit would begin stinks. The older class of modelers which is the majority of our hobby will spend alot of money on all the "bells and whistles" and if a company is targetting us then they should listen to us very carefully. How many times have we entered a hobby shop to see whats new only to see some kit that simply brings the thought of "why did they put that out "and cringe with disbelief of "who are they selling to?" 'Trumpeter has a golden opertunity to become one of the "Big Three". Tell them what you think.It can't hurt to be honest with them.

I agree on being honest with them so they can correct the mistakes BUT when you have people throwing insults at them and then threatening to boycott them thats going a little to far. They have made some very good kits and in my opinion the Mustang wasnt all that bad. The F4F kit was bad and I'm glad they pulled it for a re-tooling. That alone shows that they are trying to please the consumer. I dont care either way about the F4F because I have no interest in the plane but when they come out with the F4U Corsair in 1/32 I hope they do it right. If they dont then they will get a negative post from me because next to the Mustang and Hellcat the Corsair is my all time favorite fighter so lets hope Trumpeter does a good job on it. We will have to wait and see.

maybe someone will release one of those resin correction kits, and trumpeter might accept it and buy the rights and have a resin correction kit for those willing to pay... i wish

Here's a crazy idea:
Don't like a product?
Don't buy it!
Low sales influence a manufacturer more than any ranting or raving.
I can certainly understand the disappointment brought on by a substandard kit of a much anticipated subject and the frustration of building a poorly engineered kit, but like all products, we should check it out before we buy.
Of course, we should give companies constructive feedback on their products, and hopefully they will take heed.
But sales ultimately dictate what they'll do.
Boycotting the entire company because of a lemon kit or two may not be a good idea. The Trumpeter kits I've built (Challenger II, A-10) have been wonderful kits, and I'd like to see Trumpeter continue to challenge the market with nutty kits (1/32 Thud? 1/16 T-34? Come on!) that other manufacturer's wouldn't dare try.
Bottom line: buy what ya like!

Boycotting a model manufacturer's products simply because they messed up once or twice... rather pitiful, in my mind.

It's not surprising, though. Being a long-time "Hyperscaler" (and rec.modeler as well), I've learned to ignore these ignoramus types.

But I admit, it's kinda fun to read thru all their silly, nonsensical, totally bogus, sometimes irrelevant, self-centered and self-serving BS arguments! Through expressing their pitifully typical, predictable and unimaginative opinions and through their efforts to demonstrate their "superior knowledge" of things plastic and related, they truly show their lack thereof. it is, however, their right to do so.

My advice is this: Either ignore them, or sit back, read and laugh.

Also, remember this: Everyone looks at this hobby in a different light. For some it's simply a hobby and nothing more. I myself look at it as more than just a hobby. It's a passion. For some, it's their entire life. Not everyone will always see eye to eye, but...

I, once again, agree that there is no reason to call for a boycott of Trumpeter or any other manufacturer. Those who have suggested it are either joking, (humor is often overlooked and sometimes mis-identified in these forums!) or he is a real idiot and needs to catch a ride on the clue train.

Fade to Black...

I will NOT boycott Trumpeter! I am currently working on the Tu-95 "Bear" and it's a GREAT kit. Perfect? No, but the stuff that bothers me will be fixed because I'm competent enough to fix them. Same with their Tu-16 "Badger". The jet intakes are basically non-existent and you get some FOD covers in the kit to hide that. There's some resin intakes to fix that and I'll have 'em as soon as I can find
'em. I for one am extremely grateful to Trumpeter. I waited more years than I care to admit for that Bear and there's much more coming from them.

Trumpeter has every right NOT to re-tool that kit. They'll probably lose money on it because tooling is expensive and the kit won't sell well at all because the word is out. I expect their decision not to re-tool is based on the expense of doing so versus the number of kits they'd be likely to sell at $50+ a pop.
That's my rant, have a nice day...

I haven't built any of their kits yet, but can't wait to get my hands on a 32nd scale Thud!

Oboyoboyoboy!

You and me both!
Where the heck am I gonna put that huge thing?
Right next to my 1/32 Trumpeter Su-27, that's where!

Has anybody seen their 1:350 scale ships? They are magnificent. They are also putting out refreshing new kits, com'on guys how many 48th scale P-51's or 35th scale Tiger tanks do we need? Th company is new and really been pushing the envelope. It took someone who cares about quality to say oops and pull something back to make it good/correct

I'm looking forward to that 1/16 T-34/76 AND T-34/85 as well!!!
Bring 'em on!!!!

i think i should point out that i was reading on the web yesterday that Trumpeter is NOT recalling the kit (some of you seem to think otherwise). i believe there was the impression that they would but now they have stated they will not retool.
furthermore, Squadron's website now says they WILL NOT SELL the kit and the importer they were going to use WILL NOT IMPORT it !
(see: http://www.squadron.com/New.htm )
i do not know if there will turn out to be another US source for this kit or if those who are interested will have to buy it 'offshore' through the internet. greatmodels.com and other sites seem to still be taking pre-orders, but i don't know if they will be filled.
i recognize the reviewer's right to call it as he sees it w/ the kit.
(for the actual review, see :
http://kits.prohosting.com/f4f432previewbg_1.htm )
and i recognize Trumpeter's right to make their business decisions. Same for Squadron. And the importer. but this has gotten a little out of hand somewhere. it seems that the chance for the consumer (read model builder) to make a decision has been taken away.

to follow-up i found the link i was missing when i posted earlier.
this is an editorial on the topic:
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/news/article.asp?data=9593484872_~d_20030306_041208_~t_Editorial@058_Trumpeter@039s_unhappy_Wildcat_~a_Martin_Waligorski.xml

that looks funny, so if it does not work, try :
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org
the click on "Scale News" and look under March for the editorial on 'Trumpeter's Unhappy Wildcat"

Hi All,
Just a quick line to say that I got hold of the Trumpeter Wildcat and I have started building it. So far it has been very pleasant (inaccuracies and all!) Lots of cockpit detail, and the engine and undercarriage bay are superb. If this is a pointer to what they will be doing then we have a lot of quality bargain price modelling to look forward to. The pics will be on my club website soon, www.harrowmodellingsociety.co.uk
Bye for now Alan Bottoms.

I think its sort of funny. It just goes to show you...

Stop Bit***ing, be happy with what you got. If every reviewer wants to put out constant bad reviews about kits then that will mean just one thing. Fewer Kits for us. Half the fun is trying to fix them, :)

Well said that man!
Alan.

F105G,Su27, Dont forget the 1/35th Hind!!!!!!!

Whaz up,
So what if Trumpeter's Wildcat has a few inaccuracies, if you dont like it dont buy it.
I dont know about the rest of you here but I look forward to a/c that I actually have to use my "Modeling Skills".
After awhile it gets really boring really fast when you just add the glue,paint and decals to a "Tamiya" kit and shack up the box(meaning good fits) and TADA you have the model.
I'm looking forward to the Wildcat. BRING IT ON.....!!!!!
Flaps up,Mike