I think it's a good idea, but care must be taken. I have bought Revell/Monogram kits that were clearly marked "Made in China"

Didn't Monogram move to Mexico?

The first thing that Hornby did when they took over Airfix was to move production to China.

"Bluntly, if we hadn't made that move, the Hornby business would be bust by now," says Mr Martin.

"All of our competitors were already manufacturing in China, and basically you can't compete with the lower labour rates that are available there."

How's about altering the original request to;

"Kit manufactured by companies NOT based in the Far East" - similar thing & gets get round the whole "but that kit is popped in such & such a country" argument? 

I'm all about pride in country and where I get my stuff...but the argument stands:  Why does it matter?  My last 2 models were made in Russia (ICM) and Czech Republic (Eduard)...Why exclude China and Japan?

YES! I see the idea is gaining momentum, just thought supporting companies that are not based in the far east would be a good idea. Russian and Czech Republic are acceptable. Someone with knowlage of all companies not based there is welcome to take this over. If not I will let it rest as we all love our latest DML, Tamiya and Trumpiter kits so much. Origional hope was that England, Canada and USA still had kits produced within their borders...you know support our industries and jobs?

 Can't argue that small hands = small wages.and hence price$

OK! I found a candidate, nothing to large (but price) or complicated. It does require some test fitting, assembly with Cyranoacrylate glue and paint. Which by definition IS a model kit, given the nature of skills involved a advanced one at that.  Oh its also 100% sculpted, produced and assembled in Canada! Somewhere in your stash should be some kits that can be built to get this rare badge! Big or small lets build em' all!

Yes there are many smaller companies that design and produce their product strictly in the country of their origin and outside the Far East, but most are like this one you show-they qualify as aftermarket or limited run. Nearly all the major model companies are either based in the Far East, or are international in that while home based in whatever country for the office side of the business, have their kits manufactured in a less expensive country.

Excellent idea for a group build!

I was raised to NEVER buy an import car. My father told me if I ever came home with one, I had to park it in the street, lol. That being said I always buy domestic vehicles. Now, I am very much "into" the car scene, and I am fully aware that even the "Big 3" have a large majority of their components produced outside of the USA, not to mention final assembly plants.  However, the labor involved in producing goods is not the only expenditure the company has. There are decision makes in the company (management, executive), HR people, accountants, customer service, etc, etc. Most of these people are employed here (USA). The same thing can be applied to a domestic model company that has a factory in China. A much larger portion of the money coming from the purchase of a domestic kit will go into the pockets of a domestic person, that if you bought a kit from Tamiya.

Would that include Academy?

After all you said China and Japan....

You didn't say anything about South Korea.

Ok, I'll go stand in the corner and shut up now

joelster, thanks for the encouragement!

Gamera, last I checked Korea was in the 'far east'

My little tank crew is not considered big kit, yet is all I have in stash right now thats close to the criteria set fourth. I do have kits from Hobby Craft and vintage offerings from Revell / Monogram when USA was on the lable. They are 3000 miles from Graceland er, back in Alberta. Untill me and my full stash of kits are reunited look forward to exciteing WIP's of the American tank crew, produced by Ultra Cast and made in Canada!

'Red, white and YOU' needs a cool badge and more ideas for suitable kits, aftermarket welcome! I do have idea for 'A Proud Canadian' badge. Will wait and see what else finds this group build first.

sh3tch, You are on the right track or kits!

ICM and Edward welcome. The point is to exclude all kits from the far east while supporting smaller manufactures that need recognition. My stash at home is 60% DML, 20% Tamiya, 5% Trumpiter and 15% others.  

Oh one more... the 1/35 Ultracast tank crew will become ground crew for my 1/32 Trumpiter P-51 by adding Ultracast heads with 1940's hair styles. Tanker heads will be saved for... Sherman crew?  

Supressionfire- I was joking.

Sorry

Guys if I can be serious-

Reaper makes a nice line of figures out of a factory in Texas. Most of them are gaming figures (28-32mm) but they also do a great though limited line of 90mm ones. And at about $20.00 US dollars they're around a third the price of the Andrea 90mm figures.

www.reapermini.com

Sorry I misspoke when I said 90mm. The line is 54mm, still a bit larger than 32mm-1/35 though.

http://www.reapermini.com/OnlineStore/MasterSeriesMiniatures/sku-down

Ok, what exactly is the point of this GB?

As pointed out by others, the plastic industry is certainly part of a global economy.  This GB appears to have overtones of economic isolationism, which is exactly what's not needed right now.

Further, when companies from the Far East are excluded but Russia and Czech Republic are okay, this smacks of xenophobia.

Again, what exactly is the point of this GB?

Arki, I think part of it (from a non american point of view, uh, whats patriotism?) is what we can create with the so called 'major' brands ie tamiya, hasegawa etc. I think It would be more fun to do a model olympics, sign up to a country/model brand if you wanted the patriotism thing.

Andrew

As an aside I have

RoG

Revell

Amt/ertl

Italeri

Airfix

for european/american companies in my stash

Andrew

PS down heres its Green and Gold MATE

0 0 0

Why are you trying to start a GB that excludes kits produced in Asia? You specify that you are trying to create more interest in domestic manufacturers, but that includes England, Canada and USA, and then add in Russia, and Czech Republic. So domestic means anything but Asian?

A GB like this could sound bigoted or racist to someone trying to figure out the logic behind this GB. 

Indeed kenjitak,

Like the 'big three' domestic auto manufactures I seen a parallel to there being a 'big three' group of manufactures of model kits based in Asia. My stash is full of DML, Tamiya, and a few from Trumpiter. So obviously I am not 'bigoted or racist' Just thought some support for the smaller companies NOT based in the far east would be good. Kind of a 'buy local' mentality if you will.

Its Official! One more signed up a domestic figure kit. Deadline is October 31 2010

To be considered a kit  figures can be of any material includeing metal, resin or plastic. Require some clean-up, assembly and of course paint.

Anyone with mad computer skills is welcome to help, still need a cool badge and how do you get more text on the first post? Would like to add all modelers who signed up there.

SupressionFire ~ Ultracast resin tank crew

Gamera ~ Reaper figure(s) perhapse Sasquatch?

Konigwolf13 ~ Andrew...TBA?

Thanks for the replies, looking forward to seeing everyones work! ~ Jason

Guys, I don't think there was any intention to exclude, insult, or offend anyone. I'm sorry if anyone took it that way. But when I look at my stash probably 90% of my kits were made in China, Korea, or Japan. I certainly have nothing against these fine nations or why would I be using a giant Japanese turtle as my avatar?

I'm a big supporter of free trade. And I know the US, Canada, the UK, and western Europe as well have all switched over to a service based economy and away from a production based one. But still it just seems to me that there ought to be at least something- anything produced in the west these days.

So please don't take this as a swipe at Asia or anyone who lives in the far east. God knows I've bought plenty of their kits and will buy plenty more. 

I won't speak for SuppressionFire but I like the idea of a model olympics.

SuppressionFire: please put me down for a Reaper figure but I've pulled out and started work on- Maria Roseblade - a 54mm lady pirate figure.

Gamera, thanks for the enlightment. I couldn't have said it better myself, well if I did include spelling errors

Now for some promised WIP's! Self explanitory and I choose Red Oxide primer as base coat in case there is bleed through on the face or hands. Not likely as all my washers over enamel are arcylic, the blending of enamels is where primer may creep through. Both figures have been modified slightly, the mechanic's arm is repositioned and the smokers cig. was removed and a hole drilled as I like to roll my own. Enjoy!

I think some of the issues being brought  up are getting a bit extremist. We all have our fair share of kits in our stash that were produced in the far east. Those companies already have their money, so I doubt they really care where we build them.

BTW, where are Roden kits manufactured?

SupressionFire

Somewhere in your stash should be some kits that can be built to get this rare badge! Big or small lets build em' all!

 

ruddratt ~ Great quote form 'Kelly's heros' Pure gold. I am the last person to have word on where kits are from, just look at my first post! Doh

Eric ~ Yes I agree yet due to circumstances and distance from a decent hobby shop I happened to find the Canadian manufactured tank crew in one of many hobby supply boxes I brought here.

*Have ordered Tamiya's new Spitfire IX in glorious 1/32 scale. Found a picture of one post war in Canada doing public relations visits, all alunimum, no paint and marked of course 'PR'

Looking forward to more people signing up! Like posted before I need help! Would like to add to first post all entrys, a badge would be great ect. So anyone with strong computer kung-foo please help this group build!

Thanks

Jason

Sorry, I can not join. I am Dutch and the Netherlands has no domestic model companies to support.

It is my impression that the posted requirement would limit the production of the kit to no later than the mid- 1980s.