What is the future of plastic models?

     The reason no one makes models out of eco-friendly materials is because it's expensive.  Invariably, making ANYTHING eco-friendly is going to be more expensive.   Being green might give you a warm fuzzy feeling, but if you are in the business of making model kits, it ain't gonna fill your wallet, or pay your employees.   As soon as it becomes cheaper to make kits out of soy or other recycled plastics or fairy dust or whatever, and as soon as you can do that with as good or better quality, is when you'll see manufacturers start doing it.

 

   In the meantime, I'll just stick to recycling my cans and plastic and paper and cardboard, since even THAT isn't mainstream yet.  At least I"m doing something.  It's kinda like having a quarter pounder for lunch, and a salad for dinner.  It all balances out.  That's my philosophy, anyway.

 

  Chris

PontiacRich wrote:

Hi folks - Recently I was having a "discussion" with my wife (she'd say lecturing) regarding the need to maximize our recycling efforts, she turned to me and said "This from the man that has a basement full of plastic models!" I was stumped for a second then I quickly responded "Well, see I'm taking plastic out of the landfills by buying these [mostly old] kits".  It worked for the moment, but it did start me thinking . Conservatively, there are thousands of styrene plastic models for sale on ebay and other auction sites and thousands more are procuced every year.  Styrene plastic being a petroleum derivative contributes to the use of an ever dwindling resource with global weather and waste consequences. Is the industry as a whole doing anything to remove petroleum from the plastic equation?  I know some inks and paints are being produced using "greener" oil sources such as soy and other plant derived oils, has anyone heard of any such efforts from the styrene industry and is there any mechanism available to make suggestions to the industry?  Just trying to do my part !

I hate to come off a little strong but if you are that "Worried" then stop buying models that way you are doing your part. To me I have other things to worry about like keeping a job and paying the bills during these rough times. Sorry just my opinion.

Mans first forrays into the field of polymer chemistry,where compounds from biological sources, shellac and celulose re; cellophane from wood pulp and the former from the carapace of a bug with a 30 year life cycle called the lac,(don't laugh it's true!).  So I suppose there are alternatives. As for the bigger question, if crude oil goes by the way of it's benefactors then nearly all industry and branches of material science stop.  And so goes our economy and way of life, our hobby nearly irrelavent now, would wither in light of such questions as,"Where did all the hot dogs go?", "How come my car won't start?" and "Does anyone have some pampers?".  And when that day comes we'll wish that the Mayans had got the 12-21-2012 thing right.  Still there is some merit to that suggestion about buying a balsa kit.