bashing kits and their companies

[quote user="Manstein's revenge"]

[quote user="Bish"]

Just because we are only gluing pieces of plastic together shouldn't mean we should pipe up when something is in correct.

[/quote...]"should" or "shouldn't" ?

[/quote]

taking English lessons from a Yank how embarrassing

Reasoned

 

Manstein's revenge:

 

 

HawkeyeHobbies:

...fewer and fewer are taking up those so called opportunities and the challenges that come with them.

 

Do you have any data that backs that up?  From my point of view I've never seen so many companies competing for our modeling dollar...

 

 

 

Could it be that some of the perceived void in model company presence is due to the global economic situation?

I would agree.  Hobby companies supply to a somewhat niche market.  While the members of this forum are all in support of modelling we don't represent the mass majority.  Just look at the wide variety of hobby shops available in each city.  As we often discuss the shrinking supply of kits in michaels and hobby lobby, closure of another LHS or that places like Walmart don't even stock crap kits to spark interest in kids.

It's all economics.

If a company closes or goes into hiatus yes it's never good and does send that ripple through the industry but I'd be interested to see any proof that it's over a temper tantrum.

[quote user="Bish"]

Just because we are only glueing pieces of plastic together shouldn't mean we should pipe up when something is in correct.

[/quote...]"should" or "shouldn't" ?

I am sure many of us know one company at least doesn't like anything negative. Recall the problems PMMS had a while back which almost shut it down. Just because we are only glueing pieces of plastic together doesn't mean we shouldn't pipe up when something is incorrect.

Reasoned

Manstein's revenge:

HawkeyeHobbies:

...fewer and fewer are taking up those so called opportunities and the challenges that come with them.

 

Do you have any data that backs that up?  From my point of view I've never seen so many companies competing for our modeling dollar...

 

Could it be that some of the perceived void in model company presence is due to the global economic situation?

Manstein's revenge

HawkeyeHobbies:

...fewer and fewer are taking up those so called opportunities and the challenges that come with them.

 

Do you have any data that backs that up?  From my point of view I've never seen so many companies competing for our modeling dollar...

Could it be that some of the perceived void in model company presence is due to the global economic situation?

TarnShip

I would just about "bet the stash" that right about now Fujimi wishes they had posted a ruler up next to their latest F-15 kit, before they cut metal and released the kits

I don't remember the scale it turned out to actually be,,,,,,,,but,,,,,,when an "in-scale" kit gets put over the top of your new parts, and your's sticks out a bunch on all sides,,,,,that has got to be awkward, at the very least

It looks to be perfect in proportion, just too big all around

And yes, it is getting negative comments,,,,,mostly because it won't sit on the shelf next to any other Eagle and be in the same scale

I would just about "bet the stash" that right about now Fujimi wishes they had posted a ruler up next to their latest F-15 kit, before they cut metal and released the kits

I don't remember the scale it turned out to actually be,,,,,,,,but,,,,,,when an "in-scale" kit gets put over the top of your new parts, and your's sticks out a bunch on all sides,,,,,that has got to be awkward, at the very least

It looks to be perfect in proportion, just too big all around

And yes, it is getting negative comments,,,,,mostly because it won't sit on the shelf next to any other Eagle and be in the same scale

HawkeyeHobbies

...fewer and fewer are taking up those so called opportunities and the challenges that come with them.

Yep, it sure does put a "shudder in my shoulders" if this would ever become a "reality"-based piece of news...

Yep, model kit producers are in the biz to make money, but I do not think any are so arrogant to believe they can foist off a POS and call it good.  Like any other business, it is a balance of factors that will make up the product and it is up to us as rational, informed consumers to make the choice.  If a company continues to produce garbage, and arrogantly does not listen to consumer feedback, then yes, that company probably deserves to twist in the wind.  However I would bet 99.9999% of the companies still on the scene are not like that.  Again, just my humble...

The piece I wrote was to make one think about this very thing happening and what impact it would have on this hobby and the reasons for the departure of a company or companies from the market. If this scenario actually did happen can you imagine the real shock and awe it would produce? I can imagine the conversations on the various forums!

There are model companies currently that have gone into a self imposed hiatus, others have closed their doors with no explanation (publicly) and there are those who simply failed as a business. When these do happen it sends a ripple through the hobby, on both sides of the counter...consumer and retailer.

It is probably true that a small cottage mfr producing esoteric subjects won't shake up the entire industry, but it does send a ripple a small ripple but one none the less.

Sure it gives someone else an opportunity, but fewer and fewer are taking up those so called opportunities and the challenges that come with them.

We've all probably experienced using a product that once gone from the market and we really missed having it. Even those who stepped up to replace it with something else, well it just wasn't the same as the original.

You can push and demand a mfr improve their products quality, but don't be surprised that what they are doing is just all that they are capable of, or its what they are willing to do because it is their niche in the market.

If a product doesn't meet your standards, then express how they are not. But before you do, have first hand knowledge, not just speculation. I've read where some have judged a kit based on the box art!

I thought the whole purpose of showing the CAD was to get feedback so that a company could correct any errors before they cut metal

Also, an "in the box review" would have saved me $46 on two model kits a while back, just a look at the sprues would have been enough to see that the kits I wanted were just scaled down from the two larger scales, with none of the shape issues addressed (that was the very last time I will be an "early customer", from now on, I will wait and read)

If a company foists a "blue Sabre shaped thing" off as a Fury, I would like to know it before I give them $30 for a kit ,,,,,it might "look like a Fury" to some guy on the internet,,,,,but, it is supposed to look like a Fury to everyone that sees it,,,,,not just the guys that think a Fury is just a Blue or Gray Sabre (In the Fury's case, I very well know that *I* couldn't get away with trying to pass off a Blue Sabre as a Fury, as a modeler,,,,,maybe we should try not to have a company foist the same off on the customer?)

Complaining about products from manufacturers in any segment of industry (auto, electronics, etc...) is common practice and helps to keep them honest and in conformance to what the customer wants and expects for his hard earned money...if a manufacturer doesn't have thick enough skin to take the opinions of their customers they need to get out of the game...Anyways, I frankly belive that the "editorial" is more of one overly-sensitive modeler's opinion more than the industrys' perception of such things...they are interested in making money, period...

I doubt in reality that a company would change their focus because their feelings were hurt.  It's all money driven, so if sales were down that's one thing, but that's like saying Ford would give up on the auto industry because of bad reviews.

I get the point about complaining before the kit comes out, but companies have to realize that if you're charging $50 for plastic I have to put together I do expect it to be good.

Interesting fiction.

I'm in agreement with Hawkeye's editorial...there seems to be more "bashin'and bitchin'" on certain kits before they are released.  Basing your sum total of whether you would buy a kit based on one pre-pre-pre production CAD drawing is, frankly, kind of dumb. 

"In-Box" reviews are not all bad...I like to see the "plastic on the sprue", the decals, any etch or resin bits (etc); that said I will not make my buying decision solely based on that kind of review.  My buying decision will be based on a full-build review in the model press (print or electronic), combined with any feedback modelers I respect and know ....and of course, is the subject and scale something I'm interested in at a price I can afford.  Just my humble opine....

Tamiya, Dragon, Revell

Or you could read the article and find out the truth.

tigerman

I wonder who the 3 are? Why won't they say? My guess is they are little players in the field.

 

i was thinking the same. well, i guess they will make more $$ producing for the auto industry. 

OMG, are you serious?  I blush for the guy who wrote that pathetic little piece of pandering fiction...another one of those people who think we should be grateful there are companies willing to sell products and make a buck off of plastic model consumers...If any company ever really does feel like throwing a tantrum and decides not to make a buck from us, good riddance...

Read the whole article and the comments.

I understand where it is coming from and I too do not like the "in the box" reviews. I always try to find an actual reviewer who built the kit.

I wonder who the 3 are? Why won't they say? My guess is they are little players in the field.