Hobbico Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

I think you make a good point there Fermis, it's what we got started with. My son is starting to get into the hobby and he's getting his start with Revellogram kits. I read a lot about people complaining about the hobby dying, but what do they think will happen if there are no beginner's kits? I show my son a Monogram 1/48 SBD Dauntless he's excited because it looks like something he could build,but if I show him an Eduard 1/48 Fw190A-8 and his interest drops because of all the small parts and confusing directions. Those old Revellogram kits still have a relevant place in the hobby today, even if they aren't relevant for an individual person. Plus, I really like the old Revellogram kits...

Retired In Kalifornia

 

 

MJames70

It does make one question the state of the hobby in general, at least in the Western world. While things seem to be chugging along okay in the Far East/Asia, much less so once you hit Western Europe and the US. 

Hornby, owner of Airfix, Humbrol, and many other brands, is in serious trouble in the UK. In many ways Hornby is a UK analouge of Hobbico. Airfix just announced their 2018 releases - a grand total of three new tools. one of them a revision of a last year release (Phantom). All airplanes, too. Zippo if you're a ship, armor, car, scifi, or figure modeler. Not good times there. 

Besides the Hobbico news, Testors has been serious decline in the US as well, dropping product lines and colors, after years of buying up the competition. They have been probably hurt by the rise of 'micro' brands of paint that seem to be everywhere these days. But their response seems to be to just give up, or a general disinterest in the hobby market these days, when they used to be a category leader.

Regardless, it is interesting, if not good, times. 

 

 

 

 

Enamels are what I use, know they'll be out of production at some point. Am praying daily I'll still be able to get them till quit the hobby which don't expect to till I complete all my Regia Aeronautica Italia builds hopefully by 2020 at the earliest.

 

 

Actually it is environmental laws that are doing in the enamel paints driven in large part by the enviro-nuts in California.  They can't be shipped in the mail or UPS, etc which most hobby stuff is bought online rather in hobby stores, so they can only be shipped to stores with plenty of red tape.

Enamel paint is bad for the enviroment. It is not "nuts" that are calling for them to be banned, It's people with common sense and a concience toward the planet. They will be unavailable comeletely soon, and for just cause. The times they are a changing friend, get on board.

From Revell USA on my Twitter feed:

We want to thank you for your concern regarding the recent news of Hobbico's chapter 11 filing. Revell will continue to run business as usual and continue to provide best in class model kits. We appreciate your support. Please stay tuned for the latest new product releases.

Murphy's Law

From Revell USA on my Twitter feed:

We want to thank you for your concern regarding the recent news of Hobbico's chapter 11 filing. Revell will continue to run business as usual and continue to provide best in class model kits. We appreciate your support. Please stay tuned for the latest new product releases.

 

 

Typical spin doctoring from companies in trouble and their PR flacks. For what little it's worth, Revell Germany had a very similar statement on its Facebook page today. And it was just as vapid and empty. All it amounts to is 'Everything is fine! Please ignore the elephant in the room. Look, over there - Squirrel!'

modelmaker66

Enamel paint is bad for the enviroment. It is not "nuts" that are calling for them to be banned, It's people with common sense and a concience toward the planet. They will be unavailable comeletely soon, and for just cause. The times they are a changing friend, get on board.

 

 

And who to say lacquer isn't?  There's still enamel paints out there in all forms - rattle cans, etc... Let's not forget about the other forms of paint products - varnish, polyurethene, latex, etc... 

In all honesty, just how bad or harmful are they for the environment of all those small bottles of hobby enamel paints really are? Disposal of empty bottles? Easy, just take them to Waste Management where they know how to dispose of them properly. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for protecting the environment. But eliminating enamel hobby paint line is a bit of an overkill.

Hmm I have no problem ordering enamels through the mail or ups.

They can be disposed of by opening the jar and letting them get hard.

 

 

Some folks know better than the rest of us Blacksheep. And they will keep telling us that they do until we all live just like them under their rules. 

Truly sorry to hear this news. My stash is stacked with Revell/Monogram. Always found them better value for money than Tamiya. Time to circle the wagons, take inventory, and stock up while you can. On a side note, an Australian manufacturer of side-cast fishing reels (Alvey) announced its closure after 90 years in production. The resulting flood in orders from people trying to get in before the closure has given them somewhat of a new lease of life.

GMorrison

Hmm I have no problem ordering enamels through the mail or ups.

They can be disposed of by opening the jar and letting them get hard.

 

 

 

 

Same here. Never an issue having enamels shipped via Postal Service. However, they cannot be shipped via air. 

I have ordered lacquer paint from Japan BUT.... they are shipped by boat, not airmail.

Outside of the subject but did you know the FAA forbids lithium batteries shipped in cargo holds?

Watch and see why:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kd0EzQaEiZQ

The only thing constant in this world is change.  Ask the dinosaurs.

I love enamels, and will continue to use them as long as they are available.  I have used them all my (long) life.  I will be 80 in a few months, and believe I am not too old to learn.

So, I bought a bottle of Vallejo's acrylic metallizer, and tried it to compare it to my normal Alclad.  Worked okay- probably take a few more models to get it to where my Alclad work is, but I will try again.  I am starting to use other acrylics more, just to be ready for the enamel/lacquer apocalypse.

 

Gerg

 

 

Despite the "red tape" and bothersome "environmental laws" and folks who don't care to have children with birth defects, California has the 6th largest economy in the world. Interesting huh?

 

 

All is not “milk and honey“ here in CA... let’s just say that when I retire in a bit over 2 years, it’s time to leave. The writing is on the wall for those who care to look and read it. This place is a shadow of what it was 30 years ago. Or 50... I keep seeing plenty of great companies and their jobs relocate to other states. 

As far as enamels go, I’ve been using them for nearly 50 years now with no ill health effects. And none of my kids had birth defects. 

 

Likewise... my family has been in this state for generations as well... late 1800’s at least... but the lunatics are running the asylum now. Sacramento does not need my tax dollars to further it. And my pension will go farther elsewhere. 

My daughter needs to pay for her own health care (with help from dad). Covered California is year round enrollment.

Property tax deduction will be upheld.

State will never go bankrupt.

But first and foremost, it's a beautiful and fullfilling place to live.

I've been all over the world. people say "where are you from?". 

"USA".

"Where in USA?".

"California".

"Oh, we went there. Great place".

DO you know that California's Constitution was bilingual? Why?

Well, first of all Spanish speaking people owned most of it until they got screwed in the courts, but also because the State took a position against slavery.

As a first generation CA native, I love my State like no other place on earth.

We have far more red counties than blue counties, but we have an incredibly diverse population.

The armed forces in the Pacific pass through here. Many return and never go farther.

California contributes more service personnel than any other state, respect offered to Texas as well.

 

GMorrison

My daughter needs to pay for her own health care (with help from dad). Covered California is year round enrollment.

Property tax deduction will be upheld.

State will never go bankrupt.

But first and foremost, it's a beautiful and fullfilling place to live.

I've been all over the world. people say "where are you from?". 

"USA".

"Where in USA?".

"California".

"Oh, we went there. Great place".

DO you know that California's Constitution was bilingual? Why?

Well, first of all Spanish speaking people owned most of it until they got screwed in the courts, but also because the State took a position against slavery.

As a first generation CA native, I love my State like no other place on earth.

We have far more red counties than blue counties, but we have an incredibly diverse population.

The armed forces in the Pacific pass through here. Many return and never go farther.

California contributes more service personnel than any other state, respect offered to Texas as well.

 

 

Yes it is a wonderful place geographically... and the flora and fauna... the population, not so much... I do love the place as well.... 

as far as the red & blue aspects, well the numbers of people vs counties are the reason Sacramento is as it is now.

the armed forces do not pass thru here as much as they used to. Washington is the gateway to wherever now from the West Coast for the Army, Air Force, and a good portion of the Pacific Fleet. Only the Marines remain constant in their start and finish from here. But from fewer locations. Aside from training at Ft Irwin and in central California, the Regular Army is all but gone from here. Most of the Air Force is gone too. The Navy and Marine Corps footprint is much reduced as well. The Guard and reserves outnumber Regular forces in the state.

 

Plan to die here.

On the phone now with the kid.

I think the single biggest issue we have is health care.

Anyhow, life seems to be the ball in pinball these days.

Well, California NG would swat you ll aside to get to the rail yards in Roseville.

 

GMorrison

Plan to die here.

On the phone now with the kid.

I think the single biggest issue we have is health care.

Anyhow, life seems to be the ball in pinball these days.

 

I used to think that I would stay here the rest of my days as well. 

Health Care in CA is less of a problem than cost of living and taxes. 1/3 of my check goes to taxes. I mentioned that in Florida to some locals there and they were aghast. No income tax in that state. Their revenue comes from sales tax, property tax, and business taxes. And businesses are moving there.

Affordable places to live anywhere outside of a 1-2 hour commute each way is another big one...

and with Prop 47, Prop 64, and AB 109, crime will be back to where it was in the 70’s & 80’s prior to three strikes. Mark my words. Many felonies were downgraded to misdemeanors so that the bad guys can’t be kept in jail anymore. It’s catch and release revolving doors. The stats are skewed now because what was reported as a certain classification of crime no longer is. Magically it went away! The last few cop killers in this area should have still been in prison when they killed the officers, but were released under AB 109. I’m sure many citizens have suffered the same fate as well. These trends will not change until something does bigtime in Sacramento.