Only 2 new model kits from Revell the last 2 months in a row?

MJames70

Sounds pretty dire from the article. It seems this auction coming up is expecting to only raise a tiny fraction of the debt they owe. More like a fire sale/going out of business deal. Some have mentioned the Revell/Monogram molds are likely to survive. I would say that is likely, but I doubt any current European or Asian kit manufacturer would be that interested in picking up a back catalog of items that are frankly, mostly quite elderly. I think the best we can hope for is that someone like Round2 Models acquires as much of it as they can. I don't know if they have that kind of money to burn, but hopefully someone that can run a similar business models does - respect for nostalgia, and some reasonable improvements to the kits when reissued, like new decals, etc.

 

There is a review today in the ships forum of the new mold 1:72 Revell PT-boat.  Not sure if I will build it or not, but it does look like a nice kit.  Love the full-color instruction booklet!  Hope they do that on any new kits (sure hope there will be some new kits).

I would suspect an Asian company to scarf it up, if nothing else to lock it up and eliminate somecompetion, but maybe keep the car line as an addition to what they make.

The destruction date of Hobbico has been set according to this article:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-03-13/hobbico-hopes-find-buyer-auction-set-march-26.html

I could swear that I see some of the new smaller scale kits for closer to $10 than $20. The new Airfix 1/48 stuff is coming in at around $25. Eduard’s Weekend Edition kits in 1/72 are around $15 for the single seater stuff. And probably the best entry level aircraft kits out there that I’ve come across, by Pegasus, 1/48 single seaters, start at a bit over $10. 

Rob Gronovius

Revell tried foil bagged star wars kits for around $5, but right now, you can't touch a "real" model kit in a retail store for under $20.

The new Airfix Wildcat comes in under 20USD.   While some quarter-scale afficionados would say that a 1:72 scale aircraft model isn't 'real',  I think it qualifies.  So too the Airfix Stuka.   Look at some of the Airfix beginner kits;  kit, glue, acrylic paint, brushes.  Less than 20USD; VW Beetle, Zero, Tomahawk, Tornado, Spitfire, etc.   Shows it can be done.   The company boards of directors need to take a longer view for the ROI.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors need to look at some of these instead of the video game.   I gave a friend's grandson one of the Revell Starwars snaps.  He built it - by himself - even though he was younger than the recommended age on the box

Wilbur Wright

 

Kids no longer model and grow into the hobby like we did in the 50's 60's 70's.  Modelling is pretty big in Europe however and Revell DE is there.

 

When I was a kid (born in '64), you could get small 1/72 scale Monorgram or Revell planes for a dollar and change. I remember the Aurora preshistoric scenes kits were a whopping $5. Even the 5 and dime had Airfix bagged kits for under a dollar.

Revell tried foil bagged star wars kits for around $5, but right now, you can't touch a "real" model kit in a retail store for under $20.

Hobbico's assets set for auction on the 26th of March.   Get your financial package together

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2018-03-13/hobbico-hopes-find-buyer-auction-set-march-26.html

Dragon kits help keep my spares bin full for those scratch built mods or conversions that I plan and occasionally actually do... 

goldhammer

 

 

stikpusher

It may be cheaper to make things in China, but Revell Germany and Airfix tend to put out new tool kits that cost significantly less than comparable kits by Asian companies. 

 

 

 

 

Have to wonder a little how much pricing is due to $ vs. other currencies.

Or....the RoG kits tend to have fewer parts vs. the 9 million in late issue Japanese and Chinese kits, and the theory that "we can charge more because of the parts count and the extra tooling we had to make to do it.....or "how much can we charge and still move product"

 

stikpusher

It may be cheaper to make things in China, but Revell Germany and Airfix tend to put out new tool kits that cost significantly less than comparable kits by Asian companies. 

 

Have to wonder a little how much pricing is due to $ vs. other currencies.

Or....the RoG kits tend to have fewer parts vs. the 9 million in late issue Japanese and Chinese kits, and the theory that "we can charge more because of the parts count and the extra tooling we had to make to do it.....or "how much can we charge and still move product"

It may be cheaper to make things in China, but Revell Germany and Airfix tend to put out new tool kits that cost significantly less than comparable kits by Asian companies. 

I wrote to Revell and suggested they do another run of the big 1/48th B-1B because it is in the news with the North Korea situation and they said it was a good idea.  We'll see.

I built the Revell 1/32 Spitfire latest version and it was a new mold kit and literally $100 dollars cheaper than the Tamiya alternative.

However there was a major problem with a run on their 1/48th PBY canopies that were in large part unusable for a kit selling for near $100 dollars.

 Fewer people are modelling overall. But those that are,  are spending more money.

Kids no longer model and grow into the hobby like we did in the 50's 60's 70's.  Modelling is pretty big in Europe however and Revell DE is there.

The economics is interesting.  Fewer people spending more money.  With all the companies like MIG and AK, and Takom, Meng sooner or later something has to give.

It's much cheaper to make things in China than it is in Europe.  That may have something to do with it.

stikpusher

Revell has concentrated more on cars and sci fi stuff than on their military scale models in new moldings. Plenty of Star Wars stuff, and recently Halo as well. Yes in 1/48 over the past few years the only real new kits released were the PV-1 and the Stearman, but obviously they are going to make new molds where the market is. 

 

As a kid Revell (old Revell) had some overly complicated cars with working hinges, chrome you had to attach to the body, etc. Monogram had what I though were better tooled cars with a one piece body and separate hood. Their 1/48 scale fighters and bombers were top notch.

Revell has concentrated more on cars and sci fi stuff than on their military scale models in new moldings. Plenty of Star Wars stuff, and recently Halo as well. Yes in 1/48 over the past few years the only real new kits released were the PV-1 and the Stearman, but obviously they are going to make new molds where the market is. 

New domestic eg., AMT, Revell, etc,  car kits are between $25 and $30.

jeffpez

I built the Kevin Harvick version and it's a great kit. The Patrick car is identical with different decals.

 

Thanks guys. I was given a very old Nascar kit in the 1990s (98-99?) and was interested in building it and was wondering if any of the newer ones are really new kits. Is $25ish the going rate for new Nascar kits? That's what the clearance one is priced at.

I built the Kevin Harvick version and it's a great kit. The Patrick car is identical with different decals.

My understanding is that Revell has new NASCAR kits, but not sure if the Patrick car is one of the new ones.  One of our club members who has built one of the new kits says it is good.

I've seen some new looking Nascar kits, like a Danica Patrick Aspen Dental 2017 car. Is this really a new kit or something older that has decals for her 2017 car?

modelmaker66

Revell have rarely come out with new molds themselves for years. They either rebox other companies kits under licence or just re release old kits with new decals and new box art. That's part of why Hobbico is going bankrupt. The other reason are all the loans that they have taken to stay afloat with the RC side. Eventually the loans must be paid. The economy was not friendly to them, the loan pipeline had dried up and they are out of operating capitol. No money for r and d or new toolings. Revell USA will maybe be sold to someone else but Hobbico was the 3rd or 4th owner of revel in the last 20 years. It's too bad.

 

You know nothing of what you talk about. In just the last few years Revell has done 2 early 70's For Broncos, new tooling, 2 versions of a 75 Ford Torino,  a Starsky and Hutch car and a almost stock 75, new tooling. Check your facts before you speak.

modelmaker66

Revell have rarely come out with new molds themselves for years. They either rebox other companies kits under licence or just re release old kits with new decals and new box art. That's part of why Hobbico is going bankrupt. The other reason are all the loans that they have taken to stay afloat with the RC side. Eventually the loans must be paid. The economy was not friendly to them, the loan pipeline had dried up and they are out of operating capitol. No money for r and d or new toolings. Revell USA will maybe be sold to someone else but Hobbico was the 3rd or 4th owner of revel in the last 20 years. It's too bad.

 

I have built several Revell kits in recent years that are new molds.

First was the Kurtiss Kraft Midget race car.  A lovely and super-detailed kit- it was a flop because of the subject matter.  No one else except a few of us old dirt trackers seem to like old racing cars.  Revell took a gamble and it didn't pay off.

The second and third were the two two versions of the PT-17 in 1:48.  These were exemplary kits, the equal to any from anywhere around the world.  Detail and fit were the best I have ever seen in Revell kits.  And at a bargain price!

Revell have rarely come out with new molds themselves for years. They either rebox other companies kits under licence or just re release old kits with new decals and new box art. That's part of why Hobbico is going bankrupt. The other reason are all the loans that they have taken to stay afloat with the RC side. Eventually the loans must be paid. The economy was not friendly to them, the loan pipeline had dried up and they are out of operating capitol. No money for r and d or new toolings. Revell USA will maybe be sold to someone else but Hobbico was the 3rd or 4th owner of revel in the last 20 years. It's too bad.

They are repops of old kits also so who know whats going to happen.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Hobbico is a supplier, not a company that owns Revell. The link mentions nothing about Revell or any model manufacturer.

If you look at Revell's website, the very bottom of the page says:

© 1995-2018 Revell Inc. A subsidiary of Hobbico, Inc.

I don't know what else is a subsidiary of Hobbico, but it is possible that Hobbico may sell its interest in Revell or other companies as part of the bankruptcy process.

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Hobbico is a supplier, not a company that owns Revell. The link mentions nothing about Revell or any model manufacturer. But I have seen starnger things happen.... 

I beg to differ.  From wiki ...

On May 2, 2007, Hobbico, Inc. announced it had acquired American Revell-Monogram, LLC, corporate owner of the Revell name (Dodson 2007). The Revell name now stands alone in the company logo, without the Monogram name also present, though Monogram still exists as an important line of models in the Revell stable. Hobbico also acquired Revell of Germany in 2012, reuniting the two brands under one banner, but often models sold in the U.S. show Revell Germany as the parent with Hobbico nowhere labeled.

On January 10th, 2018, Hobbico, Inc. ^[12] filed for bankruptcy protection. The future of Revell company is not clear at this moment.

Hobbico is a supplier, not a company that owns Revell. The link mentions nothing about Revell or any model manufacturer. But I have seen starnger things happen....