A visit with the folks at Revell

I'm wondering where the RoG kits are cast.  German labor and material costs mirror--if not exceed-those in the US.  Even the former DDR does not provide--any more--a 'cheap' labor force.

The other thing I have heard is that China outsources much of its production work--to Viet Nam.  This a sign of the growing affluence of China's middle class.

Don,

I am not saying that kits manufactured in other nations lack quality; on the contrary, there are few kits manufactured in the U.S. that can compete.  For example, the Gallery kit of the USS Intrepid and the new Merit International kit of the USS Yorktown are both outstanding kits from newer companies in China.  The RoG kits of 1/144 and 1/72 scales are also exquisite, as are their 1/350 Bismarck and Tirpitz.  But, the American manufacturers have released nothing comparable.  And, no new American companies are coming to the forefront to pick up the slack.

In other words, given that the most prolific manufacturers represent a nation involved in industrial and economic espionage, unfair business and labor practices, and civil rights violations. However,  our own industrial base offers few, if any, options.  We have no choice if we want to continue in this hobby. I simply would like to see Revell/Monogram and Lindbergh step up their game.

That said, I will continue to purchase high quality ship model kits wherever they are manufactured.

Bill

warshipguy

The author points out that ship modeling accounts for only 5% of Revell's business.  However, ship modeling is an exploding hobby with new kits and new companies being announced almost monthly.  Most of these companies that are producing new kits, as well as the new companies, seem to be mostly from China, a few Korean, and fewer still from Japan.  Revell of Germany produces new ships occasionally,  as does Italeri. Revell/Monogram USA rarely comes out with a new ship kit.

I would rather buy kits made in the USA if they were produced, especially over Chinese kits. Unfortunately, that is a very rare option.

Bill

I have built most of  the Revell Germany ship kits- they are outstanding.  Their Emden brought me several prizes.  I still have their ocean going tug in the bench queue.

It might return back here. I'm sure there are millions of folks working for sub-minimum wages in the fast food industry who would love to go to work at a clean well lighted plant where they could have regular hours, sit in a chair and do something interesting.

That's what I thought.

It's sobering to think that almost the entire industry depends on the availability of cheap labor in Asia. If some major change were to take place in American policy toward Asia, or if Asian workers were to start demanding reasonable wages (by Western standards), what would happen to the plastic kit industry?

jtilley

I wonder if any plastic kits are actually made in the USA any more. I doubt it. My impression is that almost all, if not all, of the actual molding is done in China and South Korea. Or does Zvezda mold its kits in Russia?

It depends on your definition of the word "made" or how strictly you adhere to it. some of the CAD is still done in the US, but I don't know of any real molding still being done.

I have seen quite a few Revell kits with the words " Manufactured in the USA" printed on the box; primarily car kits.

One kit ( ex-Monogram ) was molded in the USA but tires manufactured in China.

I bought the 1/96 Cutty Sark kit re-issue for a nostalgia build and noticed the figures were made in Poland.

I have seen some Revell kits with a molded in the USA on the box,  and also one from Poland of all places.

Great article with a good combination of info & nostalgia. The Black Widow was the first model I felt I built well, all those years ago. I may have to pick up another one to see how it looks today. The magazine itself looks very interesting - thanks for the link!

Miker

Nice article - albeit by a normal human being rather than a serious scale modeler.

It's nifty to see some of the human beings behind the scenes. It sounds like most of the decision makers in the company are genuine model enthusiasts. Thirty years ago I don't think that was the case. When I was working in a hobby shop, in the late seventies, Revell was run by the widow of one of the company's founders. I have the impression that her dumb marketing decisions (the , and utter ignorance of the scale modeling concept, almost destroyed the company.

It raises some questions that the author didn't address. Do those various sales figures (e.g., the tiny sales of ship models) include Revell Germany kits sold in the USA?

As of a few minutes ago, the Revell (USA) website listed 62 ship kits. All but six of them are labeled "Revell Germany." The six exceptions: a 1/25 "Hot Rod Hydroplane," the old Monogram 1/35 "UDT Boat with Frogmen," the 1/72 PT 109 (from 1963), the 1/426 Arizona (1958), the 1/96 Constitution (1965), the 1/196 Constitution (1956), and, of course, the 1/535 Missouri (which celebrated its sixtieth anniversary last year).

That web catalog is a little weird. Many of the ships listed as "Revell Germany" are old ones that originated in the U.S. in the fifties and sixties. (The Missouri is listed twice: once as "Revell Germany.") The "German"kits also include an ex-Monogram kit (the Swift boat) and several that started life under the Italeri and Zvezda labels.

I know nothing about that "Hot Rod Hydroplane," and I don't know the original release date of the Monogram "UDT Boat." But the other four "Revell USA" ship kits are at least fifty years old. The big Constitution (which is observing its fiftieth birthday this year) is, if I'm not mistaken, the most expensive kit in the Revell range. Certainly the most expensive that doesn't have a "Revell Germany" label attached to it.

If those six kits are only responsible for 5 percent of Revell's US business, I'm not surprised. But maybe the 5 percent includes the "German" kits. The article doesn't say.

I wonder if any plastic kits are actually made in the USA any more. I doubt it. My impression is that almost all, if not all, of the actual molding is done in China and South Korea. Or does Zvezda mold its kits in Russia?

That was a fun read, indeed. Informative, too.

Thanks, EG.

The author points out that ship modeling accounts for only 5% of Revell's business.  However, ship modeling is an exploding hobby with new kits and new companies being announced almost monthly.  Most of these companies that are producing new kits, as well as the new companies, seem to be mostly from China, a few Korean, and fewer still from Japan.  Revell of Germany produces new ships occasionally,  as does Italeri. Revell/Monogram USA rarely comes out with a new ship kit.

I would rather buy kits made in the USA if they were produced, especially over Chinese kits. Unfortunately, that is a very rare option.

Bill

Great article!  Here are my comments on art vs industrial production. It is in the design and layout of kits.  Some model companies, or even specific kits from a single company, are much better designed than others.

If there are plated parts, are the sprue attachment points in a spot on the part that is not prominently visible?  Are attempts made to place seams in less visible areas, or even covered?  Modern low-relief angle castings?  Decent instructions with accurate paint callouts?

I swear it seems like some mfgs put kits in production without trying to build kits.  Sounds nutty, but I swear I have worked on kits that absolutely cannot be put together the way instructions say.

BTW, Revell has put out some beautiful kits lately.  Their Stearman PT-17 is stunning, yet inexpensive. I am so glad they are going to kit variations of it.  Their KK midget race car was super!  Waiting to see the new Revell technology in a new ship kit.

Yes indeed! Although I gotta say he should hit some other IPMS meetings. 10 guys is just our set up and clean up ;)

Great article ,thanks for sharing