It seems to me like there is a big opportunity in the scale model market right now.
Almost no one is making construction equipment and vehicles. I believe there is a whole other hobby of collecting die-cast or pre-built models. But there is almost nothing for the plastic people.
I have almost no interest in building AFVs. And my interest in real-world military topics overall is declining.
Raphael, I agree with you about this being a market that’s been ignored by the model manufacturers. I believe that Hasegawa made a few kits of various heavy construction vehicles. I’d also like to see some farm equipment produced too.
I’ve got one of the Hasegawa kits. Looking back at older posts, it seems like this gap has been noticed time and again. I wonder why no one has done much with it. It seems like it would be a hit. And a company could do a kit to test the market.
Maybe once the 1/16th AFV craze has settled down…
It depends on what scale you want. There are quite a few loaders, mini-excavators, bulldozers, skid steers, dump trucks, and other construction equipment in 1/35.
I’d love to have a model of one of those asphalt eater/pavers. The ones here in Hawaii look like mechanical dinosaurs.
Hasegawa has done a bunch of construction vehicles and even some workers in 1/35. They also did a rice combine, which looks like a prototype apocalyptic zombie grinder!
Construction vehicles are interesting and typically have loads of detail that AFV guys should find appealing. Plus, the weathering opportunities are endless. The accountants in the model companies just have to see some profitability, and the corporate lawyers have to haggle the licensing fees down to something that does not look like highway robbery. Caterpillar, I’m looking at you.
Please don’t take this as argumentative or being ungrateful for the suggestions.
I stand by my assertion with a few qualiifications.
Setting aside airfield tractors and military-specific items and 3d printed resin here are the kits currently available according to scalemates.
In 1:25
Vehicles based on a truck chassis have some good representation from car kit makers. This makes sense.
AMT International Payhauler
(thanks @keavdog ! I didn’t know this kit existed. Added to my wish list.)
In 1:32
1.Fujimi has a mini-excavator.
In 1:35
Miniart has a Caterpiller D7.
Hasegawa has 7 base kits, each one having a few variants. (4 Hitachi, 2 Yanmar, 1 Tadano)
Gecko has several variants on the M400 skid steer.
It is entirely possible I missed some, but I think this is pretty accurate.
H O Scale
There are some kits available in H O scale. The look fairly simplistic, but I still want to check out a few.
There are also a few tractors available.
In my opinion, these “exceptions prove the rule.”
The fact that I can easily detail the construction vehicles current;y available proves that there is a large gap.
The list of reasons I want to get a 3D-printer continues to grow!
If I had the time, money, connections, etc. I would start a model company focused on plastic kits of construction vehicles/equipment. I know the market isn’t as large as that for planes or tanks, but I think a small company could do well.
My imaginary model company, Heavy Models*, will start with a crane and a large excavator.
The next releases will be a tractor and an off-road hauler.
Our crack legal team,–Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe--is negotiating licensing from Cat, Liebherr, and John Deere.
*- Name still being worked out. I also like Painted Yellow and HardHat.
