I get the Historic Aviation catalog, which has all kinds of aviation paraphenalia and models and kits. Sadly I noticed a significant decrease in the number of model kits and an increase in die-cast models in the last 2 issues.
I’m really beginning to wonder if we’ll all be scratchbuilding 10 years from now.[:O]
-Dave
i think that with the amount of kits i have stored up, i’ll still be scratchbuilding in 10 years from now.
I don’t think that i’ll ever be satisified with the panel lines on diecast. Have a close look at one next time you are in a hobby store.
it’s sad to see, but diecast seems to be the way things are going these days.
There is definately a market for the diecast and as long as the demand is there, someone will produce the supply. There will probably be a demand for kits to be constructed as well and that demand will also be met. I seriously doubt that the supply of plastic kit models will become extinct due to the availability of diecast.
I believe I am correct in saying that styrene plastic is a product of the POL, (petroleum, oil and lubricants), industry, so if their prices keep going up, we might be priced into extinction.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
I agree, the panel lines on die cast are really terrible. They are getting better though. Anyway, I hope I have the skills to be scratchbuilding in 10 years…
The die casts cater to a growing collectors market. Not everyone has the time, talent or interest to build their own models. But it’s a different market & won’t threaten the plastic kit market IMHO.
Regards, Rick
I agree with Rick there, seems like a different market to me. I want to BUILD my models.
I would tend to disagree, I’m new back to the hobby after being away for about ten or more years, I think there’s way more out there now and with the internet it’s way easier to find it, sure there’s lots of diecast stuff out there but I think it’s apples and oranges.
I think there will always be plastic models to build, but a friend of mine sent me this and it does make one wonder a bit. [sigh]
THE WAY THINGS REALLY WORK: Why Plastic Aircraft Models are Going Away
January 31, 2005: For over half a century, kits have been sold that enable military history buffs to assemble scale models of military ships, aircraft and vehicles. But that era is coming to an end, as the manufacturers of the original equipment, especially aircraft, are demanding high royalties (up to $40 per kit) from the kit makers. Since most of these kits sell in small quantities (10-20,000) and are priced at $15-30 (for plastic kits, wooden ones are about twice as much), tacking on the royalty just prices the kit out of the market. Popular land vehicles, which would sell a lot of kits, are missing as well. The new U.S. Army Stryker armored vehicles are not available because of royalty requirements. Even World War II aircraft kits are being hit with royalty demands. This move grew out of the idea that corporations should maximize “intellectual property” income. Models of a companys products are considered the intellectual property of the owner of a vehicle design. In the past, the model kits were considered free advertising, and good public relations, by the defense firms. The kit manufacturers comprise a small industry, and the aircraft manufacturers will probably not even notice if they put many of the model vendors out of business. Some model companies will survive by only selling models of older (like World War I), or otherwise “no royalty” items (Nazi German aircraft) and ships. But the aircraft were always the bulk of sales, and their loss will cripple many of the kit makers.
PS. Better buy your favorites while you can.
Hopefully this is only a false alarm, but on the possibility that it is true it gives a perfect excuse to stock up on kits.
Cheers,
Eric