When you’re purchasing a model kit, what factors tend to influence your decision?
Definitely subject and cost are major factors (or maybe they’re not), but what other things affect your decision? Product reviews, recommendations by friends, pictures/articles from people who have already built one, or other things? How many people have ever bought a kit because the box art looked awesome? [:I]
I read review articles of new kits and online expositions (words and pictures) of modelers’ work, (e.g.,hyperscale.com). I also take note of modeler reactions to offerings by particular companies. I don’t think stunning box art has ever led me to buy anything, although bad box art has kept me away.
The biggest factor for me, of course is that I have to like the subject. Good advertising like what VLS and Verlinden do help to sell a model to me but I never buy any thing just from the box art. Then the cost and company who produced the kit. I really don’t listen to reviews because if the kit has a flaw or some thing, I think they can be fun to work through.[:)]
Pat
In an oversaturated market such as our hobby can be (who needs another Tiger tank, ME-109 or F-4 Pantom kit anyway?) its a subject matter’s obscurity that catches me.
Half a year ago I was staring blankly at a wall of seemingly endless kits of ME-109s, Spitfires, Phantom jets… in my local hobby shop.[xx(]
Suddenly, my attention get taken by a 1/72 scale Siebel fh-104 Hallore transport produced by Pavla in the Czech Republic. I’d never heared of this aircraft before, and apparently it was just as rare in real life with only 80 or so of the type ever having been built.[8)]
Well, that was enough for me to buy it. I had no idea what sort of kit quality I might be in for, but I knew I had something unusal on my hands that not every other modeler can claim to have on his or her shelf.[:D]
Thats what gets me to buy models these days.
My feelings tend to be the same as upnorths, at least as far as aircraft go. A lot of the kits from Eastern Europe tend to be a bit more obscure and can also be a good value for the money. I feel that, with building a less familiar kit, you have a bit more , lets say, “artistic latitude” than with more well known aircraft. Having said that, I still haven’t found the courage to start that KP Models MB-200 that’s been on my shelf for years. Someday…
Thanks for backing me up on that, wallig.
Eastern European kits can be a bit of a “hit and miss” affair, but so can many “western” made kits as well.
I remember, several years ago, building Airfix’s old 1/72 Ilyushin IL-28 bomber. It was as good as could be expected for its day, but still left much extra work to do to make it something accurate.
Two years ago, I built Bilek’s 1/72 kit of the same aircraft and all I can say is “Thank God the Iron Curtain is gone! Now we can get some good representations of this stuff!”
I’d also like to comment on another strange gap in scale model subject matter, construction and agricultural vehicles. I know there are some kits out there but as far as I know, beyond the AMT Caterpillar bulldozer kit, they are all limited run resin kits that are expensive and difficult to get.
I’ve spoken with many modelers who would appreciate mainstream manufacturers approaching these subjects.
Personally, before I see another new Tiger tank kit hit the shelves, lets see a John Deere or Komsomolyets combine or swather first.
How about availibility of aftermarket updates and correction kits? I don’t nomally do 1/32 aircraft, but I saw Cutting Edge’s detailed cockpit for the Trumpeter A-10 and fell in love with it. I bought it before I bought the kit! I then went on to buy the kit, as well as all other aftermarket sets and some decals too. I’m currently working on it and it’s a different, refreshing break from the 1/72 scale airplanes I normally do.
Regards,
Pat
For me it would moslty be what models catches my eye…but also i have to know what i am building, i don’t think i have ever built a kit that i have never heard of.
I also tend to build things closer to home, as some of you know [:)] Another major influence for me is the manufacture. I have built kits from different manufactures during my small modeling time thing, and have since then have really only sticked to Acadamey, Tamiya or Airfix - but i make exceptions from time to time.
Box art doesn’t really effect my decision - i really like it when the manufacture has put actual pictures of the completed model onto the box - that helps alot when choosing a model - particualry if the box art is pretty shoddy.
Cost plays a role as well - the average static model over here costs around $50 - $60. At times the small Verlinden detail sets cost more then the actual model !
Anyways,
Later Days
It usually comes down to obscurity, budget, and what subject I want to build.
A good example to was DML’s T-72, It had a not too bad price tag at the time, The only other model of the T-72 was an old ESCI, and I wanted to build the kit in may-day parade colors.
Subject is always my first priority, but very often manufacturer will be second. There are a few manufacturers I always trust to produce a good product; and there are others that, no matter how much I want a particular subject, even if they are the only manufacturer of that particular subject, I just wont buy what they have to offer. All other factors are even.
The biggest factor for purchasing a kit is, that I like to have the subject. It must be a MUST [8)] to have kit. For that reasen I read review articles of new kits, and looking always to find kits nearly out of production, or exceptionel kits. I do a lot of research in advance, and have a clear picture what and how to build that kit. Photo’s are very important to know what I want to have and Internet is usefull in supplying the necessary information. If that kit is what I want, than Iam willing to pay. After purchasing Iam an happy man[:D]
I go for first release kits in 1/48 scale. I had the Monogram F-86D on order for six months before it was released. The same with the F-84G by Monogram. There are lots of the same old kits as was mentioned and I like to model something new that hasn’t been available before.
For me subject matter comes first then I move to other issues: Which brand ? Who has the most reasonable price? FSM kit reviews are a great resource into whether or not I’m influenced on a particular brand due to quality or ease of construction. They have made my decisions for me many times. Oh, how I wish they would review more armor!
As with most folks, for me it’s subject first.
Of course, sometimes a new release will spur my interest in a subject, like Tamiya’s T-55. I have always been a casual fan of the T-55, but my interest was peaked by the new release. After doing some research on T-55s, I decided I really wanted to build one, and thus it became a subject I wanted to model.
Now I have 2!
Subject matter. If it’s something that I want to build it really doesn’t matter who the manufacturer is (even if they make dogs) or how much it costs. I’ll find a way to get it into my sweaty little paws and worry about the build after that.
I built my 4th P-47 because the markings I wanted to put on it had the name of my brother’s town. I was going to give it to him to display in his store. It goes with the 5 Mustangs on the same shelf. If i like the subject, I’ll build it more than once if I can get markings I like. Or if the kit fits a subject I want to do, then I’ll get it.
Subject and cost are the two biggest factors, but I have to agree with Jugman - bad box art has indeed kept me away on a few occasions.
I build what intrugues me at the time. Sometimes it’s building another old favorite kit one more time; other times it’s building something no one has seen before in kit form around here (NE GA). That’s why there are more than a few Sword, Pavla and MPM kits in my collection and on my shelves, as well as the old standbys. - Ed
When I go to purchase a kit, I usually have in mind what I’d like to work on. Manufacturer definately enters into my decision, but like most, I won’t buy a kit blind. I’ll usually do a little research into it before commiting. I’ve always been a big fan of unusual aircraft, though, so if I see one, I’ll try to pick it up.
As for mass market kits, I have little problem with the fact that almost every modeller has a BF-109 or P-51 on their shelves. I’ve never seen 2 people do it the same way, so at least the element of creativity is there.
For me, it is the subject first, followed very closely by cost.[:p]
It may not always be something I am specifically looking for but if I see it and think “That’s cool”, I’ll pick it up, providing the pocketbook says “Yes”.
Reviews don’t usually affect my decision too much, simply because a lot of reviews I’ve read will knock a kit because the “look” is not quite right or the dimensions are not exactly to scale. Unless the review says that the kit is a complete failure it will not affect my decision. If a review knocks a kit for ‘ease of construction’ (or lack thereof), a lot of times I will buy the kit anyway, if it’s something that I want to build, simply because I think “I can beat that”. (Sometimes I can but lots of times…[:I]Oh well) [;)]
As far as box art, as someone else mentioned, I do appreciate it when they put pictures of the actual model on the box (even if they are touched-up). I know I have chosen NOT to purchase a model because they didn’t feature the actual model on the box.
Ray