The future of the hobby ?

[Gern]

Dave, I've said many times on here that I believe Airfix's policy of are-boxing old kits is harmful & ultimately detrimental to the hobby for exactly the reasons you & Steve have said! A sticker or mention on the box of the kits original issue date would help!
We need supermarkets to stock a few of the new-tool kits - that's where they'll be bought with so few actual model shops in existence.


However, it's a simple fact that adults have the bulk of disposable income & that's where model companies want their money to come from.

I think you're right about the supermarkets Patrick. There aren't enough bricks & mortar modelling shops around to create any sort of mass demand. Unfortunately, if they only keep old mould kits they could do more damage than if they don't get involved at all.


I wonder if the accountants at Airfix know they have recovered the original tooling costs for their old moulds and it's now perfectly acceptable business practise to write them off? If they haven't recovered the costs after all these years, somebody has been, shall we say, very creative with the accounts.


But it's not only Airfix. You may have seen my recent post about getting hold of Trumpeter's 1/200 USS Arizona. This was released several years ago and lots of aftermarket companies jumped on the bandwagon with brass, photo etch and resin accessories. Despite the fact that Trumpeter has now released further WWII US Navy ships in 1/200 scale, no-one seems to have any of the accessories in stock. I'm not only talking of items specific to a given kit - although I had to go to America to get the Trumpeter detail set, and no-one seems to have a wooden deck for it in this country - but also generic items such as crew figures and railings. One manufacturer promised a mixed set of US/Kriegsmarine crew late in 2013 but they seem to have cancelled production despite releasing the set in 1/350, and I can't find any stocks of generic railings anywhere in the UK or with the original manufacturer - who no longer has the product in their catalogue.


Don't these manufacturers keep an eye on their markets to see what may sell? Why stop producing figures, which were made for a very limited market, now that the market has more than trebled in size?


Sorry folks! Rant over 'til next time.

[Guest]

Better Edgar that we retained the harmony of this forum.

Thank you for the explanation; so, if I receive a personal jibe, it's all part of the general harmony of the forum, but, if I reply in general terms, without naming anyone, I get a warning about my behaviour. I will remember that in future (if I have one.)

[yak face]

No ones had a warning Edgar , thats for the Mods to decide , and personally I dont think there was anything wrong with your first post . cheers tony

[takeslousyphotos]

Perhaps, to increase the popularity amongst young people we need a patron. Some-one who will make the hobby look sexy and devil may care ........ Bear Grylls as "Chief Modeller"........ get him to knock up a spitfire or a Tiger or something .......... Or Scarlett Johansson naked and airbrushed in a "Digital Camouflage Pattern".......

[Guest]

I don't know, it has survived for a long time so surely it'll survive for a while longer

[john i am]

Well although it may not be a model as such it's still building I'm quite gobsmacked I came home today from work to find my son whose 14 years old had been "playing" Lego and had spent all day building star wars vehicles ( cannot remember the actual names) at at maybe was one of them.I was just impressed he'd managed a whole day without xbox and social media.I took great interest in his efforts and he said he was just reliving his childhood 14 and all grown up.So for now there is a small glimmer of hope that one of my boys will return to the fold one day He hadn't touched his Lego for a good two years I might just wait for the six week holidays to come around and leave a starter kit in his bedroom and see what happens.

[Alan 45]

Thank you for the explanation; so, if I receive a personal jibe, it's all part of the general harmony of the forum, but, if I reply in general terms, without naming anyone, I get a warning about my behaviour. I will remember that in future (if I have one.)

I sertainly didn't mean any personal dig at you Edgar I was just making light of your post as I felt it was a little strong wooded so I oppolgise if it came across that way

[Alan 45]

Well although it may not be a model as such it's still building I'm quite gobsmacked I came home today from work to find my son whose 14 years old had been "playing" Lego and had spent all day building star wars vehicles ( cannot remember the actual names) at at maybe was one of them.I was just impressed he'd managed a whole day without xbox and social media.I took great interest in his efforts and he said he was just reliving his childhood 14 and all grown up.So for now there is a small glimmer of hope that one of my boys will return to the fold one day He hadn't touched his Lego for a good two years I might just wait for the six week holidays to come around and leave a starter kit in his bedroom and see what happens.

Get him to stick the Lego together with glue and it can be classed as modelling

[Guest]

Another interesting thread here, which I've really enjoyed reading. For my 2p worth...


It's true that local hobby shops are disappearing (like a lot of other local shops), and that a diminishing number of modellers may mean that the days of mainstream mass-produced models by the likes of Airfix are numbered. But the Internet has the power to create a large community out of a lot of small ones - just look at the plethora of very specialised aftermarket products around now. It is worth someone's while to make things like that because they can sell them to all modellers all over the world online. If mass-produced models are deemed unprofitable by the big companies, they may simply be replaced by limited run ones. We'd all gain new skills to make good models out of less promising material, and the hobby would go on.


In the meantime, I'm doing my best to get my grandchildren (twin boys aged 4) interested. One of them described my Bf 110 as 'the one with three engines' today, so either he still has a lot to learn, or I need to brush up my skills.

[BarryW]

I have to agree that the hobby is in something of a golden age with the number and quality of the kits being produced and I do think that the 1/32 aircraft sector is where this can most clearly be seen. Who would have thought that a 1/32 B17 would be produced? let alone the 1/32 Lancaster that is just around the corner. Just look at the quality of molding on the HKM 1/32 Mosquito.... and lets not start on those sublime Tamiya 1/32s with them also being rumoured to be producing a Mossie in 1/32.


Tools and materials is another area where we are seeing massive development. Trying out these new products and methods is part of the appeal to me.


Just look as well at the quality of the models being made. We can see some great kits on this forum but go along to any model show and you will be blown away.


But will it last?...


In our global economy and the economies of scale it provides I believe it can. Yes I would love to see more youngsters taking up the hobby but look at any hobby and past-time it is when kids grow up and you are heading for retirement that men really look for something to do in the spare time they have and yes, hobbyists are mostly men. Golf and fishing are not for everyone... certainly not for me and, besides even for those there are times when you want something to do in the warm that does not involve sitting in front of a screen.


The demise of local model shops is sad, very sad, but this is simply to do with the direction retailing is every more steadily heading rather than a reflection of our hobby. I have a model shop not 1/2 mile away but I have not bought from there for years. Why? They do not sell the products I prefer to use, its all Humbrol. Not only that, I do just not feel welcome when I walk in and feel 'stared at' with no welcoming smile or greeting it is almost as if I am a nuisance. Even so I will be sad if they closed but even so I will not use them.


There is a good point someone made about how it would be great to have more visibility in large stores with a selection of basic kits and materials to get some people introduced into the hobby and also it is true the quality of the old tool Airfix kits and the starter kits is woeful and not exactly inspiring.


Interesting thread.

[Guest]

They do not sell the products I prefer to use, its all Humbrol.

Yes you are so right Barry. Our two local shops, they are diverse in toys and other hobbies, stock Humbrol Enamel. Not having a go at Enamel types . For the last 3 years I have asked if they have ever heard of Acrylics. Hallelujah they have started to stock them. Having 4 grandsons I know what a mess they make and acrylics is the least difficult to mop up especially around the dining table.


One of the difficulties of the local model shop is they are run by people who do not make models and are totally out of touch. If I was running a shop I would every year have a model fayre for young people to get them interested in model making daft not to there is a market to tap.. Show what you can do. John in the Shop runs a successful enterprise as he makes models (or used to ?? o_O) and is aware of what we all require.


We do not have a model making club here in Jersey so I am not aware what they do in UK clubs. In clubs generally, cricket football and all the other sports and activities, they have a youth section where the experienced help development. Do model clubs do the same ?


Laurie

[stona]

One of the difficulties of the local model shop is they are run by people who do not make models and are totally out of touch.


Laurie

One of the problems I encountered in some, by no means all, bricks and mortar shops was the reverse. They were run by people who treated them as an extension of their hobby, people who did themselves build models. Unfortunately this did not make them particularly adept small business men, nor did they have good customer relations skills. Like Barry I can think of a few times when I was made to feel like an intruder on entering the shop! Needless to say, I didn't go back


I remember a member here (I think it was here) posting images of a shop in (again, I think) Belgium or Holland which encouraged people to build models in store. That seemed like a good way of getting people together and promoting the hobby.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

Similar to the Games Workshops model, they always look a hive of activity, and seem like the perfect way to interact with your buying public.

[Alan 45]

There's two shops I frequent one is a little place that caters for train hobbyists and does only the basic airfix revell and some tamiya products and only sells humbrol enamel and citadel paints but he does treat his customers well and knocks off a few quid for regulars and the other is a big shop in model shop terms and he does a variety of kits paints including model colour,model air and tamiya and both humbrol acrylic and enamel paints , boards , balsa, electrics , ect but has no time for customers I bearly even get an hello even though I'm in there at least once a week so I can see both sides to this perticular debate

[Guest]

Sounds like he needs an extra staff member Alan! Part time with a staff discount