Times have changed

[Guest]

I was shown this newspaper clipping today:

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Ignore the article, it’s something about a Picasso exhibition and so not of interest The bit that caught my eye was the advert at the bottom of the page … Apparently, in 1979, model kit manufacturers/importers advertised in national newspapers (this is a clipping from De Telegraaf, one of the largest Dutch newspapers back then as well as now).

[Jim R]

Back in 1979, before computers, I imagine many more newspapers were sold. Advertising was probably quite expensive so Monogram must have considered it value for money. I wonder if kits were cheaper or more expensive then, taking inflation into account.

[Mini Me]

If I remember correctly the Shah of Iran was deposed back then and we were already heading in to an inflationary cycle under the Carter Administration, so probably not much difference, all things being relative.

[Tim Marlow]

If I remember correctly the Shah of Iran was deposed back then and we were already heading in to an inflationary cycle under the Carter Administration, so probably not much difference, all things being relative.

Not a place for politics Rick, but by 1979 we’d been in an inflationary spiral for about fifteen years. Politicians and bankers of all colours were to blame.

[Guest]

Back in 1979, before computers, I imagine many more newspapers were sold.

The decline, at least in the Netherlands, appears to have started after 2000:



(The big, odd jump upward in AD circulation around 2006 is because several regional papers were folded into it around then, BTW.)

I wonder if kits were cheaper or more expensive then, taking inflation into account.

A while ago I looked at some numbers, but I don’t remember exactly, so let’s work that out again.

I remember that in the mid–late 1980s, a Tamiya M113 kit cost ƒ34.95 and their 88 mm Flak was ƒ52.95 (the most expensive 1:35 scale kit my local model store carried, which is why I remember that number ). Converted to modern currency at the official exchange of €1 = ƒ2.20371, that makes €15.86 and €24.03, respectively; however, that is the naïve way you see people do all the time, unadjusted for inflation. According to this inflation calculator, ƒ34.95 in 1987 is €29.32 in 2022, and ƒ52.95 is €44.42.

Now, current prices for those same kits:

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Call it two-thirds to half the real cost of the same kits 35 years ago, depending on where you buy (and how accurate those prices are, of course, because my experience is that the ones shown on Scalemates don’t always match what you see on the actual web store).

But wait, that’s the exact same kits. What if we compare to more modern kits of the same subjects, on the basis that they were the best you could buy then but not anymore?

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The M113 isn’t quite the same, because AFV Club doesn’t make an M113 without the additional shields, but I don’t recall what the Tamiya version of that cost when it was released in the late 80s. Still, in general, I would say that on the whole, modelling has become a rather more expensive hobby than it used to be …

[Dave Ward]

Newspaper? - I haven't bought a newspaper this century! The only newspaper I see is the freebie 'Metro' that you find on public transport! It used to be part of the morning ritual - going to work, drop into the newsagent & get the Daily Mail & a KitKat. I moved house in 2000, and didn't pass a newsagent,on my walk to work, so that habit stopped & I've never missed it ( BBC News website! )
Dave

[Guest]

Wow Jakko that's some research you've done there.
Thanks, made an interesting read .

[Jim R]

Very interesting Jakko. Taking everything into consideration, wages, inflation, marketing costs etc modelling, as a hobby, is still pretty good value for money.
My wife sews for a hobby. Materials maybe cheaper than kits but her sewing machine was close on £850 and she has just spent a little over £450 on something called an overlocker. :rolling:

[Guest]

Newspaper? - I haven't bought a newspaper this century!

No such thing as newspaper subscriptions in the UK? I read the local paper every morning — it gets put through the letterbox without me having to go anywhere to get a copy.

Taking everything into consideration, wages, inflation, marketing costs etc modelling, as a hobby, is still pretty good value for money.

IMHO, the main thing you need to take into account is the time it occupies you: on a very quick check, I saw a price of €136 for a ticket for an upcoming football match (Feyenoord-FC Twente, in case anyone is wondering), so that’s about €90 an hour if you’re strict … modelling is a very cheap hobby in comparison then

[Dave Ward]

No such thing as newspaper subscriptions in the UK? :smiling3: I read the local paper every morning — it gets put through the letterbox without me having to go anywhere to get a copy.


IMHO, the main thing you need to take into account is the time it occupies you: on a very quick check, I saw a price of €136 for a ticket for an upcoming football match (Feyenoord-FC Twente, in case anyone is wondering), so that’s about €90 an hour if you’re strict … modelling is a very cheap hobby in comparison then

Jakko,
I used to go to work at 06:30 - earliest deliveries were at around 08:00, so the newsagent was the only place you could get one at that time of day!
Dave