So, what’s happened to Revell?

[BarryW]

As many of you know I am not a fan of Revell at all. First I have to say, I am speaking only of their 1/32 aircraft so others may have different experiences.

I have found that Revell have just two things in their favour, excellent decals and they are cheap.

I have built a number of Revell 1/32 aircraft but, do note, I am not talking about the old 1970 era kits but only the more recently tooled ones.

I have found them very poor, made to a low price point and it shows. Often inaccurate and of mediocre fit at best. Their 1/32 AR196, now that was an exception, that’s a really good kit. But I have no time at all for their 1/32 Spitfires, Bf109, FW190 and so on and would much rather spend three or four times as much for a Tamiya, Kotare or Zoukei Mura.

Then the Hurricane came along and what a good kit it is. Not the definitive Hurricane (Kotare are doing that). It went together faultlessly and I can simply find nothing wrong with it. Of course, one sunny day does not a summer make ….

Now they have released their Meteor. I am not doing a review as such there are plenty of those are out there for all to see. I said wow to the Hurricane, the Meteor is wow, wow, wow!!! This really is a premium kit.

Yes it costs around £100, a premium price that you would expect to pay Tamiya but look at what’s included.

Paint masks
Coloured Photoetch with instrument panel and seatbelts.
A very nice poster
An excellent high quality reference book.

In other words you don't have to buy aftermarket to build this kit.

Even the plastic itself is much better quality than Revells usual, crisp and finely detailed.

Yes this kit breaks the mould and is a lot more expensive than you usually expect from Revell but, it is also great value and is marketed as a ‘First Edition’ so I can see rereleases of just the plastic at more normal Revell prices in future. Therefore it’s a win, win, for modellers with Revell keeping faith with their less well healed modellers.

I have no hesitation is saying that if I see their next new mould release in 1/32 following this same format, a first edition with all the extras, they will deserve to be moved from what I would call my ‘bottom tier’ manufacturers to be among the ‘top tier’ alongside Tamiya, Zoukei Mura and Kotare.

[PaulTRose]

My problem with revell is how the prices have gone up considerably in the last year or so

1/24 cars are now expensive

[BarryW]

My problem with revell is how the prices have gone up considerably in the last year or so

1/24 cars are now expensive

As mentioned, I can only speak about 1/32 aircraft, I have never built cars and to be honest I am not really interested in them. That said. The price of models has gone up as everything else has. Revell new tools are still cheap compared to other companies new tools. This Meteor is an exception of course but it does represent brilliant value for money which is not the same as cheap. As I said we can expect this kit to have future much cheaper releases.

[colin m]

would much rather spend three or four times as much for a Tamiya, Kotare or Zoukei Mura.

Now they have released their Meteor. I am not doing a review as such there are plenty of those are out there for all to see. I said wow to the Hurricane, the Meteor is wow, wow, wow!!! This really is a premium kit.

Yes it costs around £100, a premium price that you would expect to pay Tamiya but look at what’s included.

You have answered your own question there Barry, cost. Which is why I'm quite a fan of Airfix, the cost to detail ratio is very good.

[BarryW]

You have answered your own question there Barry, cost. Which is why I'm quite a fan of Airfix, the cost to detail ratio is very good.

I understand Colin and, let’s face it, Revell have lagged in improving their offer to match Airfix and others. As I said I am only speaking of aircraft in 1/32 (not produced by Airfix) and in this scale Revell really are now coming up to standard, and beyond. I am sure future releases of the Meteor will be at a price closer to what we normally expect from Revell, but of a much higher quality plastic without the extras included. It’s a good kit even without those extras and would, in my view, still be competitive at the £100 price tag without the extras. In that I am looking at my ZM and Tamiya kits who will be given a real run for their money if Revell keep this up.

I never thought I would be so enthusiastic about Revell!!!!

The future for modelling and 1/32 scale aircraft looks really good to me.

[Jim R]

Interesting thoughts Barry.
I suppose Revell have done some careful research and realised that there is a good market for "better" kits and so have upped their game. Model kits and all that goes with them is now big business. The market is much more the old(er) guy with more money to spend than the teenager with pocket money. Having said that Airfix seems quite happy to bring out very good, very cheap kits - maybe bucking the trend.

[colin m]

only speaking of aircraft in 1/32 (not produced by Airfix)

I do wonder why Airfix steer clear of 1:32. Maybe down to too much competition in the sector.

[BarryW]

Interesting thoughts Barry.
I suppose Revell have done some careful research and realised that there is a good market for "better" kits and so have upped their game. Model kits and all that goes with them is now big business. The market is much more the old(er) guy with more money to spend than the teenager with pocket money. Having said that Airfix seems quite happy to bring out very good, very cheap kits - maybe bucking the trend.

I think Revell have hit on a good marketing strategy. To produce a ‘first edition’ with these extras which can be included at a significantly lower negotiated price than they will sell individually for, plus invest in upgrading their plastic and moulds to a level that Tamiya would be proud of, selling the package at a premium price in line with or even slightly better than the ‘premium’ companies’, they are able to cover their tooling costs and make a few quid and then, maybe 6 months later, release a standard version at more typical Revell prices without making any changes at all, not necessarily even to the decals. Their customers get a superior product all around. Other releases can follow with other versions of course making more out of the moulds and with increased profitability. I If it works out well then hopefully we will see more releases along the same lines. Now the speculation can start. A First Edition Beaufighter perhaps, it’s time they did a new tooling of their 1970’s kit …
.

[BarryW]

I do wonder why Airfix steer clear of 1:32. Maybe down to too much competition in the sector.

I have had the same thought but there is still scope in 1/32 for Airfix in the scale and with the quality that we have seen their recent releases they would do well.