discussion New Brands....For New Modeling "Era"?

[Guest]

Yep!


Yesterday I visited the Big City, and of course, a modeling shop.


Anyway I surprised myself, once in front of the stash, that I lost all kind of interest on the Tamiya and Dragon boxes.... They both are the best, and a modeling brand reference. But new brands like Takom and MENG looks much better and more attractive as well. Their box art are more colorful and their items are more new, varied and with an interesting modern range.


I built some Takom items and they are excellent!!


Is a new modeling era coming?


The WWII will be the reference for all the modelers, but the modern tanks and other similar items are calling hard at our doors....


Needs Tamiya a new refresh? Start to build modern items and change the colour of her boxes, with the eternal white? Or is it good...., because the minors brands do different items and Tamiya has the major WWII range?


I can only say, that once I gone from the shop, on my bag there was a MENG kit....


Regards!

 

[Snowman]

The MENG kits appear to be top qaulity in terms of detail - I haven't bought one of their kits yet, but looking at their web site.... very impressive!!


I'm seriously tempted by their French AUF1 Howitzer.


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There may be a change in guard in the future, who knows as their range increases?

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[tanktrack]

what did you buy Polux I too am very impressed with Meng and Takom they are on a power with the old guard ie Tamiya .

 

[Lee W]

I agree Polux, in the last 2 maybe 3 years I've bought possibly 3 Tamiya kits, No Dragon kits in 5+ years, it's been a few Meng, Takom, italeri, Trumpeter and an AFV Club.


Tamiya and Dragon need to step up to the line of modern vehicles, not everyone is building WW2 vehicles.


Lee

 

[Guest]

Certainly the modeling is going to a new era....


I'm sure the modeler has better skills than some years ago (10/15...). You can find now an amount of weathering sets and other interesting stuff that helps at your hobby!!!


Then...the modeler needs more....


These new brands seems that can read better the necessities of our hobby and they are starting to introduce the interiors on the models


Or others like Wingout Wingsthat are specialized on WWI planes, expensive maybe, but excellent models!!


Those new brands are looking for a new market that I like it!!

 

[Alan 45]

I haven't built any meng or takom kits so I can't comment on how good they are but ones I've seen seem to go down the same old route , American and the stuff I've seen has been modern and centred around Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm not a fan I much prefer British and German WWII so they hold little interest


On the box illustration I take no notice of such things I just go for what's in the box and I know it's going to look much better than that picture on the box


This is a golden age of modelling but I feel it's going to decline somewhat in the next 20 years as we older folk disappear into the great model shop in the sky so enjoy it while it lasts

 

[takeslousyphotos]

I built the MENG GAZ STS Tiger a while back. The detail and fit are really first class, it was a real pleasure to build. I just bought the MENG T90A ....... I'm proper looking forward to building it.

 

[Guest]

I haven't built any meng or takom kits so I can't comment on how good they are but ones I've seen seem to go down the same old route , American and the stuff I've seen has been modern and centred around Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm not a fan I much prefer British and German WWII so they hold little interest
On the box illustration I take no notice of such things I just go for what's in the box and I know it's going to look much better than that picture on the box


This is a golden age of modelling but I feel it's going to decline somewhat in the next 20 years as we older folk disappear into the great model shop in the sky so enjoy it while it lasts

Sincerely hope that's not the case, we need to encourage more into the hobby.

 

[Guest]

American and the stuff I've seen has been modern and centred around Iraq and Afghanistan...

I'm agree with you Alan!


I suppose the modeling industry have a problem.....there aren't more wars on the world as a reference. I explain....I would say major wars. It's a pity, but still remain many different conflicts around the world....but we are talking about modeling, and his industry, I suppose, never will recreate those conflicts.


Just take a look! They try, on a subtle form, produce some movie items or minor interest items like Zombies or similars.... Looking for a new market maybe?


Why not the civilian world?!?? Is the most missed theme on this story!!!


Vehicles, working figures, not ruined buildings.....

 

[monica]

I have my eye on one of the Takom,kit, the link below


http://www.themodellingnews.com/2015/08/build-review-takoms-128cm-flak-40.html


and my friend Nic gave me a cool idea for it as well,with the crew,just a matter of finding men in there undies lol,

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[Alan 45]

Sincerely hope that's not the case, we need to encourage more into the hobby.

I agree Doug , over the last couple of years I've noticed a big drop off in the young entering the hobby , at various shows I've been to over the last year I've not seen many youngsters and those that are there don't seem to have the enthusiasm and look like they've been dragged to them by their dads lol


Our last two shows have had no entries for the competition, if you speak to most modellers they say the same thing that they did it as a boy and returned to the hobby after a big lay off of 20 years plus


But how do you encourage the young to tak it up in the first place? I've tried with my eldest and failed and he was quite good at it when he did try it but he's just got too many other things to occupy his time now

 

[Alan 45]

I'm agree with you Alan!
I suppose the modeling industry have a problem.....there aren't more wars on the world as a reference. I explain....I would say major wars. It's a pity, but still remain many different conflicts around the world....but we are talking about modeling, and his industry, I suppose, never will recreate those conflicts.


Just take a look! They try, on a subtle form, produce some movie items or minor interest items like Zombies or similars.... Looking for a new market maybe?


Why not the civilian world?!?? Is the most missed theme on this story!!!


Vehicles, working figures, not ruined buildings.....

I agree mate I would do a takom or meng kit if I saw one from WWII I just haven't seen one , I'm off to a few shows so I'll keep an eye out for some


I want to see more civilian models but not tractors or lorries or sports cars I want to see a food granarda or hilman imp or an Austin marina and build it being crushed by a piano top gear fans will get that last joke

 

[Guest]

I want to see more civilian models but not tractors or lorries or sports cars I want to see a food granarda or hilman imp or an Austin marina and build it being crushed by a piano top gear fans will get that last joke

Or a maritime port (the modeling and weathering possibilities, there, are terrific), or build a Fire Station building, a train station, police cars.....

 

[rickoshea52]

Or a maritime port (the modeling and weathering possibilities, there, are terrific), or build a Fire Station building, a train station, police cars.....

The fire and train station aspect are well catered for by the likes of Faller, Kibri, Auhagen and Walthers - all in HO 1/87 scale of course.


If you want to see maritime docks etc have a look at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, there are some great videos on YouTube.

 

[Alan 45]

Or a maritime port (the modeling and weathering possibilities, there, are terrific), or build a Fire Station building, a train station, police cars.....

All great ideas mate , not my cup of tee but I agree that when you look at the hobby as a whole it does only cover a few areas based largely on war but there are a fare few out there that say the same , I wish they did this or they did that and it's not only modelling it's also the scale problem , I can't see why they can't do all models in the same scales , why no 1/35 aircraft ? Could you imagine a dio of a crashed spitfire with civilians looking it over , the possibilities for thee things are endless

 

[Snowman]

I have my eye on one of the Takom,kit, the link below
http://www.themodellingnews.com/2015/08/build-review-takoms-128cm-flak-40.html

Zoweeee!! Sci-fact!!


Looks like something out of WH40K, but was real!! AMAZING!


Another brand to track!!

 

[monica]

Zoweeee!! Sci-fact!!
Looks like something out of WH40K, but was real!! AMAZING!


Another brand to track!!

I think its cool,as I did not know they even had that up thair,I know of the 44flaks ,and I have seen a few others from


the range as well,all look nice,


must save and et it I think its growing on me,

 

[geegad]

meng are the market leader in my eye there cheaper than dragon and not as stuck in the rut yet again another panzer 3/4 and as tamiya i find that they are over priced coming with elastic band tracks and no pe for grills just that cheap mesh i think they need to up there game big time

 

[Alan 45]

meng are the market leader in my eye there cheaper than dragon and not as stuck in the rut yet again another panzer 3/4 and as tamiya i find that they are over priced coming with elastic band tracks and no pe for grills just that cheap mesh i think they need to up there game big time

I agree about tamiya John even academy are doing plastic tracks and pe grills and their way cheeper than tamiya

 

[Guest]

I think we need to teach them that computers are bad for your health and you need to do other things to relax (this does not include PE parts haha) particularly sporting hobbies but I think local clubs could be more proactive at local shows etc... As in not necessarily about modelling. Also is hard to enter something if there is harsh hobby horse criticism and sneering as on a lot of forums. I will now be missing another club meet as I'm working away and I'm gutted, I'm not a social person normally but the guys are great to talk too but I guess you need a similar mind set and maybe the youngsters need other youngsters in the club to help make them want to join.


Also kids love to learn, it's in their make up. If we could encourage them to come build and Learn like games workshop maybe that would help