discussion The future of the hobby ?

[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 ?? ) 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

 

[Alan 45]

Which one ? The little shop who is more personal you couldn't get another person in there lol and the other guy wouldn't get my jokes so he's no good

 

[Guest]

Well the bigger one who's lacking in customer service - don't worry about the jokes coz 20% off store stock would make up for his humour bypass

 

[yak face]

I think as far as the actual kit makers go weve never had it so good! Theres more kits now than ever before and of subjects that we could only have dreamed of thirty years ago.The Hobby in europe and Asia is thriving hence the aforementioned number of manufacturers of kits , aftermarket parts etc. I can see the point of the age thing , there arent as many youngsters coming into it at the moment BUT thats not to say the kit makers havent also realised this and are starting to address it- see the easy build kits from Hobby boss , Zvezda and the icing on the kiddie cake the Airfix Quickbuild sets. Check them out ,these are pure genius , being a clip together lego brick type assembly but when built are smooth ,pre coloured and the right shape , I think there are even sticker type decals too. They look just like a plastic kit so it will be a natural progression to the starter sets and into the hobby. As for the issue of Airfix flogging old moulds as starter sets ,they are trying to update all the old stuff , so give them some credit .It seems its fashionable to bash them ,harking back to past misdemeanours ,but the new company IS really trying . tony

 

[Guest]

I do think model shops are slowly disappearing, there is only one shop in a 10-15 mile radius

 

[Alan 45]

I think as far as the actual kit makers go weve never had it so good! Theres more kits now than ever before and of subjects that we could only have dreamed of thirty years ago.The Hobby in europe and Asia is thriving hence the aforementioned number of manufacturers of kits , aftermarket parts etc. I can see the point of the age thing , there arent as many youngsters coming into it at the moment BUT thats not to say the kit makers havent also realised this and are starting to address it- see the easy build kits from Hobby boss , Zvezda and the icing on the kiddie cake the Airfix Quickbuild sets. Check them out ,these are pure genius , being a clip together lego brick type assembly but when built are smooth ,pre coloured and the right shape , I think there are even sticker type decals too. They look just like a plastic kit so it will be a natural progression to the starter sets and into the hobby. As for the issue of Airfix flogging old moulds as starter sets ,they are trying to update all the old stuff , so give them some credit .It seems its fashionable to bash them ,harking back to past misdemeanours ,but the new company IS really trying . tony

Your spot on about the airfix quick builds the wife builds Lego and she has built all of these they've released so far and I must say the Bugatti varone is the best so far it looks really good and even has the interior, I'm not a car fan but im impressed with this one

 

[Guest]

I have to say that I agree with the statement Alan made that the youth of today seem to lack any interest in the hobby, the ones round here seem to think its a sad old mans hobby, they seem more interested in hanging round street corners causing trouble; now when I say this I don't mean all of them of course but from what I see in my job day to day. As an example for years I have been trying to start a modelling course within my work place, the company asked the staff for ideas for a family orientated course, and I had been so called reliably informed that the course I wanted to run would be a great idea very suitable. Hell I even offered to pay for all the kits and equipment from my own pocket so that it would not cost the company a penny, I put a comprehensive guide together with a proposal and even presented it to our senior management, who all made agreeable noises that this was indeed a highly suitable course and I finally get told 3 years later that health and safety section have a number of issues because we will be using knives and other assorted tools eventually I scraped the whole idea to my disgust three years of hard work down the drain. However I still say if young people are not wanting to even look at the hobby then how do we make it fresh and new to them to want them to try it, there is a sad saying to all things there is an end. So regardless of how cheap we make kits in this day and age or how detailed, we still have to encourage young people to take up the hobby and if that doesn't happen....... well in reality what do we think is actually going to happen to the hobby.


scott

 

[Gern]

That's really sad Scott. Mind you, I had similar issues with H&S. My teenage carpentry & joinery students weren't allowed craft knives in their toolboxes. Saws, power drills, chisels OK - but not craft knives!

 

[takeslousyphotos]

There's a small model shop about a mile from me ......... They don't do much in the way of kits, but are happy to order them in ......... But they do a vast range of paints, pigments and stuff ........... and the owner has a sense of humour ........ There is another shop about five miles away. I don't go in there any more. The owner would need to "cheer up to be miserable" ...... The last time I went in there was a couple of years ago, to buy a R.C Aircraft kit for a present ...... and I got a lecture on how dangerous it was if the user wasn't experienced and a member of a club .... So I told him to shove it ......

 

[Guest]

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

Not a problem, and thanks for clearing things up. One of the biggest troubles, with the net, is the lack of facial expressions to act as back-up, thereby increasing the chance (on my part at least) of a misunderstanding. I'm finding that increasing age does not necessarily mean an increase in tolerance, so my apologies for snapping off your head.

 

[BBdave]

The RC clubs i have been member of had a downturn since the gaming revolution happened but now with pre built ready to go cars boats and planes entry is easy and more likely that once the bug has bitten genuine model making skills will be sought to create more unique models. scale rock crawlers is growing now it used to be very niche. i think model making will always be here in one shape or form we'll be 3d printing our kits soon just paying to download them.


Dave

 

[Alan 45]

Not a problem, and thanks for clearing things up. One of the biggest troubles, with the net, is the lack of facial expressions to act as back-up, thereby increasing the chance (on my part at least) of a misunderstanding. I'm finding that increasing age does not necessarily mean an increase in tolerance, so my apologies for snapping off your head.

No problem Edgar and don't worry about it we can all do it and you didn't know so you can hardly be blamed for for it


So no hard feelings and let's get back to modelling