discussion The future of the hobby ?

[Alan 45]

Roy it's not that there are fewer new kits coming out and no real investment happening from where I sit. Those are two very healthy positions and I would say that this could be a boom time for the hobby


I'm referring to the lack of interest from children , apart from a few excptions the hobby as I see survives from people like me who returned to the hobby after a long time away from it .


The point I'm making that the fewer children that take up the hobby the fewer that return to it to carry it on


It is a golden time for the hobby with the new toolings and extras you can now get but without the youth it will eventually disappear I think anyway

 

[Ian M]

Is the hobby dwindling to oblivion...Nah.


There are new brands popping up all the time. The one producing better products that the other.


Look at good old Airfix, You cant say they are not doing there bit to lift the hobby into this century. Their new 3D laser scanning tool was not cheap and people are already raving about how good the results are. This high tech approach is of course dependant on there being a real subject to scan. Then it's back to the drawing board, all be it a digital one.


Then lest talk about 3D printing, many say it will be the end of models as we know them. I see them as a very useful tool for making things you might otherwise buy. That might take a bite out of the after-market pie, but still plenty left for them to live off.


I am a mere youth of 55 summers and have no planes on giving up just yet. When I get the urge I build (which is more often than not). When I don't, I do something else.


The question that should be raised is how many of you that have rug rats, sorry, I mean kids, really tried to get them interested. Before it's to late that is. Try asking if there is a kit that they would really like you to build for them. Ask if they would like to help. Then try to capture their imagination.... get them to want something......


I know kids would much rather sit in front of the TV or Play station, but then again, some might actually be glad of some quality time with dad (or mum) and actually do something together them.. Optimistic I know.


Ian M

 

[Gern]

Patrick - You've mentioned the new Airfix starter kits which are, in theory at least, exactly the kind of kits which youngsters can afford and should have the necessary skills to produce something decent; and therefore exactly the type I think manufacturers should produce more of.


I'm only asking as I've never bought any, but how many of these are new mould and how many are simply old moulds re-packaged? New mould Airfix kits are generally proving to be really good value from what I read on here and other forums, but I'm concerned how many are the old moulds which should have been thrown away many years ago.


As a youngster, I'd be really disappointed to buy or get as a gift something like the old Victory. There were lots of threads about this last year, but my point is that those kind of starter kits will do more harm than good. OK, they're affordable, but how many new modellers will have the necessary patience and skills to turn these old moulds into something decent? You must have seen the efforts some of the guys here had to put in to get good results - I know I couldn't get anything decent out of it!


Maybe that kit's an exception and the rest of the starter sets are OK, but I have my doubts. For all the reasons already mentioned, it's difficult enough to get some youngsters interested in modelling, I don't like to think of them being put off from the hobby because their first experience is very poor.

 

[stona]

The question that should be raised is how many of you that have rug rats, sorry, I mean kids, really tried to get them interested. Before it's to late that is.


Ian M

No luck with my girls, though Nigel Julian (Lampie) and I did once get a quite well known musical act and a good chunk of their entourage building during one tour


Dave raises a very good point about starter kits above. Most members here can do a bit of research to discover which are decent kits, but someone's mum might well buy something like HMS Victory which will put a kid off for life. It nearly did that to me


Cheers


Steve

 

[Guest]

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.

 

[Guest]

I got my 4 grandsons on models about 2 each they completed. But I did not expect, after the initial excitement of plastering glue and spraying paint around the place, of staying the course. But the idea is firmly planted in their mind all their models are on show in their bedrooms.


I did not make any plastic models in my time as a child or youth either they were not around or to expensive not sure. But there were books which had thin card pages and these had printed and cut out lines to make cardboard models. Certainly liked that. There were also Spitfire balsa wood simple flat pieces which you plastered with balsa cement. So interest wore thin quickly.


But then I did not take up plastic model building until about 70. Mainly as I had other things to do renovating boats, making films, photography plus running a business so time was the essence. Then slowing down physically I looked around. Actually I get bored when away on holiday in the evening. So bought a model on holiday to build and that started the rot. By coincidence the model I bought was the Gladiator (did not start it on holiday) which I have just built.


But all the things that I did until model making were hands on stuff. My father was a carpenter and joiner and I was never out of his workshop always building something. I suspect that most in model making are that way inclined. I think that it will always mostly be a middle aged hobby. When the family have grown up and gone all of a sudden there is a hole to be filled.


Looking in places like W H Smith the shelves are filled with magazines so there certainly is no lack of interest. If you look at art many take it up later in life. Just that hole where suddenly a load of personal, your own, time is available.


Poll needed to see the average age of model makers here.


Laurie

 

[stona]

I think Alan has already remarked that the typical model builder, as evidenced at the various shows, is hardly in the first flush of youth !


I'd guesstimate that the average age would be around the 50 mark, maybe even a little more.


Cheers


Steve

 

[Guest]

I take it debate isn't a strong point of yours Edgar

If someone wants to discuss, I'm fine with that; if they want to be rude, that's a different matter entirely.

 

[Alan 45]

If someone wants to discuss, I'm fine with that; if they want to be rude, that's a different matter entirely.

No bodies been rude ! I think your referring to another thread which I answered you to explane why you got it wrong , I'm never rude to anyone on here , if you saw it that way it's your own understanding of the written word on the Internet when reading things that some people might have difficulty with

 

[Guest]

If someone wants to discuss, I'm fine with that; if they want to be rude, that's a different matter entirely.

Better Edgar that we retained the harmony of this forum. If you do not agree with something just let it pass rather than get personal. Accusing members of being rude is just not on it disturbs the harmony of this Forum. If you have an issue PC them please.


Laurie

 

[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.