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Any thought,s on Revell?


stevej60

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the lack of high street presence, at least of airfix is a deliberate desire from hornby as whole to be its own retailer much more, as for MZ's demise that was rather self-inflicted, though perhaps the credit crunge didn't help

Edited by PhantomBigStu
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I think with the takeover by Hobbico, Revell needs to find their place in the market again. I am not sure, but all the kits that have been released recently would have been decided upon before the takeover ?

It will be interesting to see if they (Hobbico) decide to pump money into them with lots of new products next year instead of rehashing old kits or using other model companies moulds or if Hobbico sees the Revell market as being cars, which appears to be favoured by the home market.

I would like to see them challenge Airfix with perhaps releasing some American/Russian/French/Swedish aircraft subjects and leaving the British stuff for Airfix, who appear to have a very aggressive plan for next year.

It will be interesting to see what is announced for 2016 as that should give us an indication of where Revell are going.

Robert

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Yes Model Zone was a Model shop that did not understand modellers offering only a fraction of what you wanted and a limited shelf selection with 10 or 20 of the same kit on the shelves. Seemed to aimed more to collectors market and with the financial crisis that flawed business model and a lack of staff training I has it a guess doomed the shops. Shame I miss my local Model Zone but so many times I went in and come out empty handed.

I think for a Model shop to succeed it must be able to offer specialist stuff along side mainstream and be able to get anything in stock at a competitive price and always be circulating whats on display and making random deals of the day to keep feet coming through the door.

Maybe one that coincided with a costa coffee shop could be a winning recipe especially with the Internet and forums bringing people together in what was once a lonely hobby is now also a social experience.

Imagine meeting your local modelling buddies for a coffee snack and chat about your latest purchase or collection for your local shop. Something like that would be wonderful

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Sad as it may be, I feel the days of shopping for model kits in the high streets are over. Every toy shop used to have a great selection, but as with so many other products, online sales have made shops that rely on physical browsing stocks (CD/DVD stores, book stores) increasingly a thing of the past. How many kits does a model shop have to sell to break even? How much stock does it need to carry to attract that number of sales? And what pricing strategy must they adhere to to compete with online sales points? It's a difficult enterprise in these times.

When I was on holiday in Japan in 2010 there were still quite a few shops around in Tokyo, although I don't know if they experienced the same trend as here. What did strike me was that many shops, in particular the Tamiya-branded ones, had model building areas in the store where you could sit down, work on your kit and chat with fellow modellers. It seemed very cosy - and always a tin of Nato Black available if you run out! Apparently one of the reasons this works in Tokyo is that houses are often so small people have no dedicated model space available, and the shops offer a seat, desk and even a locker for you to use as your modelling den away from home.

Edited by sroubos
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When I looked to open a shop the idea of a 'build area' was prominent in my mind, but it runs into hard economics, sadly. A build area needs a larger shop, which means bigger rent, which means I need the build area for retail space. I find it amazing that a lot of wargaming shops can offer gaming space in their shops. A shame, as I would still like to be able to have a build area in the shop.

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Yes, I agree a significant volume of sales would be from online and presumably mainly from modellers. That being the case, kit manufacturers need to consider those modellers on the type of model that should feature as a future release. It wouldn't be a bad thing for Hobbico to challenge Airfix as it usually means one tries to out do the other to offer a better product.

I miss MZ as well and probably more when it was Beatties back in my day. It may have not been a "coffee" shop but I did meet a few fellow modellers there.

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Whenever I look at the pictures of built-up model kits that Revell put on their website (and boxes) I'm always rather disappointed - I really don't think they do themselves any favours in this regard. It does put me off buying their kits these days - that combined with my impression that some recent kits have very obviously been tooled and moulded by the cheapest bidder. Personally, I think the new box design looks rather cheap and seems to be playing more to the 'toy' end of the market.

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Whenever I look at the pictures of built-up model kits that Revell put on their website (and boxes) I'm always rather disappointed - I really don't think they do themselves any favours in this regard. It does put me off buying their kits these days - that combined with my impression that some recent kits have very obviously been tooled and moulded by the cheapest bidder. Personally, I think the new box design looks rather cheap and seems to be playing more to the 'toy' end of the market.

They have played more to the toy market with the new Srar Wars stuff, but then they have given them much better boxes? Also they seem to be made in China not the EU like their model kits, a sign of things to come??

As long as they still bring us stuff like the new C-54D though I will be happy.

Julien

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Still miss model zone in plymouth

I´ve been there too! It was one of a few shops in UK I actually had visited. As an offshore racing sailor I used to visit that shop after finishing The Fastnet Race. Sad that it is gone...

Concerning Revell and as an Swede with partly German roots I would love more kits with an more "european market" in sight. An Hawker Hunter F.4 with Swedish (J 34) and Danish markings would have made lots of interest i Skandinavia. And still that kit could also be built with RAF markings.

I hope for an Hawker Hunter F.4 in 1/72 in the future... ...but what makes Revell and Airfix to take choise on an certain variant i don't knew and for sometimes dont understand. Just look at the Red Arrows Hawk that comes från Airfix, Italeri and Revell in the same scale and markings? For sure would an aircraft of an certain type sell better if it doesn't have the same markings as the one from the other company. Or... ?

And when it comes to Revell... ...why on earth are they still selling that bad and old P-51D Mustang i 1/72 for almost the same cost as the new Airfix Mustang (and other newer P-51's as well). I can understand why they made an reissue of the old Frog Ta 152 H. But not the P-51D...

//André B.

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There's a simple answer to the Hawk matter. Anything with Red Arrows on it sells. Enthusiasts can always make the option that comes, or buy specialist transfers.

The continued existence of that bad old P-51 is testimony to the lack of information in the mass market. It's a Mustang, it'll sell. And no doubt any kid will be happy enough with it on his shelf. Yes, it would be possible to tool a much better new Mustang, or just repackage an Italeri one (or any other of your choice). But that would cost more money than taking the old mould off the shelf, and Revell are need to make profits. Satisfying enthusiasts with new tools is clearly considered, judging from their range, but not seen as the highest priority. Getting down to the nitty gritty, do we really need a new P-51D anyway? Or can we get good ones elsewhere, and let Revell spend new tooling money on some kit that isn't already widely available?

Personally, Revell have got more money from me for their Halifaxes than they ever would have done for a P-51D. Shame they bollixed those, but it happens. So the aftermarket suppliers also made more money from the Revell Halifax than they would have done from a P-51D. Gains all round. Is there really anything to be said in favour? OK, if I hadn't bought two Halifaxes, each of which required much extra work, I'd have finished long ago and been back at the hobby shop much sooner! But I still wouldn't have bought P-51s.

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I suppose another argument is as a major kit manufacturer you need to be seen to have certain "core" types of aircraft in your range. If I was going to set up a company to compete against Airfix, Revell and the like, the Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang would be in the catalogue. Even though almost every modeller out there will be screaming "why do those planes when we already have plenty of kits from other brands".

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Hello, my thoughts on Revell fall into a few categories.

1 - I am looking forward to their Shackleton, it will be good to compare plastic to plastic with Airfix, and I will need to solve the problem of where to put them. I also want the old Frog version too (honest) as the plane looks great as a tail dragger or on tip toe.

2 - more importantly, I think they should look at their acrylic paint range, and produce a range like Humbrol, Xtracrylix and all the others, with proper colours for their ranges. I know it would take a lot of investment, but I have found, and it has been mentioned by many others, that Revell's acrylics are by far and away the best for brush painting. Cut out the continual mixing of paints, and produce a full range please! You know it makes sense...

Just my two pen'rth

All the best, RAY

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2 - more importantly, I think they should look at their acrylic paint range, and produce a range like Humbrol, Xtracrylix and all the others, with proper colours for their ranges. I know it would take a lot of investment, but I have found, and it has been mentioned by many others, that Revell's acrylics are by far and away the best for brush painting. Cut out the continual mixing of paints, and produce a full range please! You know it makes sense...

Just my two pen'rth

All the best, RAY

That sounds like a good suggestion. I've seen a number of positive comments about their acrylics and brush painting. If it's your best product then why not invest more into it.

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I'll throw my hat in, I'm a 1/144 builder and always supported Revell strongly with my wallet due to their great tooled small jets. I'm finding myself getting increasingly frustrated with their lack luster attitude towards the scale, last years releases - 2 old Migs reboxed, F-15 F-16, and Typhoon rereleased with different decals leaving the Growler as the only actual new kit!! What's more all their 1/144 kits nowadays seem to come with one set of decals and they're usually for some special scheme, knowing there's a lack of after market decals in this scale you would think they'd have the foresight to offer more options, surely it would lead to more sales of a particular kit?

They also seem intent on resting on laurels with the moulds, the F-15e and F-16c were clearly designed to allow for an F-15c and F-16d to follow, where are they?

I've recently found myself joining in the forum topics relating to Airfix future releases as its so good to see a company churning up excitement amongst models with all the new releases, they're quickly becoming a leader in 1/72, revell used to be the leader in 1/144 where are our new kits revell?

Been considering changing scales to 1/72!!

.........That feels better!!

Edited by phantomphan92
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Revell have a huge back catalogue of moulds and they want to get the most out of them, which is quite understandable. However, Airfix did the same for years, partly due to chronic lack of investment, and the result was bankruptcy. Now, I don't think for one moment that Revell will ever go the same way, but the potential is there for them to get the same reputation as Airfix had for churning out old, obsolete models. And if Hobbico decide one day that the model kit side of their business is not doing as well as they want, they may well decide to offload it, either as a complete entity, or by selling the assets piecemeal.

Of course, that is the pessimistic view. We may see a 2016 release programme that will make it seem as if all our Christmases have come at once, create mass hysteria among the model making community and cause wet dreams galore :blush: (well, maybe not the last one). I suspect that we will get the same mix of ancient and modern that we have seen for the last couple of years, though items of the standard of that P-51D and the Ki-61 really should be retired permanently. They have no place in the modern market place other than as an odd curio of how models used to be. As an analogy, an Austin Allegro has always been capable of getting you from A to B, but would you put it back into production now, even with a facelift, to compete with modern cars?

Edited by T7 Models
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I posted a few days ago that a local(to me) dept store chain was flogging their 1/32 Ju 88 and Uhu for only £25,I now notice

Wonderland going a penny cheaper so they seem to be "dumping" stock to retailers I assume buy in bulk,this hot on the

heels of the big Phantom and Huey (Phantoms are going for £18 or less) discounts already around does,nt seem to bode well for future big scale kit investment.

Edited by stevej60
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The frustrating thing is we get excellent new tool kits like the C-54D and then re-released old stuff like the Mil-24D Hind with is from the 80's.

Julien

Or the MV-22, which is based on the Italeri one. Just realised on their webpage that it still has raised details. Why not the hasegawa one? :thumbsdown:

Alex

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I think they are in danger of standing still which could mean a long slow fall similar to how Airfix got in to trouble. Having looked through their releases over the last 12months I was less than overwhelmed.

They should have the mainstream Luftwaffe types sown up just as Airfix are now the ones to beat in UK subjects, and FujiGawa in Japanese. Their researchers must have anticipated Airfix renewing their 1940 moulds in time for the anniversary but they missed the ball.

If someone goes head-to-head with 32nd scale and the larger 72nd scale types they may be in trouble on the aviation front, and will the Star Wars rush keep them going long term?

Edited by dpm1did1
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