Revell announces new line of snap kits

[mikemodeler]

If it wasn't for the Revell Snap-Fast kits, my display case would be pretty empty!

I have had a Revell 69 Camaro full detail glue kit waiting to be finished for over 15 years now, but have finished 7 of the same car in the snap line in the last 3 years! It's that final assembly and modelers ADD kicking in! A quick spray bomb paint job, some detail painting and maybe a wheel swap and I am done!

Any attempts to bring new blood into this hobby have to be viewed as a good thing.

Let's face it, if Revell DIDN'T attempt to attract new modelers, we'd be complaining about that!

[niteowl7710]

I'll be interested to see if the pre-painted kits are somehow de-contented existing glue kits with some tweaked parts, or clean sheets using some of the existing patterns/tooling. The '13 Challenger SRT isn't that far removed from the existing '09. The ZL1 Camaro would require more work if they wanted to correctly represent the engine on the top side as well as obvious changes to the body, but it's not that far away from being workable from the existing '10 SS kit.

Then that begs the obvious question of re-contenting the pre-painted kits to release them as full "in-white" glue kits if they're modified versions of the existing glue kits.

[lordairgtar]

Not questioning your comment, but I find it interesting that the Japanese love our "Rock and Roll / Hot Rod " culture. I.E. The Mooneyes company and many others.

It would be interesting to see them do a hot rod kit just to see their take on it.

[Austin T]

I think you guys are misinterpreting my comment. I'm welcoming these guys as a cheaper way to get kids into the hobby that is better than standard snaps.

[Danno]

But the problem is, kids that fall into the tween and early teen age groups generally turn up their noses at snap kits because they view them as "baby stuff." At the same time, those kids lack the skills and experience to achieve good results with full-detail glue kits .. hence the need for a series of "bridge" kits, which Revell has obviously recognized.

Now that's an observation with which I certainly concur!

Revell's efforts to bridge the gaps may pay off big time for them, and for the hobby in general. And if so, that can't be a bad thing.

[Mustang fan]

Kids like to build (is Lego dying?), it's a fact the market is there.

But 30 year old kits are a thing of the past, the part fit and model appearance leave a lot to be desired, unless you are an experienced builder.

Even the recent kit releases from Revell or AMT are targeted at the same customer base.

Revell realises they need to move forward and design a new scale modeling product approach, to appeal to a broader audience. AT LAST!

I am impressed that I can still buy kits the same way I could in the 70s; however, I would like to see some news in this hobby (what about multimedia kits, or simply adding parts packs, even adding lights and sound, like for the HO train market...)

Frankly, no-one would miss the bare vinyl tires with incorrect dimensions, heavy chrome parts with impossible-to-remove mold lines, thick looking and inset glass, molded-in wipers and door handles, etc...

[Greg Myers]

It would be interesting to see them do a hot rod kit just to see their take on it.

are you ready ?

[niteowl7710]

Ooooor if you want the REAL idea of the American Hot Rod/Muscle Car scene in Japan without the bewildering side of xenophobia...

http://www.borderskustom.com/Site/Welcome.html

or

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/12/live-report-ttac-shows-you-all-the-american-cars-in-japan-gobs-and-gobs-of-whacky-pictures/

[Tom Geiger]

With all the armchair quarterbacking in this thread about what Revell 'coulda done, shoulda done' the one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the B word... BUDGET. It's easy to post pie in the sky here, but it all comes down to what is feasible with resources and funds at any given time.

Past attempts at selling to kids may have been poor, but all that could be accomplished at the time. I remember the Revell snap series that included the Ramblur, were reissued with cartoon characters such as Charlie Brown on the prefinished bodies. I don't believe it worked because the vehicle subjects just didn't appeal to kids.

Prior to the purchase of Revell by Hobbico, they didn't have any product development funds to do things they may have wanted to do. Hobbico understands the market and has funded a lot of kits that we all enjoy. Now the parent company is funding an attempt at an easy kit series, with the contempory subject matter that kids would be attracted to. Let's see how they do!

[Lownslow]

I see a lot of those "future builders" going RC or back to video games if revell doesnt modernize their future lineup.

[Greg Myers]

Now that's Hot Rod History.

[Casey]

OK, we're getting way off track again. Let's get back to Revell new line of kits, please.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Man, I just go where the conversation goes. It stays on topic, I will too.

And in light of other content not deleted, I'm putting this pic BACK in the discussion - no inflammatory language this time, just letting it speak for itself. 'Cause in light of what was off-topic first, it's got a point that needs to be made:

Think I'll simply reiterate that we seem to be treating the whole notion of the simplified pre-decorated glue kit with a bit more novelty than it's due, and I'll be very interested in seeing how Revell's latest approach evolves that 15-year-old concept.

Of course, those plans for the '83 Cutlass that circulated a while back, while very retro-Monogram in their design approach, would also appear to fit right into this apparent strategy.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Chuck Kourouklis

[keyser]

The kits that started the mad rush in late 50's and early 60's were about as close to snaps as one could get. Annuals had f/r bumpers, body, chassis, glass, interior tub, steering wheel, dash, 4 tires/wheels, 2 axles, 4 screws, and interior washers. Plus/minus hood ornaments, skirts, antennae, few other kustom parts, and we had a whopping 30 parts +/-. Not far off from current snaps.

Getting something complete and playing with it or putting on shelf matters. Only nuts like us look at boxes and boxes of 1/2 completed kits. Why do you think so many kits from the "good old days" had engine block halves glued, and that was about it?

The '10 Mustang convertible wasn't too bad, and kit-bashed with detail kit okay. Molded in colors, and only wish that real decals as well as stickers were included. Molded in colors not far from pre-finished/partial finished.

Kids getting kits built will probably want to try another, and can look at the finished product and hope for a 1:1. Uncompleted kits don't give sense of accomplishment like that. Video games give accomplishment that's hard to beat, and can get played on phone, iPod, console. I think this has great promise, and I hope it goes well. I want the '15 snap as do my kids. Fact that kit is out before the car is crucial too.

[towtruck]

got a flier from my LHS about these new models & in the description it say's " perfect for the new builder " but there both skill level 3 not ragging on Revell but that's kinda confusing.

[Brett Barrow]

Revell is changing their Skill Levels to a new system and I'm sure will launch a marketing campaign to educate the consumer about these as they get closer to release. There will be 5 levels (I think - maybe more?). The new super-easy Snap kits like the 2015 Mustang will be the new Skill 1. The new glue kits with prepainted bodies (2013 ZL-1 Camaro and SRT8 Challenger) will be the new Skill 3. The existing Snap-Tites will become Skill 2 and the existing glue kits will become Skills 4 and 5. It'll take a while to fully transition.

I find the new prepaints really interesting. Simplified, promo-like construction but with engine. Only the bodies will be fully pre-painted. Price point ($19.99 MSRP) is under regular glue kits, and way under the AMT Showroom Replicas line these will directly compete with. Each will be initially available in 2 colors, with molded-in-white versions a possibility down the road. Pre-paints have been tried several times, but I don't remember them ever coming in at a lower price than regular kits.

[mnwildpunk]

Ok I find the pre painted kit idea interesting nor so much for me but more for the hobby as a whole. I see them as a way to get new young builder into the hobby and that is always a good thing

[niteowl7710]

So they're switching to the "International" Skill Level chart that Revell AG has been using? Interesting...

[martinfan5]

Revell is changing their Skill Levels to a new system and I'm sure will launch a marketing campaign to educate the consumer about these as they get closer to release. There will be 5 levels (I think - maybe more?). The new super-easy Snap kits like the 2015 Mustang will be the new Skill 1. The new glue kits with prepainted bodies (2013 ZL-1 Camaro and SRT8 Challenger) will be the new Skill 3. The existing Snap-Tites will become Skill 2 and the existing glue kits will become Skills 4 and 5. It'll take a while to fully transition.

I find the new prepaints really interesting. Simplified, promo-like construction but with engine. Only the bodies will be fully pre-painted. Price point ($19.99 MSRP) is under regular glue kits, and way under the AMT Showroom Replicas line these will directly compete with. Each will be initially available in 2 colors, with molded-in-white versions a possibility down the road. Pre-paints have been tried several times, but I don't remember them ever coming in at a lower price than regular kits.

I wonder how easy, or hard it will be to strip the bodies?

[kitswapper]

Very few kids buy model kits period..It's just the way the times are..

[mnwildpunk]

Very true but I think revell is trying to turn the tide so to speak even if lets say a couple thousand younger kids find the new kits interesting then maybe a couple 100 or so really take to the hobby I see that as a win not only for the child and Revell but I see it as a win for all of us modelers

[Guest]

I think for any model company to successfully lure the younger generation/kids, they need to have a tie in of some sort. The most logical to me seems to be video games. My now ten year old son is into Halo. But, he's never played the game in his life. Mega Bloks Lego makes all kinds of vehicles from Halo, Star Wars etc. and they are expensive! A normal sized vehicle like the size of a model car is well over thirty dollars and will have hundreds of small pieces. The bigger the vehicle, the more expensive they get. My son has a "Mammoth" which is roughly the size of a 1/8 scale kit or bigger. It has like 3200 pieces IIRC and cost right at $300 shipped. I figured there was no way a nine year old would ever build it and that I was probably wasting my money. It literally has a one hundred plus page book for instructions! When he got it and began unpacking it, I again thought, "there's no way this little guy will ever be able to build this thing!" I don't remember how many different packages there were. But, they covered the entire floor of the 10x12 portion of his room. The little guy sat down in the floor and immediately went to work on it. Ever little while, he would run downstairs with what he had done to show it to us and talk about how awesome it was. He only asked for my help one time and it was only because he didn't have enough strength in his hands to snap the parts together. After three days of working on it what seemed like non stop, he had it done. I was quite impressed with how it actually looked. It doesn't really look like a Lego vehicle at first glance. I think I was more proud of him than he was of himself! Seeing that big smile on his face and how proud he was of what he had accomplished made the price unimportant. My wife and I later bought him some type of Halo flying ship that had even more pieces and cost more. It sets proudly on his dresser and almost takes up the entire space.

The point here? If your kid doesn't like to build model cars, don't sweat it. Find out what they do like to build and support that. After all, how many of us liked the same hobby as our fathers? My father loved coon hunting. He would work all day and hunt all night. He lived and breathed it (kinda like some of us (me) with models) until he literally was physically unable to do it. Even then, his buddies would swing by and pick him up to take with them. He would sit in truck and listen to the dogs barking. To him, there was nothing better than those sounds. That was his hobby. I have mine. My son has his. Someday, my grandson/granddaughter will have a hobby that neither my son nor I will understand. That's how life goes. We can't take our kids back to the '60s-'70s and make them understand why we like to build model cars no more than they can make us understand why they like what they do.

Model companies may have to make a drastic change like Lego has done to appeal to kids. They've made a huge turn around with their business model. They no longer just make little square blocks that snap together. Who knows? The model companies may be out of business in a few more years with the advancements 3-D printing is making. The machines are getting better and cheaper by the day. In another ten years, we may all have one on the bench. I think that is what the younger generation could get into IF they ever do get into models.

The times have changed drastically since the early 60s'. Model kits? Not so much. I don't think dumbing them down further is the answer.

[Tom Geiger]

I have to agree with Roger here! It's been said that kids today don't build anything with their hands. The fact that Lego is in an amazing renaissance right now blows that theory to hell. And Roger has shown that kids have the interest and ability to stick to things through completion if they are properly motivated.

My daughters are now 26 and 30, but again of the generation that we said didn't do anything with their hands. They each had a successful go at building a model with dad, models that are proudly displayed in my case today. And to this day they are avid crafters. They love to build stuff, paint things and put their personal touch on gifts. Michaels, JC Moore, JoAnnes and Hobby Lobby wouldn't exist today if nobody was using their hands.

And Lego is probably more popular today than when we were kids, certainly more interesting and varied! I see that Walmart has nearly a full aisle devoted to Lego. Then I went into a small toy store that was nearly all Lego. I asked the owner how he managed to survive and he said that in Legoworld, he concentrated on the high end tough to find stuff you don't find in the box stores. He found a niche so Lego folks are sophisticated and know that product as well as we know the model lines!

Revell's attempt at bringing in young modelers should be commended. They have the baby boomer end rather well covered with kits of subjects we all love. And now they're covering the other end of the spectrum. A big part of why there are no young model car builders is exposure and availability. We found models everywhere as kids. Heck, I'd go grocery shopping with my mother because they had models displayed down the center of the freezer cases and I'd always manage to finagle one for the trip. So if Revell is successful in getting these beginner kits in the stores where they'll be seen, kids will buy them and when they want to step up, they'll find the hobby shops just as Lego folks have found that one niche Lego store!

[unclescott58]

Amen, Mr. Hayes. I agree almost 100% with what you said. I too did not follow into my father's hobby. In his case it was woodworking. One of my sisters did. But, not I. The only place I disagree with you a little bit. And I'm not sure we're disagree. A lot of kids today have not been exposed to model kits. I work in the education field. From time to time, after explaining to kids my hobby, if they express interest I'm bring in a kit for them to see. Kids are just fascinated by the kits. Both boys and girls. Though more so the boys. And want to know were they can get one. And here is the rub.. It's not like the old days where could walk into practically any store and buy a model kit. When I was a kid every drug store, dime store, and discount store sold model kits and some paint and glue. Dime stores for the most part are gone. Haven't seen a model kit in a drug store in years. Nor do stores like Target of K-Mart carry models. Only a few Wal-Marts carry models any more. And the last one I was in a week ago, did not keep the models with the other toys. It was by accident my buddy and I found out about the model kits at that Wal-Mart.

Now I go to a few cars shows were there will be beginning modelers displays, mainly sponsored by Revell, were a kid can get and build a snap kit for free. This is great. But, if the kid doesn't go to something like that with an interested adult, how will they be exposed to these events? I think kids still love models. I think the adults. The general public. Has forgotten models. And because the lack of exposure most kids today never get a chance to see or build model kits. By the way, it was my parents. Both my mother and father who helped me build my first models. They encouraged the hobby by buy me kits for birthdays, holidays, and other events. Because of that, I built more than just cars. Car just became my favorite.

I'm glad Revell keeps on trying to offer snap kits and kits with predecorated bodies. They may not be be for me. But that's OK. Now if they could convince more retailers to offer kits. And put them in places were kids will discover them.

Scott

P.S. There are not the number of hobby stores there once was when I was kid. In my day, it seems every town, neighborhood, and shopping mall had one. Again, less chance for the newer generations to be exposed to the hobby.

Edited June 8, 2014 by unclescott58

[Luc Janssens]

My 6 year old son loves Lego Star Wars, find it funny, he never saw one of the S W movies, yet he knows most of the characters, with my guidance he just built his first space ship, I was heavily into Lego when I was 12, when the technic series came out...

'bout model kits, I think paint is the problem, it can very messy if you know what I mean and think Revell is addressing that parental concern ;^), also I hope that they're breaking down the parts in such a way that for example the grille insert(s) is (are) on a black sprue, together with the suspension parts, the interior parts maybe on a tan, the engine parts on a molded in silver one and last but not least a pre-painted (Tampo printed?) black fret on the windows, hopefully they look better when finished then a $15 diecast...anyway, looking forward trying one...maybe even with my son, when they become available here.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Luc Janssens