If I Ran Revell....

[Luc Janssens]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

When a non-retooled repop is released, why not just tell the truth on the box, something like "This is a nostalgia kit, made in 60-year-old (or whatever) tooling, and is identical in most respects to the original. Do NOT expect the level of fit, accuracy, or complexity of a kit tooled in the 21st century".

That should go a long way towards dispelling disappointment upon opening the box.

Still, in some respects, the 60-year-old stuff can be more accurate than much more recent offerings. I wonder why that is.

and a big pop-up saying the same, when one clicks the buy button of one's favorite online store

 

[Brett Barrow]

People don't read boxes or website descriptions.  Trust me. 

[Luc Janssens]

18 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

People don't read boxes or website descriptions.  Trust me. 

We're doomed!

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

54 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

People don't read boxes or website descriptions.  Trust me. 

Yeah, sorry. I forgot for a minute which planet I was on.

This one is ruled by the lazy, the stupid, and the willfully ignorant.

Everything has to be geared to the lowest-common-denominator.

My bad.

[Justin Porter]

Well, let's view it this way. I haven't actually answered the question of "If I ran Revell"... 

First - An active multi-media approach to brand promotion. Revell is, for lack of a better word, junk at informing the public about Revell. Actively supporting name Youtube reviewers with "before you can get it" test shots, a dedicated and active Revell channel for new release, brand news, and promotional information, closer ties to dedicated scale modeling magazines, developing a relationship/tie-in with one of the prevalent eSports racing franchises such as iRacing, Assetto Corse, or Project Cars, and evaluating sponsorship of either events or teams in motorsport all lead to improved sales. 

Second - Narrow the product line to identifiable "series" of kits which will always have incoming product, either reissue, modified-reissue, or all new tooling. Ideally, these would reflect not only the interest of the core customer base (American Classics, Street Rods & Customs, Drag Racing, Pick-Ups) but also portions of the market that are notably strong where Revell has been traditionally weak (Vintage & Modern Road Racing, Classic Sports Cars, Tuners). An expected product development cycle with regular communication with the customer base will make "The Next Revell" kit a less mysterious but a more talked about item. 

Third - Cull badly aged tooling or clearly dated kit design from the core catalog, placing desirable kits with strong customer demand into STRICTLY a dedicated SSP program with accompanying history department to maintain and restore tooling to as close to its original form as possible. 

Fourth -  Create tiered releases of existing kits wherein the core plastic sprues remain essentially the same, but expanded decal sheets, photo-etch, tampo-printed tires, and more fully detailed resin or 3D printed parts are included in upper tier editions similar to Eduard's Weekend Edition and Profi-Pack line of aircraft kits. These additional parts would also be available separately in a dedicated line underneath a nice classy name, one that indicates that we as a company have put our signature on it. 

Our "Monogram", if you will...

[mikemodeler]

Now that Revell is owned by a German company, I am surprised no one mentioned having a US based product team. I agree with Justin's above comments on "connecting" with modelers in new ways and also segmenting their product catalog and offering.

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Justin Porter said:

Well, let's view it this way. I haven't actually answered the question of "If I ran Revell"... 

It wasn't a question. It was a statement of something--one thing--I would do if I ran Revell. 

And I never meant that it was the only thing I would do. It's just a new program I would start. 

[1972coronet]

21 hours ago, Junkman said:

If I ran Revell, I'd first reissue the '62 Mopar kits and watch with relish how you ugly lot smash each other's heads in to get them.
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Then I'd have the Duel truck and Valiant tooled in 1/25 and issue them in an ultra expensive set just because I'm cynical.
  Fantastic ! And I'm just dorky enough to have those bullocks . The only question : which truck ( there were two used ) and which Valiant ( there were three used ) .

Then I'd have a 50s Diner tooled up in 1/25 scale.

 To authenticate it , scale ashtrays and cigarette vending machines would be necessary .

Then I'd say, see, I told you so for 40 rotten years.

 

[tim boyd]

7 hours ago, Luc Janssens said:

Good point, the US pickup truck replaced the big American car, big is better so it seems, and also here in Antwerp Belgium, we see quite a lot of those US pickup trucks, number one brand is Dodge with their Ram,  then far behind is Chevy (more Suburbans then C series) and sometimes you'd spot a Ford Raptor

The Ford Ranger (the contemporary one sold in all world markets except the US) is now the best selling pickup in Europe....I realize that's not a full size pickup but it is very popular in most worldwide markets (outsells Toyota in many) and it would seem that as a kit subject might have more international appeal than the full size pickups???  Just wondering....TIM .

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, tim boyd said:

The Ford Ranger (the contemporary one sold in all world markets except the US) is now the best selling pickup in Europe....I realize that's not a full size pickup but it is very popular in most worldwide markets (outsells Toyota in many) and it would seem that as a kit subject might have more international appeal than the full size pickups???  Just wondering....TIM .

I was peeved when Ford dropped the Ranger ! The rationale that I'd heard was , "A (fully-optioned) Ranger is close-in-price to an F-150." .

Bullocks !

That's the problem : not everyone is in the market for a 'Cowboy Cadillac' ! One of the trucks that the company where I work had was a 2008 model --- it was optioned perfectly : 2.5 litre DFI 4 cylinder ; 5-speed auto ( "5R55" ? ) ; 4.10 gear ; AM/FM stereo ; A/C . It's what was "missing" that made it so great ; it had rubber floor covering , vinyl seat , manual windows , manual locks . 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back to the original post's directive :

I recognise that the Revell 1994 Impala SS shares its basis with the wildly-popular Revell 1991 9C1 Caprice . While this certainly isn't news to most , it proves the point of the O.P. / thread .

Edited January 3, 2019 by 1972coronet

[CapSat 6]

I’m going to try to stick to keeping my thoughts on the original proposal. 

I’m kind of torn on this one. The idea I have had in my mind was: a series of pre-colored, easy to assemble curbside kits, of various classic and newer subjects. I’m thinking curbside because 1) they would be more accessible to younger or more inexperienced modelers and 2) to keep development costs down. 

I was thinking subjects such as: early 60’s Mopar B Bodies, some of the missing Mercury Cyclones, some Buick intermediates, a few interesting GM G bodies. Mopar A bodies and GM NOVA bodies would work well, because they would all use exactly the same chassis. Maybe add in some foreign subjects such as some 70’s Aston Martins, Fiats, and some newer cars as well. A little Muscle, a little luxury, some sports cars. Some old stuff, some new stuff. Sort of like a scale encyclopedia of cars. I think many younger modelers do like older subjects, but there really should be something for everybody in the series.

 

The initial intro would have to be more than 4 cars- something like 8 to start, so that it would be a real series, so that there were enough diverse subjects to appeal to many potential purchasers, and also to whet the appetite of the market for more. It seems like when a series is started with 2-4 cars, sometimes there just isn’t enough subject there to gain interest and really get it rolling.

The subjects would specifically be: cool cars that were never really kitted (or kitted well) before. 57 Chevies, Camaros, ‘69 Chargers, most Mustangs and Corvettes (except for the newest model ones) would be avoided. That would give us more advanced modelers some subjects we might not otherwise ever see as full detail kits. For the longest time, I had in my mind an 80’s Olds 442 for the series, but lo and behold, we finally got a kit of one. 

Packaging would have to be very exciting, and I would shoot for as much mass-market sales as possible (talk to Wal-Mart, Target, other large retail chains about selling them at those stores, and not just for Christmas).

A reasonable entry price point would be determined, hopefully helped by the aforementioned mass-market push. I see decent quality 1/24 scale diecasts at Rite Aid and CVS for $10-$13 all the time - with substantially greater distribution than we see in today’s market, I have to believe that a relatively low MSRP for a product like this could be maintained. $25 per model is just too expensive for the casual builder. Hobby Shops might have to be talked into the pricing a bit, but it would have to be presented to them that this is a “gateway” product, that might encourage more interest in their pricier items later.

If I were to commit money to these kits’ development, I would put as much as possible into making sure the bodies were very accurate, and that they could be built pretty easily right out of the box. 

Maybe a few custom parts could be included, and in the case of hood scoops or other bits for the body, perhaps they could be attached with some included double-sided tape, so that no glue would be necessary, and no holes would have to be cast into the body or have to be opened up. Assembly would be on a par with Revell’s current “Build and Play” line, or AMT’s old “Slammers” line. These were some of the easiest to assemble and best looking out-of-the-box models ever, and I think that goes a LONG way towards introducing new people to the hobby.

My opinion of engineering them to fit specific full detail chassis is that it sounds good, but in practice, it might result from some unwanted compromises in design, and also, that would take development money away from ensuring good product overall. I would think that more advanced modelers who wanted to use these for the basis of more detailed builds could make due with a curbside and adapt an existing full detail chassis without too much trouble. These kits would have to have development costs controlled so that they could make a good return on the investment, but again, I would commit as much as possible to making the end result look good, both by way of accuracy (does it really look like a ‘75 Herkimer?) and overall result (how nicely does it build and present?). 

 

 

[CapSat 6]

Sorry about the big print (although your eyes might thank me!), I don’t know how that happened...

[Spex84]

Justin's ideas above are almost exactly what I had typed (and deleted because I couldn't express myself satisfactorily) before my "trucks" comment.  Nailed it! My example was going to be LEGO and all the irons they have in the fire--kit creator software and a per-part ordering system, video games, movie tie-ins and collectibles--all hinged around a high-quality product that has many imitators but no equals. Some elements of that (admittedly expensive) approach could be useful to Revell.

 

Edited January 3, 2019 by Spex84

[Luc Janssens]

4 hours ago, tim boyd said:

The Ford Ranger (the contemporary one sold in all world markets except the US) is now the best selling pickup in Europe....I realize that's not a full size pickup but it is very popular in most worldwide markets (outsells Toyota in many) and it would seem that as a kit subject might have more international appeal than the full size pickups???  Just wondering....TIM .

 

Yes, but there's a difference about a car/truck one buys out of necessity versus one you would like to have but can't.

Not saying this can't be a hit, far from but IIRC Cavaliers, K-Car Chargers, Escorts at one point in time were also pretty good sellers in the real world.

Just saying the (automotive kits) hobby is fed by emotion,  just as in the 1/1 world, but pesky things like fuel mileage, budget, and practicality are also a big factor there.

 

[Reegs]

More Gassers, like a '39 Stude Businessman's Coupe. Two engine options (SBC and a 392) either blown or injected (builders choice), pie-crust slicks, the whole mid-'60s look. Oh, and please, keep it class legal - include two front seats and those damned splash panels.

Yup, I prefer early iron.

Then you can have all the dull-as-dishwater showroom stock kits you want. 

[Brett Barrow]

14 hours ago, mikemodeler said:

Now that Revell is owned by a German company, I am surprised no one mentioned having a US based product team. I agree with Justin's above comments on "connecting" with modelers in new ways and also segmenting their product catalog and offering.

There is no US product team.  Revell US is one person now.  That's it.  And he had to fight like hell to convince them to keep any US operations at all.  

 

[mikemodeler]

1 hour ago, Brett Barrow said:

There is no US product team.  Revell US is one person now.  That's it.  And he had to fight like hell to convince them to keep any US operations at all.  

 

Thus the reasoning behind my post Brett. I remember interviewing for a product manager's job at Revell around 1995 and was impressed by the size of the staff they had in Morton Grove for a model company. I think they still need a staff in the US to help with new product development and what has to be one of their largest markets.

[Junkman]

17 hours ago, 1972coronet said:

Then I'd have the Duel truck and Valiant tooled in 1/25 and issue them in an ultra expensive set just because I'm cynical.
  Fantastic ! And I'm just dorky enough to have those bullocks . The only question : which truck ( there were two used ) and which Valiant ( there were three used ) .

The pair that least matches the box art, of course. I'm running Revell, remember?

[Snake45]

18 minutes ago, Junkman said:

I'm running Revell, remember?

I don't know what you're running, but I"m sure glad it's not Revell! 

[Junkman]

I gather you don't appreciate my Elon Musk approach?

[1972coronet]

6 hours ago, Junkman said:

The pair that least matches the box art, of course. I'm running Revell, remember?

Too bad that Round2 bought the MPC (et al.) moulds from Racing Chumps --- box art-versus- actual contents was their forté .

 

[Richard Bartrop]

We all have our pet peeves, but there's no need to go into supervillain mode.    Just because it says the paint is for military models, it doesn't mean you can't use them for cars.  All those flat colours are great for upholstery, and I've always found Humbrol's range of flat not quite whites to be just the thing for making a realistic looking convertible top.   Besides, seeing how the military stuff takes up anywhere from half to 2/3 the kits in the shops I frequent, I'm going to say from a kitmaker's standpoint, their money is just as good.

Now as for what kinds of cars to do?  Obviously, licenses are going to be an issue, but I think the emphasis should be on emotion.  Never mind what sold the most, what are the cars that make people go "Wow, I don't care if it's practical or not, I want one!"?  A few exotics and concept cars should be in the mix, and the Japanese certainly seem to have done well with this approach.  I'd look into getting the rights to do the new Chiron, the McLarens and the Koenigsegg.  Some people have dumped on the Devalli, and sure, it's probably vapourware, but it looks like a giant Hot Wheels, and for that reason, I think it would do well with the younger crowd.   Definitely see if I could sweet talk GM into letting Revell do the new mid engined Corvette,  and I would be looking to see if I could make the numbers work for a large scale Easy click version of either that, or the new Ford GT.

Yes, trucks would be part of the mix.   They're not just tools anymore, they're fashion statements, and people aspire to own them, so some of the big luxo-pickups might be good kit material, and you could market it as an exotic piece of Americana outside of the US.

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 1/1/2019 at 11:50 PM, Junkman said:

If I ran Revell, I'd first reissue the '62 Mopar kits and watch with relish how you ugly lot smash each other's heads in to get them.
Then I'd release variations of the '59 Caddy and Chevy, such as a Fleetwood 60 Special, an Impala flattop sedan and a Biscayne four door sedan.
Then I'd have a 1/24 scale Borgward Isabella newly tooled because Germany and I'd have to somehow finance my expensive - errr - lifestyle.
Then I'd have the Duel truck and Valiant tooled in 1/25 and issue them in an ultra expensive set just because I'm cynical.
Then I'd have a Greyhound Scenicruiser and a Büssing D2U tooled up in 1/25 and 1/24 respectively.
...
Then I'd have a 50s Diner tooled up in 1/25 scale.
Then I'd supplement the tractor series with a Lanz Bulldog. Because I could.
Then I'd have as many 57-60 American finned monsters tooled up in 1/25 scale as the styrene granulate supply permits.
Then I'd say, see, I told you so for 40 rotten years.

And I'd buy 'em all. Every last one. And at LEAST two of the Borgward, the Scenicruiser and the Duel truck.

I nominate this man for King (as long as you throw in a bullet-nose Stude).  

Edited January 4, 2019 by Ace-Garageguy

[Classicgas]

15 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And I'd buy 'em all. Every last one. And at LEAST two of the Borgward, the Scenicruiser and the Duel truck.

I nominate this man for King (as long as you throw in a bullet-nose Stude).  

X2!

[stitchdup]

I'd re-release the vw corrado kits and tool up a bay window bus, pick up, and camper. I would look to having one of the big audi sedans or even the TT in the line up since the under 30s seem to have them as a bit of halo tuner. Some euro engine sets would also be in the line up along with some wheel sets. I would also have some drift cars such as mad mikes mazda's instead of the dtm race cars for a year, then do them alternate years so one year would be drift and the next year would be dtm. I would look to time attack cars too given how popular they are with the younger croud. I would have 2 or 3 vintage kits in each years line up based on the most popular requests on my web site and throw in one vintage oddity each year in a limited release to give the collectors something they think is special at a premium price but really isn't. I'd also have some truck trailers for the semi builders in 1/24 and 1/25 as there really isn't that big a selection and the resin stuff is expensive. I'm sure I can come up with more