Richard Bartrop

As has been pointed out elsewhere, you don't even need kits.

Yes, it would, and Bombardier has been supplying that need for a long time.

It looks like a prop from a Bond movie, but apparently it's a real thing. It would certainly make a cool model.

that's the flaw with groups like this. As comforting as it is to hang out with people who share your interests, they also end up the intellectual equivalent of letting cousins marry.

I'm good on kits for a while, Though if Revell decides to release something I want badly enough, I'll probably bite.

And as far as scratchbuilding goes, you have a lot more tools and materials available than they had back in the day. It may not be easy, but it is easier.

You mean, like this? Preaching to the choir here, but it's human nature to want to make things easier, and if someone makes a tool that will make it easier to do what you want, then it's foolish not to take advantage of it. Maybe you can carve out a perfectly circular whee riml with a consistent profile by hand, in which case, I take no shame is saying you're a better man than I, but I'm going to guess you cheat a little, and use some sort of machine tool to do it. The computer is just one more tool in the scratchbuilder's toolbox, and more people have computers than have machine shops. In any case, learning to use the tools at hand is more productive than crying doom.

Or even doing a deal with existing print companies. Some of those rare parts aren't worth running off as an injection moulded kit? Scan a few, and offer them through Shapeways. Though in the short time, all the small scale aftermarket part makers, and people hoping to get into it, are the ones who should really be looking at this. Can't find the parts you want? Maybe it's time to look into learning how to use modelling software.

It used to be that building a model kit meant a box full of wood pieces that you carved into the proper shape. Is anyone here really sad we don't do that anymore? We'll still be able to buy boxes full of styrene parts for a while, but I can't see the rise of 3D printing as anything but a good thing for modelers. Even if nobody makes your favourite resin part, it's becoming easier all the time to make whatever you need yourself, and if take a break from mourning your vanished youth to actually look at what's going on, it's pretty obvious that young people still want to build things, and make models. The hobby isn't dying, it's just evolving.

Gotta love those old Monogram classics.

An eye for line and proportion, like an ear for music, seems to be one of those thngs you either have, or you don't. Bill Mitchell had it. Harry Westergard had it. Josef Eiwanger Sr. had it. Josef Eiwanger Jr...did not.

Hermann Spohn knew a thing or two about how to craft a body. Unfortunately, he was long gone by this time, the guy who was in charge Josef Eiwanger Jr. did not. Now if you believe this article, the clients were responsible as well http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com/sport-custom-cars/hermann-spohn-coachbuilder-by-wayne-r-graefen/ Of course that more than one Spohn body looked like that suggests you can't blame it all on the client.

Spohn rebodied several old Fords with an eye to selling them to American GIs, and none of them are particularly attractive.

But don't worry, Revell won't abandon the traditional American rod and custom market. Hitting the shelves in time for Christmas will be an all new 1939 Ford with a custom body by the king of the German custom houses, Spohn.

Seriously, some cheap and easy to assemble kits for younger modelers might not be a bad idea.

But the collector's market won't be ignored, when Revell unveils its new "Box Art" line. No kits, just limited edition boxes illustrated by leading automotive artists. Each box will contain random pieces of styrene to capture the authentic heft and sound of an actual model kit.

You have to admit, it would make a nice companion to their BMW Isetta kit.

All American hot rods and muscle car kits will be scrapped as Revell embarks on a bold new direction. The first result will be a large scale kit of the beloved Zundapp Janus.

There's one by Lee that looks to be based off the Imai kit, but the chassis has been reworked so it can be motorized. The moulding also doesn't seem to be as crisp.

There's something really nice about that 80's style when done right, and this is definitely done right.

If you say so....

The Eliica is Japanese https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliica

Some vintage weird

And I'm sure the return of AMT's 32 Ford Coupe and roadster would be welcome by many.

It would also be nice to see Aurora's Porsche 904 back on the shelves, especially with the improvements Monogram made to the kit. A reissue of Revell's Porsche 928 would certainly benefit from sort of decal that would duplicate the funky op art upholstery of the original.