Ben

Also, Harry, car builders don't have the numbers that they used to have back in the 60's and 70's. Truck builders may not be a huge part of the modeling scene but we are going stronger now than we were when the plastic big rig kits were in their hay day primarily in thanks to the hundreds of aftermarket guys who have had to step up and fill the voids that the model companies chose not too. That being said, the armor guys and the airplane guys will always outnumber us.

That IS my point! LOL You guys are primarily just that, Car Guys. I am as well, however I build everything and my Primary interest is construction equipment first and heavy trucks after that. I have been a master, automotive, RV and heavy truck tech all my life, been a die hard collector and builder of models for over forty years of my life. You know what I would never do? Tell you guys, who's main interest has always been cars, that a certain type of car kit would never sell well. Because unless it was produced and the sales didn't match or exceed the amount of money invested in producing it, There would be absolutly no way I could know.

It's hard for me to remember the Revell's from the Monogram's at the minute but I know all the 1/20 Emergency vehicles and helicopter were cancelled.

Fully agreed but let me ask you this, If you and your neighbors love Cricket, been playing it most of your lives, Know hundreds of people around the US that love Cricket as well and you have personally spoke with, in phone conversations with absolute die hard Cricket lovers from many countries from all over the world and pretty much EVERY ONE of them said they wish a new type of piece of Cricket equipment would be made (I'm not asking for a hobby shop) wouldn't that lend to make you believe that a new piece of Cricket equipment just may sell well, worldwide!

I view this statement this way, (assuming you build cars primarily). Think about, if you were at a model contest with one of your best automotive builds. You know you are an accomplished builder as well as all your peers. Then you find out that your model is going to be judged by an armor guy that builds nothing but tanks. He knows models but does he know enough about your subject to know what you had to do to produce the model you present?

Now you tell me, honestly, from a car guys point of view, is that not a very detailed and interesting kit with a LOT of pieces. Even if the subject itself does not appeal to you.

Look at the Revell Ice Patrol pickup kit. It's actually a pretty cheesy rendition of a Chevy pickup with a snowmobile but people LOVE that kit! because it has the snowmobile!

I've seen that Dodge Ramcharger by itself fetch prices so high that I pulled one out of my parts box that I had built years ago with thoughts of listing it on Ebay!

Agreed but think about it, where is construction equipment seen more often, in the military or in the civilian world? If a dozer kit would sell well with the armor guys, wouldn't that same dozer fare better in civilian form as it is more commonly seen?

Why don't you ask AMT, ERTL, Heller, Italeri, revell, etc.? They all HAVE produced farm and construction equipment kits and released them here as well as in other countries. If there was "NO MARKET" as you guys foolishly believe, these kits would have NEVER been produced in the first place. Every type of machinery that has been produced in kit form is still being used worldwide today so don't try to hide behind the "yeah, but that was then, this is now" statement.

My point in mentioning the First Gear diecast was the simple fact.......There are many, many people interested in SCALE construction equipment. There's not one person on this forum that knows for a fact that many of the guys that buy the diecast, wouldn't build a plastic model of the same subject. To say you do, would be very ignorant!

Yes, and small, cheap, snap together car kits have ALWAYS outsold the much nicer, full detail glue kits!!!!!

How do you know this for a fact? That kit was issued twice. I find it VERY hard to believe the entire sum of both runs was only 1500 pieces!

Gee, didn't see this coming from six miles away. That's because this is Model CARS Magazine! There are VERY few truck modelers that even bother with this forum. Try going over to the Model Truck Discussion Group on Facebook and look at the replies there to the exact same question. You guys are clueless about what we want!

What I'm wondering is how do they know who would buy a kit of a new, modern piece of construction equipment, if they never even attempt to offer one???? Model truck builders would not be the only potential customers. How do you know for a fact that there are not many, many more that love construction equipment but don't really care for semi trucks? My point here is, none of us know how well a kit like this would do because it has never been offered. From what I have heard from my fellow modelers, leads me to believe it would.

Very sharp! Nice paint scheme.

Hey Bob, they are both 1/24.

I fully agree, cars are much less of a risk to produce as everyone can relate to them. However, just as the beginning of this thread implies, why not try something different? Even some car guys like to venture out and see what other kits are like. I know for a fact that there were many car guys that never built a semi truck but once they saw the prototypes for the Lonestar kit from Moebius, many were saying that maybe it was time they tried building a big rig.

The saying that model companies have to be able to produce variants from a single tool holds no water. Revell produced a huge model of an off shore oil rig (yes, I have that too) and again, it was released two times. How many people have a clue of what an off shore oil rig looks like up close. Think of how small of a market that kit had to aimed at and yet........it was still produced! What are you going to get out of the molds of an off shore oil rig...............an off shore oil rig!

Yes, because a simple piece of pipe is so much easier and rewarding to build than a fully detailed model to use as a load.

Yes, I'm sure you've spoken with thousands of modelers of older, classic cars and most all of them said that they would love, not just any type of classic car similiar to what the Duesenberg represents but, a Duesenburg Mudd Coupe in 1/8 scale with a load of potato ice cream. Whereas the the modelers I have spoken with, would be happy with any type of new modern construction equipment and the clubs already exist. your post is irrelevent.

If you only knew how many guys have been begging for a tri axle, removable gooseneck lowboy for all these years!!!! I honestly believe that if Moebius were to make one, sales would far exceed those of the reefer. We've been begging for that accurate reefer as well and I have personally seen several guys buying them by the case.

Not trying to fight either. My point is that if I had those funds, I would have no problem taking the risk because I know it would be a lucrative venture. I'm not foolish enough to invest in something I have no knowledge of, I'm going on years and years of input from fellow modelers. If you were standing in a room of 50,000 modelers where every one of them said they would buy a new construction model kit, would you still think it would not be wise to produce one? Sure, I haven't spoke to 50,000 modelers but over all these years, it has been into the thousands and I'm sure there's many, many more I have never spoke with.

I agree but what percetange of "all modelers" would buy, lets say...a Lindberg Dodge Caravan??? They ended up being produced. What about a model of a milling machine, what percentage of all modelers would buy that? Out of the two kits I mentioned, the only thing your going to get from the tooling are a Dodge Caravan and a milling machine.

Hey Richard, they're not available in the US yet to my knowledge. Lots of people have been buying them from China and Hong Kong. Even though it's 1/35, it's a BIG kit! Has lots of pieces as well!! I'm getting two just as soon as I can find them over here! I'm hoping someone will ofer a resin conversion set to turn it into a regular D9R.