Modelhaus going, going Gone !!!!!!

[MrObsessive]

Just last week, the thought crossed my mind that if I want something else from Don and Carol, I better order it now.

Sure enough, at our club meeting this past Saturday (CPMCC), it was announced that they would stop taking orders as of today. I'm glad I listened to that "inner voice" as I've been eyeing their '76 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for some time now. I bit the bullet and ordered it along with a couple other small items. I don't mind what will be a long wait........Lord knows I got enough stuff to build now until I'm no longer walking the earth.

Unfortunately, you can best believe that there will be "those guys" that are buying huge quantities, only for it to show up on eBay for a ridiculous price at some point in the future as someone mentioned. Hopefully, they'll have a buyer waiting in the wings to take over, and put the kibosh on that sort of thing.

I wish Don and Carol all the best! As they mention in their letter, they had no idea that this would turn into the monster it became! Just goes to show that quality sells, and sells well! They've been at the top of their game for many years now, and they deserve a much needed and earned retirement.

Edited July 6, 2016 by MrObsessive

[gasman]

Happy I ordered my crew cab D200 on Friday, not expecting too see it for a couple years and that's ok. 

[Mooneyzs]

Guess I missed the dead line on when they were stopping taking orders.... Oh well such is life.

[Rob Hall]

I've got some parts and several kits on order from them from the last 3 months, I'm sure I'll get them eventually.   Hope they can eventually enjoy their retirement.  Been a great company to do business with over 25 years...I remember buying from them at their booth at the Toledo Collectors Toy Fair in the 90s.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Bugger. Procrastinated too long. Oh well. 

[Snake45]

Bugger. Procrastinated too long. Oh well. 

Yah, me too. Several years ago I bought a number of glue bomb and "project" AMT '63-'67 Corvettes with the idea of building a complete set, one coupe and one roadster from each year, using as many original parts as possible and reissue '63 parts as necessary. I always meant to sit down and make a list of exactly what I needed in interior parts (particularly seats, which had different patterns every year), but never did. Last night when I put in my "panic order" I grabbed some hoods, repair windshield frames and vac glass for repairs (sadly, they no longer offer the hard tops), but gave up on gut parts. Oh well, I THINK I have at least one good tub, dashboard, and set of seats from each year; I can put those in the roadsters and go with "make do" black interiors for the coupes, if need be.

I HOPE I remembered to order all the parts I need to restore two annual AMT '67 Camaros and about three, maybe four '68-'70 Javelins.

Also decided to splurge and pull the trigger on the complete '68 Coronet RT hardtop kit. I guess I can go without lunch for a few weeks (or months).

[Mike Chernecki]

Late last night I got my order in for the '68 Coronet. I was going to wait till today, lucky I didn't.

[High octane]

I had placed my final order for 4 kits and some parts back in May and I don't expect it to be shipped until sometime at the end of this year.  I have several other kits of theirs for 1950's cars already "stockpiled".  Those, along with the other promos and plastic model kits in my TO DO stash pile will surely be enough to keep me busy for several years, at the slow rate that I've been building lately.

I'm wondering how long it will be before we start seeing Modelhaus' kits and parts showing up on EBAY and/or at shows and swap meets at ridiculously high prices.  I'm sure a number of people who inundated the Holthaus's with orders are of the unscrupulous, money-hungry type.

Really Richard you think that Modelhaus kits & parts will show up on EVIL-bay??? LOL! That's a "given." I've thought of that awhile back, but I'm way too busy to buy & sell Modelhaus stuff. I'll be thinnin' out the herd some more soon as I have a lot more than I can or will build.

[High octane]

Late last night I got my order in for the '68 Coronet. I was going to wait till today, lucky I didn't.

The '68 Coronet is a really nice kit as I've had one from Modelhaus in my "stash" for a couple of years now. A lot of modeler's cry for a '68 Coronet kit, but not too many have ordered the one from Modelhaus as far as I know. Too bad!

[Bob Ellis]

Just last week, the thought crossed my mind that if I want something else from Don and Carol, I better order it now.

Sure enough, at our club meeting this past Saturday (CPMCC), it was announced that they would stop taking orders as of today. I'm glad I listened to that "inner voice" as I've been eyeing their '76 Cadillac Coupe DeVille for some time now. I bit the bullet and ordered it along with a couple other small items. I don't mind what will be a long wait........Lord knows I got enough stuff to build now until I'm no longer walking the earth.

Unfortunately, you can best believe that there will be "those guys" that are buying huge quantities, only for it to show up on eBay for a ridiculous price at some point in the future as someone mentioned. Hopefully, they'll have a buyer waiting in the wings to take over, and put the kibosh on that sort of thing.

I wish Don and Carol all the best! As they mention in their letter, they had no idea that this would turn into the monster it became! Just goes to show that quality sells, and sells well! They've been at the top of their game for many years now, and they deserve a much needed and earned retirement.

Interesting you say eBay, I'm sure Modelhaus items will go for a premium  soon.

[Rob Hall]

The '68 Coronet is a really nice kit as I've had one from Modelhaus in my "stash" for a couple of years now. A lot of modeler's cry for a '68 Coronet kit, but not too many have ordered the one from Modelhaus as far as I know. Too bad!

I have one of those also in my stash, along w/ the MPC '68 ht & conv annuals.  Also have the Modelhaus '70 Coronet 4dr.

[Mr Stock]

And the curtain closes .......

Just looked this morning and The website is now permanently closed and they are also no longer taking mail order.

I did manage to get my last order in a month or so ago.

I wish them all the best in their retirement and for their massive contribution to the hobby over the years, but they wont be able to relax for a long while yet by the sounds of it.

[unclescott58]

Sad that they're site is permanently down. I got my last order in a little over a month ago. Thanks to Carol and Don for the great service they have provided over the years. I've always been happy with everything I've ever ordered from them.

i hope someone steps in to take over their business. I'm worried that someone will buy it, thinking they have a gold mine on their hands, and screw it up. Besides quality, service was always a stronge point of buying from Modelhaus. Carol and Don did a great job. It will take more than just money/buying their company, to make it work.

[ChrisBcritter]

Truly the end of an era. Hope the bits I ordered in mid-May will be here by Thanksgiving or Christmas - I didn't order any chrome parts so that should help.

[Dave Van]

I have lots of Modlhaus product on my shelf and in my stash.

I truly hate to see them go.......but fully understand. I've run model aftermarket businesses and it can run your life.

The number of products they offered is mind boggling  and will never be seen again. 

Thanks to Don and Carol.....God bless going forward.

[dimaxion]

I don't think their son will be making the tires, I believe he was the son that died last year  

 

Yes , their son passed last year ..I placed my Last Order mid June with exchanges for UN-catalogged or special parts . Carol did the answering of the Emails . She warned my up front it would take more than a YEAR . I am patient .   Thank you Don & Carol .

[MrObsessive]

Interesting you say eBay, I'm sure Modelhaus items will go for a premium  soon.

I give it about a year (or sooner) when you'll see Modelhaus items turn up on eBay like crazy! If there are kits to be had, especially oddball stuff that no one else made and not a repop, get ready to shell out some serious buck$$$!

[Mike Chernecki]

I give it about a year (or sooner) when you'll see Modelhaus items turn up on eBay like crazy! If there are kits to be had, especially oddball stuff that no one else made and not a repop, get ready to shell out some serious buck$$$!

You already need to shell out some serious bucks when a Modelhaus kit goes up on eBay, can't imagine how much when they are gone for a few years. Take a look when a Shawn Carpenter Truck kit goes up for sale, outrageous prices. 

[Snake45]

When I get my various Corvette, Camaro and Javelin projects sorted out, I might end up having extras (grilles,taillights, etc.). If so, I'll offer them for trade here, not put them on eBay.

[SfanGoch]

Hey Bill! Clear some space in yer inbox!  

[Ace-Garageguy]

...Unfortunately, you can best believe that there will be "those guys" that are buying huge quantities, only for it to show up on eBay for a ridiculous price at some point in the future...

Yup, there's always plenty of maggots willing to make a profit on SOMEBODY ELSE'S hard work and reputation.

[Harry P.]

Yup, there's always plenty of maggots willing to make a profit on SOMEBODY ELSE'S hard work and reputation.

On the other hand... once Modelhaus products are no longer available from Modelhaus, the price of existing Modelhaus products will rise. Just like Pocher prices skyrocketed once Pocher went belly up. It's not necessarily the work of "maggots," it's called "supply and demand."

When a famous artist dies, the value of his works inevitably rises because there will be no more work coming from that artist. What already exists is all that exists, so prices will rise. The reason an original DaVinci, Van Gogh, or Dali is so freakin' expensive is that DaVinci, Van Gogh, and Dali aren't around anymore producing new work. It's not an evil conspiracy... it's free-market capitalism at work.

[Snake45]

 It's not an evil conspiracy... it's free-market capitalism at work.

Preach It, Brother Harry!

[Ace-Garageguy]

On the other hand... once Modelhaus products are no longer available from Modelhaus, the price of existing Modelhaus products will rise. Just like Pocher prices skyrocketed once Pocher went belly up. It's not necessarily the work of "maggots," it's called "supply and demand."

When a famous artist dies, the value of his works inevitably rises because there will be no more work coming from that artist. What already exists is all that exists, so prices will rise. It's not an evil conspiracy... it's free-market capitalism at work.

Yeah, I KNOW how it is and what it's called.

Like Van Gogh died penniless, but a year ago some fat bastard who probably can't paint a cabinet paid some other fat bastard who probably can't paint his toenails over $66 MILLION for his L'Allée des Alyscamps.

Yeah, that's just as it should be. Nah.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Harry P.]

Yeah, I KNOW how it is and what it's called.

Like Van Gogh died penniless, but a year ago some fat bastard who probably can't paint a cabinet paid some other fat bastard who probably can't paint his toenails over $66 MILLION for his L'Allée des Alyscamps.

Yeah, that's just as it should be. Nah.

Because there is only one of that painting existing. In the entire world. So if somebody wants it bad enough, they will pay the going rate.

You might not like it, but yeah, that's the way the world works.