News of Revell molding preparing in US

[OldNYJim]

Nothing much to stop them rebranding it the "Army Rod" or something if they were THAT worried, right?  I mean, we did have THIS a few years ago so that kids weren't inspired to drink entire barrels of beer after building a model kit

 

[Brett Barrow]

16 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

Fascinating to hear that TD kits are so popular too - I figured us showrod builders were the minor-ist of minorities - cool to find out that they STILL sell well 50-60 years on!

Never underestimate the power of boomer nostalgia. 

[Brett Barrow]

7 minutes ago, CabDriver said:

Nothing much to stop them rebranding it the "Army Rod" or something if they were THAT worried, right?  I mean, we did have THIS a few years ago so that kids weren't inspired to drink entire barrels of beer after building a model kit

 

Binney & Smith (Crayola) era kit. Pretty sure they brought the Beer Wagon back as the Beer Wagon more recently, right? 

[OldNYJim]

2 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

Binney & Smith (Crayola) era kit. Pretty sure they brought the Beer Wagon back as the Beer Wagon more recently, right? 

I think it has been re-alcoholled since, yeah.  

All I meant by my comment before was that if RoG WAS worried about the theme of this Rod, they could pretty easily rename it to the Tank Rod or whatever and suddenly it's more PC, if they were worried about that stuff...

[Brett Barrow]

1 hour ago, CabDriver said:

I think it has been re-alcoholled since, yeah.  

All I meant by my comment before was that if RoG WAS worried about the theme of this Rod, they could pretty easily rename it to the Tank Rod or whatever and suddenly it's more PC, if they were worried about that stuff...

I get what you mean but remember Revell Germany doesn’t own Revell, a German investment group owns both and from the looks of it they’ve pretty much left the same people in place on both sides so I don’t expect a lot to change. The whole flying saucer deal was because they had presented its history as fact like the the Nazis had actually developed the technology and were working on it like it was real. Plus it was a rebox (the same kit Squadron edit: Wave/Head & Hand not Squadron has been selling for a few years so it wasn’t like they had sunk a whole bunch into its development) Rommel's Rod is much more whimsical I don’t think anybody would take it seriously. 

Edited August 21, 2018 by Brett Barrow

[OldNYJim]

15 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

I get what you mean but remember Revell Germany doesn’t own Revell, a German investment group owns both and from the looks of it they’ve pretty much left the same people in place on both sides so I don’t expect a lot to change. The whole flying saucer deal was because they had presented its history as fact like the the Nazis had actually developed the technology and were working on it like it was real. Plus it was a rebox (the same kit Squadron has been selling for a few years so it wasn’t like they had sunk a whole bunch into its development) Rommel's Rod is much more whimsical I don’t think anybody would take it seriously. 

Interesting!  I didn't know all the history behind the Revell UFO - thanks again Brett!

[1972coronet]

2 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Anyone else see the irony of the Germans selling us Rommel's Rod?  

Orders were issued in-absentia to the troops .

[Mike999]

I didn't know about the Haunebu flap either.  Thanks.  Here's an interesting article on it from Mysterious Universe.  And the author is surely right about it's eBay price after this. 

I have the Haunebu from WAVE/Head & Hand Models, shown below.  I thought the box art was neat, with the flying saucer shooting down a B-32 "Dominator" bomber over Germany.  I'm not sure if the WAVE kit is the same one issued by Squadron and Revell, or a different kit altogether. Do any of the experts know?

"Glorification of the Nazi war machine should rightly be condemned and the box clearly shows the flying saucer doing battle with non-German airplanes. Even if it were to be promoted as fictional (which would then rouse the conspiracists to demand its recall...you can’t win), the use of Nazi symbolism violates German laws and ethics. Yet other models will be sold and the original Revell Nazi saucers will undoubtedly show up on eBay for far more than $57."

https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2018/06/nazi-flying-saucer-model-removed-in-germany-after-public-outcry/

 

[Brett Barrow]

The Revell one is actually the Wave/Hand & Head one, the Squadron one is different. 

[Mike999]

24 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

The Revell one is actually the Wave/Hand & Head one, the Squadron one is different. 

Thanks.  So it should still be available, just not in a Revell box.  I'm really impressed with the Squadron post-war civilian Haunebu and may have to get one of those.

[Luc Janssens]

3 hours ago, Brett Barrow said:

iThe whole flying saucer deal was because they had presented its history as fact like the the Nazis had actually developed the technology and were working on it like it was real. Plus it was a rebox (the same kit Squadron edit: Wave/Head & Hand not Squadron has been selling for a few years so it wasn’t like they had sunk a whole bunch into its development) Rommel's Rod is much more whimsical I don’t think anybody would take it seriously. 

2

Revell got some free publicity there

 

[sfhess]

15 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Fascinating to hear that TD kits are so popular too - I figured us showrod builders were the minor-ist of minorities - cool to find out that they STILL sell well 50-60 years on!

We had a Show Rod theme class at our Spirit of Speed show last year and there were dozens of entries.  It was so cool to see so many of those type kits built well.  Almost filled a table with those alone.  It was so successful that we decided to make Show Rods a separate class at our show this year.

(November 4th at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA)

[OldNYJim]

5 hours ago, sfhess said:

We had a Show Rod theme class at our Spirit of Speed show last year and there were dozens of entries.  It was so cool to see so many of those type kits built well.  Almost filled a table with those alone.  It was so successful that we decided to make Show Rods a separate class at our show this year.

Ohhhhh, got any pics?  I'd LOVE to see that!

[Dave Van]

6 hours ago, sfhess said:

We had a Show Rod theme class at our Spirit of Speed show last year and there were dozens of entries.  It was so cool to see so many of those type kits built well.  Almost filled a table with those alone.  It was so successful that we decided to make Show Rods a separate class at our show this year.

(November 4th at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, CA)

My So Cal buddy was there.....has a few projects working for this year.....(showrods)

[niteowl7710]

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2018 at 9:28 PM, Brett Barrow said:

I get what you mean but remember Revell Germany doesn’t own Revell, a German investment group owns both and from the looks of it they’ve pretty much left the same people in place on both sides so I don’t expect a lot to change. The whole flying saucer deal was because they had presented its history as fact like the the Nazis had actually developed the technology and were working on it like it was real. Plus it was a rebox (the same kit Squadron edit: Wave/Head & Hand not Squadron has been selling for a few years so it wasn’t like they had sunk a whole bunch into its development) Rommel's Rod is much more whimsical I don’t think anybody would take it seriously. 

Are you saying Blitz has effectively re-hired the old Revell US staff to run the resumed operations over here?  Because they couldn't have been retained as they were Hobbico employees and were all let go back in April.

So yes Revell in Germany doesn't "OWN" Revell US as you point out, but it's not like a group of investment bankers know how to run a model company either.  The most logical course of action would be to put the management in Bunde in charge of all the operations which effectively - albeit not technically - combines the two Revells under one roof in Germany.

[Dave Van]

Dis-closer: I have not talked directly to any of my Revell contacts but hear some are working with Revell's new owners in some capacity. 

[Brett Barrow]

1 hour ago, niteowl7710 said:

Are you saying Blitz has effectively re-hired the old Revell US staff to run the resumed operations over here?  Because they couldn't have been retained as they were Hobbico employees and were all let go back in April.

So yes Revell in Germany doesn't "OWN" Revell US as you point out, but it's not like a group of investment bankers know how to run a model company either.  The most logical course of action would be to put the management in Bunde in charge of all the operations which effectively - albeit not technically - combines the two Revells under one roof in Germany.

I know the CEO/president/whatever his title is is the same but I'm drawing a blank on his name.  I keep wanting to say John Podesta but I know that's not it    What we've heard is they've hired a bunch of the old folks for the new company.  They couldn't continue operations with the old company because all money taken in a bankruptcy sale has to go to creditors so they wouldn't have been able to pay salaries.  

[Rob Hall]

7 hours ago, Brett Barrow said:

I know the CEO/president/whatever his title is is the same but I'm drawing a blank on his name.  I keep wanting to say John Podesta but I know that's not it    What we've heard is they've hired a bunch of the old folks for the new company.  They couldn't continue operations with the old company because all money taken in a bankruptcy sale has to go to creditors so they wouldn't have been able to pay salaries.  

John Grezecula or something like that IIRC. 

By the way, I noticed the Revell US website is down..it had been unchanged since the event. 

[Casey]

2 minutes ago, Rob Hall said:

John Grezecula

That particular John is with Round2.

Good to hear some (Ed Sexton, perhaps?) of the former Revell employees are still in the loop, so to speak. 

Edited August 22, 2018 by Casey

[niteowl7710]

Having a Former White House Chief of Staff on board would certainly add a well primed spin machine when it comes to addressing the given gaffes of any tooling errors that's for sure. 

Is the name we're searching for - Lou Aguilera?

[Brett Barrow]

13 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Is the name we're searching for - Lou Aguilera?

Swim...  Swensen...  Swanson...     SAMSONITE!!!  I was way off!      

[Rob Hall]

4 minutes ago, Brett Barrow said:

Swim...  Swensen...  Swanson...     SAMSONITE!!!  I was way off!      

Mmmm...Swensons.  Tasty NE Ohio drive in.  Love their cheeseburgers. 

[Badluck 13]

24 minutes ago, Rob Hall said:

Mmmm...Swensons.  Tasty NE Ohio drive in.  Love their cheeseburgers. 

Agreed but my own opinion nothin' beats "The Corral" and their "Double Nightmare" fully loaded !

[Jon Cole]

When I saw the German "Haunebu" saucer, I thought it was the same as this thing I built as a kid. But, apparently that is not so?

[Mr. Metallic]

On 8/23/2018 at 8:48 AM, Brett Barrow said:

Swim...  Swensen...  Swanson...     SAMSONITE!!!  I was way off!      

Excellent quote! thanks for the chuckle Brett

Also, thanks for sharing the info you have to quiet the nay-sayers. it's good to have some positive Revell info after so much darkness, useless conjecture and nay-saying

Edited August 24, 2018 by Mr. Metallic