Revell 4Q 2020

[Can-Con]

On 10/31/2020 at 1:15 PM, mrm said:

I have been wishing that Revel (or anyone for that matter) would make just one time a truly modern street rod chassis with proper IFS and IRS. A specifically designed for fenderless rods full chassis. 

I don't know if you're aware of this or not but ,,,

The AMT '39 Chevy "Wagonrod" has a full Art Morrison frame and suspension under it. The first issue even had a tiny "Art Morrison" decal. 

The AMT "Phantom Vicky" also has excellent  independent suspension under both ends on a modern aftermarket style '32 frame.

[RSchnell]

 

5 hours ago, Justin Porter said:

Believe me, when my distributor posts the incoming releases with their MSRP's I invariably wince when I see Round 2's latest "adjustments". 

I've often wondered if they're not going to end up pricing themselves out of business. I don't mind paying for a kit & have paid $100 or more for aircraft kits- but that's for a new tool high parts count/multiple options kit with quality decals and so forth. Not a reissue of a kit from the 60s with minimal parts count and questionable accuracy. 

[mrm]

1 hour ago, Can-Con said:

I don't know if you're aware of this or not but ,,,

The AMT '39 Chevy "Wagonrod" has a full Art Morrison frame and suspension under it. The first issue even had a tiny "Art Morrison" decal. 

The AMT "Phantom Vicky" also has excellent  independent suspension under both ends on a modern aftermarket style '32 frame.

Well aware. both of those work great when covered by fenders. I am talking about the suspensions that are designed for fenderless rods, like the Heidt setups on the pictures I posted. And I still can't figure out what were they thinking when they put that half ass Mustang rear suspension in the Phantom Vicky. 

  I am talking about this type of setup

 

[mrm]

11 minutes ago, RSchnell said:

 

I've often wondered if they're not going to end up pricing themselves out of business. I don't mind paying for a kit & have paid $100 or more for aircraft kits- but that's for a new tool high parts count/multiple options kit with quality decals and so forth. Not a reissue of a kit from the 60s with minimal parts count and questionable accuracy. 

THIS!!!!

Paying $70 for a Tamiya Laferrari with included window masks and self adhesive photoetched pieces and opening doors that fit with amazing precision is one thing. Paying $30 or more for a reissue of a very inaccurate '32 body, generically shaped frame and plastic blobs for details with very poor instructions just because of some nonsense Coca Cola decals is entirely different story. Especially considering that a lot of these kits have been released by other companies in much better quality and can be found around for half the price of the "new AMT". 

People are discussing the average age of model builders and the future of the hobby. Meanwhile the companies continue issuing the same old stuff over and over. Do you know who likes Dodge Darts and generic '60/'70s cars? People who have some sort of sentimental attachment to them. And sorry to say, but those guys are an endangered species. And if the manufacturers don't stay fresh and creative, they become endangered species too. Together with the whole hobby. 

[Fabrux]

3 hours ago, Can-Con said:

I don't know if you're aware of this or not but ,,,

The AMT '39 Chevy "Wagonrod" has a full Art Morrison frame and suspension under it. The first issue even had a tiny "Art Morrison" decal. 

The AMT "Phantom Vicky" also has excellent  independent suspension under both ends on a modern aftermarket style '32 frame.

Don't forget the Lindberg '37 Fords! 

[Plowboy]

3 hours ago, Can-Con said:

I don't know if you're aware of this or not but ,,,

The AMT '39 Chevy "Wagonrod" has a full Art Morrison frame and suspension under it. The first issue even had a tiny "Art Morrison" decal. 

The AMT "Phantom Vicky" also has excellent  independent suspension under both ends on a modern aftermarket style '32 frame.

The Phantom Vicky has a solid rear axle from a Mustang along with the control arms.

[Can-Con]

28 minutes ago, Plowboy said:

The Phantom Vicky has a solid rear axle from a Mustang along with the control arms.

Oh, OK. 

I was thinking it had a Vette rear suspension. Must have been thinking of something else.

[Plowboy]

2 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

Oh, OK. 

I was thinking it had a Vette rear suspension. Must have been thinking of something else.

Maybe the Monogram '37 Ford convertible?

[Can-Con]

Just now, Plowboy said:

Maybe the Monogram '37 Ford convertible?

possibly

[mrm]

The only kit ever made, that had a nice fenderless IFS, is the Lil John Buttera T Touring and its derivatives. And ironically it is actually full fendered. We need a better engineered new set up exactly like in the T Touring, but for '32 frames.

[niteowl7710]

10 hours ago, RSchnell said:

 

I've often wondered if they're not going to end up pricing themselves out of business. I don't mind paying for a kit & have paid $100 or more for aircraft kits- but that's for a new tool high parts count/multiple options kit with quality decals and so forth. Not a reissue of a kit from the 60s with minimal parts count and questionable accuracy. 

Well the other alternative is they don't make any profit, can't invest in things like the 70 1/2 Camaro, 72/74 Vegas, 64 Olds, and 63 Nova, and eventually go out of business because it's far more important to tow some magical $20 line, than to run a functional business.

Also keep in mind folks you're all wringing your hands over MSRP of kits.  Now I know there are more than a few poorly run hobby shops out there that rip off their customers by charging the MSRP, but in reality NOBODY should actually be paying that.  You don't pay MSRP on a 1:1 car either.  Does anyone think Hobby Lobby is losing money when they sell things for 40% off?  Considering their overall behavior, and refusal to shut down earlier this year specifically - they're not going to give money away for anyone/anything.  That 40% off MSRP is still 40-60% more than they're paying for their inventory.  The problem really isn't with Round2, or Revell, or Moebius at all unless the end goal is to continue to artificially cap prices and try to actively kill the hobby on behalf of everyone who thinks it's dying anyways.

[Snake45]

4 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Does anyone think Hobby Lobby is losing money when they sell things for 40% off?  Considering their...refusal to shut down earlier this year... 

What are you talking about? Many if not most HLs were shut down for WEEKS back in the spring. I know the three in my area were. 

[Justin Porter]

4 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Well the other alternative is they don't make any profit, can't invest in things like the 70 1/2 Camaro, 72/74 Vegas, 64 Olds, and 63 Nova, and eventually go out of business because it's far more important to tow some magical $20 line, than to run a functional business.

Also keep in mind folks you're all wringing your hands over MSRP of kits.  Now I know there are more than a few poorly run hobby shops out there that rip off their customers by charging the MSRP, but in reality NOBODY should actually be paying that.  You don't pay MSRP on a 1:1 car either.  Does anyone think Hobby Lobby is losing money when they sell things for 40% off?  Considering their overall behavior, and refusal to shut down earlier this year specifically - they're not going to give money away for anyone/anything.  That 40% off MSRP is still 40-60% more than they're paying for their inventory.  The problem really isn't with Round2, or Revell, or Moebius at all unless the end goal is to continue to artificially cap prices and try to actively kill the hobby on behalf of everyone who thinks it's dying anyways.

With rare exception, local hobby shops buy our merchandise through distributors at a rate of only 30%-50% off of MSRP. My concern with MSRP isn't primarily because of final price to customer, but rather because of the immediate impact of steadily rising costs for the same product. No, I don't mark what's on my shelves at MSRP, and I even go beyond that offering storewide discounts to members of organizations like the NMRA or IPMS, but I can only cut my throat so much on domestic kits specifically because a big box like Hobby Lobby can buy manufacturer direct at a cost well below what I can get and then turn around and pimp their 40% coupons. 

[keyser]

1 hour ago, Snake45 said:

What are you talking about? Many if not most HLs were shut down for WEEKS back in the spring. I know the three in my area were. 

Hobby Lobby refused to shut down. ?

[stavanzer]

My Local Hobby Lobby was closed for about 3 months, here in California.

[keyser]

At the very beginning they adamantly refused for a week or 2

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/hobby-lobby-colorado-virus.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hobby-lobby-coronavirus-pandemic-retailers-close/

[slusher]

Mine was shut down also...

[Richard Bartrop]

They were shut down here too, thought were allowing deliveries.

The model companies can set whatever prices they want, and if I think what they're offering is worth it, I'll pay it, but sorry, don't expect me to be grateful for every lump of plastic they choose to foist on me.  If I can get a better kit from another company for the same price, or lower, guess who's going to get my business?

[Snake45]

2 hours ago, keyser said:

Hobby Lobby refused to shut down. ?

Um, no. 

[keyser]

It’s in articles. My locals didn’t shut down until pressure. Then reopened earlier and had to shut down again. 
Not trying to start argument Rich, or anyone else. Not political either. 
Show me evidence otherwise please  

Be well, back to empty shelves waiting for restock. ??? Snake’s build on suits too 
 

[martinfan5]

They , Hobby Lobby shut down here too for a period of time.

[niteowl7710]

Yes my point to the HL refusing to close is cited by other people above.  Locally they tried to sell flats of bottled water to claim they were an "Essential Business" even though I'm pretty sure glitter and scrapbooking supplies are not.  There's also the part where HL refused to pay Covid related sick leave to hourly employees, cut most hourly employees to part-time, and blah blah blah I don't want to turn this into another HL flame thread.  But my point being those folks for all their "values" certainly know how to make money regardless of how it's accomplished, and the salient fact remains they aren't losing a single penny when they sell their kits for "40% Off". 

Edited November 4, 2020 by niteowl7710

[Casey]

21 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Um, no. 

Yes, actually: https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2020/03/30/coronavirus-west-allis-police-close-hobby-lobby-non-essential-covid-19/5090170002/

 

5 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Yes my point to the HL refusing to close is cited by other people above.  Locally they tried to sell flats of bottled water to claim they were an "Essential Business" even though I'm pretty sure glitter and scrapbooking supplies are not.  There's also the part where HL refused to pay Covid related sick leave to hourly employees, cut most hourly employees to part-time, and blah blah blah I don't want to turn this into another HL flame thread.  But my point being those folks for all their "values" certainly know how to make money regardless of how it's accomplished, and the salient fact remains they aren't losing a single penny when they sell their kits for "40% Off". 

Just because the people who head the company show little concern for the safety of their own employees shouldn't give them a pass for being discussed. Where people shop for hobby related supplies and kits is certainly relevant here, but some people refuse to acknowledge the truth and continue to support such a business because, 40% off coupon/Wal-Mart mentality.

We have plenty of topics on this forum discussing which aftermarket companies are worth supporting, reliable, trustworthy, etc., so other hobby related businesses should be accountable for their business practices, too.

[niteowl7710]

3 hours ago, Casey said:

Just because the people who head the company show little concern for the safety of their own employees shouldn't give them a pass for being discussed. Where people shop for hobby related supplies and kits is certainly relevant here, but some people refuse to acknowledge the truth and continue to support such a business because, 40% off coupon/Wal-Mart mentality.

We have plenty of topics on this forum discussing which aftermarket companies are worth supporting, reliable, trustworthy, etc., so other hobby related businesses should be accountable for their business practices, too.

I agree completely, but after this Revell 4Q thread took a multipage excursion into ugly headlights and obscure European vehicles, I was trying to not re-derail my own thread...

P.S. The S-10 is on the shelves.

Edited November 4, 2020 by niteowl7710

[martinfan5]

11 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

and the salient fact remains they aren't losing a single penny when they sell their kits for "40% Off". 

 

They increased the prices of kits to offset the loss of the 40% off coupon, so nope, they are not losing money.

 

* I think they do that with a lot of the items they sell.

Edited November 4, 2020 by martinfan5