Amount Of Molds Made For A Kit?

[oldcarfan]

Not sure how to ask this, but here goes. When a company makes a new kit, do they make one set of molds for that kit? Or do they make multiples? Say they were making a new kit of a Chevelle, would they make one set of molds for it, body, chassis, etc. or would they make two sets of molds so they could run two copies on two mold machines? Maybe it would depend on how popular they expected the kit to be?

[Fat Brian]

There's only one tooling for a kit. It can have inserts for other versions or certain areas can be gated off or opened up depending on how the tool is made. The body is a separate tool because it needs to be run on a different style of machine that can produce more complex shapes. The clear parts and tires are also separate tools, that's how Salvinos can have Monogram NASCAR tools but have to retool all the windows and tires. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

It's always been one tooling. The cost of multiple tools certainly wouldn't make sense at the volumes produced today. Plus there are setup costs that occur when setting up a tooling. 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Double post

Edited December 19, 2022 by bobthehobbyguy