Thanks To AMT For The New Technology Old Kits

[bobthehobbyguy]

3 hours ago, Motor City said:

Most people building kits want something that is relatively easy and goes together well.  It is mostly hard-core builders on this board who are concerned with the minute details such as an accurate engine, trans and differential.  Whether or not an axle goes through the engine block is of little to no concern for the average model car builder.  After all, once it’s completed, it sits on a shelf with the hood usually closed.  There are a lot of people like me who have promos and kits and care more about body and interior accuracy than the rest of the details.  There’s nothing wrong with either viewpoint, but the target audience for highly detailed kits is not the same as that for a kid or adult just wanting to buy a kit for the subject matter or just to have something fun to do.

Since we don’t know the cost of developing an all-new tool versus making minor improvements or corrections to multiple existing tools, Round2 will see how well sales pan out to justify their investment in this strategy.  I think it is working out well for them and consumers.  Many kits have come back on the market that we thought would never come back.  Round2 will cover both markets with improved old kits and new ones like the Charger and Bronco.   If someone doesn’t like this, they are able to buy kits from other model companies.

 

Exactly. The question is who is the target market for a particular kit. Will spending more money on developing a more detailed kit be justified by the possible increase in sales or will that money be better spent on another project that will generate more revenue. There is only so much money to be spent and it has to be done with the best return in mind.

[Luc Janssens]

5 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

With the AMX, why bother scanning a Jo-Han kit when they could scan an original 1/20 MPC '69 AMX and reduce the scans to 1/25? Plus it had a full-detail chassis to begin with.

Indeed, for a while I've been wondering if the MPC Ford Econoline can be scanned and reduced to 1/25 too?

Cheers

Edited April 29, 2023 by Luc Janssens

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, Luc Janssens said:

Indeed, for a while I've been wondering if the MPC [1/20 scale] Ford Econoline can be scanned and reduced to 1/25 too?

Cheers

I'd be happy if the STOCK version of the 1/20 scale Econoline were to be remastered and re-released. 

[garagepunk66]

11 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

With the AMX, why bother scanning a Jo-Han kit when they could scan an original 1/20 MPC '69 AMX and reduce the scans to 1/25? Plus it had a full-detail chassis to begin with.

I have suggested this solution previously as well and I believe that it ticks all the right boxes. It doesn't overlap with the current 1/20 scale 1970 AMX, chassis and engine is improved over the old Jo-Han offering, the whole intellectual property argument is solved, and it gives us a 69 AMX in 1/25 scale. The 1/20 Ford Econoline is begging for the same treatment too

[oldcarfan]

As far as the Johan issue, it would be nice if Mr. Spaulding could make a deal with R2 to redo the Johan molds that still exist and perhaps restore any missing parts as part of a trade. Maybe it could benefit both parties.

[bobthehobbyguy]

1 hour ago, oldcarfan said:

As far as the Johan issue, it would be nice if Mr. Spaulding could make a deal with R2 to redo the Johan molds that still exist and perhaps restore any missing parts as part of a trade. Maybe it could benefit both parties.

Unfortunately I don't see this as economically feasible. My understanding is the tooling was designed for a very different injection molding machine that may or may not exist. What would be required is a complete clone of the kits to allow the kits to be run on newer injection molding machines. Unfortunately I just don't see the market being there to justify the cost.  If you really want an old Johan kit you are going to pay some big bucks to get a rebuilder. 

 

[Phirewriter]

The only thing Okey could bring to the table is the Johan name. Any model manufacturer has free reign to produce any car regardless if it was done by Johan or any other company. The only licencing that counts comes from the manufacturers of the particular car or truck, not who originally may have made a kit 60 years ago.

The mold issue as well as the fate of the company has been brought up here and on other forums over the years. There was almost nothing left when Johan folded due to a number of reasons. The molds that did survive needed a specific type of injection machine that probably doesn't exist anymore and the cost to make them work on current machines outweighed the possible profit. Almost all the manufacturers at some point looked at the remains before Oakley got whatever he has and walked away, that says plenty. 

Edited May 7, 2023 by Phirewriter

[SfanGoch]

54 minutes ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

If you really want an old Johan kit you are going to pay some big bucks to get a rebuilder.

Usually a euphemism for junk.

[Can-Con]

52 minutes ago, SfanGoch said:

Usually a euphemism for junk.

I like rebuilders.

Some of my best stuff was from a previously built model.

[ChrisBcritter]

I can see only a small number of old Jo-Han kits that would be potentially good sellers if they were cloned - '62 and '63 Plymouth and Dodge hardtops, the Javelin/AMX, and Maverick. All of those have had various racing applications that would lend themselves to multiple versions. At best, however, the early Mopars would only offer the bodies to clone and the rest would have to be redone to have current-style chassis, interior, and underhood/engine detail - especially for drag and NASCAR versions that would account for the most sales.

[Rob Hall]

3 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

I can see only a small number of old Jo-Han kits that would be potentially good sellers if they were cloned - '62 and '63 Plymouth and Dodge hardtops, the Javelin/AMX, and Maverick. All of those have had various racing applications that would lend themselves to multiple versions. At best, however, the early Mopars would only offer the bodies to clone and the rest would have to be redone to have current-style chassis, interior, and underhood/engine detail - especially for drag and NASCAR versions that would account for the most sales.

It wouldn't surprise me if JR Salvinos doesn't tool up some early 60s NASCAR Plymouths for their Petty versions eventually.....