Salvinos JR Models IndyCar

[niteowl7710]

On 8/10/2023 at 9:33 PM, Dave Toups said:

I hate to be a "Debbie Downer" but Indy Car kits have ended up being a poor seller for companies that have tried them in the past. I'm sure they'll be well done and I wish them a lot of luck though.

I'd argue that's partially because neither the AMT or Monogram kits were particularly easy to build, nor were either at all accurate. Both AMT & Monogram kits were also the wrong scale for then existing open wheel kits on the market as well. Part of what doomed the "Tuner" line that Revell did was that it was 1/25 in a world of 1/24 Japanese kits and tuner accessories. 

Much like the NextGen NASCAR kits, SJR is getting the Spec Car CAD files directly from IndyCar. So accuracy shouldn't be a concern this go around.

[Justin Porter]

7 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

I'd argue that's partially because neither the AMT or Monogram kits were particularly easy to build, nor were either at all accurate. Both AMT & Monogram kits were also the wrong scale for then existing open wheel kits on the market as well. Part of what doomed the "Tuner" line that Revell did was that it was 1/25 in a world of 1/24 Japanese kits and tuner accessories. 

Much like the NextGen NASCAR kits, SJR is getting the Spec Car CAD files directly from IndyCar. So accuracy shouldn't be a concern this go around.

THIS! The Revell "Tuner" line is an excellent case study in misreading a market. Revell did produce kits with detailed engines and engine bays - which was a unique selling point for kits of tuner style cars - and produced kits of USDM vehicles like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Acura Integra. However, things like generic bodykits rather than licensed replica bodykits, no poseable steering, their refusal to use polycap wheel attachment, and the choice of 1/25th scale instead of 1/24th meant that whatever positives the Tuner kits brought to the table were quickly discarded and those customers chose to stick with Aoshima, Fujimi, Tamiya, and Hasegawa. 

There is a tremendous international sales potential with these Indycar kits by Salvinos. Consider, for instance, that Model Factory Hiro produced a 1/20th scale kit of the Dallara DW12 specifically to celebrate Takuma Sato's 2nd win in the Indy 500. Consider the popularity of Agustin Canapino - a touring car legend - in his native Argentina. Look at all that potential, then look at Revell's failed line of 1/24th scale F1 cars from the mid-00's and realize what must be done. 

[Dave Van]

If 1/25 zero international sales........1/20 they will sell more outside the USA. 

[niteowl7710]

1 hour ago, Justin Porter said:

THIS! The Revell "Tuner" line is an excellent case study in misreading a market. Revell did produce kits with detailed engines and engine bays - which was a unique selling point for kits of tuner style cars - and produced kits of USDM vehicles like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Acura Integra. However, things like generic bodykits rather than licensed replica bodykits, no poseable steering, their refusal to use polycap wheel attachment, and the choice of 1/25th scale instead of 1/24th meant that whatever positives the Tuner kits brought to the table were quickly discarded and those customers chose to stick with Aoshima, Fujimi, Tamiya, and Hasegawa. 

There is a tremendous international sales potential with these Indycar kits by Salvinos. Consider, for instance, that Model Factory Hiro produced a 1/20th scale kit of the Dallara DW12 specifically to celebrate Takuma Sato's 2nd win in the Indy 500. Consider the popularity of Agustin Canapino - a touring car legend - in his native Argentina. Look at all that potential, then look at Revell's failed line of 1/24th scale F1 cars from the mid-00's and realize what must be done. 

I'll argue til I'm in the ground that the Eclipse would have sold more kits by magnitudes if it were a factory stock kit that came with pieces for a body kit rather than the permanently "Tuner" version with the body kit molded "on"...

[Muncie]

3 hours ago, Dave Van said:

If 1/25 zero international sales........1/20 they will sell more outside the USA. 

for that reason alone, they should be 1/20.

As Monogram did with their batch of Indy cars, these kits also need both road course and speedway aero packages as well as slicks and rain tires.

[Jim B]

5 hours ago, Dave Van said:

If 1/25 zero international sales........1/20 they will sell more outside the USA. 

I'm sure Salvinos will do their research and do what they have to do; but if they do end up being 1/20, then I'll pass.

1 hour ago, Muncie said:

As Monogram did with their batch of Indy cars, these kits also need both road course and speedway aero packages as well as slicks and rain tires.

I agree that the kits should have both aero packages & both sets of tires.

[Dave Van]

Someone in the club says they are 1/20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bill Eh?]

3 minutes ago, Dave Van said:

Someone in the club says they are 1/20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If that's true, then in my mind they got it right.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

I'm down!

(never particularly gave a rat's about scale, comes to it...)

[Calvin Sallee]

Live stream here.

https://fb.watch/mwHArzyPAn/?mibextid=RUbZ1f

Confirmed details:

-1/20 scale
-removable engine cover with engine details for both Honda and Chevy. Basically Tamiya like details.
-2023 Indy 500 winner and Sato speedway cars will be released first.
-Road Course version will come later.

Pre orders coming today or by Monday 

https://salvinosjrmodels.com/

[Force]

1:20th scale...sorry, not for me...and I do live outside the US, that scale doesn't do it for me as it doesn't go with anything else I have, I only do 1;24th and 1:25th scale.
Almost all other Indycar kits done so far except from Tamiya has been 1:24th or 1:25th scale and even Revell Germany did their F1 kits in 1:24th scale.

Edited August 20, 2023 by Force

[Calvin Sallee]

Pre-orders are available, NOW!

https://salvinosjrmodels.com/collections/indycar

2023 Indy 500 Winner - Josef Newgarden
https://salvinosjrmodels.com/products/untitled-aug11_16-38

Takuma Sato 2023 INDYCAR
https://salvinosjrmodels.com/products/pre-order-takuma-sato-2023-indycar-1-20-scale

[Calvin Sallee]

I got my pre-orders in for both kits
Checkout was fast and easy, I have a similar checkout on my site.

[Dave Van]

I'll wait and see.......$80 on an unknown......no

[bbowser]

10 minutes ago, Dave Van said:

I'll wait and see.......$80 on an unknown......no

Agreed.  I am willing to overlook the scale difference at a $40 price point, but at $80 I'll probably pass.

[Richard Bartrop]

Not going to lie, that price is making me pause.  It'll probably be in three figure range by the time it hits the shelves here, which is about what some of the Tamiya kits are going for here.  Of course, if they're going for that market, they'd better have the Tamiya level quality.  I do like the subject, but I'll have to see what the kit is actually like before dropping that kind of money.   Now if Salvinos ever decides to do some Indy cars from the roadster era, that would definitely have my interest.

[Bill Eh?]

10 hours ago, Force said:

1:20th scale...sorry, not for me...and I do live outside the US, that scale doesn't do it for me as it doesn't go with anything else I have, I only do 1;24th and 1:25th scale.
Almost all other Indycar kits done so far except from Tamiya has been 1:24th or 1:25th scale and even Revell Germany did their F1 kits in 1:24th scale.

For the most part, F1 modellers turned away from Revell 1/24 F1 kits, as they were not the established/accepted scale.

[Force]

24 minutes ago, Bill Eh? said:

For the most part, F1 modellers turned away from Revell 1/24 F1 kits, as they were not the established/accepted scale.

Well most of the earlier indycar models made by AMT, Monogram and Revell were 1:24th and 1:25th scale except for the few Tamiya Indycar kits wich were 1:20, and no one rejected them, they may not have been good sellers but they did them for some years anyway.
So I can't see any reason to make these in 1:20 and I for one woun't buy them as they doesn't go with anything else I have...sorry Salvinos JR, if you had done them in 1:24-1:25 it would have been another thing and I would have bought them.

[Chris in Berwyn]

2 hours ago, bbowser said:

Agreed.  I am willing to overlook the scale difference at a $40 price point, but at $80 I'll probably pass.

I was most struck by the $54.99 price for the “Richard Childress Racing “ NASCAR Monte Carlo.  Isn’t that a tool from the 80s?  And looks like they don’t have licensing for the Earnhardt name. 

[martinfan5]

31 minutes ago, Chris in Berwyn said:

I was most struck by the $54.99 price for the “Richard Childress Racing “ NASCAR Monte Carlo.  Isn’t that a tool from the 80s?  And looks like they don’t have licensing for the Earnhardt name. 

Yes, its the old Monogram tooling.

[Justin Porter]

Pricetag is higher than anticipated but also not at all outside of the market when it comes to 1/20th scale open wheel kits. A quick browse of my distributors tells me that the Fujimi Sauber C30 runs $79.98. Tamiya's recent Red Bull F1 kit was similarly expensive and dropped out of availability quite quickly. 

Now, granted, it's a BIG ask to assume that Salvinos is going to engineer a kit that's of the same caliber in terms of fit and engineering as Fujimi, Ebbro, NuNu, Hasegawa, and Tamiya but I'm honestly glad they're tackling them head on. The last time an American manufacturer decided to take on the best in the world we got the Accurate Miniatures kits.

[Merkur XR4Ti]

19 hours ago, Chris in Berwyn said:

I was most struck by the $54.99 price for the “Richard Childress Racing “ NASCAR Monte Carlo.  Isn’t that a tool from the 80s?  And looks like they don’t have licensing for the Earnhardt name. 

Right, they have Nascar licensing so they can use the "3" and the associated decals for Goodwrench, but IIRC the "Dale Earnhardt" trademark is owned by Theresa and would require additional licensing to acquire. And given how....challenging she can be in regards to business, going this way makes a lot of sense for Salvino's. I can scare up an Earnhardt name decal elsewhere, I'm sure.

[Dave Van]

50 minutes ago, Merkur XR4Ti said:

Right, they have Nascar licensing so they can use the "3" and the associated decals for Goodwrench, but IIRC the "Dale Earnhardt" trademark is owned by Theresa and would require additional licensing to acquire. And given how....challenging she can be in regards to business, going this way makes a lot of sense for Salvino's. I can scare up an Earnhardt name decal elsewhere, I'm sure.

DEI owns the rights to DE Sr 'name'. The #3 car is owned by ECE under 'Trade Dress' copyright. Thus no NAME on the #3 kit other than RCR. $55 is gonna be a tough sell. The old Monogram MCSS kits go around $10 at shows. 

I hope Salvinos tried going through DE Jr for licensing as he is a model car guy and may have had some input/help/ 

[Merkur XR4Ti]

37 minutes ago, Dave Van said:

DEI owns the rights to DE Sr 'name'. The #3 car is owned by ECE under 'Trade Dress' copyright. Thus no NAME on the #3 kit other than RCR. $55 is gonna be a tough sell. The old Monogram MCSS kits go around $10 at shows. 

I hope Salvinos tried going through DE Jr for licensing as he is a model car guy and may have had some input/help/ 

Jr isn't associated with DEI, right? That's all Theresa.

 

As far as the new kit goes, I suspect that its presence at races will help to drive sales to casual modelers but avid race fans. We'll see.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Merkur XR4Ti

[Dave Van]

1 hour ago, Merkur XR4Ti said:

Jr isn't associated with DEI, right? That's all Theresa.

 

As far as the new kit goes, I suspect that its presence at races will help to drive sales to casual modelers but avid race fans. We'll see.

Teresa holds what is left of DEI (shop is still 100% intact and kinda spooky) BUT I'd hope that Dale Jr and Kelly have SOME pull on the matter. I know they do not have a good relationship.....but come on.......Dale Jr should have a say is Sr estate.