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Forums - Modelling / Smallscale |
The construction forum is for the discussion of small scale AFV modelling. Usually this refers to 1-76th and 1-72nd scale AFVs. |
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| Subject: | Re: Another one goes down..... :-( |  |
| Date: | Mar 1, 2003 |
| From: | Till Huber | |
"Stephen Brezinski" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:3e60b7f1@news.track-link.net...
> Two weeks ago I heard that LEVA was closing shop.
>
> Now I hear that Exokit of France is going out of business. It appears
that recession and the limited amount of modeler's money is having its
effect.
>
> Both companies produced reasonably good models. My feeling is that you
can produce an excellant product but if you do not have the exposure and
internal structure to market them you are not garenteed to succeed. The
explosion in great offerings is compeeting for the limited amount of money!
>
> Stephen
>
Hey Stephen!
Good that you re talking about recession if not inflation of kits. It is
quite logical that growth in our range cannot be like an exponential
function, which is doubling per one time unit. Maybe the good times are over
for companies, I confess I am a pessimist.
With great fear I see Mirage releasing the 10th kit of the T-26 or double
the Ft-17 from RPM. I think variaty is good but how can you boost sells on
products which are nearly obsolete. I think most of the modifications can be
done by the modellers themselves. Of course it is a nice idea of having
every thinkable exotic version of a tank but wheres the market please?
Will there be enough "experts" buying?
If we as "serious smallscale static modellers" wouldnt have the support of
Wargamers and little kids who start with a Panther or a Sherman, there
wouldnt be any major companies being interested in smallscale items. The
market would be too small, believe it.
As a kid of 10~15 years(1*) /or Wargamer(2*) who needs an army, would you
buy one tank if you dont have a clue what kind of tank it is(1st case)/ 2nd
case would you really need dozens of Bridgelayers, Torpedo-tanks for a
regular wargamin army and what not if they re hell expensive?
I am pretty sure that this will not be the last manufacturer going down the
drain, we re at the start of a new die-out of quality manufacturers, no
doubt. Adding to that, you re right about finances and economy. When people
have less budget they cant spend too much for a hobby now addon the problem
with the vast number of releases and there youŽll have an unbalanced chart
which indicates that thereŽll be not enough $$ for every released model to
earn. A lot a companies will stay away from smallscale if there entering the
market and go down like this, probably thereŽll also be bigger companies
disappearing.
As conclusion only the fittest will survive and for my part, we had a good
time for the last 2 years and if economy goes in cycles, model business will
go the same way. We had our fun.
Lets hope it wont be ending like Enron and models companies will stick to
smallscale, as it is a wonderful hobby.
Best regards
Till
Smallscale.de |
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