I believe Revell should develop what I call a company “signature ” for example: Tamiya is well known for their model’s great part fit and ease of build. Also I believe most modelers after completing a model, will form an opinion and build their knowledge on modeling companies based on their building experience.
@@glasslicker2829 i don't think revell has that kind of leadership. i think they have a board of directors, none of whom know anything about modelling, who make the decisions that matter. as such revell will never be anything more then a giant cash grabbing company that does not give half a rabbit turd about it's customers.
More of a selection would be nice instead of war all the time this is what's boring about there kits not art work it's the lack of othere interesting models that they could branch out into like star trek models that nobody as thought of like the travel pod or the space dock from star trek 3 and large figures of the movies as a classic fan it would be cool or even there tack on the refit enterprises would be nice or why stop there go into movie and t.v models as well after all all they seem to do is tanks and plans and war ships why not put there self's more out there for the othere model makers or even go into the zulu wars or waterloo as plastic kits instead of just a standard full plastic figure as it would be interesting to make a figure than just paint it just some thoughts thanks for your time mr paul gould
Avery well thought provoking visual essay which truly hits the spot. I am 84 years of age and have been a fanatical modeller for 76 years. I started out with wooden solids and bought many of the earliest plastic kit releases even though a lot of them were prohibitively expensive.A passion I have always followed is passing on knowledge and skills to young people. I have spent a life time teaching the hobby to air training corps and scout troops. The feedback I get from these kids is that most kits are over engineered for their skills and the prohibitive cost of kits. I show them kits from the fifties and sixties with minimum parts which they can put together and put on display in the shortest time and they find them most attractive.There are masses of earlier moulds rotting away in stores- Why not knock out these simpler kits at pocket money prices and take the hobby back from old foggies who fill shelves with "stashes" which never get built! Sorry but this is a passion of mine and I could go on for hours especially about marketing people WHO ARE NOT MODELLERS AND HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE MODELLERS ETHOS. I have never bought a Revell kit for many years.
You've pretty much nailed all that is wrong with Revell. Problem is, nobody at Revell will care. The only thing that matters to them is, that their kits are cheaper than others. And many modellers go the same route because they never built good model kits. I am a car modeller and will happily spend twice the money on a Tamiya-kit befor being annoyed ba lack of quality in a comparable item by Revell. In the 90's there was even a short-lived cooperation between Revell and Tamiya with Tamiya-kit s 24103 (BMW 850) and 24106 (BMW 325i), which had to be abandoned because of massive customer complaint regarding the quality (or lack of) of those kits. Due to experience of many years of buying kits and nowadays thanks to Scalemates I mostly know, if a kit is a rebox of a kit of non-Revell origin. If Revell clearly said on their boxes, that the model is a reboxed kit from Hasegawa, Eduard, ICM, or even from ESCI or IMAI (Harley Davidson in 12th scale), more customers would happily buy them. But I especially hesitate to buy airplane-kits, because I never know, if the content is rubbish from the 60's or a fairly new tooling from the 21st century.
@@colintamiya I still don't know how Revell hasn't reissued cellulose kits from the 1950s 😂 they look like they would be totally down with doing that, too. Everything they do is for a quick cash grab. What a sad end to what used to be one of the most reputable model companies.
Great video. In 1986 Odyssey Partners purchased Revell and Monogram. Some mold swapping occurred but Monogram and Revell were still marketed under their respective names HOWEVER all production for both companies was done by Monogram at their Morton Grove, IL plant. Revell's Venice, CA plant was closed. In 1991 Odyssey also purchased the Matchbox tooling from Lesney and ex-Matchbox kits were released under both the Revell and Monogram names. 3 years later Hallmark purchased both plastic kit lines and 2 years after that Maquire & Partners bought both the Revell and Monogram lines. Shortly thereafter they combined the two names to make it Revell/Monogram. This naming continued till 1999 when they were again divided (confused yet?). BTW, I completely agree on the need for 'real' box art. The need for good boxart cannot be overstated as the box sells the kit. I like the Revell glue.
Very comprehensive history - I deliberately didn't go into it in depth here since it wasn't the point of the video, and you're absolutely right, it's confusing as hell!!!
This video is not about Revell's history but remiss of me not to mention Revell GB who produced the first kit I made and manufactured it in England. (Spitfire) Nostalgia like this is why I would like to see Revell thrive by adopting your recommendations.
Funny perhaps, but absolutely true. Be done the same for 2 reasons. I the aforementioned quality issues, and 2, they offer nothing in the scale(1/350) or subject matter (ships) that I am interested in.
I started back into the hobby buying a cheap Revell kit from eBay. I wound up with a P40 Warhawk where the fit was so bad, I think I now qualify for auto body and fender work after all the filling and sanding. Since then, I've had much better luck with their PT-17 Stearman kit, but still, the first experience back into the hobby left a bad taste (sanding grit?) in my mouth.
A thoughtful and well presented critique of a model company that will probably, and to their disadvantage, pay no heed to. Their offering is a confusing slew of collections that badly needs simplification.
Great points!! I enjoyed your video. I’m a Car modeler. Your points on Revell are nailed. The very bad side opening boxes on car kits are a disaster too. Weird size boxes, very weak and usually crushes the body. No customer support either. I have contacted them about the damaged kits and heard nothing back. The hobby shop had to bear the burden of returning a damaged kit. The releases are extremely slow. They announced the Stranger Things series over a year ago and they are still not out. You are correct in saying that you are rolling the dice on a “New” kit because it most likely is an ancient design. And then the box art!! Holy smokes it’s terrible. That’s what brings in a customer. Don’t just take a photo of a (most of the time) subpar built kit!! Look at Round2 models. Actual Artwork on the boxes worthy of framing. Their boxes inspire imagination and excitement. A 1950s car at a Burger shop or in an antique repair shop. So cool. I am Partnered with Round2 models and they send me new products pretty regularly. No strings. Review it and share with your audience. Great channel sir. I’m a new subscriber. Thank you for your insight. -Louie.
I think you covered it pretty well. They need to re-invent themselves as an enthusiasts brand, focus on quality kits and stop trying to be everything everywhere all at once. Dump the tired old toolings into a 'Revell Classic' range at bargain prices, make some quality starter sets, and....gulp...INDICATE TOOLING DATES on the box, and price accordingly. I don;t buy Revell kits becuase I don't want to play Russian Roulette with plastic, or have to trawl Scalemates to research whether it's older than I am. I want to see a subject I am interested in, and just buy the kit. I picked up a couple of ICM early war 1/48 fighters recently. Cost about £15 each. Impulse buy. Fancied doing them. Wasn't stressed as I knew they would be buildable and whilst some of their range is far from new, you trust the kit to be buildable and worth the time. That's what reputation does for you. If I had been forced to go research the tooling, release and origin, I may have ended up buying a different kit, been distracted into other things, or bought nothing at all. Instead, while I pondered buying the I-16 or I-153...I bought both. Lovely little kits. I-16 nearly done, then I do the other. Revell need to make modellers do that sort of thing with THEIR products.
Revell automotive kits issued in the US get standard US style top opening boxes. On the flip side, however, the US kit decals are not as high of a quality than the European releases.
Very interesting and about time Revell had a cold shower. I love a lot about the company as in its longevity,crisp plastic and good instructions. As you said the paint is globby and hard to match. Dropper bottles are my go too. I'm not in acrylic lacquer but understands their pros. Funny how some modellers have a good time with different brands. I was pleased Revell kept the Matchbox armour going with those lovely diaorama bases but as you say way too expensive for an older molding. Each company has its unique subjects but I lije what you said that they are all over the place. It's like the bosses aren't modellers whereas Airfix who are quite transparent,approachable and keep you informed about what they are doing also cine across as enthusiasts. You feel they want to please their audience. Revell can and needs to get better. They could become so much more attractive. In this day an age they are on a time budget to up their game. We,the modellers are uniquely the older generation mostly and not the 10 years old we used to be. Look at the choices. Easy to go elsewhere. PS Thanks for highlighting the ICM paint range. It's gone big!
This video popped up in my feed, and I started watching with a bit of interest but not high expectations. By the end, I was impressed. Revell should watch this and pay a generous consulting fee.
My #1 Issue with Revell is the boxes, they are crap and I've even had two models with broken/bent parts due to the boxes crumpling and deforming! Surely I'm not the only one??
Their boxes are terrible. They don;t even work to store the sprues in while you are building and it's far too easy for bits to fall out. They also can squash and deform without appearing creased or damaged. It;s only when you open one up you find out there is damage.
I love the older blue striped Revell boxes. I've built loads of them from the 1/72 Arado Ar240 to the 1/48 Natter and the 1/32 Mosquito and He162. They have produced some truly amazing kits over the years. I don't agree with you about the paints or glue either, I think they are excellent and a much better option over the humbrol brushes you get in airfix starter sets. That being said since being taken over my Quantum Capital Partners, Revell have severely gone down hill but I still support them as a company purely out of nostalgia as I built many vintage versions as a kid. 👍 Revell will always remain close to my heart as a modelling company.
Ok Revell, to bullet point my notes🙂- 1- Change your boxes. Only donuts go in flip lid boxes... 2- Box art. I've bought recently Eduard kits not because I need another P51 but because the box art is so cool! And the kit is chef kiss anyhow. Ditch the pe parts but ADD a mask set & more markings choices. There, all fixed... Now politics😊
I completely agree about Revell‘s boxes and box art. I hope Revell will begin using stronger top opening boxes. As for the box art, I grew up building mostly Revell kits in the 1970s. I loved the art work on most of the 1/32 scale kits. The Corsair, Warhawk, Lightning, and Mustang still stand out in my memory. I also liked that I could cut out the artwork, by itself, and hang it on the walls. Keep the pictures independent of overlapping images and words please.
I would hope that, with boxes, Revell would take a leaf from ICM in the Ukraine - their boxes are "da Bomb!" Standard sizes, great artwork on the sleeve and a tough inner, protective plain box. Othe Ukrainian companies are following ICM's lead (EG Dora Wings, Armory and Modelsvit.)
Bought three of those square paint pots when they first came out, I had no idea how they worked until I watched this video! Found them difficult to use so they went straight back on the shelf.
Today I started building my first model in 50 years and it's not a Revell. I thought they were rubbish back then and it doesn't seem like much has changed in the last half century. I'm building myself a healthy stash to start my retirement, in a year or so, and there's not a single Revell model in the 100 or so that I've bought. There are plenty of ICM, Tamiya, Eduard, Hasegawa and Airfix though. Speaking of which, I'm working on the Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant starter kit (using Vallejo paints) and it's blowing me away with how much better it is than all of those old kits that I used to build. I'm pleased to see that Airfix has survived and is producing such well made models. Unless Revell take on board what Alex has said, then I don't see them doing the same. Kids are playing with electronics these days, not building models, and they need to appeal to an older and more discerning audience. Also a huge thanks to whoever started the Scalemates website. That thing is amazing and I check every potential purchase there before buying.
@@fizzyridertoo I can definitely say, whoever started Scalemates, was probably tired of getting scammed by the "new box - old mold" syndrome. It's the best thing to happen to the modelling community since recessed panel lines.
One of the things I love about Bandai Gundam kits is that they print the design date on the bottom corner of the box art. A quick glance will tell you if that model was designed in 1999, or 2024, so you know roughly what you're in for when you build it.
When I was younger, many years ago, I built a lot of Revell and Monogram kits. In the US where they dominated the aircraft and military vehicle markets and they were just about all that was available for those two subjects. Yes, there were a few Airfix, Matchbox and smaller brand kits, but choice was limited and the quality of all was pretty poor. The same could be said of the paint and cements. Testors was about the only option and they only had hard to use glue in tubes and those little glass bottles (that they still use) of a few paints. Then came the Japanese kits. The kits and variety was a quantum leap in both quality and price. Just like the auto industry, the established companies either didn't try or were unable to match what was coming from the likes of Tamiya and Hasegawa. I sincerely would like to see Revell "get back in the game" with good, consistent, appealing kits. I just have some sincere doubts if they can pull it off. The competition has moved way ahead of them and catching up will require a lot of work, as exemplified by the fact that you had 10 items that they need to improve, not just 2 or 3. They have lost their reputation and getting it back in a very crowded market of high quality competition may be beyond the capability of any company.
They HAVE to stop reboxing kits from the 70s and passing them off as new ones featuring the new packages. Often it are very interesting models, people buy them without looking and then it turns out it's an unbuildable kit with molds that are twice as old as I am. If this is a new builder, boom, it turns them off from the hobby forever. If they want do it, fine, but then use retro looking boxes so at least buyers can make an informed decision. Invest more in new tooling kits, and do a cool model, not the twentieth BF-109 or umpteenth Hurricane. Or re-release kits people actually want (the 1/32 Arado AR196 was one of the best kits I ever built, but people are asking ridiculous prices for it on ebay), like the Salamander, the arado 196, the JU52,... All the rest is not that important, the side opening boxes are whatever, the paints are not used by any serious modeller anyway (that's more aimed at kids buying the paints in the toy shop), the boxart is okay and it's not something I base decisions from anyway. The biggest thing they do wrong is the constant reboxings in my eyes. I no longer buy anything from Revell before checking Scalemates to make sure I don't unearth some prehistoric kit when unboxing it. Let's hope the guy from Airfix is able to recondition Revell into finally creating some great new subjects and we can finally build some trust in Revell again.
@@jordygijbels3626 this. Can we all agree that we do NOT want to see commemorative airshow aircraft every year? Like, I get it that all model companies like to release some specific airshow scheme, but come on, Revell is the king of commemorative schemes. They have somehow outdone Hasegawa in the recent years, even though Hasegawa gets a pass because usually their kits are very high-end stuff. People just want to build combat aircraft armed to the teeth. Those kits end up becoming shelfwarmers real fast, you can see lots of those in online stores, because not everyone wants to build a commemorative version. Also, where have all the good kits gone? I've recently been wanting to build a MiG-21F-13, but I'm on a tight budget, and I cannot afford the vastly superior Modelsvit version right now. Since Revell - which likes to take pride in cheap kits - doesn't make them anymore, the only solution is saving up for a Modelsvit or acquiring a very cheap Academy boxing of a 1960s FROG kit, which has horrible detail and a canopy that makes you wish you'd rinsed your eyes with bleach. Yay. They (Revell) seem out of touch with the reality of the market, supply & demand. They're getting outdone by smaller model companies that actually care about their consumers, like Special Hobby, Kinetic and others.
At the risk earning the laugher and ricudule of the community, I wish Revell and other Western model companies would provide more snap together military land vehicles models. I recently discovered the Chinese 1/72 snap-together models and I really enjoy building them. I even invested some paints and brushes to take a small baby step toward painting them. When I was growing, I had, I think a Mongram, a snap together Sherman Tank and Panzer II and really enjoyed putting them together. I love to have some similar in 1/48 or 1/32-35. I enjoy your though video. The video on paints and color I thought was excellent.
😂😂😂😂😂 - sorry mate mate but couldn't resist the invitation! On a more serious note, Airfix do a couple of really good snap kits and there's always Meng's World War Toons to keep you busy.....😊
@jeffholt9437 Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered the Airfix Challenger tank last week, and I am trying to decide whether to wait until the Sherman tank becomes available in the US or import it from the UK. War toons look interesting.
Why would someone laugh at enjoying snap kits? Are we laughing at people enjoying Lego? It's a different branch in the same hobby. Enjoy! If you want some funny looking airplanes: Meng has a range of snap kit egg planes.
I read, somewhere, that the boxes are designed to comply with recycling rules in Germany. This could explain them, or that they are just cheaper to produce.
New molds for definite. Especially aircraft kits, as you said Revell haven't had a big aircraft release schedule since the late 90's, they seem to be very focused on military vehicles and cars at the moment. If they have to reissue old kits make it obvious it's an old kit.
@@pawpawstew Sorry, perhaps I should have written that they haven't had much of a 1/72 aircraft release schedule since the 90's. Their 1/32 scale kits are great, just too large for me to house once they're built.
I agree with, pretty much everything you said. The biggest issues I take with Revell kits are in 1/32 scale. Flimsy box is a big nuisance. Price point is another issue I take with them. Aircraft in 1/32 scale, in Revell terms, are not the greatest quality in detail. This often results in having to replace kit parts with aftermarket. Aftermarket pieces can get pricey but, often add much more interest in the final product. This makes the retail prices in the base kits, a very big bone of contention with me. This problem also translates with the bigger 1/72 and 1/48 aircraft kits.
Last model I built was in the late 70’s. Now that I’m retired and have some extra time I thought I’d give it a crack again. I bought a Johan 64 Super Stock Dodge model that I intend to build like the 64 Dodge Polara that is sitting in my garage. My Dodge has BF Goodrich raised white letter tires, big tires on the rear, narrower tires in front. In my hunt for similar looking tires for the model build I saw a Revell 66 Malibu 2 in 1 kit at Hobby Lobby and the box art depicted the exact tires I have on my car, RWL BF Goodrich fat tires on rear skinny on front, perfect for my build. I bought the kit got it home and to my dissapointment the kit came with only four skinny blackwall tires, no BF Goodrich tires. I emailed Revell and asked if there was some mix up as there were only 4 stock skinny blackwall tires in the box. The box shows RWL BF Goodrich tires on the Malibu and it advertises it as a 2 in 1 kit, giving the impression it could be built stock or modified. The person at Revell asked me to send pictures of the side of the box near the Revell logo where there was a series of numbers. I complied and sent pictures. Revell reply was that there was nothing they could do for me, end of story. I promptly returned the kit to Hobby Lobby for a refund. Revell needs to work on truth in advertising, as I felt misled by the box art. Their customer relations people need better people skills as with their terse reply, they lost this returning to the hobby customer for good.
Monogram had a great period in the U.S. during the 80's by tooling accurate competition auto subjects. This required an investment that was well rewarded. Revell needs to model current competition models, not re-pops. It's a market that, so far, has only been serviced by resin casters and 3D printers.
For the most part, I've had awesome experiences with Revell. I have noticed more quality issues with MPC and AMT. I have only had two Revell kits that I haven't enjoyed building. I have one two occasions had to contact them for missing parts, and received them both times at no charge.
Couldn’t agree more with your suggestions, and with your discussion of them in standard business terms, which Revell should certainly understand. I’d love to see the main brand from my childhood become worthy of my dollars, but as it stands, for all of these reasons, I first assume that a new release will not be worth my time and money, and in all cases, I await a magazine or online review before venturing with considerable trepidation to purchase. Again, well done analysis.
It's so true. I've bought one Revell kit, was my 4th kit after returning back to hobby since childhood (so somewhere in 2017). It was 1/48 F-15E w/ bombs. Kit was pretty nice, not perfect fit maybe but enough, and good for that price tag. What was most awful in it was the side-opened box, I had same remarks as you. Since then im abstaining from buying revell kits, I didn't like the fact there were no plastic bags, all sprues loose, come of them scratched one another. They had some interesting releases in last years but the price... I won't pay that for Revell. €90 for SR-71 with fit issues and average details? I paid almost exact amount (€92) for Minibase's Su-33 which is just excellent kit with richest details I've ever had. To me Revell is a company that quit the competition for any advanced and aware modeller, thay just exist in almost the same form for decades, no innovation. I've had older and newer Hobby Boss kits, it's visible how they (yes, I know it's a Trumpeter in disguise) pushed their game. Same for Zvezda, from poor plastic quality, poor fitting, poor details they went to more recent kits (their Su-30SM in 1/72 is just great). Personally, I place Revell just above, but in the same drawer, as Italeri. In Europe their models are sold in bigger hypermarkets's toys sections and seems (effort-wise) like this is their target audience, with that price tag of more interesting kits however...
Your points about building a great company through product development and marketing are right on. Weather it be an individual or company, a good reputation is hard to beat. Being more of a nostalgia builder I haven"t bought any Revell kits in quite a long time. My choice is not because I dislike Revell but Atlantis, Polar Lights and Airfix are more to my taste. Bandai kits have the best fit in my opinion. The ICM kits also look very good and I'll try one sometime.
I read the COMMENTS, as a modeler, since 1970, I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS because I’m a modeler… Everyone !!!!! I still build the OLD VINTAGE REVELL KITs… Just bought the 1/72 VINTAGE B-24 D off €Bay… Bought Aftermarket Decals for it, going to build it with marking of the STRAWBERRY BITCH… Ploesti Raid 1943……. YES, I still build the REVELL STUFF… I do like the 1/72 REVELL GERMANY Fighter Kits… This is a GREAT CHANNEL… Good Opinions and comments NO MATTER WHAT………. Just being here says a lot about OUR HOBBY and our CHOICES…………………. REVELL ON ……….. CHRIS from OHIO 🇺🇸
I know Matchbox released their 1/72 scale Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer because I bought two of them. Later, I don't know when, I learned Revell purchased the molds from Matchbox and rereleased the kit in grey plastic, but I never saw one. This model was a fair kit ripe for scratch building and panel line scribing. Why won't Revell, at least, put it back out there? It is a one of a kind of a beautiful aircraft and deserves retooling to todays standards. If anyone knows what happened to this kit, please let me know. Pete
I would recommend the 1/44 scale Fletcher platinum edition fantastic kit and you have a choice of etch brass or plastic. Thanks for the review the Germans are a little slow with the internet, It is my experience living there for over ten years. Thanks MM for your thoughts on Revell .
As someone who has worked for an Asian company as their Western Marketing Manager, I can tell you with 100% certanty, many management personel have zero concept of how social media actually works and has such a disconnect with their fanbase, it is amazing that companies continue to operate. Well the one I did work with is now no longer in business so yeah, there's that. This was a great and insightful video and I hope that Revell sees this and takes some notes. There are many inexpensive ways companies can connect better with their audience and Revell would be wise to begin taking more of those steps.
Yes, the boxes, the bloody boxes! I have a 1/48 ju-52 in the stash but i ended up having to buy a large cardboard laptop packing box to relocate the contents from the flimsy revell box. Revell should look at ICM packaging.
I agrre with you: the main point is they must regain trust. Besides what you have mentioned, I suggest that: 1) enlarge their offer with different kits of the same subject, simply changing decals, adding variants and spreading among scales; this can be made quite easily and in a cheapy way, since researches and maybe molds are already done: many other manufacurers do the that. 2) Update kits: some are still good and need just minor improvements (i.e. cockpit, landing gear, ...). 3) Add paint masks. 4) Release kits that modellers want; It might be obvious but a good marketing research is paramount: there are still a lack of offer of many important subjects (in the nineties they had Luftwaffe 1946 series, aimed at WW2, German aviation and hypotetical subjects fans, while they could reach a broader market).
Well said. Over to you revell! If we see Adam joining another company fairly soon then that could be a sign he got fed up wasting his time. Hopefully they listen and he can improve matters. I doubt that they will do even half of what you list, though I will be happy to be proven wrong, but if they only do a few then i think that perhaps the most important is probably transparency in kits, improving starter sets and rebooting their paint. If you could only choose 3 which would you go with?
I have been modeling over 50 years , I’ve just come to the end of my last ever revell kit , I only bought it because it’s the only f3 1/48 tornado available 🤷🏻♂️ they should engage with the modelers and listen to them 🤷🏻♂️
A very well thought out assessment. It’s sad to see such apathy and indifference so deeply ingrained in a company rivaling that of Boeing - a crying shame really, because their 1/48th Rafalé kit shows they CAN be really good when they try. It may be cruel to say this, but it may be better for the Model Market for Revell to shut down and close - the number of new enthusiasts entering this hobby is dwindling - and having them go through the hell of Revell as a first kit is more likely to turn them off of the market, ultimately killing it.
When you watch this type of video there are usually things that you disagree with. Not this time. All of those are fair and valid points. 👍 My favourite Revell boxing is the "Harrier 50th Anniversary" - 50th of the kit or aircraft as both are correct! Recent boxings of some of their ship kits have been misleading at best, again you get a massive box that is 4 times bigger than needed and the kits were tooled in 50s and 60s and looks it. I got a few in Lidl for £20 and had a good idea of what was likely to be inside. However, many retailers are selling them for nearly £40. ICM style boxes are the best but most slip top boxes are fine and do the job yet Revell's feel like they are using 100gm paper and not thin cardboard. If Classic kits are priced reasonably you can ignore the kit quality as it isn't being sold as new and the nostalgia is a big part of the appeal. But when sold as "new" then you are going to damage the companies reputation. Their Star Wars kits are another example of being overpriced. Whilst the kits are OK they are not great. A quick scan of eBay would give them an indication of what older kits would sell. Certainly feels like Airfix do that based on some of their recent Classic releases.
Let's hope the powers-that-be at Revell see this and take it to heart. Many of these same issues also plague AMT. I will say, though, that I am impressed with AMT's 2021 Dodge Charger kit. All new tooling (of course) with fantastic fit and finish.
Not just revell but all model companies need to produce new kits, by that i mean subjects. sadly the boy who's grandad flew spitfires, hurricanes p47s etc is dying out. ,Being aircraft orientated, and British id like to see 50s - 70s jets in 1/48 scale or 1/72 blackburn beverlys....etc, Just something different. I know they say afore mentioned kits sell well but someone needs to be bold and break the modeling mold. Set up pre- subject pre order "bank accounts" if the suggested subject attains the potential production costs crack on , or offer to fund another subject or money refunded. It Needs some tweaking but im sure you get the drift.
I think Revell should be open minded and listen to the customer about what they want. They should also let the social media builders, and posters, get the subject matter the builder likes and do a full honest review. Like you mentioned, if Revell and another company comes out with the same kit, I’ll be more likely to go for the other company. I’d be happy to review automotive kits for them, but they’d also have to listen on what subject matter is like to see, and produce some of it, as well.
You are very right in your points! I feel that buying a Revell kit is "hit or miss". I don't know what quality I will be getting unless I do the research first - and I have to say that a lot of their kits are a horrible quality. Kits that I personally would be ashamed of charging money for. And the whole idea of having cheap alternatives for new modelers is BS as it will only give them a bad intro to the hobby - maybe even scaring them off for good. I have stopped buying Revell all together for the same reasons. It's (currently) not a company that deserves my money.
For me it starts with fit and finish. Back in the 60's when I started we had Revell and Monogram period. Fighting to get a wing or fuse to fit properly using Testors glue tube. It was always to much or to little. I didn't know it until your video that Revell owned Monogram. I just quit modeling plastic planes and went to RC. If they started putting out a good product. Parts that fit, no huge gaps, so detail that doesn't look like an after thought. Word of mouth doesn't have a price tag. Only other option is gutting the whole company and putting in people that care about a product not their year end bonuses.
I personally like the Revell model car kits, especially the 1971 Mustang. I like the Revell glue for certain applications. I bought one spray can of the new Revell spray paint and was very disappointed with it.
I agree that the revel boxes are very bad. the parts can often become bent or warped so I use a old model box to store revel kits which can help. the odd scales are annoying such as 1/426, 1/28.. which are hard to use in dioramas. They have a lot to sort out.
Hello there i have not tried a revell kit since the 1960s i must get myself one to try i like the acrylic paint for brush painting but i prefer tamiya for the airbrush anyway all the best and happy modelling everyone 👍 Ps thanks for the time and effort you put in for us 👍
I've got kits (1/35 armour) from many many manufacturers from all over the world. Some ( Eastern Express) need work to finesse but that's part of the appeal of them. I've not yet got a single Revell kit. Somehow they managed to miss my eye. They must have the ability to make new kits. Imagine they concentrated on say Italian WW2 armour and released truly accurate kits and promoted them properly. A market would open up and progress from there.
I want to see Revell succeed, but given the choice between them or IMC, Hasegawa, Tamiya, or other great companies, they end up being the last of my choices. I choose Revell only if they are the only option, or I am looking for that kit I had as a kid. What’s worse is the pricing of those discontinued kits are so high. I really want a B-58 in 1/48, I just can’t justify the $150 USD for an old kit that really isn’t that good. Especially knowing how much detail kits are going to be just to make the actual model kit good. Re-tool old kits in demand and people will gladly buy them.
I bought Revell spitfire with the paint. Lol starting with the hobby was 10 euros. Happy with it for the basic. But yes I'm more attracted towards ICM, airfix, Tamiya and master box arts. Also because they have more ww1 and ww2 sets. The little plastic paint box are annoying to open.
I agree with all you have said, Revell do make some great kits, 1/32 109,s, Fw 190 and a few others in that scale, in 1/72 they do some really detailed and unusual subjects. The main problems are pricing and boxes and they just don’t seem to take any notice of their customer base as this has been going on for years. They should take a leaf out of Airfix,s book as they ask their customers what they want and have polls to this effect and even though some of their kits are overpriced you know what you are getting. On the plus side for Revell their instructions are good, the plastic is easy to work with and their decals are usually very good so it is not all bad. They just need a few tweaks to get on track with the other manufacturers.
I've built 2 revell kits, the 1:108 tugboat and the 1:87 UP Big boy, and im currently building the 1:350 Bismarck. The big boy and bismarck (so far) have been excellent. The tugboat, not so much. Both the big boy and tugboat had side opening boxes, while bismarck had a slide off top.
My first encounter with revell was back in the 70's looking to build a 1/700 scale german WW2 fleet and revell was the only producer of the hipper class heavy cruisers (1/720) so I purchased the Blucher to say it was a very sad comparison to the Tamiya Scharnhorst and Fujimi Pocket battleships for design, accuracy, quality and fit would be being VERY kind, I was still occasionally seeing these revell kits up till a decade ago . . Maybe change the scale up to match the competition and revamp the entire design to use modern tools to deliver something Accurate . . . though Tamiya has since filled that particular gap . . . Its sad that my experience has coloured my view of Revell ever since
When I see people complain about Revell kits it's usually always either ship or plane kits. I build mostly car kits and I'd prefer a Revell kit over an AMT, MPC, or Italeri kit if that vehicle is offered in different brand choices. I agree with the sentiment about the end opening boxes, building a majority of cars, I've had several instances of roofs and pillars being crushed. Only Revell of Germany uses the end opening boxes. Revell here in the U.S. still use the top opening boxes.
The boxes are awful, and the last Revell kit I built, the first thing I did was put all the sprues in an empty box from a different kit manufacturer. I was also burned buying a "new" kit and discovering that it was originally issued by another company in the 1970s. Now, I always check Scalemates first. With their kits that actually are new, I wait for build reviews. There are good reasons for their poor reputation.
Revell/Monogram used to make up a decent part of my collection. Not so much anymore. Maybe look at the market and supply some updated P-3C Orion, DeHavilland Dash-8, and a decent UH-1D Huey kit among others... As for paint... I don't like opening a NEW blue box of paint and finding chunks of dried paint inside, so I'm done with the Revell offering. I just wish I could still get Gunze Aqueous Hobbycolor over here in Canada, I just airbrushed with a few 25 yr old bottles with no issues.
1)proper stiff boxes with top lids not these awful, flimsy, tacky, side opening ones. Top opening boxes are useful while modelling to keep your bits in and support your model. 2)Better more inspiring art work for boxes3).New paint range with proper bottles. The brand needs a complete revamp in my opinion. I rarely buy a Revell kit though they do release the odd good one especially aircraft in 1/48 and 1/32 but generally I steer well clear.
10 Nails hit very hard on the head, CONSECUTIVELY!! Revell NEED to do all these things, PRONTO! There are a number of Revell kits that I do like, and like a lot... but there are pretty much a HORDE of kits (Mostly older) that I refuse to even consider buying. For example I really like their 1/48 Beaufighters (TFX and Mk 1) which are recent... but why no Mk VI? I will not buy any of their slyly reboxed ex-Frog or Revellogram kits from the era of pre-1980. (Yes there are some nice ones that still fit well and have good detail, (I still have the Revell 1/32 Kawasaki Ki61 kit, and will build it!), but many are not even good enough, even for a "Starter set". I am not "big" on poorly fitting "Vintage" kits that repaid their cost outlay many decades ago and the molds for which now belong in landfill. There are many,many modelllers who consider that modelling, Post-1995, has been something of a a "Golden Age" of Modelling, but revel, with a few exceptions seem to still be living in the Bronze Age and they seem to be looking backwards to the Stone Age. If nothing changes, it will spell extinction for them, too.
Regarding the re boxing old models as new, once I felt attracted by a nice box of a 1/72 Gannet, just to get home and realise that it was an old Frog molding inside, with the "cockpit details" being pilot heads and half torso being part of the fuselage halves. I quickly put the model together and it joined my other "mule" models that I got from under the table at shows for a few quid, when I paid full price for this "new" kit. 😠
Wasted tons of money on a Revell space shuttle this January and I just learned it too had ancient toolings from the 80s. I don't think I'll return to this hobby until I'm rich.
one thing about Revell that bothers me is their scale range. I usually make Star Wars models, yet there is hardly any model in the standard 1/72 or 1/48 scale. You can't even combine models in a diorama or model-scene. its 1/29, 1/36, 1/64 all over the range
Note to Revell: Please bring back the Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS) and the Cold War era (or modern) servicing vehicles/equipment in 1:72 scale so that modellers can do make a decent diorama.
I agree with all your comments especially the boxes. Maybe they would think twice if they new I was buying a rival kit just so I could re-use the box to store the Revell kit in.
Airfix models was bought out by Hornby Hobbies and have been trying to revive the brand through better engineered and better quality models. Hopefully Revell can experience the same kind of transformation.
wild how I always seem to hear mixed things regarding Revell’s military kits while they’re releasing top tier kits like the latest ‘71 Mustang or that retooled Oldsmobile 442.
PLEASE get rid of the "TV Dinner" style boxes. Molded in "19--" or "20--" on the box somewhere or "Re-Released". Leave the paint and glue OUT Stick to making simply good models until the reputation improves. While good artwork helps to sell - DON'T use it for the same old re-releases. Defeats the purpose and directly affects credibility. They have become a "Buyer Beware" sort of company.. Thanks, Dane
Revell does include Matchbox models in its own range. However, its licence to the Matchbox brand expired and it's unlikely that Mattel would offer it again.
Gotta admit, when I just want to scratch an itch and build something, I still pick Revell, because their German office offers great customer service in the EU. When I really want to make a quality model, I shell out a few dozen bucks more and pick a Tamiya with aftermarket upgrades. Probably helps that I usually prefer to build more like 1/48 aircraft, nothing with a footprint of more than 40cm. But no matter what they change about the box, keep the dimensions right there so you can immediately form a general opinion what you're about to consider buying.
Ugh, those dreaded floppy boxes! Hated them since the first day I encountered one. Revell could make reissued kits a real boost by creating a distinctive box each time they do, and pick a kit that hasn't been issued in decades, and was a hit back then.
Revell has a stand at the EME, the largest exhibition for model making in Germany. ZERO life at the stand, the people who look after it radiate such boredom, unimaginable. In contrast, the stand of MBK, a dealer who brought their own sets onto the market with “das Werk” a few years ago: life is raging there. New companies like Andy's Hobby Headquarters, Takom, Ryefield, das Werk and others with complete new models are showing us that you can make money with model building. I think Revell is doing everything it can to get rid of its customers, starting with the terrible colors and not stopping with "easy-to-install vinyl Tracks" mentioned in their instruction for the PZH 2000
As for me being in the states.1 the boxing with the cellophane wrap and not tape. 2 revell is missing the boat on there paints. Ditch the metal pots/tins for glass bottles like testors. There range of colors is more then testors has in there enamels. Miss the model master paints..revell can capitalize on this with a bigger range in enamels. 3 is quality control which is lagging alot in there products. If they improve their quality instead of churning out kits for quick sales they could jump there sales higher especially in the states. The hobby shop in st Charles, mo is selling off all their revell kits because of these things
Personally, I really wish the premium set would disappear. That's because I tried to buy the new bussing s8000&trailer set that came out a year ago, but there was only a premium version and it costs $180 in the US. Considering that the regular version costs $100, the premium version is extremely expensive.
Haven't bought Revell (for myself anyway) for many years now .Their 1/35 kits are usually available from other companies ,often using the same molds . The paint range (?) ,well , those haven't arrived in Canada yet and probably never will at this point.
Revell GERMANY😍 Its a hard laugh what it is and who speak about it. They could be the number 1 in new exclusive kits not done before by any other model company. BUT, the German people are conservative. In their language, in their work habits, in their social life and more, and they must (more or less) been led to something new and acceptance. I know for some kits to make wich are absolute runners and re-establish Revell definitely on the map. (chance about it: less than 10 %) We can only hope.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
"With a little thought and care..." Ahhh, the impossible dream of most corporations. The main problem in every field and every corporation is the seeming necessity to hire and promote from outside the company, and even outside the actual market of said company. This leads to many of the unfathomable ideas/decisions made by some companies. But it continues because those at the top seem to never understand what their actual company does, or why it exists.
I get angry when I see the starter kits with the 1/1200 battleships. They sell for $50 or more in Australia. Not that long ago just the kit itself was about $10. And that price was stretching the friendship a bit. I see these in toy shops that have a model section, and I imagine granny buying one for little Billie’s birthday and feeling ripped off later and poor Billie being put off models for life.
I don't like Revell kits for a few reasons one being the kind of plastic they use. Their car bodies are sometimes a little warped. Their panel lines are too soft and shallow making scribing difficult.their rubber tires are soft on tread pattern and their clear parts are too thick and distort interiors views. Tamiya and other Japanese companies are over twice the price but their quality is way higher! They don't do models of the American hot rod thing because they're not popular in the orient. If Tamiya did a model of a 60s Vette or Camaro it would be twice the price but what a hell of a model it would be and it would scare the hell out of all the American model companies. For two perfect examples just look at Revells Ford GT, it's no comparison to Tamyas. Look at Revells LaFerrari and then look at Tamiyas and you'll see the body proportions are off.Tamiyas blows Revells out of the water even though Tamiyas is nearly three times the price. Quality has its price and the Revell kits are ok overall bit they have a long way to go with quality of fit and overall accuracy of scale. And they have to stop with their side box openings.
![ร้อยพ่อพันแม่ - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XY2pNYASEbg/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you think Revell needs to do to get modellers invested in them once again? Let me know below...
imo: revell should F off and make room for someone else to do it better then them.
i hear airfix has been stepping up it's game in recent times...
I believe Revell should develop what I call a company “signature ” for example: Tamiya is well known for their model’s great part fit and ease of build. Also I believe most modelers after completing a model, will form an opinion and build their knowledge on modeling companies based on their building experience.
@@glasslicker2829 Absolutely!
@@glasslicker2829 i don't think revell has that kind of leadership.
i think they have a board of directors, none of whom know anything about modelling, who make the decisions that matter.
as such revell will never be anything more then a giant cash grabbing company that does not give half a rabbit turd about it's customers.
More of a selection would be nice instead of war all the time this is what's boring about there kits not art work it's the lack of othere interesting models that they could branch out into like star trek models that nobody as thought of like the travel pod or the space dock from star trek 3 and large figures of the movies as a classic fan it would be cool or even there tack on the refit enterprises would be nice or why stop there go into movie and t.v models as well after all all they seem to do is tanks and plans and war ships why not put there self's more out there for the othere model makers or even go into the zulu wars or waterloo as plastic kits instead of just a standard full plastic figure as it would be interesting to make a figure than just paint it just some thoughts thanks for your time mr paul gould
Avery well thought provoking visual essay which truly hits the spot. I am 84 years of age and have been a fanatical modeller for 76 years. I started out with wooden solids and bought many of the earliest plastic kit releases even though a lot of them were prohibitively expensive.A passion I have always followed is passing on knowledge and skills to young people. I have spent a life time teaching the hobby to air training corps and scout troops. The feedback I get from these kids is that most kits are over engineered for their skills and the prohibitive cost of kits. I show them kits from the fifties and sixties with minimum parts which they can put together and put on display in the shortest time and they find them most attractive.There are masses of earlier moulds rotting away in stores- Why not knock out these simpler kits at pocket money prices and take the hobby back from old foggies who fill shelves with "stashes" which never get built! Sorry but this is a passion of mine and I could go on for hours especially about marketing people WHO ARE NOT MODELLERS AND HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE MODELLERS ETHOS. I have never bought a Revell kit for many years.
You've pretty much nailed all that is wrong with Revell. Problem is, nobody at Revell will care. The only thing that matters to them is, that their kits are cheaper than others. And many modellers go the same route because they never built good model kits.
I am a car modeller and will happily spend twice the money on a Tamiya-kit befor being annoyed ba lack of quality in a comparable item by Revell. In the 90's there was even a short-lived cooperation between Revell and Tamiya with Tamiya-kit s 24103 (BMW 850) and 24106 (BMW 325i), which had to be abandoned because of massive customer complaint regarding the quality (or lack of) of those kits.
Due to experience of many years of buying kits and nowadays thanks to Scalemates I mostly know, if a kit is a rebox of a kit of non-Revell origin. If Revell clearly said on their boxes, that the model is a reboxed kit from Hasegawa, Eduard, ICM, or even from ESCI or IMAI (Harley Davidson in 12th scale), more customers would happily buy them. But I especially hesitate to buy airplane-kits, because I never know, if the content is rubbish from the 60's or a fairly new tooling from the 21st century.
@@colintamiya I still don't know how Revell hasn't reissued cellulose kits from the 1950s 😂 they look like they would be totally down with doing that, too. Everything they do is for a quick cash grab. What a sad end to what used to be one of the most reputable model companies.
Great video. In 1986 Odyssey Partners purchased Revell and Monogram. Some mold swapping occurred but Monogram and Revell were still marketed under their respective names HOWEVER all production for both companies was done by Monogram at their Morton Grove, IL plant. Revell's Venice, CA plant was closed. In 1991 Odyssey also purchased the Matchbox tooling from Lesney and ex-Matchbox kits were released under both the Revell and Monogram names. 3 years later Hallmark purchased both plastic kit lines and 2 years after that Maquire & Partners bought both the Revell and Monogram lines. Shortly thereafter they combined the two names to make it Revell/Monogram. This naming continued till 1999 when they were again divided (confused yet?).
BTW, I completely agree on the need for 'real' box art. The need for good boxart cannot be overstated as the box sells the kit.
I like the Revell glue.
Very comprehensive history - I deliberately didn't go into it in depth here since it wasn't the point of the video, and you're absolutely right, it's confusing as hell!!!
This video is not about Revell's history but remiss of me not to mention Revell GB who produced the first kit I made and manufactured it in England. (Spitfire)
Nostalgia like this is why I would like to see Revell thrive by adopting your recommendations.
Model On Max, love your TH-cam Channel!
I’ve already fixed Revell. I just don’t bother buying their kits anymore. With so many other options out there it’s just not worth the headaches.
That's funny!
Funny perhaps, but absolutely true. Be done the same for 2 reasons. I the aforementioned quality issues, and 2, they offer nothing in the scale(1/350) or subject matter (ships) that I am interested in.
Great choice of topic Alex. I would love to see Revell give themselves a shake and start to produce the kits we know they can.
I started back into the hobby buying a cheap Revell kit from eBay. I wound up with a P40 Warhawk where the fit was so bad, I think I now qualify for auto body and fender work after all the filling and sanding. Since then, I've had much better luck with their PT-17 Stearman kit, but still, the first experience back into the hobby left a bad taste (sanding grit?) in my mouth.
Their P-40 mold is pretty old. The stearman is a lot newer.
Those side opening boxes are the German side of Revell. Revell USA still uses top opening boxes.
A thoughtful and well presented critique of a model company that will probably, and to their disadvantage, pay no heed to. Their offering is a confusing slew of collections that badly needs simplification.
Great points!! I enjoyed your video. I’m a Car modeler. Your points on Revell are nailed. The very bad side opening boxes on car kits are a disaster too. Weird size boxes, very weak and usually crushes the body. No customer support either. I have contacted them about the damaged kits and heard nothing back. The hobby shop had to bear the burden of returning a damaged kit. The releases are extremely slow. They announced the Stranger Things series over a year ago and they are still not out. You are correct in saying that you are rolling the dice on a “New” kit because it most likely is an ancient design. And then the box art!! Holy smokes it’s terrible. That’s what brings in a customer. Don’t just take a photo of a (most of the time) subpar built kit!! Look at Round2 models. Actual Artwork on the boxes worthy of framing. Their boxes inspire imagination and excitement. A 1950s car at a Burger shop or in an antique repair shop. So cool. I am Partnered with Round2 models and they send me new products pretty regularly. No strings. Review it and share with your audience. Great channel sir. I’m a new subscriber. Thank you for your insight. -Louie.
I think you covered it pretty well. They need to re-invent themselves as an enthusiasts brand, focus on quality kits and stop trying to be everything everywhere all at once.
Dump the tired old toolings into a 'Revell Classic' range at bargain prices, make some quality starter sets, and....gulp...INDICATE TOOLING DATES on the box, and price accordingly. I don;t buy Revell kits becuase I don't want to play Russian Roulette with plastic, or have to trawl Scalemates to research whether it's older than I am. I want to see a subject I am interested in, and just buy the kit. I picked up a couple of ICM early war 1/48 fighters recently. Cost about £15 each. Impulse buy. Fancied doing them. Wasn't stressed as I knew they would be buildable and whilst some of their range is far from new, you trust the kit to be buildable and worth the time. That's what reputation does for you.
If I had been forced to go research the tooling, release and origin, I may have ended up buying a different kit, been distracted into other things, or bought nothing at all.
Instead, while I pondered buying the I-16 or I-153...I bought both. Lovely little kits. I-16 nearly done, then I do the other.
Revell need to make modellers do that sort of thing with THEIR products.
They should consider re issuing the Matchbox toolings they have as their own version of a "Vintage classics" line
Or use them in the starter sets. Matchbox designed their kits for kids and it worked.
@@jefthingMatchbox did that, and made superior kits, in a time were Airfix(and others) hated their customers😂
Revell automotive kits issued in the US get standard US style top opening boxes. On the flip side, however, the US kit decals are not as high of a quality than the European releases.
Very interesting and about time Revell had a cold shower. I love a lot about the company as in its longevity,crisp plastic and good instructions. As you said the paint is globby and hard to match. Dropper bottles are my go too. I'm not in acrylic lacquer but understands their pros. Funny how some modellers have a good time with different brands. I was pleased Revell kept the Matchbox armour going with those lovely diaorama bases but as you say way too expensive for an older molding. Each company has its unique subjects but I lije what you said that they are all over the place. It's like the bosses aren't modellers whereas Airfix who are quite transparent,approachable and keep you informed about what they are doing also cine across as enthusiasts. You feel they want to please their audience. Revell can and needs to get better. They could become so much more attractive. In this day an age they are on a time budget to up their game. We,the modellers are uniquely the older generation mostly and not the 10 years old we used to be. Look at the choices. Easy to go elsewhere. PS Thanks for highlighting the ICM paint range. It's gone big!
Nearly all my Revell boxes in the loft are distorted or squashed! Definitely need to sort that out!
Excellent summary of the company's woes. I've bought two of their kits recently on a whim, without checking Scalemates first...schoolboy error!
This video popped up in my feed, and I started watching with a bit of interest but not high expectations. By the end, I was impressed. Revell should watch this and pay a generous consulting fee.
Thank you! A consulting fee would be lovely!! 🙂
My #1 Issue with Revell is the boxes, they are crap and I've even had two models with broken/bent parts due to the boxes crumpling and deforming! Surely I'm not the only one??
I can't stand their end opening boxes. Give us a proper box with a base and a lid!
Their boxes are terrible. They don;t even work to store the sprues in while you are building and it's far too easy for bits to fall out. They also can squash and deform without appearing creased or damaged. It;s only when you open one up you find out there is damage.
I love the older blue striped Revell boxes. I've built loads of them from the 1/72 Arado Ar240 to the 1/48 Natter and the 1/32 Mosquito and He162. They have produced some truly amazing kits over the years. I don't agree with you about the paints or glue either, I think they are excellent and a much better option over the humbrol brushes you get in airfix starter sets. That being said since being taken over my Quantum Capital Partners, Revell have severely gone down hill but I still support them as a company purely out of nostalgia as I built many vintage versions as a kid. 👍 Revell will always remain close to my heart as a modelling company.
Totally agree on what you said. I felt using the OPEN BOX as Japanese style is very critical, hopefully Revell can listen to us.
Ok Revell, to bullet point my notes🙂- 1- Change your boxes. Only donuts go in flip lid boxes...
2- Box art. I've bought recently Eduard kits not because I need another P51 but because the box art is so cool! And the kit is chef kiss anyhow.
Ditch the pe parts but ADD a mask set & more markings choices.
There, all fixed... Now politics😊
I completely agree about Revell‘s boxes and box art. I hope Revell will begin using stronger top opening boxes. As for the box art, I grew up building mostly Revell kits in the 1970s. I loved the art work on most of the 1/32 scale kits. The Corsair, Warhawk, Lightning, and Mustang still stand out in my memory. I also liked that I could cut out the artwork, by itself, and hang it on the walls. Keep the pictures independent of overlapping images and words please.
I would hope that, with boxes, Revell would take a leaf from ICM in the Ukraine - their boxes are "da Bomb!" Standard sizes, great artwork on the sleeve and a tough inner, protective plain box. Othe Ukrainian companies are following ICM's lead (EG Dora Wings, Armory and Modelsvit.)
Bought three of those square paint pots when they first came out, I had no idea how they worked until I watched this video! Found them difficult to use so they went straight back on the shelf.
Today I started building my first model in 50 years and it's not a Revell. I thought they were rubbish back then and it doesn't seem like much has changed in the last half century. I'm building myself a healthy stash to start my retirement, in a year or so, and there's not a single Revell model in the 100 or so that I've bought. There are plenty of ICM, Tamiya, Eduard, Hasegawa and Airfix though. Speaking of which, I'm working on the Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant starter kit (using Vallejo paints) and it's blowing me away with how much better it is than all of those old kits that I used to build. I'm pleased to see that Airfix has survived and is producing such well made models. Unless Revell take on board what Alex has said, then I don't see them doing the same. Kids are playing with electronics these days, not building models, and they need to appeal to an older and more discerning audience.
Also a huge thanks to whoever started the Scalemates website. That thing is amazing and I check every potential purchase there before buying.
Yes, kudos to Scalemates, one of the best things to happen to this hobby since my return to it in 2018.
@@fizzyridertoo I can definitely say, whoever started Scalemates, was probably tired of getting scammed by the "new box - old mold" syndrome. It's the best thing to happen to the modelling community since recessed panel lines.
One of the things I love about Bandai Gundam kits is that they print the design date on the bottom corner of the box art. A quick glance will tell you if that model was designed in 1999, or 2024, so you know roughly what you're in for when you build it.
When I was younger, many years ago, I built a lot of Revell and Monogram kits. In the US where they dominated the aircraft and military vehicle markets and they were just about all that was available for those two subjects. Yes, there were a few Airfix, Matchbox and smaller brand kits, but choice was limited and the quality of all was pretty poor. The same could be said of the paint and cements. Testors was about the only option and they only had hard to use glue in tubes and those little glass bottles (that they still use) of a few paints. Then came the Japanese kits. The kits and variety was a quantum leap in both quality and price. Just like the auto industry, the established companies either didn't try or were unable to match what was coming from the likes of Tamiya and Hasegawa. I sincerely would like to see Revell "get back in the game" with good, consistent, appealing kits. I just have some sincere doubts if they can pull it off. The competition has moved way ahead of them and catching up will require a lot of work, as exemplified by the fact that you had 10 items that they need to improve, not just 2 or 3. They have lost their reputation and getting it back in a very crowded market of high quality competition may be beyond the capability of any company.
appreciate the shout out on the creator section mate, thanks!
No worries!
They HAVE to stop reboxing kits from the 70s and passing them off as new ones featuring the new packages. Often it are very interesting models, people buy them without looking and then it turns out it's an unbuildable kit with molds that are twice as old as I am. If this is a new builder, boom, it turns them off from the hobby forever.
If they want do it, fine, but then use retro looking boxes so at least buyers can make an informed decision. Invest more in new tooling kits, and do a cool model, not the twentieth BF-109 or umpteenth Hurricane. Or re-release kits people actually want (the 1/32 Arado AR196 was one of the best kits I ever built, but people are asking ridiculous prices for it on ebay), like the Salamander, the arado 196, the JU52,... All the rest is not that important, the side opening boxes are whatever, the paints are not used by any serious modeller anyway (that's more aimed at kids buying the paints in the toy shop), the boxart is okay and it's not something I base decisions from anyway.
The biggest thing they do wrong is the constant reboxings in my eyes. I no longer buy anything from Revell before checking Scalemates to make sure I don't unearth some prehistoric kit when unboxing it. Let's hope the guy from Airfix is able to recondition Revell into finally creating some great new subjects and we can finally build some trust in Revell again.
@@jordygijbels3626 this. Can we all agree that we do NOT want to see commemorative airshow aircraft every year? Like, I get it that all model companies like to release some specific airshow scheme, but come on, Revell is the king of commemorative schemes. They have somehow outdone Hasegawa in the recent years, even though Hasegawa gets a pass because usually their kits are very high-end stuff. People just want to build combat aircraft armed to the teeth. Those kits end up becoming shelfwarmers real fast, you can see lots of those in online stores, because not everyone wants to build a commemorative version.
Also, where have all the good kits gone? I've recently been wanting to build a MiG-21F-13, but I'm on a tight budget, and I cannot afford the vastly superior Modelsvit version right now. Since Revell - which likes to take pride in cheap kits - doesn't make them anymore, the only solution is saving up for a Modelsvit or acquiring a very cheap Academy boxing of a 1960s FROG kit, which has horrible detail and a canopy that makes you wish you'd rinsed your eyes with bleach. Yay. They (Revell) seem out of touch with the reality of the market, supply & demand. They're getting outdone by smaller model companies that actually care about their consumers, like Special Hobby, Kinetic and others.
At the risk earning the laugher and ricudule of the community, I wish Revell and other Western model companies would provide more snap together military land vehicles models. I recently discovered the Chinese 1/72 snap-together models and I really enjoy building them. I even invested some paints and brushes to take a small baby step toward painting them. When I was growing, I had, I think a Mongram, a snap together Sherman Tank and Panzer II and really enjoyed putting them together. I love to have some similar in 1/48 or 1/32-35. I enjoy your though video. The video on paints and color I thought was excellent.
😂😂😂😂😂 - sorry mate mate but couldn't resist the invitation! On a more serious note, Airfix do a couple of really good snap kits and there's always Meng's World War Toons to keep you busy.....😊
@jeffholt9437 Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered the Airfix Challenger tank last week, and I am trying to decide whether to wait until the Sherman tank becomes available in the US or import it from the UK. War toons look interesting.
Why would someone laugh at enjoying snap kits? Are we laughing at people enjoying Lego? It's a different branch in the same hobby. Enjoy!
If you want some funny looking airplanes: Meng has a range of snap kit egg planes.
I read, somewhere, that the boxes are designed to comply with recycling rules in Germany. This could explain them, or that they are just cheaper to produce.
@@melvynjones3904 That is true. Germany is a decade or more ahead in the field of recycling.
New molds for definite. Especially aircraft kits, as you said Revell haven't had a big aircraft release schedule since the late 90's, they seem to be very focused on military vehicles and cars at the moment. If they have to reissue old kits make it obvious it's an old kit.
Dude... Really? Revell has released a lot of great large scale plastic since the 90s.
2008 - 1/32 Ju88
2011 - 1/32 He111P-1
2013 - 1/32 bf109G-6 late/early
2014 - 1/32 bf109G-10 Erla
2014 - 1/32 Spitfire Mk. IIa
2015 - 1/32 Fw190F-8
2016 - 1/32 Me262 B1/U1
2017 - 1/32 Fw190A-8/R-11
2017 - 1/32 P-51D-5
2017 - 1/32 Spitfire Mk. IXc
2017 - 1/32 Heinkel He219A-7
2019 - 1/32 Fw190A-8/R-2
2019 - 1/32 Me262 A1/A2
2021 - 1/32 P-51D-15
2022 - 1/32 bf109G-2/4
2024 - 1/32 Gloster Meteor F.3 (pending)
There are others, but my fingers are getting tired. All of the above a very nice kits and a real bargain.
@@pawpawstew Sorry, perhaps I should have written that they haven't had much of a 1/72 aircraft release schedule since the 90's. Their 1/32 scale kits are great, just too large for me to house once they're built.
I agree with, pretty much everything you said. The biggest issues I take with Revell kits are in 1/32 scale. Flimsy box is a big nuisance. Price point is another issue I take with them. Aircraft in 1/32 scale, in Revell terms, are not the greatest quality in detail. This often results in having to replace kit parts with aftermarket. Aftermarket pieces can get pricey but, often add much more interest in the final product. This makes the retail prices in the base kits, a very big bone of contention with me. This problem also translates with the bigger 1/72 and 1/48 aircraft kits.
Thanks for your insight. Being transparent is key.
Last model I built was in the late 70’s. Now that I’m retired and have some extra time I thought I’d give it a crack again. I bought a Johan 64 Super Stock Dodge model that I intend to build like the 64 Dodge Polara that is sitting in my garage. My Dodge has BF Goodrich raised white letter tires, big tires on the rear, narrower tires in front. In my hunt for similar looking tires for the model build I saw a Revell 66 Malibu 2 in 1 kit at Hobby Lobby and the box art depicted the exact tires I have on my car, RWL BF Goodrich fat tires on rear skinny on front, perfect for my build. I bought the kit got it home and to my dissapointment the kit came with only four skinny blackwall tires, no BF Goodrich tires. I emailed Revell and asked if there was some mix up as there were only 4 stock skinny blackwall tires in the box. The box shows RWL BF Goodrich tires on the Malibu and it advertises it as a 2 in 1 kit, giving the impression it could be built stock or modified. The person at Revell asked me to send pictures of the side of the box near the Revell logo where there was a series of numbers. I complied and sent pictures. Revell reply was that there was nothing they could do for me, end of story. I promptly returned the kit to Hobby Lobby for a refund.
Revell needs to work on truth in advertising, as I felt misled by the box art. Their customer relations people need better people skills as with their terse reply, they lost this returning to the hobby customer for good.
Monogram had a great period in the U.S. during the 80's by tooling accurate competition auto subjects. This required an investment that was well rewarded. Revell needs to model current competition models, not re-pops. It's a market that, so far, has only been serviced by resin casters and 3D printers.
Your review is spot on - I hope someone at Revell mgmt level is taking notes 🙏🤞
For the most part, I've had awesome experiences with Revell. I have noticed more quality issues with MPC and AMT. I have only had two Revell kits that I haven't enjoyed building. I have one two occasions had to contact them for missing parts, and received them both times at no charge.
Couldn’t agree more with your suggestions, and with your discussion of them in standard business terms, which Revell should certainly understand. I’d love to see the main brand from my childhood become worthy of my dollars, but as it stands, for all of these reasons, I first assume that a new release will not be worth my time and money, and in all cases, I await a magazine or online review before venturing with considerable trepidation to purchase. Again, well done analysis.
5:21 Another advantage of these style pots is consistent and repeatable paint recipes (2 drops this, 3 drops that, etc).
It's so true. I've bought one Revell kit, was my 4th kit after returning back to hobby since childhood (so somewhere in 2017). It was 1/48 F-15E w/ bombs. Kit was pretty nice, not perfect fit maybe but enough, and good for that price tag. What was most awful in it was the side-opened box, I had same remarks as you. Since then im abstaining from buying revell kits, I didn't like the fact there were no plastic bags, all sprues loose, come of them scratched one another. They had some interesting releases in last years but the price... I won't pay that for Revell. €90 for SR-71 with fit issues and average details? I paid almost exact amount (€92) for Minibase's Su-33 which is just excellent kit with richest details I've ever had.
To me Revell is a company that quit the competition for any advanced and aware modeller, thay just exist in almost the same form for decades, no innovation. I've had older and newer Hobby Boss kits, it's visible how they (yes, I know it's a Trumpeter in disguise) pushed their game. Same for Zvezda, from poor plastic quality, poor fitting, poor details they went to more recent kits (their Su-30SM in 1/72 is just great). Personally, I place Revell just above, but in the same drawer, as Italeri. In Europe their models are sold in bigger hypermarkets's toys sections and seems (effort-wise) like this is their target audience, with that price tag of more interesting kits however...
Your points about building a great company through product development and marketing are right on. Weather it be an individual or company, a good reputation is hard to beat. Being more of a nostalgia builder I haven"t bought any Revell kits in quite a long time. My choice is not because I dislike Revell but Atlantis, Polar Lights and Airfix are more to my taste. Bandai kits have the best fit in my opinion. The ICM kits also look very good and I'll try one sometime.
I read the COMMENTS, as a modeler, since 1970, I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS
because I’m a modeler…
Everyone !!!!!
I still build the OLD VINTAGE
REVELL KITs…
Just bought the 1/72 VINTAGE
B-24 D off €Bay…
Bought Aftermarket Decals for it, going to build it with marking of the
STRAWBERRY BITCH…
Ploesti Raid 1943…….
YES, I still build the REVELL STUFF…
I do like the 1/72 REVELL GERMANY Fighter Kits…
This is a GREAT CHANNEL…
Good Opinions and comments
NO MATTER WHAT……….
Just being here says a lot about OUR HOBBY and our CHOICES………………….
REVELL ON ………..
CHRIS from OHIO 🇺🇸
I know Matchbox released their 1/72 scale Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer because I bought two of them. Later, I don't know when, I learned Revell purchased the molds from Matchbox and rereleased the kit in grey plastic, but I never saw one. This model was a fair kit ripe for scratch building and panel line scribing. Why won't Revell, at least, put it back out there? It is a one of a kind of a beautiful aircraft and deserves retooling to todays standards. If anyone knows what happened to this kit, please let me know. Pete
I would recommend the 1/44 scale Fletcher platinum edition fantastic kit and you have a choice of etch brass or plastic. Thanks for the review the Germans are a little slow with the internet, It is my experience living there for over ten years.
Thanks MM for your thoughts on Revell .
As someone who has worked for an Asian company as their Western Marketing Manager, I can tell you with 100% certanty, many management personel have zero concept of how social media actually works and has such a disconnect with their fanbase, it is amazing that companies continue to operate. Well the one I did work with is now no longer in business so yeah, there's that. This was a great and insightful video and I hope that Revell sees this and takes some notes. There are many inexpensive ways companies can connect better with their audience and Revell would be wise to begin taking more of those steps.
Yes, the boxes, the bloody boxes! I have a 1/48 ju-52 in the stash but i ended up having to buy a large cardboard laptop packing box to relocate the contents from the flimsy revell box. Revell should look at ICM packaging.
Yes, those ICM packages are things of beauty as well as strong and practical. Amazing too considering their country is at war.
Think they've been looking at Master Box (now there's an oxymoron!) .....
I agrre with you: the main point is they must regain trust. Besides what you have mentioned, I suggest that: 1) enlarge their offer with different kits of the same subject, simply changing decals, adding variants and spreading among scales; this can be made quite easily and in a cheapy way, since researches and maybe molds are already done: many other manufacurers do the that. 2) Update kits: some are still good and need just minor improvements (i.e. cockpit, landing gear, ...). 3) Add paint masks. 4) Release kits that modellers want; It might be obvious but a good marketing research is paramount: there are still a lack of offer of many important subjects (in the nineties they had Luftwaffe 1946 series, aimed at WW2, German aviation and hypotetical subjects fans, while they could reach a broader market).
In case you're either interested or let Revell know my thoughts I can be more specific.
Well said. Over to you revell!
If we see Adam joining another company fairly soon then that could be a sign he got fed up wasting his time. Hopefully they listen and he can improve matters.
I doubt that they will do even half of what you list, though I will be happy to be proven wrong, but if they only do a few then i think that perhaps the most important is probably transparency in kits, improving starter sets and rebooting their paint. If you could only choose 3 which would you go with?
@@bionicgeekgrrl Transparency, new toolings and boxes would be my top 3
All excellent points. Especially No 4
I have been modeling over 50 years , I’ve just come to the end of my last ever revell kit , I only bought it because it’s the only f3 1/48 tornado available 🤷🏻♂️ they should engage with the modelers and listen to them 🤷🏻♂️
A very well thought out assessment. It’s sad to see such apathy and indifference so deeply ingrained in a company rivaling that of Boeing - a crying shame really, because their 1/48th Rafalé kit shows they CAN be really good when they try. It may be cruel to say this, but it may be better for the Model Market for Revell to shut down and close - the number of new enthusiasts entering this hobby is dwindling - and having them go through the hell of Revell as a first kit is more likely to turn them off of the market, ultimately killing it.
When you watch this type of video there are usually things that you disagree with. Not this time. All of those are fair and valid points. 👍
My favourite Revell boxing is the "Harrier 50th Anniversary" - 50th of the kit or aircraft as both are correct! Recent boxings of some of their ship kits have been misleading at best, again you get a massive box that is 4 times bigger than needed and the kits were tooled in 50s and 60s and looks it. I got a few in Lidl for £20 and had a good idea of what was likely to be inside. However, many retailers are selling them for nearly £40. ICM style boxes are the best but most slip top boxes are fine and do the job yet Revell's feel like they are using 100gm paper and not thin cardboard.
If Classic kits are priced reasonably you can ignore the kit quality as it isn't being sold as new and the nostalgia is a big part of the appeal. But when sold as "new" then you are going to damage the companies reputation. Their Star Wars kits are another example of being overpriced. Whilst the kits are OK they are not great.
A quick scan of eBay would give them an indication of what older kits would sell. Certainly feels like Airfix do that based on some of their recent Classic releases.
The 1/48 Rafale C was a great kit, however this is a rare oyster in the Revell collection
Built two of these, fantastic kits
Let's hope the powers-that-be at Revell see this and take it to heart.
Many of these same issues also plague AMT. I will say, though, that I am impressed with AMT's 2021 Dodge Charger kit. All new tooling (of course) with fantastic fit and finish.
Not just revell but all model companies need to produce new kits, by that i mean subjects. sadly the boy who's grandad flew spitfires, hurricanes p47s etc is dying out. ,Being aircraft orientated, and British id like to see 50s - 70s jets in 1/48 scale or 1/72 blackburn beverlys....etc, Just something different. I know they say afore mentioned kits sell well but someone needs to be bold and break the modeling mold.
Set up pre- subject pre order "bank accounts" if the suggested subject attains the potential production costs crack on , or offer to fund another subject or money refunded.
It Needs some tweaking but im sure you get the drift.
I think Revell should be open minded and listen to the customer about what they want. They should also let the social media builders, and posters, get the subject matter the builder likes and do a full honest review. Like you mentioned, if Revell and another company comes out with the same kit, I’ll be more likely to go for the other company. I’d be happy to review automotive kits for them, but they’d also have to listen on what subject matter is like to see, and produce some of it, as well.
You are very right in your points! I feel that buying a Revell kit is "hit or miss". I don't know what quality I will be getting unless I do the research first - and I have to say that a lot of their kits are a horrible quality. Kits that I personally would be ashamed of charging money for. And the whole idea of having cheap alternatives for new modelers is BS as it will only give them a bad intro to the hobby - maybe even scaring them off for good.
I have stopped buying Revell all together for the same reasons. It's (currently) not a company that deserves my money.
Revell U Boat/Submarine range is definitely one of the best in the market.
For me it starts with fit and finish. Back in the 60's when I started we had Revell and Monogram period. Fighting to get a wing or fuse to fit properly using Testors glue tube. It was always to much or to little. I didn't know it until your video that Revell owned Monogram. I just quit modeling plastic planes and went to RC. If they started putting out a good product. Parts that fit, no huge gaps, so detail that doesn't look like an after thought. Word of mouth doesn't have a price tag. Only other option is gutting the whole company and putting in people that care about a product not their year end bonuses.
I personally like the Revell model car kits, especially the 1971 Mustang. I like the Revell glue for certain applications. I bought one spray can of the new Revell spray paint and was very disappointed with it.
Spot on analysis. Always love it when you dig in to a topic. Are you going to make some more videos about your shop?
Yes, actually did record some footage a week or so ago!
I agree that the revel boxes are very bad. the parts can often become bent or warped so I use a old model box to store revel kits which can help. the odd scales are annoying such as 1/426, 1/28.. which are hard to use in dioramas. They have a lot to sort out.
Hello there i have not tried a revell kit since the 1960s i must get myself one to try i like the acrylic paint for brush painting but i prefer tamiya for the airbrush anyway all the best and happy modelling everyone 👍
Ps thanks for the time and effort you put in for us 👍
I'd recommend ICM paints over Revell for brush painting any day
@MannsModelMoments OK thanks for the info I will give them a go
I've got kits (1/35 armour) from many many manufacturers from all over the world. Some ( Eastern Express) need work to finesse but that's part of the appeal of them. I've not yet got a single Revell kit. Somehow they managed to miss my eye. They must have the ability to make new kits. Imagine they concentrated on say Italian WW2 armour and released truly accurate kits and promoted them properly. A market would open up and progress from there.
I want to see Revell succeed, but given the choice between them or IMC, Hasegawa, Tamiya, or other great companies, they end up being the last of my choices. I choose Revell only if they are the only option, or I am looking for that kit I had as a kid. What’s worse is the pricing of those discontinued kits are so high. I really want a B-58 in 1/48, I just can’t justify the $150 USD for an old kit that really isn’t that good. Especially knowing how much detail kits are going to be just to make the actual model kit good. Re-tool old kits in demand and people will gladly buy them.
I bought Revell spitfire with the paint. Lol starting with the hobby was 10 euros. Happy with it for the basic. But yes I'm more attracted towards ICM, airfix, Tamiya and master box arts. Also because they have more ww1 and ww2 sets.
The little plastic paint box are annoying to open.
I agree with all you have said, Revell do make some great kits, 1/32 109,s, Fw 190 and a few others in that scale, in 1/72 they do some really detailed and unusual subjects. The main problems are pricing and boxes and they just don’t seem to take any notice of their customer base as this has been going on for years. They should take a leaf out of Airfix,s book as they ask their customers what they want and have polls to this effect and even though some of their kits are overpriced you know what you are getting. On the plus side for Revell their instructions are good, the plastic is easy to work with and their decals are usually very good so it is not all bad. They just need a few tweaks to get on track with the other manufacturers.
I've built 2 revell kits, the 1:108 tugboat and the 1:87 UP Big boy, and im currently building the 1:350 Bismarck. The big boy and bismarck (so far) have been excellent. The tugboat, not so much. Both the big boy and tugboat had side opening boxes, while bismarck had a slide off top.
My first encounter with revell was back in the 70's looking to build a 1/700 scale german WW2 fleet and revell was the only producer of the hipper class heavy cruisers (1/720) so I purchased the Blucher to say it was a very sad comparison to the Tamiya Scharnhorst and Fujimi Pocket battleships for design, accuracy, quality and fit would be being VERY kind, I was still occasionally seeing these revell kits up till a decade ago . . Maybe change the scale up to match the competition and revamp the entire design to use modern tools to deliver something Accurate . . . though Tamiya has since filled that particular gap . . . Its sad that my experience has coloured my view of Revell ever since
When I see people complain about Revell kits it's usually always either ship or plane kits. I build mostly car kits and I'd prefer a Revell kit over an AMT, MPC, or Italeri kit if that vehicle is offered in different brand choices. I agree with the sentiment about the end opening boxes, building a majority of cars, I've had several instances of roofs and pillars being crushed. Only Revell of Germany uses the end opening boxes. Revell here in the U.S. still use the top opening boxes.
The boxes are awful, and the last Revell kit I built, the first thing I did was put all the sprues in an empty box from a different kit manufacturer. I was also burned buying a "new" kit and discovering that it was originally issued by another company in the 1970s. Now, I always check Scalemates first. With their kits that actually are new, I wait for build reviews. There are good reasons for their poor reputation.
Revell/Monogram used to make up a decent part of my collection. Not so much anymore. Maybe look at the market and supply some updated P-3C Orion, DeHavilland Dash-8, and a decent UH-1D Huey kit among others... As for paint... I don't like opening a NEW blue box of paint and finding chunks of dried paint inside, so I'm done with the Revell offering. I just wish I could still get Gunze Aqueous Hobbycolor over here in Canada, I just airbrushed with a few 25 yr old bottles with no issues.
1)proper stiff boxes with top lids not these awful, flimsy, tacky, side opening ones. Top opening boxes are useful while modelling to keep your bits in and support your model. 2)Better more inspiring art work for boxes3).New paint range with proper bottles. The brand needs a complete revamp in my opinion. I rarely buy a Revell kit though they do release the odd good one especially aircraft in 1/48 and 1/32 but generally I steer well clear.
10 Nails hit very hard on the head, CONSECUTIVELY!! Revell NEED to do all these things, PRONTO! There are a number of Revell kits that I do like, and like a lot... but there are pretty much a HORDE of kits (Mostly older) that I refuse to even consider buying. For example I really like their 1/48 Beaufighters (TFX and Mk 1) which are recent... but why no Mk VI? I will not buy any of their slyly reboxed ex-Frog or Revellogram kits from the era of pre-1980. (Yes there are some nice ones that still fit well and have good detail, (I still have the Revell 1/32 Kawasaki Ki61 kit, and will build it!), but many are not even good enough, even for a "Starter set". I am not "big" on poorly fitting "Vintage" kits that repaid their cost outlay many decades ago and the molds for which now belong in landfill.
There are many,many modelllers who consider that modelling, Post-1995, has been something of a a "Golden Age" of Modelling, but revel, with a few exceptions seem to still be living in the Bronze Age and they seem to be looking backwards to the Stone Age. If nothing changes, it will spell extinction for them, too.
Thanks
I normally buy old Revell kits from eBay for the good old nostalgic feeling thing. Also I loathe end opening boxes no matter who makes them...
Regarding the re boxing old models as new, once I felt attracted by a nice box of a 1/72 Gannet, just to get home and realise that it was an old Frog molding inside, with the "cockpit details" being pilot heads and half torso being part of the fuselage halves. I quickly put the model together and it joined my other "mule" models that I got from under the table at shows for a few quid, when I paid full price for this "new" kit. 😠
I checked the revell kits in my stash. They are all ICM reboxings.
Thank god😂😂
Phew!
Wasted tons of money on a Revell space shuttle this January and I just learned it too had ancient toolings from the 80s. I don't think I'll return to this hobby until I'm rich.
one thing about Revell that bothers me is their scale range. I usually make Star Wars models, yet there is hardly any model in the standard 1/72 or 1/48 scale. You can't even combine models in a diorama or model-scene. its 1/29, 1/36, 1/64 all over the range
That's a very good point
Note to Revell: Please bring back the Hardened Aircraft Shelter (HAS) and the Cold War era (or modern) servicing vehicles/equipment in 1:72 scale so that modellers can do make a decent diorama.
I agree with all your comments especially the boxes. Maybe they would think twice if they new I was buying a rival kit just so I could re-use the box to store the Revell kit in.
Start producing kits of lesser-known subjects. The market is drowning with Me 109, P51and Spitfires.
Airfix models was bought out by Hornby Hobbies and have been trying to revive the brand through better engineered and better quality models. Hopefully Revell can experience the same kind of transformation.
Great video. I'm not a fan of how they do they painting instructions with mixing their own paints in a particular ratio
wild how I always seem to hear mixed things regarding Revell’s military kits while they’re releasing top tier kits like the latest ‘71 Mustang or that retooled Oldsmobile 442.
PLEASE get rid of the "TV Dinner" style boxes. Molded in "19--" or "20--" on the box somewhere or "Re-Released". Leave the paint and glue OUT Stick to making simply good models until the reputation improves. While good artwork helps to sell - DON'T use it for the same old re-releases. Defeats the purpose and directly affects credibility. They have become a "Buyer Beware" sort of company.. Thanks, Dane
Simplicity - relaunch Matchbox models independently ! There are a wealth of back-catalog items that modellers still desire even now.
Revell does include Matchbox models in its own range. However, its licence to the Matchbox brand expired and it's unlikely that Mattel would offer it again.
Gotta admit, when I just want to scratch an itch and build something, I still pick Revell, because their German office offers great customer service in the EU.
When I really want to make a quality model, I shell out a few dozen bucks more and pick a Tamiya with aftermarket upgrades.
Probably helps that I usually prefer to build more like 1/48 aircraft, nothing with a footprint of more than 40cm.
But no matter what they change about the box, keep the dimensions right there so you can immediately form a general opinion what you're about to consider buying.
The first and easiest thing to fix is the awful boxing, side opening boxes are obsolete and have no utility when you are making the kit.
Ugh, those dreaded floppy boxes! Hated them since the first day I encountered one.
Revell could make reissued kits a real boost by creating a distinctive box each time they do, and pick a kit that hasn't been issued in decades, and was a hit back then.
Revell has a stand at the EME, the largest exhibition for model making in Germany. ZERO life at the stand, the people who look after it radiate such boredom, unimaginable.
In contrast, the stand of MBK, a dealer who brought their own sets onto the market with “das Werk” a few years ago: life is raging there.
New companies like Andy's Hobby Headquarters, Takom, Ryefield, das Werk and others with complete new models are showing us that you can make money with model building. I think Revell is doing everything it can to get rid of its customers, starting with the terrible colors and not stopping with "easy-to-install vinyl Tracks" mentioned in their instruction for the PZH 2000
As for me being in the states.1 the boxing with the cellophane wrap and not tape. 2 revell is missing the boat on there paints. Ditch the metal pots/tins for glass bottles like testors. There range of colors is more then testors has in there enamels. Miss the model master paints..revell can capitalize on this with a bigger range in enamels. 3 is quality control which is lagging alot in there products. If they improve their quality instead of churning out kits for quick sales they could jump there sales higher especially in the states. The hobby shop in st Charles, mo is selling off all their revell kits because of these things
Personally, I really wish the premium set would disappear.
That's because I tried to buy the new bussing s8000&trailer set that came out a year ago, but there was only a premium version and it costs $180 in the US.
Considering that the regular version costs $100, the premium version is extremely expensive.
Haven't bought Revell (for myself anyway) for many years now .Their 1/35 kits are usually available from other companies ,often using the same molds . The paint range (?) ,well , those haven't arrived in Canada yet and probably never will at this point.
Revell GERMANY😍 Its a hard laugh what it is and who speak about it. They could be the number 1 in new exclusive kits not done before by any other model company. BUT, the German people are conservative. In their language, in their work habits, in their social life and more, and they must (more or less) been led to something new and acceptance. I know for some kits to make wich are absolute runners and re-establish Revell definitely on the map. (chance about it: less than 10 %) We can only hope.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Yes, it is a general cultural trait, for sure.
I think they need to do what they do with their Star Wars release range as Id buy any Star Wars kit they release
"With a little thought and care..."
Ahhh, the impossible dream of most corporations. The main problem in every field and every corporation is the seeming necessity to hire and promote from outside the company, and even outside the actual market of said company. This leads to many of the unfathomable ideas/decisions made by some companies. But it continues because those at the top seem to never understand what their actual company does, or why it exists.
I get angry when I see the starter kits with the 1/1200 battleships. They sell for $50 or more in Australia. Not that long ago just the kit itself was about $10. And that price was stretching the friendship a bit.
I see these in toy shops that have a model section, and I imagine granny buying one for little Billie’s birthday and feeling ripped off later and poor Billie being put off models for life.
I don't like Revell kits for a few reasons one being the kind of plastic they use. Their car bodies are sometimes a little warped. Their panel lines are too soft and shallow making scribing difficult.their rubber tires are soft on tread pattern and their clear parts are too thick and distort interiors views. Tamiya and other Japanese companies are over twice the price but their quality is way higher! They don't do models of the American hot rod thing because they're not popular in the orient. If Tamiya did a model of a 60s Vette or Camaro it would be twice the price but what a hell of a model it would be and it would scare the hell out of all the American model companies. For two perfect examples just look at Revells Ford GT, it's no comparison to Tamyas. Look at Revells LaFerrari and then look at Tamiyas and you'll see the body proportions are off.Tamiyas blows Revells out of the water even though Tamiyas is nearly three times the price. Quality has its price and the Revell kits are ok overall bit they have a long way to go with quality of fit and overall accuracy of scale. And they have to stop with their side box openings.