RoG weapons

AeroplaneDriver · March 22, 2008, 10:03:26 AM

I've mentioned this before a few years ago, but I think it's time to air it again.

As I'm working on my RAF Su25 I've been scavanging bombs from the superb RoG 1/72 Tornado GR.1. I started thinking, why don't Revell produce a weaponse set like the ones from Hase, Airfix, and Italeri? The Revell stuff is superb and far more detailed than the others. Surely with the molds already around they could put out the weapons from kits like the Tornado and 1/48 Typhoon seperately and make a little extra cash.

Anyway, I went to their contact page http://www.revell.de/en/company/contact/index.html and asked them about this again. Maybe if any of you like this idea you could do the same to see what the response is.

Hobbes · March 22, 2008, 10:11:41 AM

I suggested the same a while ago, let's hope the idea gets popular enough that they'll do something about it. In the meantime, a Revell 1:72 Typhoon is not much more expensive than a Hasegawa weapons set...

AeroplaneDriver · March 22, 2008, 10:22:22 AM

Well I posted this here, on Britmodeler, and or ARC. Surely they listen to customer feedback, so maybe if enough people write in they would at least consider it...

B777LR · March 22, 2008, 10:52:43 AM

Id rather see a larger selection of weapons within the kits themselves... (making them release a weapons set is begging for them to remove weapons from the plane kits, forcing us to buy them seperately)

Shasper · March 22, 2008, 11:21:16 AM

Trip-7 has a point, if the consensus is "we want a weaps set" then the big cheeses may say "well, why should we add weapons to the kits when we can make more $$$ by selling them separetly?" But, I would like to see a resurgence in weapons sets, including the new stuff being made & the extra "pods" (Targeting, ECM, Recce etc).

Shas

lancer · March 22, 2008, 03:59:03 PM

Personally, I thibk that both weapons in the kits and weapons sets aer the way to go. Especially when it is pretty much a foregone conclusion that LOTS of modellers, and not just wiffers, will want to buy them for any number of reasons. I remember the last time this was brought up and I added my voice to the many that contacted Revell hoping that they would produce such a set. Perhaps if a similar effort were made now it would mae the take notice and at least consider the idea.

Maverick · March 22, 2008, 06:45:47 PM

Seperate weapons kits are brill, but unfortunately it does tend to allow said manufacturers (Hasegawa comes to mind

) to release their stuff with barely anything to hang under the wings.

The Italeri Super Bugs from years ago came with a variety of SLAMs, HARMs and the usual AAMs & Tanks applicable, the loadouts being different for the E and F. The Hase kits gave us the AAMs (although AIM-9X which was nice), tanks, FLIR pod (unique I guess) and a couple of HER (horizontal ejector racks) and if I recall correctly bog standard between either variant.

Their older stuff would sometimes come with weapons, the Mitsubishi F-1 / T-2 comes to mind, in addition to the early 'Strike Eagle' attempt, but I believe they were amongst the first mainstream manufacturers to do the modellling community over by both a lack of decal options within the box along with bare wings.

The RoG Typhoon is the complete antithesis of Hasegawa's products. Options galore, decals for a bunch of different machines and a weapons set to die for.

Excepting the modeling community's snobbery in some circles towards Hase kits, I'd see Revell taking a big slice of the modelling pie if they continue to provide that sort of service.

Mav

Captain Canada · March 22, 2008, 07:03:24 PM

I have to agree about the RoG weapons....anybody seen the Sea Skua and associated pylon from their Sea King ? Whoa.....

It's always been part of the excitement when opening a new kit, seeing what stores they include. It would be a real shame if kits didn't come with weapons, pods, and extra fuel tanks.

On the other hand, I'd like to see more weapons sets readily available. In 144th scale as well.

Hobbes · March 22, 2008, 11:35:19 PM

I've got the impression Revell caters for kids as much as for us grownups. This is why their models are generally affordable and complete with lots of weapons and decal options. I don't see them abandoning this strategy soon (they'd lose most of their sales volume).
Hasegawa's in a different market segment.

NARSES2 · March 23, 2008, 02:50:07 AM

Quote from: B777LR on March 22, 2008, 10:52:43 AM
Id rather see a larger selection of weapons within the kits themselves... (making them release a weapons set is begging for them to remove weapons from the plane kits, forcing us to buy them seperately)

I think the lad has hit the nail on the head here - it's one thing or the other I'm afraid, and I also agree with Hobbes re Revell's marketing philosophy. More power to them for that if they continue with the current trand of excellent kits that are real value for money.

I'd just like to see some more accurate representations of weaponary from the 1914/1950 period especially some British bombs rather then US or simply generic weaponry. You can get it in resin but the price

You modern boys don't know how lucky you are - retreats into "Grumpy Old Man" mood

Aircav · March 23, 2008, 03:24:02 AM

The trouble with weapon sets is that you usually need two or three of them to do one aircraft as the bomb or missile you are looking for only has only one in the set and I'm thinking of Hasegawa here, I know I've thought about this in the past and I don't mind having to buy another Eurofighter or Tornado (more for the Wif pile) as long as Revell keep their prices the same as they are now and as for 50's weapons, with all the new British stuff coming out now that slot should be filled, there's some nice weapons in the Trumpeter Wyvern and you get a boat load in their Wellington too.

Thorvic · March 23, 2008, 04:15:45 AM

The only really problem is that Revell design the weapons as part of the specific kit mixed with parts for the kit which means any weapon sets would require fresh moulds although the CAD work must already be done.

To be honest its Hasegawa who are at fault as they could included the weapon sprues in some kits should they decide to, however it is about time they considered doing Europe and rest of the world weapons in addition to US/JASDF weapons in both scales as they are issuing kits without having any suitable weapons available (RAF Harriers !). Dragon has the its 1/144 RAF harriers now with Brimstone but none exist in 1/72 from any source yet !.

G

AeroplaneDriver · March 23, 2008, 09:27:42 AM

Here's a question that drifts off topic a bit, but I think it's a good time to ask; Are molds modular?

For example company X makes three different versions of the Skyripper fighter, the Mk1, Mk2, and Mk3. Comparing the three kits side by side we see that the only difference in the sprues is the nose. Does company x have an insert into the mold to change the nose, or are there three seperate molds for this sprue, identical except for the nose?

I hope this question makes sense, and sorry if it shows my complete ignorance of injection molding!

Hobbes · March 23, 2008, 10:27:17 AM

I suppose it's possible to design the moulds that way. You sometimes see odd shifts in the sprues, which suggests two moulds not being aligned properly.

Maverick · March 23, 2008, 05:52:00 PM

Quote from: Hobbes on March 22, 2008, 11:35:19 PM
I've got the impression Revell caters for kids as much as for us grownups. This is why their models are generally affordable and complete with lots of weapons and decal options. I don't see them abandoning this strategy soon (they'd lose most of their sales volume).
Hasegawa's in a different market segment.

I'm assuming "different market segment" means ubermodellers to go with the uberkits? Whilst SOME of Hasegawa's stuff is very good, I really don't see RoG as being aimed at kids. The Typhoon is a prime example of a good kit that would easily line up against Hasegawa's best. I'd also mention their He-177 in that analogy as well, and either kit are 1/3 or 1/2 the price of their opponent's examples and of a certainly different take instead of the standard fare pumped out by Hasegawa.

Mav