New Releases 2009 (some thoughts)

[Thorvic]

(As this is more a general discussion i thought it should be in this section of the forum rather than the model kit news area)

Well its the start of the year and we already have the kit schedule from both Airfix and Revell in advance of the Toy Fairs later in the month, from both there appears to be a large selection of old favourites being reissued, great for the modeller but disheartening for the kit hoarder.

However discounting, reissue, and re-boxes and alternative versions the actual 'NEW' moulds do appear a tad thin on the ground and rather less spectacular, i also think Airfix may actually have the edge regarding subjects for once, with their new Spits, Hawks and Shars due , coupled with specials like Illustrious and the 48th Sea Vixen. Revell on the otherhand, have a large Typhoon, a Super bug the Dreamliner, a MAN 10T truck and a 1/700 modern container ship.

The super bug looks good and is nearly ready, the MAN 10T is very handy in 72nd as its used by many countries now as well as Germany, but it doesn't give a great deal to look forward too mainstream wise, there's not a lot there that screams 'Must Have' unlike previous years  .
We get the Dreamliner but no transport aircraft such as a 72nd A-400m, or 1/144 Galaxy/Starlifter to follow on from Globemaster III, we get a huge container ship in 700 scale but no modern warships. We get Superbug (another one) but no F-35, updated Tornado's, Gripens or Flankers. The big kit this year is the 32nd Typhoon revamp, should be nice and will replace their earlier Eurofighter but not my preferred scale and really just another rehash of the revamped 72nd and 48th versions.

So anybody else feeling a tad underwhelmed ?

G

[Geoff]

yep

[Martin H]

At least ill be able to replenish my depleated stock of Buckeyes LOL.

True not much that is realy brand new, but considering the way things globalaly seem to be going down the tubes, im not that surprised that investment in new tooling is cut back or delayed. It will be interesting to see the release programs for the Asian companies as well, if only to see how the down turn is effecting them.

[lancer]

Whilst I am quite pleased with what Airfix are planning to release this coming year, will be happier when (if) I see them on the shelves. I am thoroughly disappointed with the release shedules of the major companies. As has been stated by Thorvic, there is nothing really new coming out. Again 1/32nd is not a scale I will ever build it, so it of no interest to me what-so-ever. Perhaps we should lay seige to the major manufacturers for things we want for 2010.

[Geoff]

I have heard that the new Airfix Mig-15 is a new mould and not the Italeri mould which could be very good - but there isn't a specific date for its release -we will see.
I agree with Martin though it's not very suprising given what is happening in "reality".

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Laying siege to manufacturers isn't going to make an iota of difference in these times, folks..... safe bets and bottom-lines' will (probably) be the watch word. I'd be surprised (and delighted) to see Airfix release their 1:48 Sea Vixen ths year however I'm certain the sales of the Canberras in both scales, Spits, TSR2s, Hawks et al will have a direct influence on the release date of the SV.

And given the aforementioned 'hard times', no surprise that there's still no AMX on the horizon, from anybody....... what a surprise   

Ian

[ChernayaAkula]

Yeah, a bit underwhelmed. Rather than a new 1/72 Super Hornet, I'd have liked to see a new Mirage III/5 (well, any Mirage, really), MiG-23/-27, Rafale, Strike Eagle, MiG-17, Buccaneer ......

And for 1/35, there should be some decent, affordable contemporary Land Rover Defenders. And a CV90 (both 1/35 and 1/72) instead of the umpteenth "paper panzer".

[Hobbes]

For the releases planned for the second half of the year you're probably right. But it takes 6-12 months to design a new kit and create the moulds, do test shots etc. So anything planned for release before July had been decided on before there were any signs of a crisis.

What has surprised me in the recent (~last 3 months) announcements is the number of large, expensive kits. 1:24 Mosquitoes and the like. That's got to affect the number of new releases: the amount of effort for a kit goes up with the amount of plastic. 

[upnorth]

Its not at all a surprize really.

I had a feeling that the model companies, like many other companies, would be playing the first half of 2009 pretty safe. I suspect if you see the manufacturers do anything interesting this year it won't be until the third quarter and I suspect they will be holding their cards plenty close to their chests until then.

On the upside, lack of risk taking from the manufacturers translates into lower spending by me.

I'm a bit concerned about how many students I'll have for this semester. Lots of my business English students were going into the Christmas holidays a bit on the glum side as they weren't sure if they would have jobs through 2009 and if they did, if their companies would cut financing for "perks" like English classes.

I already know one of my business English students won't continue studies into the new year as his company considered his English classes as a cuttable thing.

[jcf]

I guess its a matter of personal view, but nothing has screamed 'must have' for over a decade.

The majority of my purchases of the last few years have been from 'dead modeller estate sales', swaps, an older kit from the hobby shop for which I have a specific intent or an oddball subject that has a particular personal appeal.

Anyhow, I have a garage full (even after donating/selling-off @ 100), so I'm under no threat of running out of kits. 

Jon

[PR19_Kit]

The words that I dread seeing in these lists is 'Limited Edition'..........

Why?

They've already made the moulds, got the plastic, designed the boxes, decals and instructions. Just get on and MAKE the damn things, you sell more that way!

All the 'LE' cachet does is to play into the hands of the multi-orderers, who then try and re-sell at ridiculous prices on eBay or elsewhere. Try and buy a 1/72 scale TSR2 now, you get killed in the mad panic rush of the 'Last Minute Bidders' on eBay. Airfix would have made MUCH more money out of the kit by just pumping some more of them out of the moulds.

Just watch and see what happens to the Sea Vixen prices a few months after its release....

[philp]

For me, some of the reissues will be getting my $$.  The Rommel's Rod and Tijuana Taxi have been on my want list forever and now I won't have to pay those Ebay prices  .  Also the old Spock kit and Lief Erickson will also be added to the stash.  Now if they would just rerelease the old mech kits in 1/100 and 1/72nd.

Been waiting for the Vautours to be released for a couple years now.  And how about some new tools for the F-102 and F-106 in 72nd or injection molded 72nd Seafire Mk47 and Buccaneer.

[Joe C-P]

I will be buying one of Revell's container ship kit, to encourage them to try some more such unusual subjects, and because I want one. Or two - one real world, one whif.

[B777LR]

Seven Late Seven, drooooool

Ill take 787 of those please

Finally a 787 kit!

[Mossie]

Finally???  It's not even flown yet!   Thomas, I guess you'll be changing your title to B787-10X???   Got to admit, I'm tempted to backdate a B787 to the early 7E7 Dreamliner concept art with it's sharper nose & curved flying surfaces, especially that sharkfin!