[Celtic]

Originally Posted by Folgore

OK, What's the HM business model? Just asking -- the back-end side of the diecast model business is murky to me.

"murky to me" ... to me, also. I can only judge by the results. The HM business model seems to be based, at least in part, on these things: interaction with their customers, which gives HM's management continual snapshots of purchaser likes and dislikes, as well as wants; willingness to develop multiple scales (I prefer 1/72, but HM is also building for the 1/48 collector, and they may be planning a 1/144 line); willingness to dive into uncharted waters, such as the Buffalo and the upcoming Kate (I'll buy two Kates just to keep more Japanese WWII types coming); working to keep prices low (and the method they use to do this seems to be related to ownership of the manufacturing process); and keeping their models at a consistently high quality level, without the good-model/bad-model problems of Corgi.

We don't have their play book, but we do see great plays...

[Louie]

I hate waiting until July BUT
On the brighter side..................
It will give me time to re-organize my collection, re-assess models I have and may consider selling, and to focus on the models coming out that I want most from other guys like CW and HM. Corgi makes such big runs I will always have time to go back and get them later and perhaps for less.
So for me, not such a bad thing. I have Phantoms to pay for ya know..................

[smartd]

Originally Posted by Celtic

Century, Easy Model, Witty, Franklin, IXO, GeminiJets, GeminiAces, Dragon...all are producing at least repaints, so why can't Corgi follow suit? I can't understand Corgi's reluctance to do what's needed to get back on track...is it funding, or poor management?

I agree, if Corgi can't at least do repaints the company is definitely on the wrong track.
What is Friday the 13th,..... It's a bloody repaint.
How many models do they have we would like to see repaints. ..... Tons of them.
Get the ship in order or give it up Corgi.

[Cruver Collecter]

Has there been doldrums like this in the past with companies in general not putting out products for extended periods of time?

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by timbo

Unfortunately the problem with that i that most of these Dinky's, etc from our youth were destroyed by grubby mits playing with them, so therefore there are very few left in good condition. That's not really the case with our stuff, as the vast majority is safe and sound with all packaging.

Yup -- I'm aware of that, as I was a perpetrator of the crime in the late 50s, early 60s! I'm not so sure about the other part, though. I'm sure there could be as many as 500-1,000 each of a large number of post-war Dinky's models ranging from B to A10 condition at any given time. (This isn't an accurate tally, just a 'guesstimate' from what I see being traded at Vectis and others like them every year.) Now depending on the model, that isn't TOO far off Corgi who is pumping these things out around the 1,500-2,000 mark -- and given boxes get destroyed, lost, etc. -- not to mention models that get dinged in cleaning, knocked over, lost in a house fire, mistakenly given to a kid, etc., we could be in a 'similar' neighbourhood of survivors -- over time. And certain models, that have disappeared for one reason or another, will always be MORE collectable. Personally, I wouldn't plan my retirement around any of this!!!!

JPN

[JustPlaneNuttz]

Originally Posted by smartd

I agree, if Corgi can't at least do repaints the company is definitely on the wrong track.
What is Friday the 13th,..... It's a bloody repaint.
How many models do they have we would like to see repaints. ..... Tons of them.
Get the ship in order or give it up Corgi.

You are right. What's the deal? Many of these are repaints. I too am waiting for Ft13th, and Gibsons Mossie which is just a repaint. Certainly not a re-tool or new tooling. I often wonder if this new crew at Corgi really know what they are doing.

JPN

[Folgore]

Thanks for the insights, Celtic.

I think Hobby Master's proximity to the production process is key to their success. As a Hong Kong-based company with some factory ownership (?), I'm sure they are in a better position than many diecast companies to have a say in the production process, from the factories' manufacturing priorities to quality control. Also, combining the roles of manufacturer and distributor under one roof cuts out a middleman, helping HM keep costs down.

I'm not a big fan of China, but at least HM is doing things right, business-wise. I wonder what conditions are like in their factories...? I don't wanna know...