[Ara1]

How do you guys feel about generic diecast models, where you can buy the planes fully assembled and painted as you do today, but without markings? So that you'd be free to use aftermarket decals to make your own version?

I've put this in the Hobby Master DG because honestly, they are the only manufacturer who I envision would do this. Here's how I see this generic market.

Suppose someone's the type of collector who wanted to blend the beauty and ease of pre-assembled/painted diecasts with his basic decaling skills, with the goal owning an entire group of Buffalos from the Lexington or Saratoga? Or the MAG (Marine Air Group) that flew at Midway? Or the lineup of P-400's at Guadalcanal?

I see it as "product enhancement", never done before, but perhaps opening up a new market for those who have the money, space, and inclination to customize. By offering the chance to fairly easily build a unique bird (the only guy on the block with uncle Mort's diecast Spitfire, for instance) the market would be opened to those of us who emigrated from the modeling world due to our inability to paint canopies, or due to lack of time, or love of metal, etc.

The extra effort on the part of Hobby Master would be fairly limted in this venture as well- minor tweaks to packaging, less factory work on the model, and the potential to really develop a new market.

What do you guys think?

A lot of this is aftermaket decal driven, but there are great decal sheets available to enhance modern-tool models put out by the likes of Tamiya and Hasegawa.

[Tundra04]

I'm all for it...however, as discussed previously, the market might be limited.

Question: "Blank" Hobbymaster Models

Also, I tried to sell a good bit of my collection this past spring at a local IPMS contest and I tried to "sell" using the repaint scenario. A few said "hmm...that's pretty cool." Others were like "well, why wouldn't I build my own??" To each their own I guess.

[bsmith13]

I wouldn't mind that, but decals are really temporary compared to pad-printed graphics.

[Nockers]

Originally Posted by bsmith13

I wouldn't mind that, but decals are really temporary compared to pad-printed graphics.

Not so decals will last a long time if done right, I have some 20 year old models and they are fine.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by bsmith13

I wouldn't mind that, but decals are really temporary compared to pad-printed graphics.

Good point. I wouldn't call decals temporary though, maybe more fragile? Waterslide decals have served modelers well over the years. There are techniques to really make them work-- but you are right, painted markings are the ultimate.

[Captain Eddie]

Personally, I'm fine with them entirely done and ready to display.

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by Tundra04

I'm all for it...however, as discussed previously, the market might be limited.

Question: "Blank" Hobbymaster Models

Also, I tried to sell a good bit of my collection this past spring at a local IPMS contest and I tried to "sell" using the repaint scenario. A few said "hmm...that's pretty cool." Others were like "well, why wouldn't I build my own??" To each their own I guess.

Thanks Tundra and great original thread.

I am thinking, I would really like to make a squadron of Buffalos. What a lineup it would make. We'd have to research the heck out of it, becuase it would come down to chevron variations, and cowl colors/half cowl markings, but it would make for a great display-- a true, full air group, not simply one from this carrier, one from that, etc. I have seen comprehensive aftermaket 1/48 decal sheets for the Tamiya prewar Buffalo.

[Epapazian]

I would love to have generic models available to me. The problem from a manufacturer's standpoint is which planes to offer in this manner. I would think that a BF-109E, Early model Zero, F4U, P-40, FW-190A-8 and other very popular planes with many decal sheets to select from would be the first choice. I'm not so sure about equally interesting---to me at least---planes, such as an Oscar, Yak-9 , MC-202 ,or even a Hurricane, would sell that well in this mode.

[Vifam7]

I think such an idea is more appropriate for inexpensive pre-built plastic models. 1/144 scale Japanese "candy toys" like those made by Cafe Reo are sort of up this alley. Cafe Reo pre-builts come pre-painted but you are required to put the decals on yourselves. Some of them (IIRC) came with two sets of water-slide decals which allowed you to choose your preferred squadron marking.

I think this is an idea more suited for MRC's Easy Model lineup. Expensive high quality diecast models (IMHO) should be fully tampo printed and painted.

[Ara1]

Thoughtful responses, thank you guys.

As devil's advocate, I think, why would Hobby Master want to produce generic planes for a subgroup of a relatively small niche of players.

My answer is this. Make the run small. Make HM's cost very low. Get the word out. Note the reaction. Decide on future runs.

A huge negative is this: Hobby Master has a brand they have developed (a reputation so to speak) and that brand includes high quality painted markings. If a modeler did a butcher job on decaling a HM generic, a photo of such a plane would hurt HM's brand and reputation. I think this idea alone is enough to sink the commercial possibility.

One way around this is to release a Buffalo with full markings, save for the individual plane number. 2-F-16 could be sent out as 2-F (blank), along with a decal sheet of numbers. Same would go for the DWD Spitfire. And don't forget the three P-400's of Guadalcanal's 67th Pursuit Squardron; these 3 Airacobras "saved the day" (Gen. Vandegrift's own words) during the fierce Bloody Ridge fighting on Sept 12, '42. All three could and should be represented-- one of the pilots earned a Navy Cross and the other two got Silver Stars for that action.