Is our hobby dying?

[Herb Gara]

What do you all think?

[brianblack]

Not sure that I would say it is dying. But I wouldn't call it at full swing either. If I am to take a guess at it, most people don't want to build the cheap snap together models. But then to get a nice kit, you need to have a fat wallet. This is the one thing that kills me, I don't have a lot of money just laying around to spend on good kits with all the aftermarket goodies. Take that and the fact that I don't have a lot of spare time either. So for me, I build models in spurts as time and money become available. I would also look at the time people put into just one model as we strive for a more realistic look.

[alexander deleon]

no!

[alexgiersch]

Hi guys,
I don't think is dying. Just a ... slow down.
Regarding prices, quality, aso ... I have some thoughts because I'm involved in this activity.
I have seen lately a lot of models, new models done by well known
or new companies, very, very bad. With a quite nice price.
My problem - I think the modellers taste is going a little bit ... down.
Sorry, but this is my impression.

Cheers,
Alex

[Doug]

Yes! Most defiantly. In the 1970's every school has shop class and art class. The ceilings of my room and my brothers rooms were decorated with WWII aircraft. We each spent countless hours cutting balsa from a paper blueprints.

Today the models on the shelfs are 5 minute snap together junk because little Johnny has no hard skills other that holding a game controller and he was never taught to remain on task for more that 15 minutes.

The next question is what are you going to do about it? My wife and I have both been teachers, so our answer show students that you can build things if they turn off the TV and get off the couch and read something Non-Fiction.

We put our model to use in an education video. See "Sub Monkeys" on the ArgonautJr.com page. There is also a page for "Models".

Best of Luck --Doug

[Cesar Yudice]

It is not doing but definitely it´s getting more attainable just for the upper middle classes. I remember about five years ago I had a Dragon t-80 BV and bought the metal barrel ($ 21 in those days) MIR set ($ 26) Eduard ($ 15-18) Karaya Tow Cables ($ 12) and all had to be imported wich increased the cost by 20% plux taxes. Also some Tank Modern Crews $ 28. At the end the tank was well over $ 100. Nowadays this is just standard price (Su- 152 Tamiya cost $ 62 plus shipping so the days of $ 25 tanks are far away. Even a Dragon Tank with this cheap plastic they´re getting at the smart kits are over $ 50. Same with planes F-18 Hornet 1/32 Trumpeter for $ 225 plus shipping. So I doubt these are not prices for everyone.

[willie]

I don't think our hobby is dying the problem is the price that had increase that are killing us thats why is slow and everybody is in a slump

[Todd]

I don't think the hobby is dying at all. I do think that the "Ma and Pa" Hobby shops are going the way of the Drive-in theater...why ? The ability of all of us to shop on the internet and find the best deal possible. The "Ma and Pa" shop for the most part do not have the ability to compete with the internet, due to the cost associated with running a stand alone business (Rent, Utilities, Payroll & Buying Power).
As for young people entering the hobby, I have watched my 2 sons progress from very complex Lego sets that contain 1000's of parts to very complex Armor kits that at times contain 1000's of parts...do they play X-box and other things that where not around when I was a child, Absolutely ! Now, when attending various modeling contest over the last 10 years in the U.S. and Europe, I have noticed that the vast amount of talented modelers are not Baby Boomers...they are 20 something young men and women. I have also not noticed a down turn in the amount of people attending the shows or the amount of models and figures entered, the exact opposite in fact.
Now as a business man I find it hard to believe that the companies involved in this hobby (business) would continue to release model after model or invest in new molds if it where a dying venture. I find it is a great time to be in the hobby. The kits are greater than ever, the subjects are diverse, the supplies are fantastic and if you are in to super detailing you have a after market that wasn't part of the hobby in the 60's, 70's or 80's . As for price...I find it hard to compare the price of a kit from 1990 to 2010. They have advanced so much and many times it isn't necessary to buy the photo-etch, aluminum barrel, resin replacement parts, metal tow cable...because they are included in the kit already. The quality of the molding for exceeds what we saw even 10 years ago...this does cost money.

That's my 2 pennies worth gents,
Regards

Todd

[Doug]

So kits are more expensive, its being limited to the middle & upper class, Mom & Pop stores are closing, but the model building hobby is not dieing? My uncle says he's not dieing, but 2 heart attacks and a stroke later and I'm not so sure. Granted, model building will never die, but like all indoor hobbies that require time and craftsmanship, it sure is sick.

Here is a parallel article you'll find interesting. 1-160.blogspot.com/2009/03/is-our-hobby-dying.html

But you don't have to be passive. Teaching skills to your kids is great. But you need to teach the skills any kid that will put down the game controller long enough to give it a try.

Best of Luck
Doug
ArgonautJr.com

[tbolt7]

Is out hobby dying ? I would have to say NO. I truly believe like anything, this hobby moves in cycles and goes through transitions. I distinctly remember my Father grumbling about plastic kits in the late 60's... why ? He was a stick and tissue modeler. Where are these modelers now...well some have passed on like my Father and some like my self moved on to plastic kits. Where are our younger modelers today ? Go to any Comic Book Shop on a weekend and you will find them loaded with kids who have painted up Wargammer figures and Tanks. Not to my taste, but still modeling and part of the hobby none the less. Many of these kids are tremendously talented and the main stream model companies are noticing this trend and releasing more and more Sci- Fi and Anime kits. I would have to add also, notice the trend in 1/72 figures, more and more people are getting into war gaming, thus more 1/72 figure sets are being released and more 1/72 figure companies popping up. The trends are heading in different directions my friends...kids are building and modeling, just not what we modeled when we where there age. By the way, checkout what won the Best in Show at Euro Militaire this year, you may be surprised....It was a Wargammer figure !

[Doug H]

I don't think it's dying, but it is continuing to evolve. I grew up in the late 60's and early 70's, what today we consider the Golden Age of modeling. I don't buy that moniker at all. I say we're in the golden age today with all the new kits, improved details, great aftermarket items, and cool decals. The tooling of the new kits today is fantastic.
The prices to participate in the hobby today has grown to where it's an adult hobby rather that for kids, but that not a bad thing.
What is bad is how we're trying to compete against the organized sports, video games, and other distractions that are all looking to get kids attention.
While there is only ancedotal information available to back this up, it's my belief that if we expose children to the hobby today, many will come back and become the modelers of tomorrow.
No, it's not dying, just changing!!

Semper Fi

[Walt tuss]

:)I don't think the hobby is dieing. The sad truth is we are, the ones that were there when it all got started in 1958 by AMT with their 3 in 1 kits. We were kids then mowed lawns, have paper routes ect. We couldn't wait to get to the Hobby shop and get the next model that AMT put out that week. We never look to see if the kit was spot on we just build it and used ever part that came in the kit. They were brushed painted and when one of you younger guys get a hold of one you call it a glue bomb. You know this is what this hobby should be like now enjoy the hobby for what it is a hobby. It is costing more now or is it for what you get now? You all need to think about it now. Now go build something and enjoy it

[deedlebomb]

Ever since Tamaya came out with their 1/32 F-4C/D kit, the new kits hitting the market just keeps filling my dream list. That time in the late 90's to marks the time things started to really ramp up in this hobby. I believe the hobby is getting better and better everyday, and like someonw else said, if people were not buying the more expensive kits, they wouldn't produce them. What is exciting is that with the resin cottage industry, even if there are shortcomings in a kit, we can count on the correction kits coming out. If anything, I'm pretty spoiled nowdays. I remember starting out with Aurora, Lindberg and AMT and it was a magic time as we didn't know what we were missing. If you build, chances are your kids will build if you don't kill their first attempts with your own perfectionism which I am guilty of. It is a wonderful, magic time that just gets better. I don't call it a hobby nowdays. I call it an art form, a way of life wherein we express the artistic and often times, patriotic/warrior parts of ourselves. I feel sorry for people that don't have a passion like we modelers. Thanks for IPMS and their local and national contest to give up a way to measure where we are in our building skills. And if you can't afford the new kits, Ebay has changed the hobby a great deal and you can still build Monogram and Revell kits at a cheaper price, even though it takes a little extra work to bring them up too todays level. It's all good.
Thanks for the chance to talk about this.