Hobby Master model decision

hawkonevoodoo · Post by **hawkonevoodoo** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:01 pm

I was just informed by Hobby Master that they have resisted any changes to their 1/72 tanks as long as possible but it just became a matter of economics. Due to a labor cost increase of 25% and a material increase that happened months ago they were unable to sustain the extra expense any longer and were faced with two options, increase the cost of the tanks so they would retail for $25 US instead of $19 - $20 US or reduce the metal content. Since other companies have been using more plastic and some using nothing but plastic Hobby Master came to the conclusion that the reduction in metal was the lesser of two evils. Hobby Master will still provide us with excellent looking models with great detail and value. Also if there are models that absolutely require metal chassis’ because of design or for manufacturing purposes than metal will be used. It really will be a tank-by-tank decision. At this time this will not affect their 1/48-scale tanks. They want you to know that they regret this measure and hope that you will understand the reasoning behind it.

EnemyAce · Post by **EnemyAce** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:17 pm

Boo.

Still looking forward to that JS-II!

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:48 pm

Personally I don't see this as any big deal so long as the quality and detail stay the same. Plastic fantastic

Don't know if HM does this or not, but there is at least one manufacturer that puts weights (presumably steel) inside the body to give the model a hefty feel.

WGP Klaus · Post by **WGP Klaus** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:54 am

As mentioned, if the quality continues to be the same, thats not that big of a deal, especially compared to Dragons pieces which are at that price point or slightly above, and they don't have trouble selling pieces left and right, not to mention HM has a different nitch, and not really doing the "mainstream" pieces helps as well.

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:19 am

Apparently Admiral Toys ahs taken the middle road. They are both raisning their prices (to ~$45) and reducing their metal content. Their line of Pz-IIIs has been largely (90%) metal but will be mostly or all plastic in teh next round. They also claim limited runs of 600 a piece, world wide. Their detail and quality will have to be extraordinary though to create demand at that price point.

flpickupman · Post by **flpickupman** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:53 am

$45? Really? Sheesh.

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:43 am

say- YES

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hobby Master model decision

Hobby Master model decision

Admiral Toys

my sources