Luke (DeWitt) Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 This is a very interesting topic, I was just talking to a toy dealer at a local show and he stated that he does not see as much demand for custom parts because of the detail Ertl is adding to their models. I personally think that there will always be space for builders to add details to models no matter how detailed companies like UH and Ertl get. I take the new 1 64 John Deere S-690 combine for example, Ertl failed to add flasher lights. Collectors can also add a custom feeder house from Moores Farm Toys that offers lateral tilt and is made of metal vs the plastic one Ertl used. Moores also offers metal augers and better steering components that add better detail vs the stock parts Ertl added in my opinion. Granted we are talking about two different companies and two different scales but it seems like Ertl is going the same way in some aspects. In my opinion these companies are just mass producing these items so it is hard to make the finer details truly look authentic. I just feel that custom builders can still take the best stock model and turn it into a work of art no matter how much detail a major company added. Hopefully I made some sense here, I tend to ramble and not make much sense at times. In the original post I quote "I post this in the UH topic but it applies for all manufacturers of course. Nowadays all models are build by little children in China working for 30p an hour in dreadful conditions. The standard of living is increasing rapidly in China and the like so wages will have to rise as well. And then it will be the model prices as well? Plus costs of raw materials rising as well, oil most notably." Personally I think that once the price of goods from China reach a certain price range we will once again see a shift of manufacturing to another country that can produce goods cheaper. Before china we made plenty of goods cheaper here in the US before that it was England and so on. I am not saying we will see this shift next year but if history repeats itself as it usually does, I think it is safe to say that with in the next 100 years we will see a major shift. Any how, Ill stop rambling now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Everyone is talking about Universal Hobbies, and it's in the title as well, but I started the original conversation with all manufacturers in mind. UH are at the top when it comes to producing masses of highly detailed models but there are others as well of course. It's just the way all manufacturers decide to get down on and how it will affect scratch builders/conversion specialists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Palmer Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Everyone is talking about Universal Hobbies, and it's in the title as well, but I started the original conversation with all manufacturers in mind. UH are at the top when it comes to producing masses of highly detailed models but there are others as well of course. It's just the way all manufacturers decide to get down on and how it will affect scratch builders/conversion specialists. spot on neils,it always seems to be uh that are hurting scratch builders,never britains,siku,ros etc,ive said it once and i will say it again,if any of these model producers brings out what small makers are producing,they get slaughtered,but members on here,not all, will go out and buy a model they have had a connection with,ie drove it,or was on their farm,and they are quick enough to go out and buy that model from a mass producer ,it doesnt matter who makes the model,if you want it badly enough you will get it,and cost comes in to this,we all know of the time,skill etc of a scratchbuilder,and that will come with a higher cost than a mass producer,so kids in particular,pocket money etc will go for the lower price,and adults come to that,economics im afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Everyone is talking about Universal Hobbies, and it's in the title as well, but I started the original conversation with all manufacturers in mind. UH are at the top when it comes to producing masses of highly detailed models but there are others as well of course. It's just the way all manufacturers decide to get down on and how it will affect scratch builders/conversion specialists. My fault... I created the topic title when I split this from the UH topic... now changed - apologies one and all ! ... you really can't get the staff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrol Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 No, not really, they didn't No-one seems able to get down to the bottom of the actual structure of the company behind UH, but there certainly seem to be a few 'grey' areas, and they erupted onto the diecast scene in the 90's with a host of models - not issued at the huge rate that they do now, but they certainly didn't tentatively enter the market with one or two items and gradually build up from that. Raised the bar? Whilst I would agree that most of their modern image stuff is excellent, you really need to sit down and have a really close look at some of their vintage and classic releases (particularly in 16th) ...by which time, there will vast numbers more new models that those people will want - the wants lists will get longer and longer, and that is the point which is depressing some people. It isn't easy and clear cut as you seem to imagine. I'm not at all surprised to hear that UH weren't that tentative about market entry - but either way, a small group of people got together, decided to invest some of their own money with a big chunk of risk associated to it, and started producing die cast models. That company has grown up to be UH and they are now reaping the benefits and so are we. On the second point, people are still under no compulsion to buy anything more from them when more come out (although some seem to suggest there are few left to make...). I'm not sure why a long want list is a bad thing? As a child it was the excitement of saving up for something and then being able to buy it. I think that excitement still persists into adulthood (at least with me anyway!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 My fault... I created the topic title when I split this from the UH topic... now changed - apologies one and all ! ... you really can't get the staff You tried your best Marky and we're very grateful for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Ferguson Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Thanks Niels.. so.. the question is... what role have the rest of todays manufacturers played in putting the squeeze on the hobbies super scratch builders ? What are peoples opinions on Siku... would anyone care to give us a brief overview of their history in the manufacture of 1:32 scale farm models Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 Siku have quite a good website for that with their history on: http://www.siku.de/en/siku/4/1921-1950.html I only collected Siku in my play hey-days. Britains were all plastic and to fragile plus a lot more expensive. I preferred the sturdy metal models and above all, proper metal hitches on them! In the early 90s a tractor would cost me 4-5 euros to buy (10-12 guilder). Nowadays the tractors are (albeit a lot more detailed) in the region of 20-25 euros. For a child that is a lot of money! Whereas I bought ten tractors (or five and some machinery) today the carpet farmers can just about afford a single tractor and maybe one or two pieces of machinery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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