Dracula Model Kit - X-Plus

[Hepcat]

The two biggest expenses for producing a model kit are licencing (these days) and tooling:

The 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car was an experimental gas turbine-powered coupe of which 55 were made.... This was a particular boon for Jo-Han which was chosen to make the plastic promotional. Tooling for the model cost at least $250,000 at the time and Chrysler completely underwrote the expense.

That was a staggering amount of cash in 1963.

 

[Rockshasa]

The BIGGEST issue is that monster models just don't sell like hotcakes anymore. If the companies could move thousands of these kits like they did in the 1960's, with the Aurora monster models, I WOULD THINK they would be much cheaper. Unfortunately, kids are raised on computers, video games and iPads nowadays and they have close to no interest in building models...I mean, heck, toy stores don't even exist anymore, LOL, not to mention hobby shops which are quickly disappearing as well.

[Hepcat]

But they have no style or soul.    And most important.....they dont look fun.

Truth! Almost no figure kits these days have fabulous artwork on par with James Bama's or Mort Kunster's! And they're not marketed with cool ads in comic and monster mags let alone neat store displays.

 

[Hepcat]

That's my idea of the general public. People who buy their model kits from WM, rather than from CultTVman.

I agree.

 

[Hepcat]

The Aurora kits were made for kids.  These new ones are clearly made for adults.

That is correct.

The earlier models have a nostalgic element that today's model builders won't get.  For them the current crop of models will have that 30 years from now.

Not so! A 40 year often will feel nostalgic for a kit he built as a 10 year old, but a 75 year old won't feel nostalgic for a kit he built as a 45 year old.

 

[Hepcat]

The BIGGEST issue is that monster models just don't sell like hotcakes anymore. If the companies could move thousands of these kits like they did in the 1960's, with the Aurora monster models, I WOULD THINK they would be much cheaper. Unfortunately, kids are raised on computers, video games and iPads nowadays and they have close to no interest in building models...I mean, heck, toy stores don't even exist anymore, LOL, not to mention hobby shops which are quickly disappearing as well.

All sad but true. The customer base of hobby shops these days is not only overwhelmingly adults, but it tends to be 40+ adults.

 

[Jim Bertges]

Hobby shops today, when you can find them, tend to specialize in the very expensive R/C hobby; cars, airplanes & helicopters. Plastic kits are at best a side line. The place to buy "our" kind of models today is on line at places like CultTVMan and Mega Hobby.

Also, whether a 75 year old could be nostalgiac about kits he built when 45 really depends on that particular 75 year old. We're all getting up there.