Notices
RC Tanks Discuss all aspects of rc tank building and driving here!

Tank Museum message

Old 08-12-2012, 09:36 PM
  #26  
STO_118
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Aberdeen, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tank Museum message

A British WWII tank or more Soviet WWII armor would sell, but no one is listening to the market place. Instead they blindly plow along giving us things no one needs or wants, and claim dwidling sales and lack of interst as the reason. A T-34, IS2, Comet, Cromwell, Valentine, Hellcat, Hetzer etc would outsell another KT release. Nope, no one listens and they just plow along until the sales number justify them abandoning the line.

The market wouldn't support a huge dearth of tanks. Smaller tanks are also avoided because they require a complete overhaul of all electronics which adds to the cost which is the problem we are having with designs for the Hetzer.The Tiger is the best seller, whatever way you look at it the market wants Tigers. So Tigers they make. There is already a very good T-34 on the market.

I wonder how many Hobben T-55 are kicking aorund unsold??? Not many would be my guess...

Well I've had 50% of my T55 stock sitting static (no pun intended) for over a year now I believe. Shops in Europe gutted the kits and sold off the tank itself at cut price. Other retailers grew desperate and broke the kits for parts. The only reason I've haven't cut the price by 50% to get rid of shelf grippers is because I am stubborn.

I am not denying it is a pile of money to produce one of these things. All the more reason to listen to the market and produce something they want.

Except the market doesn't want it, nor could it support it. If you want these tanks make them. Most would only complain that they were not 100% up to standard anyway.

Tamiya is still king with ships, but that's where they started so it's important.

Not really, Trumpeter have been steadily throwing out new ships that are very good for years now, surpassing the limited number of large scale ships Tamiya has with no problems. Every large scale ship they have released was also released at a smaller scale 1:700. They also released a number of ships Tamiya never thought to do such as American WW2 carriers. They should have a 1:200 Bismarck soon.

Dragon have also released a number of very good ships generally better than Tamiya. Tamiya re-released their Yamato with a price tag that has tripled but also released a few other Japanese ships.

Most of Tamiya's ship line, like a lot of their model tanks including their "new" releases stems back to the days when a core of Japanese model makers shared moulds. Most of the companies have move on, Bandai for example or sold out to the Chinese Gunz Sangyo as an example with really only Tamiya and Hasegawa left.

In a nutshell the markets you speak of don't really exist. It would be like playing russian roulette in world of tanks picking some random tank in the hope it would sell. Only to realise after you invested everything that it doesn't sell because the people who keep companies like Heng Long afloat didn't really want or have heard of a fugly British tank.
Old 08-13-2012, 05:40 AM
  #27  
YHR
Senior Member
 
YHR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Grande Prairie, AB, CANADA
Posts: 8,976
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default RE: Tank Museum message

All I know about is the WSN T-34 85. The tank istself is OK, but the electronics and gear box are not so good.

How many T 55 have you got.? Do they have electronics in them?

It is only my opinion of course, but I think the Hobby market of RC tanks is more mature, and would support a British model if it were released.
Old 08-13-2012, 07:38 AM
  #28  
STO_118
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Aberdeen, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tank Museum message

Hi Dan, they are the almost ready to run variety no electronics package but all gearboxes, metal barrel etc. I waited a long time to try and get an SLU for them but they never appeared. 

They are good kits, I'll probably end up keeping them for myself to be honest. Although I can get a very good shipping price to US and Canada for them *cough*.  

I think they would sell too, just not in high enough numbers to make the development worth it. If you had a smaller company make them the price would higher at retail but the problem could be the project will take much, much longer to get off the ground and risks cost over runs or even fizzling out for a lack of interest. 

There are possibilities, however, I am looking into purchasing a 3D printer to play with, this has the potential to allow me to prototype parts myself and perhaps in the future rather than releasing complete tanks we might be able to release parts kits such as wheels, track links etc for scratch builders.  
Old 08-14-2012, 12:05 PM
  #29  
B/Man
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yass NSW, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default RE: Tank Museum message

I imported 8 T-55 kits with electronics and kept 1 for myself. I didn't have much trouble getting rid of the rest and only have left which I am holding back from sale until the faulty CPU is replaced.

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.