Just some random thoughts that were talked about one weekend. It seems that there are o LOT of manufacturers coming on line in the last few years and some modelers are wondering where the hobby can go to spark interest...? To some it appears that we have run the length and bredth of all things armor with very little to be tured in to plastic. How may Tigers, Stugs, Shermans, Leopards, and Abrahms can you make/buy/build before you get burn out...?

Just curious...
LT in Winnipeg

There's still a long way to go in two directions:
1) As the technology of CAD and molding improves we'll see continued improvements in kits released. Look how many now include PE compared with 10 years ago as well as the level of detail. Also technology improvements will hopefully swing the costs in favor of possibly less popular lines. Companies will be able to do kits with lower volumes and still make a profit.

2) For those who like modern stuff it's still evolving. Someone really needs to start up-to-date plastic humvees, bradleys and as above some of the less popular marques. Canadian LAVs seem popular in resin...can you imagine if you could get them in plastic?

Also, there are more people coming back into the hobby all the time. We're not seeing the end yet....

If you start to get burn out on one genre, you can always try another for a while!

Cheers,
Sean

Actually some of the "new" brands (as in not on the market when I last looked in the early 90th) offer a lot of new stuff not availabel from the Old Ones (like Tamiya, Revell etc)

There are tons of vehicles not yet done in styrene. The LAVs, the M1117, the Strykers etc. all came out in the last few years either completely new or in versions not yet seen. The DANA howitzer announced is another example or the Otzelot due out this year.

In the post WWII market there are TONS of important vehicles missing either as "never produced" or "no longer produced" (or OMG that barely resembles X). Restricting myself to "Nato, 1956-1990" I could fill a few pages (12 point, times new roman) with "stuff we need" even assuming just the base vehicle leaving the variants to AM guys (I.e a base M109 leaving the variants in barrel etc. out) without digging into "one of" and prototype vehicles

and dont forget the guys that print 3d models designed on computers. anyone thats good at it can make anything they want , then make copies and make some spare change. the established modeling companies should think about producing different kits or they might end up like the record industry that didnt evolve with new technologies coming out .

I wonder not so much about variety as age group. There just don't seem to be many kids making models. I don't think they have the patience. It doesn't seem as exciting as sitting in front of a PS3 for hours.
When I go to model shops it seems my age group (40's) is the only one in the store.

As already said, the quality will keep on improving. As is the case today ... its less "modelling" and more "assembly". I see the focus moving further over to painting and finishing (this is already true), and hopefully this keeps developing as well. I could see kits coming with less parts in the future so assembly is faster. As moulding technology and 3D printing develops, this would be an obvious direction. Technology exists to day to insert ... say ... etch or another sub-assembly ... into a newly moulded part in production, but I can´t see model manufacturers going down this road as sales would need to be a lot higher.

A friend had a very interesting point a few days ago. One of the biggest issues today is bad instructions. Why don´t companies issue these instructions online also, in digital format .. in bigger resolution ... so that when faults are found they can quickly be updated, and a FAQ type sheet with answers that arise from each new kit. What a resource this would be to modellers, and quell a lot of the problems we have today. This is something companies could do already today!!

I think there are kids in the hobby today ... just not as visible. The local games workshop has loads there at weekends painting like crazy. If the assembly time is reduced and painting is started faster .... with newly evolved or improved methods/techniques/media, some of these kids might cross over? The gaming generation might get bored with tv simulations and decide to create and hold the armor in their hands, rather than see digital versions on a screen.

The thing needed most for the hobby to expand is exposure ... exposure to these kids and those who want to try something creative. The sad thing is that the local hobby shops are closing down as they cannot compete with online retailers. Toyshops don´t carry models much anymore as they are so advanced, they are not really for aimed at kids. Magazines are getting very expensive and not something you pick up a few of regularily. So how will the hobby be exposed to others ... today and in the future?

I'd like to see more interiors included with kits, or at least something suggest an interior.

Darryl