That makes it even more tempting to me
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I'm with you on this one Jakko, I feel the same. Just how bad a kit is it,
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I'm with you on this one Jakko, I feel the same. Just how bad a kit is it,
I'm in your camp Dave I won't be buying one from Kitty Hawk in the future.I know some of you guys really enjoy the challenges offered by poorly designed kits - and some of you can really turn pigs ears into silk purses. That's good for us because quite often you will develop techniques and source tools & materials for solving problems we lesser mortals can use.
However, there is a downside to that. What's going to make the manufacturer improve his products if you're going to buy them anyway?
Thoughts anyone?
Very true on the last bit of your quote Dave if people keep buyin them they will just keep sellin the kits without any attemps to put things right an my jag was as I found out an it was quite a exspensive kit but no one told me how bad this kit was very wise JohnI know some of you guys really enjoy the challenges offered by poorly designed kits - and some of you can really turn pigs ears into silk purses. That's good for us because quite often you will develop techniques and source tools & materials for solving problems we lesser mortals can use.
However, there is a downside to that. What's going to make the manufacturer improve his products if you're going to buy them anyway?
Thoughts anyone?
I’m seriously thinking of taking a gamble on it nowI'm with you on this one Jakko, I feel the same. Just how bad a kit is it,
There is that, of course. Part of the problem, you could say, is that often poor kits are your only choice. If you want to build, say, a 1:35 scale Tiger tank or a 1:72 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109, you have the world of choice, and anyone releasing a poor kit of one will find it a waste of effort because every serious review will say, “Spend your money on <other brand> instead.” On the other hand, if you want a 1:32 scale OV-10 Bronco, then Scalemates says you have exactly two choices: Kitty Hawk’s OV-10D or Kitty Hawk’s OV-10A/C. If they’re good kits then there’s no problem, but if they suck badly then it’s either build a bad kit or don’t have a model at all.if Kitty Hawk are still selling their kits as they are, what incentive do they have to invest money in improving them?
That’s about the only way, yes. Even then, reviews are subjective to a degree: what I might consider a very buildable kit with minor issues could have someone else give up in desperation, for example — or vice versa. But it probably helps to see if the review is reasonably objective and, importantly, if it’s an actual build review or an in-the-box one. The latter won’t tell you anything about fit problems and may truthfully say it looks like a great kit (when it’s actually a total dog to build, but you may not be able to tell from looking at the sprues and instructions).Bringing in Barry's other post about reviews, if people saw more of this kind of realistic review they may be less inclined to buy from Kitty Hawk, causing a subsequent drop in sales. That may persuade them to pull their finger out in the R&D department leading to better kits, which would benefit us and them.
A pic of my jag this is how bad it can be the the engine cover wont meet up because the cover is already hitting the engine an the main undercart wouldn't fit again major sugury on them as well an the engine mountings were a very bad fit as I done a dry fit an the engine were out of alinement View attachment 350571
To be honest, model kit prices probably reflect more “what the madman will pay for it” (as a Dutch expression goes) than actual production cost plus markup. But even if the price does accurately reflect the time and effort the manufacturer put in, there could be just as much work etc. in releasing a poor-quality kit as a high-quality one.if you're paying prices comparable to mid-range quality kits, you should get better than cheap quality.
Hopefully But as I said, one of the possible conclusions is that the market just isn’t interested. Whether or not this is the case is obvious with some subjects: if other manufacturers also produce kits of them, and keep doing so, then there must be interest (see my remark about Tigers and 109s), so if yours don’t sell well, then people likely think yours aren’t good enough. But if yours are the only ones on the market …?I see your point about low sales maybe leading to subjects not being modelled rather than being improved. I don't know what the answer to that problem is, but at least poor sales should force the manufacturer to ask why?
When have you last heard of Apple, Toyota or Boeing respond directly to customer’s complaints or suggestions? Revell and Tamiya are their modelling equivalents, really. (Another thing here is that Tamiya especially has pretty much never had a need to improve a kit due to poor design. Buy any Tamiya kit, regardless of whether it’s the latest one or 50 years old, and it will fit fine.)I have seen responses from small scale manufacturers on fora where they have listened to their customers and made improvements to their products. I've also heard that a couple of the bigger companies such as Trumpeter have done the same. When was the last time you heard of Revell or Tamiya doing that?
When have you last heard of Apple, Toyota or Boeing respond directly to customer’s complaints or suggestions?
I can't blame you for giving up on this one, I've only ever built their Jag. Its one of my favourite aircraft so was an instant choice for one of my first builds after re starting modelling. It was an absolute pig especially trying to get it to close up around the engines and it ended up with more filler than my first car. In the end I had to simplify stuff to get it finished. It looks ok but its amazing what paint and filler can hide.
View attachment 350667
HI Mick I built this jag as well an not only the engines cover not fittin but did you have trouble fittin thr main undercart in fusealarge ? an the destruckions are wrong the only things I found that did fit were the fusealarge covers on the front nose over the avionics bayI can't blame you for giving up on this one, I've only ever built their Jag. Its one of my favourite aircraft so was an instant choice for one of my first builds after re starting modelling. It was an absolute pig especially trying to get it to close up around the engines and it ended up with more filler than my first car. In the end I had to simplify stuff to get it finished. It looks ok but its amazing what paint and filler can hide.
View attachment 350667
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