Messages In This Thread

• Well, I see Atlantis is offering Revell's old everything opens '57 Belair that is made in the USA for about the same prices, or a little less, than those made in China. How do they do that, or, why can't the rest do that? *NM*
  • A can of worms that would spin out of control here........ *NM*
  • Re: I am guessing it might have something to do with the initial cost of the molds when it comes to the production of new model kits......where in this case the molds were obviously made decades ago and they are only flowing styrene through them state side. Also, if
  • Shhhh….we’re supposed to believe that if they were made here, they would be too expensive. It HAS to be made in China. Shhhh. *NM*
    • Board Rule: No politics, the other Mike S. I've never heard that, I don't believe that . Besides you are generalizing, while trying to be cute/clever. *NM*
      • No national politics mentioned, don't censor, that's Spotlight's job *NM*
      • Where’s the politics? I haven’t mentioned any politics. Cute and clever? I’ve been called cute by a lot of people, but clever not too much. *NM*
  • I’d say that they are able to afford to make them in America because they don’t have new kits being developed. They buy used molds and fix them up. They don’t develop new molds, and create brand new kits. *NM*
  • On the other hand, Salvinos NASCAR kits are US made and cost $54.99 *NM*
    • Multiple layers of licensing figure into their costs (and pricing) compared with Atlantis *NM*
  • It sounds like there are too many complexities involved for it to be a simple answer. IMHO, international trade is good when it’s between friendly, trustworthy countries. Beyond that, we’re getting political, so I will stop. *NM*
  • The scale of Atlantis is radically different than Revell or R2 - and they bought the molds for a price right around scrap value
  • I'm sure there are more knowledgable people than me who will chime in, but here's how I understand it.
    • Years ago, there was also the fact that model kit tooling tended to be produced in factories that were Unionized. China has no labor unions, AFAIK.
      • Also, weren't a few kits made in Mexico for a few years? *NM*
        • I've built the original MPC Indy Turbine car from a kit made in New Zealand, & Testors in the late 1990's had an address in Australia on their HSO kits(tho' unsure whether any were actually made here)....tooling does move......lol. *NM*
        • AMT kits were made there (by RC2, IIRC) 1995-1999 *NM*
    • Thanks, your's is probably the best take on this I've read, and you remind me of some things I've forgotten, and some I didn't know. The worst part of the whole thing, is that the tooling in China probably aint never coming back. That's sad, and not political. *NM*
    • Just information, but I read somewhere that Salvinos has their new tooling made in China, but shipped to the USA for production. I don’t know that for a fact, but “I read it on the internet”. Take it for what it’s worth.
    • Listening to the model railroad manufacturers they've tended to speak of the vendors as partners...
      • At NNL I bought a new issue Heller Renault 4L kit "Made in France". If it can be done there it can be done here. *NM*
    • In the ancient of days, the Detroit area was awash with injection mold vendors