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Plastic Aircraft Model Kits are Going Away
StrategyPage ^ | 1/31/05

Posted on 01/31/2005 7:41:53 AM PST by pabianice

January 31, 2005: For over half a century, kits have been sold that enable military history buffs to assemble scale models of military ships, aircraft and vehicles. But that era is coming to an end, as the manufacturers of the original equipment, especially aircraft, are demanding high royalties (up to $40 per kit) from the kit makers. Since most of these kits sell in small quantities (10-20,000) and are priced at $15-30 (for plastic kits, wooden ones are about twice as much), tacking on the royalty just prices the kit out of the market. Popular land vehicles, which would sell a lot of kits, are missing as well. The new U.S. Army Stryker armored vehicles are not available because of royalty requirements. Even World War II aircraft kits are being hit with royalty demands.

This move grew out of the idea that corporations should maximize "intellectual property" income. Models of a companys products are considered the intellectual property of the owner of a vehicle design. In the past, the model kits were considered free advertising, and good public relations, by the defense firms. The kit manufacturers comprise a small industry, and the aircraft manufacturers will probably not even notice if they put many of the model vendors out of business.

Some model companies will survive by only selling models of older (like World War I), or otherwise "no royalty" items (Nazi German aircraft) and ships. But the aircraft were always the bulk of sales, and their loss will cripple many of the kit makers.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: dumbideas; hobbies; toys
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To: okie01
Of course, there are. But the price of asserting them in a court of law -- that's the rub. Boeing, Lockheed, et al are lawyered-up and can pursue legal action in perpetuity. For their part, kit makers are looking at legal fees that would dwarf their profit margin.

The big companies have a risk that far exceeds any potential legal cost, that being, they have allowed their patents, trademarks and copyrights to be freely used for decades. In such circumstance, a company is at serious risk of losing such rights.

81 posted on 01/31/2005 9:27:01 AM PST by fso301
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To: old-ager

A lot of the vendors do have American made kits, many have old Revell, Monogram, Aurora, etc....... Some of the really old kits can be expensive but most are not. Have rebuilt in adulthood several models that I built as a kid.

Unfortunately, most of the models you can find of modern US military equipment are already made overseas.....in Japan, Korea, Tiawan and China


82 posted on 01/31/2005 9:29:23 AM PST by TexanByBirth
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To: OldSmaj

Actually Harley DID apply to copyright the engine sound. Jap makers were de-tuning their engines to have the same staccato harley sound.

I never did hear what happened with the copyright application.

The sound came in part fromthe fact that Harley pistons are "chasing" each other rather than at opposite ends.


83 posted on 01/31/2005 9:31:22 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: Jhensy
Oh, man! I had one of those. The best and coolest model I ever had, except for maybe this:


84 posted on 01/31/2005 9:34:36 AM PST by frgoff
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To: pabianice

Well once these idiots are out of business they will sell the rights to someone that will again supply a demand. Just give it time.


85 posted on 01/31/2005 9:37:23 AM PST by Fzob (Why does this tag line keep showing up?)
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To: skeeter
In this case, I would think that encouraging certain interests - such as in our military hardware, or simply working with their hands instead of playing video games or watching TV - in our kids would be beneficial.

That's the purpose of business. Social engineering.

But no, someone saw a chance to make a buck.

How dare business try to make a buck?

I guess I should be insulted.

Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.

86 posted on 01/31/2005 9:43:19 AM PST by Protagoras (No one is fit to be a master and no one deserves to be a slave. GWB 1-20-05)
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To: BigBobber
For instance, many railroads demand a royalty to put their name on a model.

Oh that's just un-American.

87 posted on 01/31/2005 9:47:25 AM PST by 68skylark
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To: longtermmemmory
It has not been duplicated, though, that I'm aware of.

I've several friends (yeah, yeah I know, friends don't let friends ride Jap bikes), that insist their bikes sound the same as my H-D, but it's wishful thinking.

There is a huge difference between "potato, potato, potato" and "putt-putt, ring-ding-ding, putt-putt".

88 posted on 01/31/2005 9:48:29 AM PST by OldSmaj (Jihad this, Islam! Your religion is false and your god is non-existent! Come get me.)
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To: pabianice

Nothing on the Revell site about it...they currently have 48 military model aircraft kits listed. See:
http://www.revell-monogram.com
Site may not be updated much tho., and there is no "latest news" section there either.


89 posted on 01/31/2005 9:50:49 AM PST by Drago
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To: Conspiracy Guy
Excuse me, "are ruining" should be "have ruined".. I'll be more accurate next time.

Alright!! Now we are flying..!! Oops...can I say flying without the Wright Bros. heirs demanding royalties?

90 posted on 01/31/2005 9:52:10 AM PST by Osage Orange (Why does John McCain always appear to be grinning like a mule eating cockleburs?)
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To: orionblamblam
Waht *really* sucks is that these are models of things designed under governemtn contract, which, once declassified, puts them in the public domain

That's the way it was before trial lawyers ran the country. The Federal Government should slap these greedy scumbags down. We, the taxpayers, paid for those airplanes. That the government refuses to support the Public Domain rights of the people, clearly shows that government has become too corrupt to defend the rights of the people....IMHO
...
91 posted on 01/31/2005 9:53:52 AM PST by mugs99 (Restore the Constitution)
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To: fso301
The big companies have a risk that far exceeds any potential legal cost, that being, they have allowed their patents, trademarks and copyrights to be freely used for decades. In such circumstance, a company is at serious risk of losing such rights.

I quite understand what you're saying. After a lifetime of involvement in packaged goods marketing, I'm well aware of trademark protection and its importance.

And, for that very reason, Boeing, et al will go to the mat -- if that's what it takes -- willfully engaging in a legal strategy of attrition, until they drive the last kit-maker out of business.

The biggest litigation budget will win the argument. Under those circumstances, the kit-makers really can't afford to "stand and fight".

92 posted on 01/31/2005 9:54:55 AM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Protagoras

> Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.


Think of it this way: Every time you wave the Flag, you owe Uncle Sam a buck. How about that?


93 posted on 01/31/2005 9:56:42 AM PST by orionblamblam
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To: pabianice

What about my "Monster model" kits? Are the studios going to want a royalty for a Frankenstein, Wolfman, or Dracula model?


94 posted on 01/31/2005 9:56:58 AM PST by LetsRok
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To: Protagoras
Oh no, it's a fine conservative trait to have those attitudes.

If slavish devotion to profit making where nothing of worth is produced in exchange is the measure of conservativism then yes, you can count me out.

95 posted on 01/31/2005 9:59:02 AM PST by skeeter (OBL "Americans" won't honor any law that interferes with their pocketbooks)
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To: Osage Orange

We got my son a Pave Hawk for Christmas and it cost $25.


96 posted on 01/31/2005 9:59:35 AM PST by 2Jedismom (Expect me when you see me!)
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To: skeeter
If slavish devotion to profit making where nothing of worth is produced in exchange

Name such a business transaction.

is the measure of conservativism then yes, you can count me out.

You were already out.

97 posted on 01/31/2005 10:00:31 AM PST by Protagoras (No one is fit to be a master and no one deserves to be a slave. GWB 1-20-05)
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To: Junior
Oh, fudge. This is going to impact the tabletop gaming community like no one's busines..

Toss in the role playing game community too. B-P
98 posted on 01/31/2005 10:02:07 AM PST by Nowhere Man (We have enough youth, how about a Fountain of Smart?)
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To: orionblamblam
Think of it this way: Every time you wave the Flag, you owe Uncle Sam a buck. How about that?

Preposterous non analogy. But I'll play. I make time for the children a few times a day.

Try this, don't wave the flag, save a buck.

99 posted on 01/31/2005 10:02:14 AM PST by Protagoras (No one is fit to be a master and no one deserves to be a slave. GWB 1-20-05)
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To: pabianice
Tell the greedheads that photos and drawings of their "intellectual property" will make them a lot more money of course newspapers, books etc. will all disappear too.
100 posted on 01/31/2005 10:02:26 AM PST by fella
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