Reelo
Sr Member
RoG = Revell of GermanyI love what you said. but who is RoG?
Id like to see those comments
Unless you understand German, don't bother to look on fb though.
Attention: BANDAI will stop selling kits outside Japan
- Thread starter spinner 44
- Start date
Unless you understand German, don't bother to look on fb though.
That's because this must be Revell's doing. When Bandai recently announced their Episode VII kit lineup, its was quickly followed by online comments about how toy-like Revell's kits were compared to Bandai's. Disney went after HLJ and 1999.co.jp specifically regarding the model kit sales. Bandai's Star Wars S.H. Figuarts figures are still available to order at HLJ's International site, as are Kotobukiya and Takara Tomy's Star Wars products.
I can only imagine the money Bandai will lose having their Star Wars kits enforced as Japan-only, no exports. Japanese eBay sellers should have a windfall replacing online shops like 1999.co.jp, HLJ and others.
Boycott Revell's Star Wars models, and this should resolve itself one way or another.
In fairness to Revell, they must have paid a mint for their Star Wars Episode VII license, and Bandai is a huge corporation which produces much more than hobby products. However, this is clearly Revell (through Disney) targeting Bandai's model kit licensing only, and the sooner they admit it, the less flak they will receive online. The irony being Revell branding their Star Wars 'master series' with older Japanese tooling from Fine Molds.
I sensed something unusual when the 1/48 X-Wing moving edition was never re-stocked...that kit now being similar to what Revell has issued as models with 'battle action lights and sounds.' I stocked up on the Bandai kits well before the hammer fell.
HLJ's YouTube channel says they will be fulfilling pre-orders for Bandai's 1/72 Slave I & 1/12 Boba Fett, so that should help people find an alternate purchasing workaround before Bandai's Episode VII kits are released. I wasn't planning on purchasing the new sequel kits, but they'll clearly far superior to Revell's pre-painted Snap-Tite toys.
I don't think, that it will be resolved that way, because the Revell-Kits are made for KIDS, not for Fine-Scale-Modellers. And the kids, mommies, dads, aunts and uncles will continue to buy the kits at wallmart e.g., not even aware of any boykott. Especially with the Revell Star Wars kits, the modellers are the minority of the customers - Revell hast still all the customers sitting in the children's room and waiting for the Revell-"toys" to build. Sad, but true...
Revell's first wave of Episode VII kits are skill level 1, but they did release higher grade Star Wars kits, and will again the (aforementioned) Fine Molds repacks as a 'master series'.
Reelo
Sr Member
The level 2 kits are barely more complicated or detailed than the level 1 kits and the Fine Molds repacks, while surely nice, are nothing new, and in the case of the Falcon, not quite as accurate as could be. Plus, they're still as expensive as import stuff.
Considering how many Star Wars kits Revell produced, I have relatively few of them. The 19" Republic star destroyer was probably the best of the lot. I was also disappointed with the 1/72 Fine Molds Falcon, considering the ridiculous part count. Many sink holes in the hull panels from trying to mold far too much detail at once. Then there was the debacle with the Fine Molds Y-wing's inaccurate steering vanes (which Bandai's beautiful kit resolved).
Reelo
Sr Member
I tried to translate the latest response from RoG (both my English and German are good enough for me to be confident that this is as faithful a translation as you could wish for)
"OK, we've mentioned this before. It is true that our SW line of products is aimed more at the toy segment of the market. There's good reasons for this from our point of view. Anything else concerning kits from other brands isn't for us to comment upon. We don't have the right to, besides.
It might seem paradox to you but that's why there are other companies like Bandai to fulfill your wish for higher quality. Why they can currently only do this in Japan we cannot answer.
Revell has neither the possibility, nor do we want to impose conditions which would forbid other companies to release or distribute their products."
"OK, we've mentioned this before. It is true that our SW line of products is aimed more at the toy segment of the market. There's good reasons for this from our point of view. Anything else concerning kits from other brands isn't for us to comment upon. We don't have the right to, besides.
It might seem paradox to you but that's why there are other companies like Bandai to fulfill your wish for higher quality. Why they can currently only do this in Japan we cannot answer.
Revell has neither the possibility, nor do we want to impose conditions which would forbid other companies to release or distribute their products."
Reelo
Sr Member
I feel it should be up to the big names to tackle this: scalemates, starshipmodeller, etc.... they might carry more weight.
TazMan2000
Master Member
I
Bandai will not lose any money. People will still buy Bandai SW models. We will be the ones losing money by purchasing the models through other means.
TazMan2000
Bandai will not lose any money. People will still buy Bandai SW models. We will be the ones losing money by purchasing the models through other means.
TazMan2000
rbeach84
Sr Member
Ah, if only it was the 'good old days' when Bandai model kits could be found on the shelves of your local K-Mart store!
The best option (if Bandai were so inclined) would be to find someone willing to rebox their kits for import, or even to send the molds over for in-country production!
Perhaps the rumor of a NA & EU distribution license coming up will be true...
Man, this is some good (insert favorite hallucinogen of choice here) I'm taking!
R/. Robert
The best option (if Bandai were so inclined) would be to find someone willing to rebox their kits for import, or even to send the molds over for in-country production!
Perhaps the rumor of a NA & EU distribution license coming up will be true...
Man, this is some good (insert favorite hallucinogen of choice here) I'm taking!
R/. Robert
astroboy
Master Member
I will definitely buy fewer models.
I love my 1/48 bandai x-wing but there is no way that I would pay the current ebay prices. At that point I would rather get a resin SS x wing
Scratchy
Sr Member
I posted this on my Scratchy Facebook page.
If you are angry with the licensing agreements that Disney has with Bandai, which prevents any Star Wars kits from entering the North American and European markets, you can direct your comments to this individual.
Disney Studio Licensing website (http://disneystudiolicensing.com/). Requests related to those Lucasfilm property licences should be directed to:
Christopher Holm
Ph: (415) 623-1938
chris.holm@lucasfilm.com
If you are angry with the licensing agreements that Disney has with Bandai, which prevents any Star Wars kits from entering the North American and European markets, you can direct your comments to this individual.
Disney Studio Licensing website (http://disneystudiolicensing.com/). Requests related to those Lucasfilm property licences should be directed to:
Christopher Holm
Ph: (415) 623-1938
chris.holm@lucasfilm.com
TazMan2000
Master Member
Well at 100 bucks, I can see why. Everyone predicted that there would be those set to capitalize on the recent change, but this is panic mode. Give it a few weeks and let's see if the prices come down. These guys will sell them for what the market will bear. If there are people foolish enough to buy at these prices, it will only get worse. Patience is key. Once the market is flooded, prices will come down.
Look at how much Bandai has sold to these resellers. Bandai is making a ton of money from them.
TazMan2000
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