The Little World

Or why the Ukrainians, Poles, or Russians? Why the Chinese?

Why has plastic scale model manufacturing become such a big thing in these countries? And why did it move so much from the original base in the USA? Why did the US companies sell up to overseas investors?

It cannot be because the population of the US and Canada rejected the idea of making scale plastic models – buy an American model airplane, car, or train magazine and see the vast market that exists there that is ready to spend money on the European and Asian products – while presumably wishing to buy locally.

I don’t think it can be because there is better plastic in the overseas countries – or better mould makers. Perhaps mould makers who are prepared to work cheaper.

Perhaps they have invested more heavily in CAD/CAM technologies than the older firms did in the US – there must have come a time when the older machines in Aurora and Glenview wore out  – and at a time when there was a dip in the returns for the market.

Whatever the reason the step into small-batch manufacturing has been a real boon – though not as much a boon for those who are not fans of resin casting or photo-etch sheets. Of course there are makers who make things…err…err…badly. The things they mould can still be built but there will be difficulties. This is not just the small makers – I have worked on fairly newish Airfix kits that had warping problems.

Whatever the reason for the new boom in European and Asian manufacturing, I am grateful for it. Now I would like to see some of the North American firms restart  – if only on a small basis -and build up the market they once had.