New 1/32 F-4K/M (FG.1/FGR.2) Phantom kit announced by HKM

[thierry laurent 3,598]

Who says a company has to communicate with his customers? I know this now seems obvious in our world of network and communication but, very frankly, this is just a business choice!

 

Does WnW announce all their kits? No. Does Tamiya announce their kits? No.

 

But in both cases, such companies do not communicate that much their releases or rely on the modelling community. In the best case, they have some very selected partners.

 

We are disturbed because we know a company is working on a topic and not communicating regularly. This is frustrating but we have to live with that... ;-)

[Jennings Heilig 10,064]

I've been working with Neil on research and coordinating between researchers and his designers for several years.  He's stopped responding to my emails.  I can't see that as a good thing.  We had been communicating regularly (usually weekly) for several years.  Then nothing.

 

HK has not announced all the projects they have (or had) underway.  

Edited January 28 by Jennings Heilig

[DannyVM 3,587]

 To be honest, id don't care if they release the Phantom or not. To be honest, i almost forget about the fact they announced it a couple of years ago. So when it hit's the shelves then i will see if i will buy one, i'm not a big fan of HKM stuff.

[Out2gtcha 26,508]

Personally I find most of HKM stuff fits really well. Their Do-335 fits excellently.

 

I'm still very much looking forward to and hoping they put the Brit Phantom out.

[Markjames1968 102]

They make nice kits and i enjoy building them and going off past form i look forward to building their fgr2 in 2022, 2 weeks after Tamiya or WNW have posted images of their fgr2 that has more detail........;)

[Bill Cross 4,272]

I love you guys, but some of you need to get a life.

 

Tamiya is a large company, and has resources to develop products on a regular basis. You can't compare their business practices to something that sounds like it's held together with spit and bailing wire. Yes, it was perhaps not the best thing for HK Models to announce a kit and then find out they can't pull it off in a reasonable time. There is probably a book that some of you can write about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, etc.

 

So in the meantime, go finish the kits in your stash, find some new kits to build or take up a second hobby.

 

I wish Tamiya would release a BoB Spitty or an updated F-14. But if they don't get around to it, I will live on and be happy.

Edited January 28 by Bill Cross
seeking clarity

[dpastern 663]

2 hours ago, Bill Cross said:

I love you guys, but some of you need to get a life.

 

Tamiya is a large company, and has resources to develop products on a regular basis. You can't compare their business practices to something that sounds like it's held together with spit and bailing wire. Yes, it was perhaps not the best thing for HK Models to announce a kit and then find out they can't pull it off in a reasonable time. There is probably a book that some of you can write about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, etc.

 

So in the meantime, go finish the kits in your stash, find some new kits to build or take up a second hobby.

 

I wish Tamiya would release a BoB Spitty or an updated F-14. But if they don't get around to it, I will live on and be happy.

 

Bill, I disagree.  I'm buying a book series named "Annals of the deep sky" (it's an Astronomy title).  The publisher is a small publisher, and there are only 2 authors.  They have a facebook page with regular updates on where they are with the books (there's currently Six volumes released, but we're only a 1/3 through the constellations, so there's probably at least another 15 volumes to come...).  If they can manage to communicate, then HK Models can too.  

[Bill Cross 4,272]

37 minutes ago, dpastern said:

They have a facebook page with regular updates on where they are with the books (there's currently Six volumes released, but we're only a 1/3 through the constellations, so there's probably at least another 15 volumes to come...).  If they can manage to communicate, then HK Models can too.  

I agree that HKM should communicate better.

 

I should eat less fat, lose weight and exercise more.

 

I guess my point is that HKM is what they is, and it's a waste of breadth and bandwidth for us to rake them over verbal coals. If the descriptions of their operations are what has been shared here, then there ain't going to be no FB page, no updates, and probably no Phantom, at least not in a timely manner.

 

The good news is: there are SO MANY GREAT KITS COMING OUT. I can't imagine anyone here who will be horribly cheated by life if they never get an RAF Phantom. Just sayin'.

[LSP_K2 19,277]

49 minutes ago, dpastern said:

 

Bill, I disagree.  I'm buying a book series named "Annals of the deep sky" (it's an Astronomy title).  The publisher is a small publisher, and there are only 2 authors.  They have a facebook page with regular updates on where they are with the books (there's currently Six volumes released, but we're only a 1/3 through the constellations, so there's probably at least another 15 volumes to come...).  If they can manage to communicate, then HK Models can too.  

 

Looks like a real interesting series, so thanks for that.

[LSP_Ray 5,326]

I worry that HKM put their heart and soul, and money, into that Lanc to make it their signature piece then WNW announced theirs and hurt sales at least enough to make it hurt and question their strategy and they are now trying to re-think and recover. We just have to wait and see where that takes them.

[seiran01 3,429]

Cant think that Ray,

Zoukei Mura has had multiple subjects released by other companies around the same time - the P-51, J2M, Skyraider, Do335 all off the top of my head - and is still thriving with more and more impressive releases.   HK and Tamiya brought out the mosquitos around the same time as well. I have no doubt HK will be fine.

[LSP_Ray 5,326]

I hope so. I am thinking that Lanc took far more resources than a P-51 or J2M, and don't forget that the Mossie and Do335 were also HKM products so those didn't help them much, either as HKM were in each case not considered the best pick, although I consider their Do335 a better choice.

[DonH 1,126]

I feel for HKM. They have (apparently) poured a lot of resources into the Lanc, including some significant re-work during this time. Then WNW announce their Lanc. 

It must feel like a real kick in the danglies. And then we flame them for not delivering the Phantom. I guess they need to pause to see how their Lanc investment is paying off.

 

If I was HKM, I would want to curl up in a dark hole somewhere and not come out again, ever. So, credit to them for launching some good kits, I fervently wish them well and that they will continue to release kits.

 

I can wait for the Phantom. Just let me know when it's ready.

[ghatherly 1,790]

2 hours ago, LSP_Ray said:

I hope so. I am thinking that Lanc took far more resources than a P-51 or J2M, and don't forget that the Mossie and Do335 were also HKM products so those didn't help them much, either as HKM were in each case not considered the best pick, although I consider their Do335 a better choice.

 

Ray, both of your posts are right on the money..... Cash or in Some cases the lack of it.  Profitable CASH FLOW is the lifeblood of any company,  and not having enough,  even with the best designs and the best projects bring things to a screeching halt.   The Lancaster issue may be such an issue here as sone have mentioned.   I know many have questioned me when I share what it costs to bring our products to market at the large amounts,  producing an injection kit is in another league.   We started out doing what everyone wanted, but as it turned out  half of them were financial looser, 3/8 broke even and 1/8 made real money.   A few have exceed our wildest dreams, the F-4B Super set comes to mind.  IF someone wold have told me 6 years ago we would have made and sold close to 600 kits, I would have asked what they were smoking/Drinking, but we have.  

 

You mentioned ZM.  Both they and Wnw have been very successful.  The reason is big time capital investment behind each one at startup,  strict discipline in operating, and clear product branding in the marketplace.   ZM has investment from the Doll business and Wnw from a wealthy owner who is a businessman.  In both cases they set sup professional companies, hired the best in-house people, used consultants effectively, and were able together it right from the beginning by focusing on a particular area of interest and creating BRANDS.   In the case of ZM,  the decision to release the F-4 in 1/48 I am sure was to generate profitable cash flow for the 1/32 F-4 and other projects.    I would GUESS,  as I don''t know,  that budget limits and consumption of it were the reason for the pause in the FW-190 project.  IT is a huge project with what 7-10 kits???  Once the original budget was used, the project may have been put on hold until cash was available to re-start in that project.  Now this is PURELY just my speculation but knowing the costs involved it is a logical conclusion.

 

It is easy to get negative in operating any business.  IF money is an issue, things don't go well,  you are isolated away and maybe have no others to share with, things can go down hill very fast.  That is a whole other topic for another time.

 

Ya'll have a great night.   I am getting really close to finishing up my Tamiya F-4G build so back to the shop.

 

GH

Edited January 29 by ghatherly

[MikeC 2,191]

On 1/28/2019 at 2:15 AM, ghatherly said:

...

IN the mean time,   I am getting ready to Start MY Cutting Edge FGR. project.  Any suggestions on which way to go with a 1 or a 2 ?????

...

 

Gary

 

FGR2, in proper colours: either 56 Sqn as an interceptor, or 2 Sqn, "loaded for bear" with a recce pod and other stuff. 

 

 

If it's any consolation, it isn't just in our world that delays to an announced product happen.  MrsC and I eagerly read Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies, and have been waiting ever since for the third volume in Thomas Cromwell's story.  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/05/hilary-mantel-says-final-wolf-hall-book-unlikely-to-come-out-in-2018-as-planned