mozart Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 (edited) Beautiful as it is, I agree a Hornet is a big risk as a second product for a new company, but seeing "Hornet" and "F86" reminds me of a true tale that I was told many years ago; what I recall is accurate in essence but may be askew in detail. It relates to this man: Group Captain (in this photo, shown escorting the King on an official visit to RAF Waddington where he was Station Commander) but later Air Commodore David Bonham-Carter. He was a very experienced pilot, somewhat deaf in later life for which he wore a huge prominent hearing aid in one ear, earning him the affectionate title of TR9 (a piece of early war years radio equipment). He was rather irascible, the less fortunate new crews on the squadrons (467 and 463 Squadrons RAAF) often did their first op. with TR9 to "learn the ropes" but he flouted any rules on returning of being in a circuit or landing pattern, simply saying "Coming in!" Anyway, post-war Bonham-Carter had his own "personalised" Hornet and he was due to pay a goodwill visit to the Far East (Singapore I seem to remember but could have been Hong Kong) where he would to be hosted by the USAAF. Flying his Hornet, he spotted a group of F86s below him which he suspected was a welcoming flight, so mischievously he got into position, feathered one of his props, opened his throttle and roared past the unsuspecting F86s!! They soon formatted on him and proceeded to the Base. On landing, B-C took his walking stick out of his cockpit and stumped off to a well-earned drink and no doubt lots of banter! Edited June 23, 2022 by mozart Gary Needham, adameliclem, RadBaron and 3 others 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 It looks a lot of people forgot what made the success of many WnW releases. It is a case where the offer drove the demand. Before WnW, 1/32 WW1 kits were a niche within a niche. Good artwork, excellent quality, high accuracy and clever marketing changed that ... The Hornet is a good looking plane. I'm sure if they follow the same rules than WnW (without the too esoteric topics), they will succeed in selling their kits. MikeC, RadBaron, Rick Griewski and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 They should have gone with a P-51D. It’s long overdue for a new-tooled kit. The market demands it. scvrobeson, thierry laurent, Rick Griewski and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBrown Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 17 minutes ago, thierry laurent said: It looks a lot of people forgot what made the success of many WnW releases. It is a case where the offer drove the demand. What ever became of WNW? Rick Griewski, Gary Needham and D Bellis 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly7 Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 There's plenty of Hornet lovers in the U.S. and we can't wait for the opportunity to buy a i.m. one. Specially of this quality, I will leave the question of profitability to Kotare. Bring on the Hornet. Royboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryWilliams Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 I share concern that they may go down the WNW route and spend a lot of money developing kits that won’t sell in the numbers needed. Don’t get me wrong, I will snap one of these up myself but this is not exactly an iconic aircraft. There are subjects out there that really need a state of the art model in 1/32. The most obvious being a Hawker Hurricane, yes Revell have announced one bit, well it’s Revell and it won’t exactly be state of the art. What about a P47 or a P38? Current 1/32s are a OK but Kotare could do better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 19 minutes ago, RBrown said: What ever became of WNW? They started making kits that were too complex and too esoteric such as the Gotha seaplane prototype. If this was not the only reason that killed them, this for sure greatly contributed. In comparison Hornets are far simpler and far more famous planes! MikeC and firefly7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 5 minutes ago, BarryWilliams said: The most obvious being a Hawker Hurricane, yes Revell have announced one bit, well it’s Revell and it won’t exactly be state of the art. What about a P47 or a P38? Current 1/32s are a OK but Kotare could do better. I would wait before assessing a kit not yet released. The Revell P-51D and Me-262 are VERY good kits. An early P-38 is indeed a major gap in the 1/32 offering! Scotsman, Royboy, LSP_K2 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbk57 Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, jbrennan said: I understand your points above cdk57. But what are they meant to do ! there are plenty of commoner choices already covered some several times over. So manufacturers are to some degree between a rock and a hard place. Common subject redone, more expensive - people complain, esoteric subject little known - doesn't sell. Thats why I think the Hornet would be a good choice because it might fall between the two, even though I understand it wouldn't be popular in the US. I also think the US market has been well catered for a long time, due to its size of course. Thanks jon Really I think there are lots of openings British and otherwise. While you can say any given major subject has been done, a great number of them would benefit from something better. I think it most important right now Kotare make money and not take too many risks. Too many esoteric kits did in WNW in the end. I feel also they failed to commit to unlimited runs of popular kits though also. Technology and research have advanced a lot so to my eye the possibilities are huge for subjects that would sell well in lots of markets. It is easier to suggest what they not do, than what they should do. Just take WWII single engine fighters, I think you can eliminate the P-40B(hawk 81), P-51D, Spitfire IX, VIII, BF-109E series(Dragon), A6M2 and 5 zero(tamiya, Hasegawa), Henshell Hs-129, Me 262, Dauntless. Basically if a major manufacturer has done the kit in the last 10 years maybe Kotare should not do that subject. However beyond that almost anything out there could stand improvement. I know Fly did the Hurricane, but I have looked at their rendition and this would be a perfect subject for Kotare. Wish lists go on and on so i think it almost easier to say we have an a subject well covered or not. Hasegawa made a great effort of some Japanese subjects in recent years so those can all be eliminated also. My thoughts only come from a desire to see Kotare prosper, not from a disrespect for the Hornet and those that love unusual subjects. Edited June 23, 2022 by cbk57 discus 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzerwomble Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 4 hours ago, jbrennan said: It always amuses me when a company announces / discusses a new kit how modellers immediately jump on it and put forward their own wants. They do not take these decisions lightly and at the end of the day have to pay their bills not us. The world doesn't need another 109F. I would imagine the Spit will be fab there isn't a good one around in 1/32. And as said the Hornet is a great idea. Amen to that brother ...what it actually needs is another 1/35 German tank .....Tiger I ....... presumably with a link to the Whack-of Tanks franchise . Personally I hold out hope for the Blackburn beauty that is the Dart .....that begot of a wildebeest, some drainpipes and a tree. TAG and scvrobeson 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 6 hours ago, Thomas Lund said: Seems bold to me... I mean a Spit is bread and butter for a new company, but the Hornet is certainly not so... I couldn't agree more. I see a Hornet as a particularly poor choice, same with the Sea Hornet or any number of other ungainly Brit types. John1, Royboy, Tony T and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scimitarf1 Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 Time will tell - the key is break even number and cost. The reason that no P-51B/C has been made is that it has been announced by at least two manufacturers and Revell are likely to do it as a follow up to the D model. You would have to be very brave to sink your capital into something and then get pipped by another kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 31 minutes ago, LSP_K2 said: I couldn't agree more. I see a Hornet as a particularly poor choice, same with the Sea Hornet or any number of other ungainly Brit types. You’re surely not suggesting the Hornet is “ungainly”……British or not! firefly7, scvrobeson, R Palimaka and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adameliclem Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 I think it’s worth noting that speculative remarks overheard at an IPMS meeting fall well short of being a “public announcement.” Adam jbrennan, edfifer, scvrobeson and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrennan Posted June 23, 2022 Share Posted June 23, 2022 1 hour ago, Panzerwomble said: Amen to that brother ...what it actually needs is another 1/35 German tank .....Tiger I ....... presumably with a link to the Whack-of Tanks franchise . Personally I hold out hope for the Blackburn beauty that is the Dart .....that begot of a wildebeest, some drainpipes and a tree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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