Impact of resin cast models?
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:11 pm
Hi, just wanted to start a conversation about the future of resin made model cars.
The production of resin made models is clearly on the rise. I assume the reason is less expensive molds (helps lower cost of production and the volume necessary to recoup costs), lower assembly cost (no opening parts) and speed to market.
but what does this mean for us collectors?
Based on my observation, although resin made models may have better details in curves, they tend to have more defects and no opening parts. Prices are the same or more expensive than diecast cars of recent past.
The good thing is that the variety of model cars produced has exponentially grown giving us collectors more choices than ever. Manufacturers can afford to make them in limited quantities to push up perceived demand, but the reality is even though they may be limited in production, the demand may not be as great as would seem compared to years ago, because the there are just so many choices of good models to buy with more being released daily. This drives down resale values and the potential to recoup purchase costs, making the hobby more difficult to sustain for those who have a limited amount dispensable income for luxury items. To top it off there are often times multiple manufacturers producing the same car which further drives down the demand despite limited productions.
If resin models are cheaper to produce, why haven't they been passed to consumers? Seems manufacturers are selling the fact that models are now more detailed and therefore should command a higher price, but seems to me there is a larger profit margin, as indicative of the all the new brands emerging. Riding on the coat tails of this increase are established manufacturers who also want to play in this resin field. So now we are seeing resin models come in at the same or greater price than diecast cars of a few years ago with opening parts. The high quality diecasts cars with opening parts have doubled in price (AutoArt).
Prices have resin dramatically in the past 8 years resulting in what I believe to be higher wholesale profits. Pushing prices higher for mid to high quality models opens the market for lower quality products at the entry level. As I see it the industry is feeding on the upper social economic class who can afford to pay whatever is asked, as long as they are getting more in return. For mere mortals like myself it means we may be limited to entry level cars and should give up hope of recouping costs of entry level models since they are less likely to hold their value, let alone appreciate; the future of people in the hobby are able to afford the best quality they can find while the people who cannot will continue to play with their depreciating toys.
Does anyone share my sentiments?
The production of resin made models is clearly on the rise. I assume the reason is less expensive molds (helps lower cost of production and the volume necessary to recoup costs), lower assembly cost (no opening parts) and speed to market.
but what does this mean for us collectors?
Based on my observation, although resin made models may have better details in curves, they tend to have more defects and no opening parts. Prices are the same or more expensive than diecast cars of recent past.
The good thing is that the variety of model cars produced has exponentially grown giving us collectors more choices than ever. Manufacturers can afford to make them in limited quantities to push up perceived demand, but the reality is even though they may be limited in production, the demand may not be as great as would seem compared to years ago, because the there are just so many choices of good models to buy with more being released daily. This drives down resale values and the potential to recoup purchase costs, making the hobby more difficult to sustain for those who have a limited amount dispensable income for luxury items. To top it off there are often times multiple manufacturers producing the same car which further drives down the demand despite limited productions.
If resin models are cheaper to produce, why haven't they been passed to consumers? Seems manufacturers are selling the fact that models are now more detailed and therefore should command a higher price, but seems to me there is a larger profit margin, as indicative of the all the new brands emerging. Riding on the coat tails of this increase are established manufacturers who also want to play in this resin field. So now we are seeing resin models come in at the same or greater price than diecast cars of a few years ago with opening parts. The high quality diecasts cars with opening parts have doubled in price (AutoArt).
Prices have resin dramatically in the past 8 years resulting in what I believe to be higher wholesale profits. Pushing prices higher for mid to high quality models opens the market for lower quality products at the entry level. As I see it the industry is feeding on the upper social economic class who can afford to pay whatever is asked, as long as they are getting more in return. For mere mortals like myself it means we may be limited to entry level cars and should give up hope of recouping costs of entry level models since they are less likely to hold their value, let alone appreciate; the future of people in the hobby are able to afford the best quality they can find while the people who cannot will continue to play with their depreciating toys.
Does anyone share my sentiments?