Here's why China is winning - unboxing the HobbyBoss Merkava

[@MannsModelMoments]

What do you think of the impact of Chinese-based manufacturers on the hobby? What have your experiences been, positive or negative, and what do you think it means for the future of our modelling? As always, let me know in the comments, and I hope you can join me for the premiere on Wednesday 12th April at 9pm UK time....

[@bobz1736]

Some of the best kits in the market now come from China. It's simple - if manufacturers provide what we model builders want and at a fair price, then they'll do well and their customers are happy. I have no concerns about buying Chinese kits, if western companies can't provide what we want.

[@caiquebrown6683]

@@bobz1736 Exactly, I don't really understand what the problem is with buying Chinese model kits. If your argument is that it's bad for the Western market just know that China is the biggest trading partner for the U.S. The quality on these kits are also superb and well worth their price.

[@VulcanDriver1]

I've made many HobbyBoss kits and I'm always impressed with the quality and detailing. I welcome the Chinese entry into plastic modelling.

[@MannsModelMoments]

Likewise!

[@bugler75]

For me, as a primarily aircraft modeller, it’s the Eastern European companies producing such a wide variety of kits that have made a greater impact on me. Great video by the way👍🏼 Ian

[@MannsModelMoments]

Yes, I think the number of Eastern European manufacturers over the past 20-30 years is impressive, and companies like Eduard have been leading the way in detailing for almost 35 years now!

[@bugler75]

@@MannsModelMoments 35 years already! Wow 😯

[@Larry-Lobster]

I primarily make 1/72 scale tanks and AFVs and Chinese brands are honestly top-tier. There’s been so many Chinese model kit companies popping up producing extremely high quality kits in the past couple of years, in addition to the more established ones. I particularly love Vespid, S-model, Border/Takom, Meng, and Foreart. Modelcollect was a great source for 1/72 but they stopped making historical kits a couple years ago… I think one reason for this is that China is one of the few countries where scale modeling is a growing hobby rather than declining. Unlike in the US, most modelers are on the older side while a lot more younger people are into the hobby in China.

[@KitchenTableModeller]

I do believe that the expansion of Chinese based model kit manufacturers has widened the hobby to a broader audience and in many cases made kits more affordable from the bigger brands, with detail and quality of components to match the majority of the old top tier model brands we all know and love. However as Airfix has show with their recent 24th scale spitfire there is still plenty of scope for manufacturing to be done outwith china, this also supported by the likes of ICM and IBG models giving modellers a huge subject choice at really competitive prices. All in all it’s a great time for modellers of any ilk to be involved in the hobby 👍👍

[@MannsModelMoments]

I agree - though it's worth mentioning that the Airfix Spit is actually moulded in India! Still, there are moulding technologies (getting popular in the miniature hobby space) which should allow more small companies to come into the fold with competitive detail and price,

[@KitchenTableModeller]

I agree and although the bulk of Airfix kits are moulded in India and South Korea via Academy models, the new tool 1/24 spit is fully manufactured in the UK by Plastech Ltd, I believe they are based in Doncaster. Quite a few KZbin channels have visited the production plant and published video content of the factory tour and production process. 👍

[@bugler75]

@@KitchenTableModeller 100% British 👍🏼 Wouldn’t it be great if Airfix and the other associated brands could do everything in the UK?!

[@MannsModelMoments]

It would, but it would also mean an increase in cost for both UK and overseas customers. Giving the amount of complaints about cost I already see about pricing generally, I don't think its a viable business strategy.

[@bugler75]

@@MannsModelMoments I know, it’s a real shame though!

[@hattrick8684]

I just ordered a HobbyBoss 1/350 USS Alaska. My god the thing is impressive. I’m new to the hobby, my first was an Airfix VC 1/600 Graf Spee, second 1/350 Tamiya Fletcher. By far the HB is the best kit. By far the AFVC Spee the worst. I will say, great first model, and it is a VC series so the tooling was 1971 so all things considered I’d highly recommend it as a first build. Learned a lot with it.

[@hattrick8684]

Also the packaging, the entire box was encased in 1” styrofoam, wrapped in heavy gauge plastic, completely covered in ockageing tape. The box flap was ripped, but no worries, everything was packed right and neat, individually bagged, small parts packed with large parts in their own bags. The hull was upside down and a BH ch of small parts hidden inside it(separately bagged) with cardboard dividers inside. Massive detailed instruction booklet and poster size paint/color guide

[@MannsModelMoments]

Would love to see that!

[@Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

It looks like a pretty good kit. I do love a good Merkava kit. I built the Meng Merkava Mk4m kit last year. I also have the Takom Merkava Mk1 Hybrid kit in my stash. I recommend Vallejo Model Air 71.023 Tan Green Hemp as the main colour. However, I do get a bit put off by the individual track links in a lot of these modern tank kits. The ones for my Meng kit were a nightmare. They built OK, but would then start to come apart, when I tried to fit them over the wheels. I had to Superglue each track in 2 places. But it came together well in the end. The Meng kit had a 2 piece barrel too. One other thing to note, is that not all Hobbyboss kits are as good. I recently finished their 1/48 Super Hornet kit. That kit needed a lot of filler around the back end. I also had problems with the kit decals. They were so thin, that some of them just broke up on me. I had to try to replace them with my own scanned copies. Not ideal. So, some Chinese kits are not as good as others.

[@stephenashley8431]

Looks Like Revell and Tamiya have a Lot of catching Up to do !!!! Amazing Detail 😁😁😁

[@BearGrisham]

Great review and really informative. I will be adding this kit to my to do list 👍 subscribed 👌

[@mirage3rd]

Ok. I know which brand to choose for tanks! Thank you for the extensive review

[@NOSHER]

The more the merrier in my humble opinion, especially with the value for money and accuracy thus far....

[@MannsModelMoments]

Agreed - I've heard grumblings about accuracy for some subjects, but haven't personally encountered it thus far

[@j-frame]

Zhongshan Yatai Electric Appliances Co., Ltd owns Trumpeter, Hobbyboss, Merit International, I love Kits, Monochrome, Gallery Model(Maybe) and Glow2B(Maybe)

[@lesthiele4921]

Sir, that was a excellent review of one of the worlds most iconic non standard MBT's, this tank as we all know does not follow the standard look of other MBT's, so I may have to get this kit, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍👍

[@MannsModelMoments]

Much appreciated!

[@bobz1736]

What a fabulous kit and well reviewed 👍

[@MannsModelMoments]

Thanks!

[@TristanMorrow]

Compare and contrast to the Merkava that's been done by Tamiya, 35 years ago and also in 1/35 Scale of course...

[@MrSkippingpig]

This should sound like a ringing alarm bell to the complacent, traditional manufacturers. If cheap Chinese made stuff is blowing your offering out of the water then it's time to up your game before you're left for dead.

[@bionicgeekgrrl]

A similar thing happened in the 1990s with model railways. China produced models were cheaper and better quality than the traditional manufacturers hornby and lima. Since then lima went bust and most of their models are sold by hornby in their budget range. Hornby have had massive financial issues over the past decade and have struggled to compete not just with the Chinese brand (Bachmann), but also other brands entering their scale (dapol who withdrew from 4mm and sold their tooling to hornby reentered about 10 years ago and heljan entered the UK market), those 4 form what are the big 4 now, but smaller companies have formed that are much smaller and both undercut the big 4 and produce better quality. The situation is now one of Chinese dominance as everybody makes their models with Chinese factories, but also rising costs that keep rising. Hornby moved airfix to India because of the rising Chinese costs and part of the plan was to move hornby production too, but it was found that the Indian factories just couldn't manage anything close to what the Chinese factories can make. At some point the cost will become too much and production will move away from China (except Bachmann, which is the Chinese factory effectively). Where it may go is unknown though, though not likely the UK, although one UK hobby company makes all its models in the UK, games workshop. The question is whether the trajectory for model kits will be one of Chinese dominance and the other companies collapsing, if that happens then kit prices would potentially rise significantly as there'd be not much competition by then. Though there are a number of Eastern European companies that probably act as a counter for that.

[@Jaykilyourbrain]

This might be a weird question, but what exactly does Opaque do?

[@MannsModelMoments]

I'm not sure I understand your question - in what context?

[@Jaykilyourbrain]

@@MannsModelMoments Opaque for airbrush related paint, do you know what that is?

[@MannsModelMoments]

Ah, I see - so opaque paints will obscure the finish underneath - they usually have pigments like titanium dioxide (for light colours) which don't allow any light through. Transparent paints act as a "filter", putting a pigment down that allows the lower one to show through, thus "tinting" what was already there - you see this a lot in oils, for example

[@Jaykilyourbrain]

@Mann's Model Moments Alrighty, thanks I appreciate the help 😎

[@richardjordan5036]

Personally I think it is good and is what capitalism is based on.When you make a better mouse trap people will buy it and I hate to say it,but China has learn this lesson starting with Dragon kits.Japan learn this a long time ago but the rest of the producers are just starting to catch up with what they are doing.I do have to say this though,parents have giving up on raising kids and taking time with them,which has hurt the hobby.T.V. and video games have taken the place of most of the hobbies that people have done in the past in the west.These hobbies taught a lot of skill to kids as long with imagination.We need more western producers to step up there game in making this hobby as well as others interesting to all people.China is do some great things in the hobby and glad to see it.Things/details we have to scratch build are now mostly in these kits.The level of detail just amazes me but also I must ask this question,does this detail take away from modeling or enhances it.If you keep the politics out of it,yes China has made a great impact on modeling which will only make others to produce even better kits to compete with China and Japan.........

[@eitandddd]

Please consider uploading in higher resolution, youtube 1080 looks like 480 at best. This will help your channel grow better

[@MannsModelMoments]

The videos are all shot at 1080 - check your KZbin play resolution

[@bionicgeekgrrl]

​@@MannsModelMomentsI think they probably meant that KZbins bitrate for 1080p content is quite low compared with what your original file would be before KZbin processing. Though I have not noticed any problems with your videos even on a 4k TV.

[@MannsModelMoments]

@@bionicgeekgrrl yeah...tomayto, tomatoe!! 😁

[@DavidLee-df888]

In just over a decade several Chinese companies have popped up and destroyed my wallet. Kinetic, Kitty Hawk(RIP), Takom, Meng and more have all produced subjects of interest to me, especially Kinetic and the 1st gen Harriers.

[@MannsModelMoments]

Yes, they are a menace to our finances!!!

[@DocFripouille]

My right ear agrees with you but my left ear isn't happy at all.

[@scale_model_apprentice]

I like the Chinese conglomerate. Some of the country's practices are iffy, but that's neither here nor there.

[@johntrevy1]

To be fair to China, the west is almost no better. The west are better at hiding things. I come from a production background and my last job had things coming from China and I have to say that they were able to outdo what I could achieve in speed and quality.

[@scale_model_apprentice]

@johntrevy1 'Tis true, but I don't like to think about world politics when modeling. Right now, I'm building a PLAAF P-51K because 1. It's a freaking Mustang, and 2. it's different and cool. Idc what you build, or the nation that fielded it. If you're happy with your model, and you think it's cool, then I see no problem.

[@martinmengh]

Soviet subjects, tanks, trucks by Trumpeter are reliably fine. Airplanes are hit and miss. Cars are bad. Research each kit individually.

[@ekspatriat]

Although the Corsair is poor by todays standards it is ideal for a beginner. A beginner wouldn't stand a chance with the Merkava. (I wouldn't buy the Corsair)

[@MannsModelMoments]

I both agree and disagree. I absolutely would NOT recommend the Merkava to a starter, novice or even beginner modeller - it would be a project for a developing modeller who wants to challenge themselves and get into multi-media use, for sure. The Corsair COULD make a good beginner kit - but NOT in its current form or price. Revell need to clean up the tooling to remove the flash, which would be a negative experience for a brand-new modeller. They then need to lower the price by 50% at least. If I were in their commercial department, I'd market it at £15 with a new instruction sheet aimed at the novice. It would actually make a good Starter Set at £20 with paints and glue included.

[@socalbeachcomber9811]

You chose to compare a 50 year old kit to a new one? You also ignore that 1/32 aircraft are usually much more expensive than the more common aircraft scales. While 1/35 is the most common scale for armor. Anyway, I stopped buying Chinese kits altogether. I won't support their state sponsored predatory practices, and any money sent their way just might come back to the Western world in the form of real missiles.

[@MannsModelMoments]

Yes, I chose two kits of comparable price - as shown at the start of the video. To the consumer, there's no visible difference on the boxes to alert you to any tooling age differences, so the companies are putting these kits out on the market at the same face value, and should be judged as such - so no, I'm not ignoring anything here.

[@Larry-Lobster]

Boycott all you want, but this is sort of delusional fear-mongering you’re trying to promote is just shameful. China doesn’t want to attack the “Western world”, and the less warmongering the US does, the more prosperity will come to both nations.