Archive for Editorial
An Update and Comments
Posted by: | CommentsFictional Stories
Just a few quick comment to those out there who are sending me emails about how much they enjoy my fictional stories…Thanks! It is an extension to my modeling creativity. For those who don’t care for my stories, oh well. I’ve created a new page on this site to post them so you won’t be subjected to them on the main page.
Changes
As I’ve already mentioned I’ve started to implement a few changes to the Squawkbox. A more prominent link to Hawkeye’s Hobbies, which too will be undergoing a makeover soon. It will become a shopping venue only, to make locating products quicker and easier for our customers. Much of the other information will be shift to pages here on the Squawkbox.
New Gallery Page
A Gallery has been added, the main page of the Gallery will be a place where images of your models can be displayed. Subsequent pages will be used to showcase models finished using my products. I’ll probably create one for my own as well, so you can see them all in one place instead of digging back through the posts. Those currently in the Hawkeye’s Hobbies Gallery will be moved over in the near future.
Luring the Young Modeler
David thanks for your contribution. You bring up an important topic, in fact it is and continues to be a topic of conversation amongst many of the manufacturers, distributors, retailers and associated organizations. How do we attract younger customers? There are as I see it three barriers that stand in the way.
1. Gender Bias. Craft stores are for Women/Girls and Hobby Shops are for Men/Boys. Women control 80% of the household’s disposable income and they also control what their children are exposed to including crafts and hobbies. If the mom can see the benefits that scale modeling is a positive experience and educational activity, the odds of luring the youth greatly improves. Keep the gender barriers in place and your success is limited and greatly handicapped. There are those in this industry who don’t want women in their stores! Whazz up wit dat? As long as they visit often and purchase goods why should you care if they are male or female. To quote Beavis…”You’re a Dumbass.”
2. Marketing Philosophies. In an age when electronic media is the principle method to target the tech and gadget savvy youth, the focus and advertising dollars continue to be plugged into dying newspapers. Teenagers typically don’t read the newspapers, nor do most of their somewhat tech savvy parents. As long as the Internet and all it brings to the table is perceived as a curse, the benefits it can reap for the hobby (especially the LHS) continues to be thwarted.
3. Individualism. “Why would I support something I don’t directly benefit from?” To quote Mr. Spock, “The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.” If the group as a whole can work together they can achieve more than working alone. Yet many stand firmly believing that helping others is a waste of their resources and could potentially benefit their competition. Unless you’re an entity that depends on no one for success, then you should understand that without the support of others you’ll fail.
I mean if no one made models kits, airbrushes, compressors would I have a customer for my products? No. I depend on others to provide the subjects, means and apparatus to make my product viable. Therefore, it is in my best interest to support them at being successful as well. If they fail, I fail.
If there were a 4th one it would be MONEY. No one has the spare funding to support a plan even if they could agree on one. Even projects which cost them nothing but a small investment of their time, they didn’t generate much if any response. FREE wasn’t even good enough because they apparently couldn’t or wouldn’t see a direct and immediate benefit. Again a decision influenced by items #2 and #3.
I’ve been outspoken about with my viewpoints and opinions at industry meetings, I say what needs to be said. I don’t speak PC! If someone’s toes got stepped on, I hope it was uncomfortable (the truth usually is) and they took heed of what was being said. This industry can no longer simply focus on keeping existing customers, they must attract new ones. Like the hobby shop, those hobbyists who patronize them are also disappearing. Manufacturers are facing a monumental challenge, finding nontraditional or returning to long forgotten venues to sell their products. If the LHS continues to disappear at the current rate, these manufacturers will do so as well if they don’t take action NOW!
The problems faced with marketing and communications to attract and lure new customers/hobbyist is being hampered by other issues as well. Like most industries we are being bombarded with issues that no single company can shoulder alone. Yet they must do so to protect themselves (see item #3). Any organization needs to work cohesively to pool the limited resources of these companies so they can battle such things as gray ink in government regulations, trademark and copyright laws, consumer product safety, foreign trade, and tariffs are a sample of complicated and costly battles that impede progress. Alleviate these burdens and greater attention and increased resources can be channeled back into promotion, marketing and communications to attract more and younger customers. But when you have to constantly fight the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room, you tend to loose focus on who you depend on the most…the customer.
Something For You!
I thought I would give this gift to you, a desktop calendar that you can download of my little modeling buddy Emma. Emma enjoys curling up in my jacket while I work away at the modeling bench or sometimes she just sits on the stool and watches work. Our calendars will feature photographs from Images by Hawkeye, which are only going to be available starting next month to subscribers and customers, so be sure to sign up!
My Modeling Buddy "Emma."
Pick the size that best fits your desktop!
1024 x 768 February 2010 Screen Saver
1280 x 800 February 2010 Screen Saver
1024 x 1040 February 2010 Screen Saver
1400 x 900 February 2010 Screen Saver
Thanks Again! For visiting Hawkeye’s Squawkbox!
Luring the Young Modeler
Posted by: | CommentsI constantly hear and read that “We need to attract young modelers back to the hobby.” But beyond Make-N-Take events, I don’t see much effort to address that need. IPMS & some vendors offer Make-N-Take assistance (which we have used) but that’s about it.
My oldest son (13) got started in the hobby at age 9. However, he was (and still is to some degree) a closet builder. It may be just his perception, but apparently there’s a nerdy stigma associated with kit building. He is very careful with which of his classmates he will discuss his hobby. It’s a shame because we love the hobby and it always gives us (and his 8 yr old brother) something to talk about. Going to our club meetings is an event we don’t miss.
Given my personal interest in the topic, I’ve taken on an informal role of “youth coordinator” for our club. I’ve organized our last 2 Make-N-Takes in 2009 and planning a third this March. Our last Make-and-Take drew in 90 youth builders. Along with their parents, it brought in an estimated 150+ to our contest that otherwise would never have stepped into our show. And many bought kits from vendors on their way out.
I really believe that there is a vast, untapped market ripe for the picking. We could have easily doubled the number of builders with very little extra advertising effort. Yes, the event was free. But – we’re doing a follow-up Make-and-Take next month with attendees that indicated an interest in learning more about the hobby.. We filled 15 openings within 2 weeks of posting the event (and charged a small fee to help defray costs). That’s almost a 20% repeat customer rate – not sure if that’s “good” but its better than 0% without the event.
While I love reading Fine Scale Modeler, I don’t see much effort there to reach out to youth builders. (I’m not sure what that “reach out” would look like but…)
Around Christmas, I saw that Testors packaged some “all in 1” kits targeted at new builders (2 1/72 aircraft with glue & paint) that appeared in end caps and aisle displays in our local Meijer stores. But its just seasonal.
The price of kits at Hobby Lobby have jumped 20% in the past year. For our upcoming Make-and-Take, I could only find about 5-6 glue aircraft kits for $10 or less that were appropriate. Auto kits were at least $15. Armor kits for kids don’t exist. Our local Michaels is now carrying the 1/48 Revel kits for around $15. Don’t get me wrong, I think an $10-15 investment in a kit is a worthwhile investment (especially when Xbox and PS3 games start at $50). The difficulty is luring that first-time builder.
Dave Reed, Cincinnati Scale Modelers
Workshop Update-Odds and Ends
Posted by: | CommentsSpent a few quality hours at the bench last night. It was a nice way to end a weekend which had time for relaxation as well as putting in several hours of work that didn’t get completed during the week. With so many projects underway…I need to try hard not to start any new ones before something is actually completed first…I took the time to make a little progress on a couple in progress.
One project that I really need to get cracking on is my civilized S-3 Viking. I’ll fill you in on the back story later. It is my test mule so to speak to try using ProModeler Washes. I’ll be doing a review on these in an upcoming posting.
I’ve gone over the entire model twice thus far and there are still places where the wash isn’t really filling the panel lines. I may have to run a scriber through them to open them up for greater surface tension. I’ll see how that works and let you know. I want to have this done before EAA’s Family Flightfest in March, I want it on my display table with some of my other aircraft.
Started to paint some of the sub-assemblies for the F-100 as well as give the skin a nice polished finish to accept the decals, which I will start applying shortly. Again another project that needs to remain on the front burner until completion. There are several other kits waiting to be started ;o)
I also needed to relocate my photo studio to a different part of the Man Space. Someplace a little more secure when the grandkids are visiting and running around while playing. It now sits along one wall of my library, which is actually a good spot for it. I can better control the ambient light and it is a low traffic area so no one will bump into it…’cept me. ;o)
I can now hang all of my background papers and unroll them into position as needed. I found a tripod dolly…a base from a store display. This allows me to move the camera easily while working. My new strobes are working out well too. I spent part of the weekend cataloging the models on display in the Man Cave. I’m about halfway through as some need to be taken off their hangers on the wall.
Note the size of my shooting surface…that is a 21st Century Toys 1:18 F-86! It was however tight for my Flying Wing What-If. I made this after watching the first Indiana Jones movie. It is made from a Monogram 1:72 B-36’s wings as well as parts from the spares stash.
Of course the photo studio isn’t just for taking pictures of models. Take a peek at this, you’re probably thinking Feline Diva, well you’re right! She likes to jump into the middle of my shoots to pose. Fortunately she is a very cooperative model, that is when she’s in the mood to be. So far no models have been damaged thankfully! She has learned to respect the plastic…well so far, you know how cats can be.
I’m also working on some projects one that I will be sharing with you soon. Until next time, Happy Modeling!
