Familiar with Revell-Monogram's Selected Subjects Program (SSP) kit releases? These are limited edition reissues of classic Revell and Monogram plastic model kits from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s which come packed in authentic reproductions of the original boxes. For the past several years, Revell-Monogram have released four different batches of SSP kits per year. Generally each SSP batch includes twelve different model kits, six each from the pre-merger Revell and Monogram companies. Each kit reissued under the Selected Subjects Program is a collector's item and will not be released again by Revell-Monogram for at least five years.
Three very special model kits were reissued by Revell-Monogram in the most recent Selected Subjects Program batches. These were the Monogram Space Taxi, Monogram Passenger Rocket, and Revell Convair Space Shuttlecraft kits. The subject matter of these kits were conjectural manned spacecraft concepts that were designed by famous rocket scientists Willy Ley and Krafft Ericke. These historic model kits were first introduced during 1959 and they have been unavailable outside of the high-priced collector's market for several decades.
Like many other model builders, I was delighted to see these three classic kits reappear under the Revell-Monogram Selected Subjects Program and I assumed that additional old space kits would continue to be reissued from Revell-Monogram's large stock of classic model kits as time went on. Unfortunately, I recently discovered that this may not be the case!
I recently spoke to a member of the new products organization at Revell-Monogram and in the course of conversation I was told that the entire Selected Subjects Program may be in jeopardy. Basically, demand for the SSP kits is falling while the number of older kits in Revell-Monogram's inventory that could be reissued without requiring expensive mold restoration work is diminishing. Unfortunately, the old space kits that Revell-Monogram have reissued to date have sold very poorly. In fact, the pre-subscription orders for the Revell Convair Space Shuttlecraft (which they thought would be a very popular kit) were extremely disappointing to Revell-Monogram.
The sad fact is that the Selected Subjects Program model kits are sold on a pre-subscription basis. Basically, Revell-Monogram circulates a listing of SSP candidate kits to distributors and hobby shops. The distributors and hobby shops then tell Revell-Monogram how many of the kits they would be interested in purchasing. Revell-Monogram only produces enough Selected Subject Program kits to cover the number of pre-subscribed kits. In the event of poor response for a particular candidate kit, the kit is simply not produced (as happened on at least one occasion with a hot rod model kit). It would seem that the distributors and hobby shops did not order enough of the old space kits to make the effort worthwhile for Revell-Monogram.
Revell-Monogram is quite serious about the poor demand for the Selected Subjects Program kits. In fact, they have decided to cut back during 1997 from four batches of twelve kits each to only three batches of eight kits each.
As a long-time model kit builder and collector, I can't believe that there is insufficient demand for the old Monogram and Revell space kits. On occasion I have seen the original kits offered for sale for hundreds of dollars each at collectible toy and model shows. I think that the distributors and hobby shops are misreading the potential demand for these classic kits and are making some very poor judgments which may cost us the opportunity to buy these kits again at affordable prices. I urge all of you out there who build or collect model kits to write to Revell-Monogram and let them know that you would like them to continue to include the old space kits in their Selected Subjects Program batches. Write to Edward Sexton of the consumer affairs department of Revell-Monogram today at:
Mr. Edward
Sexton
Revell-Monogram Inc.
8601 Waukegan Road
Morton Grove, Illinois 60053
USA
I was told that individual letters from consumers are very important to Revell Monogram. I know that there are some e-mail campaigns and polls taking place on this subject but I was told by my contact at Revell-Monogram that such things do not carry the same impact that individual letters do. If you like the old space kits and want to see them continue as part of the Revell-Monogram Selected Subjects Program, please take the time to write a letter to Edward Sexton. This is very important!
There are still several nice space kits remaining in Revell-Monogram's inventory that could easily be reissued if enough demand were demonstrated. For example, I was told that the molds to make the Monogram Willy Ley Orbital Rocket, and Monogram Willy Ley TV Orbiter kits were recently pulled out of storage, inspected, and declared fit to go into production. It is quite possible that Revell-Monogram had intended to complete the old Monogram Willy Ley space kit series until poor sales caused them to have second thoughts. Please note that there will be NO space kits included in the next Selected Subjects Program batch scheduled for release around March 1997!!!
Other classic space kit molds exist but would require costly work to restore them back to working condition. For example, Revell-Monogram admits that they still have the molds for the Revell XSL-01 Manned Space Ship and Revell Space Station kits. The XSL-01 Manned Space Ship kit molds would require minor restoration work to correct some later modifications while the Space Station kit would require new molds to be made to replace long-lost molds for the kit's transparent components. The price quoted by Revell-Monogram for the level of work required to return both of these kits to production is something like $30,000. Although this is expensive, I can assure you that it is nothing compared to what Revell-Monogram pays to make molds for a totally new kit.
I am very concerned that we may lose the chance of a lifetime here. Who ever would have thought ten years ago that we would ever see old model kits from as far back as the 1950s on the shelves again in the original packaging at regular retail prices? I guarantee you that if Revell-Monogram ever decides that the Selected Subjects Program is not paying off and cancels it, we will never get another chance at it again.
The key to ensuring that great old model kits like these continue to be reissued under Revell-Monogram's Selected Subjects Program is adequate demand. Please demonstrate demand for these products by writing to Revell-Monogram, expressing interest to your local hobby shop, and most importantly by purchasing these fine products. Be sure to pass the word to all your model building friends!