Model building looms larger in their popular culture as does animation and manga. When was the last time you took the train and saw people reading comic books or model building magazines the size of a phone book?

One example: in the USA model building is something to make fun of in Calvin and Hobbes, there it's treated seriously with an experienced builder showing a newbie the ropes (and she's wearing a Tamiya apron!) Even down to seam scraping and using putty! When was the last time you saw that in a popular show?

It's different. Anime sites advertise the model kit tie-ins. Comic book sites in the US advertise toys.

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Model building looms larger in their popular culture as does animation and manga. When was the last time you took the train and saw people reading comic books or model building magazines the size of a phone book?

One example: in the USA model building is something to make fun of in Calvin and Hobbes, there it's treated seriously with an experienced builder showing a newbie the ropes (and she's wearing a Tamiya apron!) Even down to seam scraping and using putty! When was the last time you saw that in a popular show?

It's different. Anime sites advertise the model kit tie-ins. Comic book sites in the US advertise toys.

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And this.

You can't judge market size simply by comparing relative population; doesn't work like that. In our culture model builders and model railroad enthusiasts are generally looked down and mocked while in Japan/China it is taken more seriously as a pastime. A higher percentage of their population indulges in model building compared to us.

So, if we say 10% of our 319,000,000 build that's 31,900,000 people.

If 30% of their 126,000,000 do then that is 37,800,000.

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One thing to remember is the Japanese model market is much bigger then North America.

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This.

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And there is a Girls und Panzer Der Film tie-in! So I was close. Actually the Fine Molds kit was already boxed as it so this is probably Dragon trying to get a tighter hold on the market.

Model building looms larger in their popular culture as does animation and manga. When was the last time you took the train and saw people reading comic books or model building magazines the size of a phone book?

One example: the USA model building is something to make fun of in Calvin and Hobbes, there it's treated seriously with an experienced builder showing a newbie the ropes (and she's wearing a Tamiya apron!) Even down to seam scraping and using putty! When was the last time you saw that in a popular show?

It's different. Anime sites advertise the model kit tie-ins. Comic book sites in the US advertise toys.

Very true Dennis, unfortunately very true.

Actually it's an indication of cultural trends based on sociological study. Which if it goes against someone's belief system is casually dismissed as anecdotal hearsay.

Sooner or later our hobby will go the way of the Dodo Bird in this country . . .

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Sooner or later our hobby will go the way of the Dodo Bird in this country . . .

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That's the nature of everything. Baseball isn't as popular as it once was. Men don't wear hats to go outside. Cars rarely use carburetors. We're typing here instead of writing letters. "Sooner or later" is a long time, and things change for many reasons. There is no reason to think scale plastic modeling is immune.

KL

It is not only in Japan, modelling is more popular in Europe then it is in North America. Having been to a few shows in England, you can definitely see a trend that is not shown in North America.

While attending SMW a few years back, I saw that Airfix has a large area with tables set up. They were providing youth with a model, a space to work, tools, and guidance right at the show. And the area was very busy.

I have not seen that at ANY North American show. I have seen next to nothing in North America that is trying to get the youth involved in the hobby.