Quoted TextMost manufacturers come up with a list of posiible subjects and then do an evaluation based entirely on that using their researchers or contacts. Any 'public Initiative' (like the recent Tamiya poll) is pure PR. They don't have time to canvass public opinion (whatever that actually is) and certainly DON'T trawl the Forums looking for ideas.
Jim, you actually offer a bit of insight into the decision making process for developing a kit here. Can you elaborate? I presume that the people who design models have their own interests, and those interests very strongly impact the decision making process. I also presume that every company has an ear to the ground, just in case some obvious unfulfilled demand congeals. However, after a preliminary decision gets made, I would expect some level of market research to evaluate potential sales. Do the companies ever conduct polls or form focus groups? Do they float ideas past star reviewers and authors? How does a company determine that a new product will sell well enough to justify the development and manufacturing expense?
And to get back to the subject of this thread, can the average modeler do anything to get a kit produced? Obviously a huge laundry list of every obscure vehicle ever made provides no focus for a manufacturer. But what if the collective voice congeals on one vehicle? Does it have any impact?
My apologies if I am stepping out of bounds here.
-Doug
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I'm running a thread here:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/128680&page=1
for just such a purpose. It has had 4700 plus hits, sign up if you want, all are welcome.
, I want DML to rerelease their Maus in 1/35th scale!
Not even slightly!
I'm particularly close to a couple of manufacturers who quite often ask me what I think of a particular subject as a FUTURE release or a project worh pursuing (usually something I have NO knowledge of whatsoever) So, in this respect I could be considered a one-man focus group?
Do write-in campaigns work? Probably not. If it's backed up by a MASS of documentation and NOT just a 'I want a XXXXXX in 1/35th scale' or a thread like this, it has no chance of seeing the light of day. An individual, following the same path, MAY have a chance to influence a manufacturer, however then the other (vital) factors come into play: Does it fit into the company's release policy? Will it SELL in the core market (the Far East)? and finally, is it a commercial proposition? ... Answer these in the affirmative and it MAY get produced...
On the "Obviously a huge laundry list of every obscure vehicle ever made provides no focus for a manufacturer" I'm assuning you refering to my list. Don't worry I'm not offended but I would say this. Such a list would I think draw anyones attention to the fact that in this particular example there are few British Trucks for modellers to buy. It's not designed to say can I have every vehicle on the list, mearly to draw attention to the fact that this is a hugh gap in the market and that therefore there may be possibilities to be exploited.
To help back that up I've gathered up scale drawing and reference pictures in off chance someone might think "we can make some money here".
Do I think it will influence model manufacturers, probably not but it might just spark a bit of interest and you only need one to take an idea forward. If in 3 years I see one new British Truck I'd be delighted, if I see 3 or 4 of the most common vehicles I'd be over the moon.
Has anyone already mentioned the need for the M-24? I know there are two M18 kits out there but are they good? Do they need a replacement? They might turn my attention back (momentarily) to Europe, although I have a couple of photos of the M18 in the Phillipines.
dont get me started on the A/C and ships 
I personal would like to see more PTO armor, Japanese stuff. Tamiya had a limited line of the stuff years ago, but because of LOW SALES, they stopped production.
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