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For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
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Goodbye Verlinden
matt
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New York, United States
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Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 02:29 PM UTC

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Last I heard there was no buyer for the masters and they have been binned as well.


It was later stated that the Production Masters were dumped, not the MASTERS. (a good OEM uses a main master to make production masters, which make the production molds)
RECON22
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Posted: Friday, September 16, 2016 - 03:53 PM UTC
Well I still buy his late war 1/35 German figures as he is the only Manufacturer that has a good range of them on foot/ gun crews and vehicle mounted......Love his Atlantic Wall bunkers/ emplacements too!
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 04:37 PM UTC

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My greatest sadness is for the people who worked for Verlinden......Yes congrats, retire, but I would bet there are more than a couple people who are now out of work with a big question mark in their budgets. Sad.....


Actually from what I heard the place was running on auto-pilot with a few new releases here and there...and who ever worked there was only there part time.

Obviously there wasn't much demand for his products in the past 10 years or so. The resin business isn't really worth it with all the new kit releases. I've seen lots of places close their doors over the past 5-10 years because of the lack of sales or interest or it taking over all their free time so they can't actually enjoy the hobby...then lets not get into the guys in the EU that are great "artists" but horrible business men that can't get their products out in a reasonable time frame or even out of their country.



Hi, Scott!

Re: "The resin business isn't really worth it with all the new kit releases"...

I AGREE that so many of the very latest models that are being released of late negate the need for resin and PE upgrades, BUT- Even the very latest kits CAN and DO require some upgrades, and I, for one, am one of those modellers that will spend the extra cash to make those upgrades, when and where required. If you feel that the "resin business isn't worth it" because the latest kits really ARE more detailed and of finer quality, then your buying extra resin or PE sets or not, is entirely your choice. Many other modellers on this site, including myself, will still go out and buy these resin and PE kits, because we really DO care about what our models should look like in the end. Maybe that's nuts, but as far as I'm concerned, I sure as hell don't think so...

Even though I no longer build "custom orders" to customers' specs, or haven't entered any of my work in shows or contests for the last 35 years or so, I still build my models in such a way that "requires" the extra resin upgrades and PE, at the very least, on the outside surfaces, and what may be visible through open Hatches, Engine Grates, etc. I STILL want my models to be as detailed as can be within my own personal criteria...

My 1/48 Aircraft get a lot more attention in this respect, what with open Cockpits, Wheel Wells, Engines, (in the special cases of Radial-engined Aircraft), exterior and interior upgrades, and all manner of PE sets, especially the beautiful Pre-Painted PE Cockpit Interior details that EDUARD manufactures...

Some of you guys may already be well aware of the GREAT Pre-Painted PE Interiors that EDUARD makes for some of their 1/35 subject-matter, such as the HOBBY BOSS M1070/M1000 Tractor/Trailer kit! ET, VOYAGER, LION ROAR and GRIFFON ALL make excellent PE and multi-media upgrades for discriminating modellers with which to improve their 1/35 kits, and then there are all those other great aftermarket manufacturers that cater to the "Ship Builders" out there...

In addition, there are all the absolutely FABULOUS resin & multi-media upgrades, Track sets, conversions, and corrections sets that are made by the likes of D-TOYS, DEF, LEGEND, TANK WORKSHOP, KRAUT TANKS, The New TMD, FRIULISMO, MASATER, ABER, ARMORSCALE, RB MODELS and a galaxy of others that many of us couldn't, or wouldn't do without...

I say this to the aftermarket manufacturers: "BRING IT ON!!!"

davejr
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Rhode Island, United States
Joined: October 30, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 05:45 PM UTC
It was verlinden who got me interested in modeling when I was around 18 . I had built model cars as a kid but one day my dad took me to a hobbyshop and I got a tamiya m-48 but it wasn't until I saw verlinden books on dioramas and how to detail tanks that really got me interested in armor. I know his stuff wasn't always the most accurate but don't forget he was one of if not the first to give us aftermarket detail sets that started the aftermarket industry and eventually got the plastic companies to see we wanted better and more accurate and detailed kits that we have today. So I'm grateful for what Verlinden has done for the industry and hope he enjoys his retirement and that someone will continue producing his products .
j76lr
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Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 07:08 PM UTC
I used many of those figures . enjoy retirement !
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Saturday, September 17, 2016 - 07:10 PM UTC

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Re: "The resin business isn't really worth it with all the new kit releases"...

I AGREE that so many of the very latest models that are being released of late negate the need for resin and PE upgrades, BUT- Even the very latest kits CAN and DO require some upgrades, and I, for one, am one of those modellers that will spend the extra cash to make those upgrades, when and where required.


You've made the other guy's argument right there Dennis. For the business to be worth it there needs to be a lot of modelers like you. "Some upgrades" bought by a few people aren't going to keep the lights on.

When Verlinden started people said that modelers shouldn't have to pay extra to get what he was providing; that kits should come with those details in the box or companies should release multiple versions. Now that the kit companies do those things people are sad that Verlinden is gone. Go figger.

KL
drabslab
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European Union
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Posted: Sunday, September 18, 2016 - 11:30 PM UTC

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I remember Dutton Enterprises and Alfred Dutton breaking into the market in 1991 and Verlinden telling distributors that if they tried to carry the Dutton Enterprises stuff they could not carry any of his products. This caused undo hardship for a start up company and led to their eventual downfall. This was not the first or last time he did that. For all the deserved hobby praise people give him, there was a darker side to the whole story. It's a shame, he could have been as good a human being as he was a hobby talent.


wow, I hope that you are sure about what you are writing here. If true, it is indeed NOT the way to act but unfortunately not uncommon in any business area.



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When my day comes and I can no longer operate Tiger Productions Diorama Products if I can't sell it for $, then I will turn it over "FREE" to someone young, talented and worthy to receive it. A person who will continue to put it out to modelers around the world. I will never put it into a dumpster or into a landfill................The hobby should be passed on to others who will enjoy it, and carry on it's tradition.


Great attitude Jose
tigerproductions
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Joined: November 13, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2017 - 05:25 AM UTC
Quoted Text


I remember Dutton Enterprises and Alfred Dutton breaking into the market in 1991 and Verlinden telling distributors that if they tried to carry the Dutton Enterprises stuff they could not carry any of his products. This caused undo hardship for a start up company and led to their eventual downfall. This was not the first or last time he did that. For all the deserved hobby praise people give him, there was a darker side to the whole story. It's a shame, he could have been as good a human being as he was a hobby talent.


wow, I hope that you are sure about what you are writing here. If true, it is indeed NOT the way to act but unfortunately not uncommon in any business area.

Yeah, I am sure of what I am talking about. I confirmed it with two distributors and got the information directly from the former owner of Dutton Enterprises. Verlinden destroyed the man's business before the dude got a chance to make a difference.
iakarch
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Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2017 - 05:50 AM UTC
The products were revolutionary in the late 80"s, now the only one of those early resin producing companies left is Accurate Armour in the UK.
Biggles2
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Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2017 - 09:01 PM UTC
I lost my respect for Verlinden when he was selling built Tamiya 1/48 OOB kits on eBay for $100's of dollars a few years ago. The only thing special about them was his signature. Don't know how many he actually sold. I've bought several of his resin products and some of them were good, and some were really crap!
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Sunday, January 08, 2017 - 10:28 PM UTC

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I lost my respect for Verlinden when he was selling built Tamiya 1/48 OOB kits on eBay for $100's of dollars a few years ago. The only thing special about them was his signature. Don't know how many he actually sold. I've bought several of his resin products and some of them were good, and some were really crap!


Why should that reflect badly on Verlinden? They were his property to sell, right? I'm guessing the descriptions and the photos in the listings were accurate, so likely no deception was involved. The buyers were not coerced, I'm certain. What on Earth is wrong with that?


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The only thing special about them was his signature.


Wait - are you saying you are surprised that some people place a premium value on that? Have you ever heard of a painting selling for millions of dollars because a particular artist painted it? How about a book that is no different than hundreds of thousands of others printed at the same time except for the author's signature in it? Or how about this: I have sold my original, shelf-worn, played-with, 1960's toys on Ebay for twice what the recently re-issued, brand new versions cost - on Ebay at the same time! So what?!?

Fact 1: Some people are willing to pay more for items than you would pay for the same thing.

Fact 2: You are willing to pay more for items than some people would pay for the same thing.

To say that this simple reality affects your view of the buyers or sellers in any way is ridiculous.

KL
Paulinsibculo
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Posted: Monday, January 09, 2017 - 12:05 AM UTC
I can remember the days that I made a complete detour to go to a small hobbyshop in Lier, Belgium, where a nice lady and an inspiring modeler sold a new phenomen, called resin figures, printed cards with road signs and books with amazing models.
It was the Verlinden family that opened a new vision and a way, which we all accept nowadays as minimum standard. Shepard Paine was known to the Monogram modelers, but since Tamiya was far more known in Europe, Verlinden became an icone!
Therefore, I wonder how harsh some of us react.
He, for sure, is not the only businessman who tries to exclude competition from his resellers organisation.
And, yes, his quality may have not been the best compared to that what is available today. But technology has improved, know-how gathered. But he was amongst the forerunners, at least here in Europe.
Summarizing: we should remember him as one of the kick starters of the present status of modeling. Models became more vivid with dry brushing, dioramas, his resin crews and other military gear.
Therefore, beste Francois, bedankt voor uw bijdrage. Velen hebben van u genoten!
(Dear Francois, thanks for your contribution, many of us enjoyed your input!)
pegasuspaul
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Posted: Monday, January 09, 2017 - 01:13 AM UTC
I'm gutted Verlinden has gone...need a set of instructions for vp0616 m998 hummer conversion.....not sure where I'll get them...
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Monday, January 09, 2017 - 06:29 AM UTC

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I'm gutted Verlinden has gone...need a set of instructions for vp0616 m998 hummer conversion.....not sure where I'll get them...


1. Ask on here and other model sites if someone who owns the kit will scan you their set.

2. Contact an Ebay seller and offer them a couple of dollars/pounds/euros to scan them for you.

3. Buy a new kit from a hobby shop (for example), photocopy the instructions, then sell your excess kit on Ebay or at a show.

Hardly an insoluable problem, by any means.

KL
iakarch
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Louisiana, United States
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Posted: Monday, January 09, 2017 - 04:44 PM UTC
It was inevitable that Verlinden should close shop, the hobby industry has changed dramatically over the past 15 years and they didn't change with it. Verlinden's product line really did'nt evolve to meet the changes. As has been said by others I stopped buy their product more than 15 years ago because the quality of the sculpting on their figures had become so poor. The faces were horrible, and the resin conversions weren't as accurate as they should have been. Some may mourn the passing of the company, but I felt years ago they were no longer relevant. The really old stuff they did in Yellow resin has always been the best, last year I finally built a Sherman Jumbo conversion using the Verlinden hull that I have had siting around for over 1992 and it was old when I bought it then. It was fun detailing it but a lot of work compared with building a new kit from Tasca. So I can't really feel sad over Verlinden because too many small companies that produced far better products lasted a fraction of the time Verlinden lasted.
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