Model teaser from HX model, partially physical.

[planes_on_a_shelf]

There have been plenty of times when mods have been made, which have made a mould worse not better -

Yes that's where we come in, isn't it?

If a model maker is asking for suggestions, it's welcome, and it's up to their discretion and their judgment what they choose to accept or not.

So collectors will offer suggestions to make it better! Something that's already good or even great can always be made better! And one can easily distinguish an informed, knowledgeable or professional input, from those that are not.

Of course it's up to the model manufacturer to use their discretion on how to proceed, but why are collectors themselves shouting down fellow collector community members - that's definitely not welcome - which is what I wish to address!

And that's what I'm pointing out.
It's not about the manufacturer, it's about how we operate as a community.

We can see how my inputs on PHXs A330 landing gears led to a discussion with @DTcustoms and led to a fruitful correction of the mould's posture on the A332..

This is what MAF is for

 

[Sithan400]

My sentiments exactly - that's what this forum is ultimately for.

 

[YesterAirlines]

Yes that's where we come in, isn't it?

If a model maker is asking for suggestions, it's welcome, and it's up to their discretion and their judgment what they choose to accept or not.

So collectors will offer suggestions to make it better! Something that's already good or even great can always be made better! And one can easily distinguish an informed, knowledgeable or professional input, from those that are not.

That is very much a matter of opinion and as I've tried to point out just because someone is factually correct doesn't mean they are necessarily right or should be listened to by the manufacturer.

Of course it's up to the model manufacturer to use their discretion on how to proceed, but why are collectors themselves shouting down fellow collector community members - that's definitely not welcome - which is what I wish to address!

They are not shouting them down - they are disagreeing with them and explaining why they are. I haven't seen anybody acting improperly but I have seen legitimate disagreement. Some of the commenting on faults on here has been way OTT in my opinion and I don't think I'm alone in thinking that.

And that's what I'm pointing out.
It's not about the manufacturer, it's about how we operate as a community.

We can see how my inputs on PHXs A330 landing gears led to a discussion with @DTcustoms and led to a fruitful correction of the mould's posture on the A332..

This is what MAF is for

I agree to a degree but the other side of that is an unrealistic expectation being set (often accidentally), an expectation that when collectors say something it has to be done and they are right, a lack of understanding of the implication of what they are asking for, an over focus on faults with products that are close to, if not the best, in the market (along with some baffling descriptions of the often tiny faults), a hyper focus on brands that engage (almost like a feeding frenzy) and little discussion of those that don't etc etc.

That isn't all beneficial either and risks damaging the scale, but that's my opinion.

 

[hl8208]

I find this debate fascinating. I’ve been lurking these forums for years and rarely post, but feel that along the way we’ve clearly been gaslit into thinking we should not expect perfection. Having an eye for detail in my line of work in the real world has been incredibly rewarding; here, it seems to be met with contempt. I can understand the bit about the expenses involved with overhauling a mould. BUT- jumping from that to basically telling us that we should not expect perfection, that we should happily accept a model’s flaws if they seem to be good enough for the lowest common denominator of collectors OR if they are better than the other guys, or that mistakes are a matter of opinion is wild. If this suits you, then I love that for you. But while some are busy making excuses for these manufacturers, as long as I have the ability to provide concrete suggestions to move this hobby forward, I will go ahead and keep doing so if it means that there is the slightest chance it can lead to meaningful improvement. If perfection is the enemy of progress, I would argue that so is complacency.

 

[YesterAirlines]

I find this debate fascinating. I’ve been lurking these forums for years and rarely post, but feel that along the way we’ve clearly been gaslit into thinking we should not expect perfection. Having an eye for detail in my line of work in the real world has been incredibly rewarding; here, it seems to be met with contempt.

I don't think that's true or what has been said. Nobody has been gaslit (and I wish people would stop using that stupid term out of context) but there is a line between reasonable and unreasonable and everyone sees that differently.

I can understand the bit about the expenses involved with overhauling a mould. BUT- jumping from that to basically telling us that we should not expect perfection, that we should happily accept a model’s flaws if they seem to be good enough for the lowest common denominator of collectors OR if they are better than the other guys, or that mistakes are a matter of opinion is wild. If this suits you, then I love that for you. But while some are busy making excuses for these manufacturers, as long as I have the ability to provide concrete suggestions to move this hobby forward, I will go ahead and keep doing so if it means that there is the slightest chance it can lead to meaningful improvement. If perfection is the enemy of progress, I would argue that so is complacency.

Fair point about complacency and you should continue to post what you like, but at the same time expecting perfection is not in my opinion reasonable and complaining about the smallest details with the best models and brands in the scale while giving the weaker ones a pass because they aren't stupid enough to engage hardly seems fair either.

Ultimately you may think these models are expensive but in the grand scheme of things they aren't and the perfection being asked for at times is not only going to increase the price of the models further but risks also killing the good brands leaving the weaker ones to do fine.

The ultimate irony is I am regularly accused of being a dreadful nitpicker with moulds and run a website that talks a lot about them in detail - yet you make me look like the opposite. That is funny

Nobody is suggesting that HX can't improve the moulds they have, but perfection for $45!

 

[hl8208]

I don't think that's true or what has been said. Nobody has been gaslit (and I wish people would stop using that stupid term out of context) but there is a line between reasonable and unreasonable and everyone sees that differently.

Fair point about complacency and you should continue to post what you like, but at the same time expecting perfection is not in my opinion reasonable and complaining about the smallest details with the best models and brands in the scale while giving the weaker ones a pass because they aren't stupid enough to engage hardly seems fair either.

Ultimately you may think these models are expensive but in the grand scheme of things they aren't and the perfection being asked for at times is not only going to increase the price of the models further but risks also killing the good brands leaving the weaker ones to do fine.

The ultimate irony is I am regularly accused of being a dreadful nitpicker with moulds and run a website that talks a lot about them in detail - yet you make me look like the opposite. That is funny

Nobody is suggesting that HX can't improve the moulds they have, but perfection for $45!

1. This has nothing to do with giving weaker brands a "pass" and everything to do with the fact that they didn't ask for our input.
2. Calling any manufacturer both naive and stupid seems wholly unproductive, no? Since you obviously feel a certain way about brands engaging with us folks in the context of the fact that you have a close working relationship with them, are you suggesting that your opinion should be the only one that matters?
3. Who are you to determine what is expensive for collectors and what’s not?
4. Again, not going to apologize for being a nitpicker. Regardless of our disagreement, I think we could all agree that whoever is in charge of reworking this mould is closer to being a nitpicker than not.

 

[YesterAirlines]

Calling any manufacturer both naive and stupid seems wholly unproductive, no?

Not necessarily no.

Since you obviously feel a certain way about brands engaging with us folks in the context of the fact that you have a close working relationship with them, are you suggesting that your opinion should be the only one that matters?

I don't have a close working relationship with them to be honest and I haven't said my opinion matters more or as the only one.

Who are you to determine what is expensive for collectors and what’s not?

Nobody and I'm not trying to do that. This isn't about me but someone made the comment 'one wouldn't at least try to give as detailed feedback as possible when we are paying upwards of $50-$60 ($70 with shipping) per model' as though that was somehow relevant. Who was that?

This isn't about me so stop trying to make it so it is. I am not the only one on this thread sharing the opinion that I am giving, I'm the only one stupid enough to continue engaging with you about it. There is nothing wrong with people saying they don't agree with the 100% perfectionist approach in the same way there's nothing wrong with your post about the issues you percieve to exist.

Again, not going to apologize for being a nitpicker. Regardless of our disagreement, I think we could all agree that whoever is in charge of reworking this mould is closer to being a nitpicker than not.

I didn't ask you to apologise or to stop nitpicking. If the person in charge of this mould was such a nitpicker then it wouldn't have any issues to begin with and would probably have never seen the light of day. It is more likely that the response from Jim is the sort of PR fluff companies give out (especially Chinese companies who don't like to say no).

Maybe HX will throw away the current moulds they own and recreate masterpieces that keep everyone happy, but I would be surprised if that was the outcome. Time will tell. Me I'd be happy if they modified the nosegear and fixed the vertical stab and left it at that on the 747-100/200.

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

Any idea when the Qantas 747s hit the market?

 

[YesterAirlines]

Any idea when the Qantas 747s hit the market?

They're just MyHobbyHouse exclusives right? I think they said in the next month or so

 

[planes_on_a_shelf]

They're just MyHobbyHouse exclusives right? I think they said in the next month or so

Oh okay I didn't know they're MHH exclusives!

 

[YesterAirlines]

Oh okay I didn't know they're MHH exclusives!

I could be wrong. You mean the 5 engine one and its 4 engine counterpart?

 

[YesterAirlines]

I was thinking that since this thread has come to serve multiple purposes and has become rather clogged with more philosophical discussion as well as release information why don't we create a completely new thread for HX mould improvement ideas as requested by Jim. That way he can more easily filter out what he wants to focus on. I certainly don't want to stop people from answering him.

I've created a new thread here: https://modelairlinerforum.com/threads/hx-models-mould-improvement-ideas.2681/

This thread can be used for more general chat still.

 

[qweyrhgf]

CHINA EASTERN A340-600 (B-6052)


Flaps down version

 

[qweyrhgf]

Lufthansa A340-600 (D-AIHF)


Lufthansa A340-600 (D-AIHK, Mainz livery)

 

[Sithan400]

They have not updated the cockpit windows... Oversized.