Bye bye Bandai/Star Wars 40% off…

[chrislunetta]

I've recently noticed that the Bandai Star Wars model selection has starting to become reduced with Gundam kits now being placed in their spot. I just went online and found not a single Bandai Star Wars model kit for sale. I've noticed their online selection dwindling over the past year or so. I have a feeling we might have seen the end of the 40% off Star Wars model kits. If you have a hobby lobby in your neighborhood, I suggest you run down there and pick up anything you might want before they're gone. I have a bad feeling about this.

 

[Edbert]

I was at my local HL a few months ago and they only had a few Star Wars kits. But just about 2 weeks ago they had restocked.

But thanks for this tip, now I have to figure out when the next 40% off sale will be.

 

[Jim62]

Well they are just models of models.

 

[Edbert]

Well they are just models of models.

I see what you did there...I have nothing more!

 

[chrislunetta]

I was at my local HL a few months ago and they only had a few Star Wars kits. But just about 2 weeks ago they had restocked.

But thanks for this tip, now I have to figure out when the next 40% off sale will be.

 

[chrislunetta]

I'm curious about other states. Their online selection has been complete removed as of earlier this morning. I've since called their support line. I was told they don't have any listed and it is believed they have been discontinued.

 

[chrislunetta]

Well they are just models of models.

Are they different?

 

[blakeh1]

Bandai have definitely not discontinued the Star Wars line, nor have they dropped the license. (at least as far as a Japanese license)

At Star Wars celebration recently they just announced a newly tooled 1/48 Mandalorian N-1 due to release this summer and some re-pops of some existing kits with updated branding or decals (like the X-Wing and Clone Trooper) and a limited re-release of the Perfect Grade Falcon. In fact that Clone Trooper kit s with the new 501st and other decals showed up at Hobby Lobby recently. Probably sold out fairly quick

Whether Hobby Lobby is stocking in the future or not might be a different issue

For other reasons I will not get dragged into discussing, store shelves here have been running out of/low on stock for anything that comes from "elsewhere" so it may also simply just be that nothing new is being ordered for the foreseeable future until things calm down

Also in doubt would be if Bandai would still have an officially licensed North American distributor (Naamco/Blue fin I believe was the one they had) that will find it worth it to import the new stuff

Only time will tell

 

[blakeh1]

Well they are just models of models.

 

[Jim62]

Are they different?

Yes as opposed to a model of things that actually existed and were used in life. My aircraft models are models of planes that were actually flown, Starwars models are models of models that were used for special effects in movies. They are still models of course, but they are models of models, that were pieced together by bashing other model kits. Of course current day Star Wars is CGI generated so let me include that as well. Just some fun modelling facts.

 

[Edbert]

It looks like the HL 40% off thing is nationwide, not store-by-store, and the sale is active now, until 5/17.

I'm heading over to mine today, will report what I see/buy

 

[Edbert]

I decided to hop over there on my lunch hour, cannot say for sure, but I think that empty spot on the shelf is where the X-wings go.



I'm only interested in the X and Y versions, maybe the B. I was 12 when the original movie came out and was a huge fan. By the time the 2nd one came out I was more interested in girls and cars so never got really into those movies. The ones from the 1990s I took my kids to see, and once Disney bought the franchise I'm completely out of the loop.

So I grabbed that Y-wing and it is the newest member of my stash.

 

[chrislunetta]

Yes as opposed to a model of things that actually existed and were used in life. My aircraft models are models of planes that were actually flown, Starwars models are models of models that were used for special effects in movies. They are still models of course, but they are models of models, that were pieced together by bashing other model kits. Of course current day Star Wars is CGI generated so let me include that as well. Just some fun modelling facts.

Ah, now I see.

 

[BarleyBop]

Ah, now I see.

So, what Jim is sayin' is, he's sayin' that they weren't really real?!

 

[chrislunetta]

Yes as opposed to a model of things that actually existed and were used in life. My aircraft models are models of planes that were actually flown, Starwars models are models of models that were used for special effects in movies. They are still models of course, but they are models of models, that were pieced together by bashing other model kits. Of course current day Star Wars is CGI generated so let me include that as well. Just some fun modelling facts.

 

[chrislunetta]

I've encountered this in the past. An individual that felt that his plastic make-believe toys were better because they were based off a real military vehicles. Plastic make-believe toys that are based off of something that was fictional somehow is inferior. Go figure. But apparently, as we can see, that thought process is alive and kicking.

 

[BarleyBop]

Go figure

Don't sweat it, part of the human condition.

Realism/abstract, ballet/hip-hop, classical/jazz, tennis/pickleball, fiction/non-fiction, 5 pin/10 pin, rugby/football, action/romance, single malt scotch/bourbon, shaken/stirred... the list is endless, as are the detractors.

To me, it's the 'build 'em' part I wanna see!

 

[chrislunetta]

It looks like the HL 40% off thing is nationwide, not store-by-store, and the sale is active now, until 5/17.

I'm heading over to mine today, will report what I see/buy

I decided to hop over there on my lunch hour, cannot say for sure, but I think that empty spot on the shelf is where the X-wings go.

View attachment 147814

I'm only interested in the X and Y versions, maybe the B. I was 12 when the original movie came out and was a huge fan. By the time the 2nd one came out I was more interested in girls and cars so never got really into those movies. The ones from the 1990s I took my kids to see, and once Disney bought the franchise I'm completely out of the loop.

So I grabbed that Y-wing and it is the newest member of my stash.

O bought a few myself.

Don't sweat it, part of the human condition.

Realism/abstract, ballet/hip-hop, classical/jazz, tennis/pickleball, fiction/non-fiction, 5 pin/10 pin, rugby/football, action/romance, single malt scotch/bourbon, shaken/stirred... the list is endless, as are the detractors.

To me, it's the 'build 'em' part I wanna see!

I really don't understand it either.

 

[blakeh1]

I've encountered this in the past. An individual that felt that his plastic make-believe toys were better because they were based off a real military vehicles. Plastic make-believe toys that are based off of something that was fictional somehow is inferior. Go figure. But apparently, as we can see, that thought process is alive and kicking.

It all depends on perspective. It actually can go both ways

There are some people that adhere to building replicas of the filming model, no interiors, and warts and all etc...

What I find odd (at least to me) is some people will actually modify Star Wars models to literally be a model of a model!

I have seen builds where they might replace the Millennium Falcon cockpit that looks like the live action interior set with one that looks like the filming model which is like and LED hanging out and some details that look nothing like the full size set

The reason is that they want to make a replica of the ILM model, not the on screen representation of what the ship might look like in real life

basically replace this


with this

 

[Jim62]

I've encountered this in the past. An individual that felt that his plastic make-believe toys were better because they were based off a real military vehicles. Plastic make-believe toys that are based off of something that was fictional somehow is inferior. Go figure. But apparently, as we can see, that thought process is alive and kicking.

Never said they weren't as good just stated a fact. I was once a big Star Wars fan until Disney got involved. I enjoy the old Monster Models which are models which are based on fiction, so your assumption is incorrect.