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RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

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Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#31

Post by the_af »

mbrd wrote: post #5
JKCalhoun wrote: post #4

When I grew up I would spend hours looking through all the plastic model kits at the local hobby store. I just loved building plastic models. I never mastered painting them. The most advanced I got was rattle-can style spray paints — maybe masking a bit for a camouflage or what-have-you. Only when I got older and got back into plastic model building did I make the leap to air-brushing and really finishing models corr…

It's definitely not the hobby of choice for young boys any more, but it feels like it is having a golden age of kit quality aiming at an older audience with disposal income. Manufacturers like Tamiya, and also Eduard or Meng (those are my favs anyway) are producing extremely high quality kits. There is always consternation amongst modelers about where the next generation will come from, but the Gundam/Gunpla scene is…

The wargaming hobby (yes, Warhammer but not limited to it, there are very brands nowadays) is going stronger than ever. Plastic, resin ans 3D printed kits galore, which require painting, converting, etc.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#32

Post by billforsternz »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #19
billforsternz wrote: post #18

I find it strangely pleasing how a bunch of boutique(ish) companies from the UK, France, USA, Japan (others maybe?) all make plastic model kits of a variety of classic aeroplanes, WW2 planes in particular, in a series of scales. When I was a kid I was quite interested and I could have reeled off the manufacturer names easily (um... Airfix, Revell, Heller, Frog, Tamiya, I want to say Haya-something-or-other, others).…

> Haya-something-or-other Hasegawa?

Thank you, yes.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#34

Post by firefax »

It makes me feel bad when I see an obituary like this. I had no idea he existed, but reading I can't question he had an impact on the world. Other corners of the internet people would shit on the hobby just because they don't share it -- me, personally, being on the autistic spectrum came with a side of fine motor issues, so I could never do the painting and prodding that the more complex kits required... it's an art form, a craft that takes skill.

It's a shame it's not as popular -- it worries me a bit that we're so... online. I was more into Legos, but I wandered into the kids section for the first time in ages the other day at the local big box retailer and it feels like the kits are simpler now, and they're often branded to tie in with movies rather than being a generic thing like space, or pirates, or... space pirates.

Anyway RIP dude -- true hacker, had a passion and pursued it.

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#37

Post by Rediscover »

Joel_Mckay wrote: post #17
JKCalhoun wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true — there are certainly a lot of variety now, especially with 3D printing and garage kits. The "long tail" has definitely been kind to the esoteric modeler. Adult-me recently took to designing a kit for a NASA "Space Tug" that never existed (only proposed "artist's renderings" from the 1970;s) [1]. It is so esoteric that no one made a kit for it — I had to learn to use Blender, ha ha. I just wish more kids…

It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If…

Jack Parsons' Lab?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#38

Post by Joel_Mckay »

Rediscover wrote: post #37
Joel_Mckay wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is funny, as the metal 3D printer I've been working on is designed to handle printing/repairing large girder structures. Making things work in vacuum is an interesting design challenge, but also opens a lot of design possibilities for arbitrary structures that can't launch on cargo rockets. People are often too judgmental these days, and youth must make their own decisions about the world they want to live in. If…

Jack Parsons' Lab? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Parsons

Entertaining times =3

Re: RIP Shunsaku Tamiya, the man who made plastic model kits a global obsession

#40

Post by hollowturtle »

Super nostalgic, I remember building mini 4wd with my dad. It was such a magical experience, I wish young people could experience it too. I remember breaking down the ac motor just out curiosity, thinking it was cool and magical but at the same time build an intuition for how it works
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