Revell: Everything you need to know
Revell is one of the known brands when it comes to plastic models. They are a German Company founded in 1956 due to the rising public interest in model replicas. That’s why they have a huge history and collectors would surely want to know more about these models.
Revell makes good models because their models have good details and are beginner-friendly. They also have models that are for experienced modelers which means that they target a large group when in production. Revell is also one of the companies that made their models very accessible to all by using online selling.
This article will talk about everything you need to know about Revell. This includes if they make good models, what are their target audience in the model making if they are still being made, and a little introduction of Revell as a company.
Does Revell make good models?
Revell makes good models because they target both beginners and experienced modelers. This means that they consider a lot when making their models. Furthermore, they are also good at putting some details in their plastic models which collectors really like.
Revell is a renowned name in the world of model making. Building all kinds of model vehicles from ships, aircraft, helicopters, cars, trucks, and a lot of other kits.
And building these amazing models by yourself is considered a favorite pastime in many parts of the world where technology enthusiasts enjoy to their fullest level.
Revell offers a higher quality of model kits which are portrayed by brilliant workmanship and diligent model representations covering every bit of the modular details.
Additionally, these details also mention specific important descriptions about the model’s history which the users find attractive while playing with these models.
More importantly, Revell models are so good that almost every user takes pride in working with them since Revell offers a wide variety of models as described above.
Hence, this creates a higher level of interest in users of Revell’s model kits.
Revell not only offers models for beginners but also provides variety for professionals as well.
And it also has a depth of product line which covers almost all age groups, this is also a great winning point by Revell to not leaving any gap for its counterparts.
There are simpler and uncomplicated kits for the pre-school kids who are young hobbyists trying to develop their skills.
While there are other junior kits for elder kids which are specially designed and developed considering the growing minds of the children.
So, this acts as a powerful force for training them.
It also helps in experiencing, developing motor and modeler skills by using these simple yet specialized models.
It takes a lot of creative activity in little hobbyists to strengthen their self-confidence levels and further enhance them by keeping on developing models.
These uncomplicated models are easy to assemble and can also be separated if required.
They are made in such a way that they can resist collisions and are strong enough to support young modelers’ passion. Another fun-loving moment is the matching characters which Revell takes pride in presenting in its model kits.
Are Revell models still made?
Revell models are still being made and in fact, their sales skyrocketed due to online selling. Revell was one of the companies that leveraged the power of online selling leading to more sales. With their increase in sales, you would be able to find Revell models in every possible hobby store.
The 2020 economic situation put an unbearable challenge to Revell USA where most of its employees were stuck at home and all the operations were halted due to the lockdown.
This caused the model kit maker to go bankrupt two years ago. Soon after this news broke, a Germany-based investment company bought Revell and hoping for its revival after the shocks of economic downfall worldwide.
Even the executives of Revell USA were of the opinion that their efforts and company’s progress from the 1960s till now looked bleak and needed a strong comeback.
But as time goes by, there were directives from the government to stay home and stay safe.
This really helped Revell and from that time, the online sales spiked within weeks after the government’s announcement.
There was another solid reason for this unprecedented growth, people were all at home and they wanted something which is interesting and definitely a pastime for them to stay positive and lively.
Mr. Aguilera, President of Revell North America, trying hard to increase the plastic model kits hobby in the modeler enthusiasts since 2011 when he joined Revell.
He also convinced the financial partners after the bankruptcy incident that Revell must be relaunch with full throttle and it must carry on its legacy of developing and fulfilling consumer demands.
It started operations once again with 10 people team and also some salespersons who were on commissions and this really helped Revell in achieving success.
Only in the last year i.e., in the year 2020, Revell made a handsome revenue of US$30 million while sold more than 1 million kits.
Another great achievement was that their growth was remarkable with almost 100% up in March-2021 in comparison to last year’s same period.
Since the retailers were closed almost everywhere, Revell heavily relied on online sales and went aggressively in the market through online marketing campaigns which led to the expected results as above.
Revell also fell short of its inventory due to huge demand by means of its promotional campaigns, they brought in kits from Asia and met consumer demands successfully.
Because of this, Revell models are all available in stores near you or you can even find Revell model kits online.
About Revell
Revell has a fascinating history of coming into existence.
This is also a story of great passion which came from its founder, Lewis H. Glaser and started in the American region during the mid-40s.
Lewis H. Glaser was in Venice/California where he perceived the idea of building a true-to-scale model of a car by combining various plastic material parts he had at that time.
This was the beginning of a never-ending fervor of model kits building.
And in the year 1956, there was a boom in the newly developed hobby of modelers and collectors for model kits and this revolutionized phenomenon gave a strong push to the business for further growth and progression.
Revell, now a German firm, manufactures plastic scale models for a variety of categories.
Originally, there were these American Revell and German Revell companies, working together for excelling growth.
Then the American Revell company merged with Monogram, another American-based scale plastic model manufacturer.
In the year 2006, the German Revell company got separated from its American Revell partner.
However, in the year 2007, Hobbico first bought the American Revell company and later on also purchased its earlier ally, the European aka.
German Revell company and brought both of these companies under Hobbico’s umbrella company.
Revell is quite a familiar brand name than simply a synonymous name in plastic model kits manufacturers in the industry.
It has been almost 60 years now since Revell stepped into the true-to-the-original plastic model kit making and has been ranked among the top performers in the market due to its unique expertise and high developmental mechanisms.
Currently, Revell is the market leader not only in Europe but also in major parts of the world.
And due to its strong grip in plastic model manufacturing, Revell embarked on a remote-controlled toy-making journey and it has really turned out to be a fantastic venture.
Revell has truly emerged as a leader in supplying these products in the toys market.
“Only the things I love”
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So, here are the things I love when taking care of my Diecast Models.
Cleaning the Models
The first we are going to talk about is cleaning the models.
Removing Dust
- Air Brush – For me, this is the best since it not just removes dust but you can use it in painting/clear coating.
- Air Duster – This is a good alternative to Airbrush
- Normal Brush – If you are short on budget, you can use a normal brush. However, make sure that the brush has soft bristles because there are some hard brushes than can cause scratches. That’s why I recommended a good brush that can do the job properly.
Cleaning and Shining Hacks
Well, here are some of my cleaning hacks for removing scratches, oxidation, and so much more.
- Removing Decal Adhesive – Use Goo Gone on those hard-to-remove decal adhesives. It works fast and works like charm!
- Waxing and Polishing – Here is something a lot of people don’t know. Waxing protects the clear coat and paint while polishing shines the model. Instead of buying it separately, use a 2 in 1 to save money. Get this instead.
- Beginner Wax – The wax I recommended earlier is good and provides the best results based on my experience. But a beginner might have a problem especially if they’re not good at applying wax. Solid wax reaching hard to reach surface can be hard to remove. You have two choices here. One is to use a qtips to reach those surfaces, another is to use a liquid wax I recommended.
- Cleaning Wheels, Rubber, Plastic – Do not forget that rubber and plastic surface are quite different, especially in the cleaning process. Just wiping it down won’t do the job. That’s why I use Meguiar’s Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner and Conditioner. Works like charm!
- Make the Wheels Shine! – Making our models look good won’t be complete without tiny details such as shiny wheels! Do not forget this because however small this is, the difference can be as big as night and day.
- Remove Scratches Easily – Tiny scratches are not the end for your model. Here is a simple trick I’ve been using to make my models look scratch-free even without repainting. Use T-Cut.
Painting the Models
Painting Tools
Make sure when you paint models, have these ready.
- Tape – A tape is important if you are painting a straight line. Furthermore, it will prevent your paint to scatter on other parts. I recommend Tamiya Tape since it is really made for models. Furthermore, they stick really well preventing paint splatters.
- Brush (Beginner) – Find a good set of brushes to paint your models. Of course, you can opt for an airbrush but it’s quite expensive.
- Airbrush (Intermediate/Expert) – This will yield a significantly better result than an ordinary brush because you can easily spray the paint evenly. I recommend this if you know what you’re doing.
- Stand(Optional) – Stands are good because it can be hard to manually hold the models while painting. It is optional but in my opinion, the price is well worth it for the comfort it gives.
- Drop Cloths – Drop Cloths will protect your surroundings from the paint.
- Primer – The most common beginner mistake I see is painting models without any Primer. A primer will prevent imperfections such as bubbles or paint not sticking to your models. It is a small price to pay for quality results.
- Clear Coat – A clear coat will protect the paint of your models. This will make the paint last longer. Also, it is the one responsible for making your models shine.
Paints
Of course, you can’t do painting properly without paint. So here are the ones I recommend.
- Acrylic Paint – Good for beginners because it dries quickly. However, it doesn’t produce results as good as enamel paint.
- Enamel Paint – Provides a good quality finish and longer-lasting paint. However, it takes longer to dry and requires expertise to use.
Model Maintenance
Model Storage
- Simple Wood Cabinet – While it doesn’t let you display your models, wooden cabinets are good storage for these models. For one, they are not heat conductors which means that the temperature inside will remain constant and remain cool. Furthermore, they prevent light from reaching the models which can cause oxidation.
- Clear Cabinet with Lock – If you want to display your models, then I recommend this. It closes so dust won’t easily get to your models. I also recommend you don’t put more than 1 model in each compartment since metals are good conductors of heat.
Model Photography
So you want to show off your models to others? Well, I got you covered.
Here is my beginner-friendly model photography tutorial that teaches everything from taking pictures to the editing process.
You will also see me doing hands-on photography in that tutorial.
Here is the link: How to Take Pictures of a Diecast Model or Model Kit | Helpful Illustrated and Video Guide
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