Whats happened to MENG Models?

[plstcjunky]

So recently I bought my 1st tank, the King Tiger kit in 1/35 from MENG models. Really nice model, as I'm sure all of you "armor" guys already know! The reason that I bought the tank kit, was because of reading about the MENG upgrade "Interior" kit for it.

But the interior kit is not "in stock" anywhere!  I emailed MENG, so far no response.  Has anybody heard any rumors?...are they still in business?  Thnx

[Tojo72]

It's been a few years,but they were responsive to emails twice,once they replaced a sprue and once I purchased a part I broke,couldn't say what's going on.

[reserve]

Don't know Meng's status but there are a couple Henschel turret interior sets for sale on E-Bay

[plstcjunky]

Ok, thnx. I did look on Ebay, but didn't see any, I will check again

[kyledehart5]

I know they’ve just now released a new version of their Audi R8 GT3 car so one must think they’re still in business one way or another.

[Tobi]

My guess would be, like with many plastic kit nowadays and the myriads of kits out there: manufacturers make a certain lot of boxes, sell them off and if you didn't get any then you have to wait and hope for a re-release. Typical for Italeri, Dragon, Revell, AFV-Club etc.

[lyle]

Gosh, as stated any number of possibities. There are also issues with suppliers, such as Bare Metal Foil.

[406 Silverado]

Feb 16, 2024 7:40:02 GMT -5 lyle said:

Gosh, as stated any number of possibities. There are also issues with suppliers, such as Bare Metal Foil.

  

[lyle]

Feb 16, 2024 7:44:53 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Feb 16, 2024 7:40:02 GMT -5 lyle said:

Gosh, as stated any number of possibities. There are also issues with suppliers, such as Bare Metal Foil.

  

The last several packs I’ve bought have had adhesion issues. I don’t think I’m alone on this. They also ignore emails.

[tcoat]

Feb 16, 2024 1:13:25 GMT -5 Tobi said:

My guess would be, like with many plastic kit nowadays and the myriads of kits out there: manufacturers make a certain lot of boxes, sell them off and if you didn't get any then you have to wait and hope for a re-release. Typical for Italeri, Dragon, Revell, AFV-Club etc.

Or in order to maximize profit  they make so many and then sell/lease/lend the molds to another company that makes so many and then they return/sell/ lease/ lend the molds back and the original/another company makes more and then they... well...

[TOWGunner]

Meng is alive and well and making models. Injection molding machines are huge, expensive machinery. A model company might only have 10 of them in their headquarters. But a company like Meng has 50 kits in their catalog. Thus they have 50 molds, but can only produce 10 types of kits at a time. So they cycle the molds through the machines in production runs. These 10 get produced this month, then these 10 the next month, and so on. That's why it's always a good idea to buy a kit as soon as it comes out - it won't be around forever and there's no telling when it's turn in the next production run will come. But all modern kits will be re-popped - you just have to wait for the next production run. It's not OOP.

[tcoat]

Feb 16, 2024 9:23:43 GMT -5 TOWGunner said:

Meng is alive and well and making models. Injection molding machines are huge, expensive machinery. A model company might only have 10 of them in their headquarters. But a company like Meng has 50 kits in their catalog. Thus they have 50 molds, but can only produce 10 types of kits at a time. So they cycle the molds through the machines in production runs. These 10 get produced this month, then these 10 the next month, and so on. That's why it's always a good idea to buy a kit as soon as it comes out - it won't be around forever and there's no telling when it's turn in the next production run will come. But all modern kits will be re-popped - you just have to wait for the next production run. It's not OOP.

THIS ^ 
With the caveat that based on sales numbers the time between repops can range from a couple of years to never. Or, as I said before, somebody else uses the molds.  

[406 Silverado]

Feb 16, 2024 7:52:05 GMT -5 lyle said:

Feb 16, 2024 7:44:53 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

  

The last several packs I’ve bought have had adhesion issues. I don’t think I’m alone on this. They also ignore emails.

 I'll get back to you on this Lyle.

[plstcjunky]

Thnx for the replies guys, they all make sense. I was not aware of how model production lines worked. I bought a Meng Porsche turret kit off of Ebay, (thnx "reserve", didn't see any Henschels). I have the Henschel turret version, I'm hoping that they are quite similar (the photos for each looked almost identical). I figured that having some similar parts are better than none.

[stikpusher]

It also was a holiday weekend in China, Lunar New Year, so they may have some time off in the emails from customer service folks.

[plstcjunky]

Feb 16, 2024 15:54:35 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

It also was a holiday weekend in China, Lunar New Year, so they may have some time off in the emails from customer service folks.

Excellent point!  I didn't think of that, it's now the Year of the Dragon!

[plstcjunky]

Meng update, they replied to my email. They will start making the interior kit again, they just don't know when. So that's good news.