Promotional models

[airdave]

I've had the Weinermobile in my koolWheelz to-do list for almost three years.
I will eventually get it done and add it to the collection.

But its not a model I could think of retailing because of its corporate image
and copyright restrictions.
So, like most of my KoolWheelz models, thats what puts them in line behind
the money making models.

But lets say, I was to go ahead and create a model...something a little bigger
than my koolwheelz kits...put weeks or maybe months into designing it.
And then I send it off to Oscar Mayer for their consideration and approval.

And they respond with "no...not interested...and to protect our clients, investors
and franchisees, we do not give you any permissions to distribute this model".

Well, now I am stuck with a model that I can't even display and I wasted a ton of
time working on it.
(This has already happened to me by the way, although I was lucky enough not
to have wasted too much time designing the final model...only a simpler prototype.")

This is why I wouldn't go ahead with a model design just for the purpose
of interesting a company for promotional purposes.

[codex34]

Xbox? Ok, search for 'world of warcraft paper models', 'pokemon paper models', lineage, zelda, mass effect.......
Thing is though I only know 2 people that can do game models from games (without asking others for scripts).
Also why would a game company even bother making their own when someone will do it for them, eventually. Except for warhammer stuff, they do their own so will not give you permission for even a free model.

Overall, I don't think it's been possible until relatively recently to design papermodels at a low enough cost to even consider them as good advertizing expendature.
Before the the age of computers it took alot of time and effort for someone to design something of good advertizing quality, costs money for the time spent.
There really hasn't been the software there to do the models until recently, well at low enough cost anyway, I'm not just talking about 2D or 3D software, but the presentation software as well, it's no good making a model if you go distributing it as jpg.
Personally I don't think we are there yet on the documentation software, good instructions are hard to come by because they take as much time to make as designing the model. Text just won't do, and photo's make the downloads too big (they are too cluttered as well).
Instructions make all the difference.

[SJPONeill]

I think that there is a big difference in the requirements for a model for modelers, regardless of the media used, and a model for promotional purposes, especially if the expectation is that the user/client/customer will have to assemble the model to some degree. For the latter, simple is the key and I have found that there is far more take-up for the simple squared-off hako style of design for promotional models than there is for more accurate and usually complex representations of the real thing...

Unfortunately making a paper model that needs much more than cutting out and folding of square angles is just not that attractive to joe public, as working with paper requires some more skills than hacking together a simple plastic or wood model or a hako design. Thus when I have given away copies of Gary Pilsworth's RNZAF designs (Strikemaster and Devon), those with a modelling bent have been able to have a honest and credible stab at them; those who just wanted something quick and dirty to keep young Johnny happy for a while have opted for the square C-130, NH-90 etc and these are the giveaways that tend to move more as they can be assembled with a minimum of pain/stress and require no modelling knowse at all...

I find that the designs like Gary's and others are great for promoting the hobby with a secondary effect of promoting the organisation but for sheer promotion value it is hard to get past the over-simplified (from a modeller's POV) but painless (from a parent's point of view) hako styles...

[Hi-Torque]

Hello,

In addition to the Cherrios and other breakfast cereal models, Micromodels did the Bluebird, Shell did a whole series, Nabisco, Flash Gordon, there was an entire series on Movie Star Dress up dolls. I would not presume to argue, but I think that the opposite of what Codex34 (ALL HAIL MST!!!!) theorizes is true. The time for this type of advertising is long past due to changes in society and culture.

I wish this were not the case.

Kind Regards,

Cris

[airdave]

But Cris...take a look at the dates of those models you are suggesting.

Cereal Box paper models...maybe 1970s at the very latest?
Micromodels...40s, 50s
Shell...50s, 60s
Flash Gordon?...1930s?
People had less expectations and were more easily impressed.

Movie Star Dress up Dolls...thats more of a punch out book idea.
They still exist today, but not really in any sort of advertising promotional type.

As modellers...and fans of nostalgia...and us old fogeys who actually remember this stuff...we would love to see these things again.
But as nostalgic collectables.

As far as real promotional items, this would be (to a lot of people) a very childish and cheap type of promotion.
Just not impressing people (and kids) the way it did pre-computers and internet.

I still think there is a fun market for viral internet downloads
and a paper model could work as a fun attention getter for a website.
I am not dismissing this idea completely.
I used to give away a logo decorated "paper cruzer" on my airbrushing website.
Lack of downloads made me stop.

Then theres the costs involved in a paper model promotional.
At a recent car Show, we gave away Hot Wheels cars to kids upon entry.
Hot Wheels supplies us with a ton of cars at virtually no cost.
We just put up banners and posters and put their name on the ads.
A Paper Model giveaway would have probably cost more...
-in design time
-in paper and printing costs
-in pick up and delivery costs
-and the cost of a Nurse with bandaids for any paper injuries.

Not to mention the immediate fun of a Hot Wheels in your hand
versus Dad saying "we will build it when we get home".

Nowadays, when you're spending over 50 grand for that new pickup truck
a paper model for the kiddies just isn't a big enough incentive to deal!
I want a "chrome package and leather interior!"

[Jim Nunn]

Originally Posted by airdave

you want a game...for Xbox?...that involves building paper models?
using the kinect controller?

virtual gluing

My reply was rather cryptic. Xbox and all the other game machines have taken over the free time that our kids have. Given an engrossing shooter game or a promotional paper model few kids will build the model.

Jim Nunn

[Vermin_King]

There are a few exceptions to that, but even the kids that I have gotten into the hobby spend considerably more time gaming ...

[airdave]

lol I spend more time gaming these days (on World of Tanks) than building (my Tank)!

[codex34]

Cris, it's not so much the cutting out and gluing of a real buildable model, it's the wanting it because it's really nice and free to download, your going to look at it for a bit and then probably never see it again.
It's like UHU02's C3PO, hands up if you downloaded it.... (hand up). hands up if you actually built it.... (hand down).
How many downloads?

That's what advertizing is, wanting it.
So long as there is a web link or some actual advertizing on the cover page that is seen once, the job of the advert is complete, who cares if it gets built!!! (best to make it actually buildable though)

Would you like
a) 2nd edition physical chemistry by walter moore
b) a shiny stick

Sad but true, most people want the shiny stick.

[airdave]