Model kits are still around, I am not saying they are gone, just they are FAR from their heights of popularity. I remember in the 80s walking into supermarkets like Safeway that featured at least an endcap of model kits you could assemble at home. No toys like Transformers or Go-Bots but they had model kits. Toys were relegated to the gumball machines in the entryway and obviously were simple one piece plastic/rubber things. Model kits were much more complex and if you had the skill to assemble them, often an impressive display piece when finished. I was definitely buying things above my young understanding of “assembly required”. What if 3D printing is the answer to bringing back model kits to the masses?
Varied Models Almost to a Fault
Think about almost anything and there is probably a model kit for it (affiliate link (if not, then go adjacent and investigate building block sets, they probably have it). From World War I and World War II (affiliate link) planes and boats to fantasy vehicles such as science fiction with Star Wars (affiliate link), Star Trek (affiliate link) and various television shows of the 70s and 80s that were based around a real-world (affiliate link) vehicle. Model kits were the place to be if you were a serious collector or fan of a vehicle or property.
These things took skill to put together, unlike toys that mostly required just opening the packaging. These were puzzles for the discerning adult so to speak.
I think one thing that has halted the adoption of model kits is the price point. It costs money to produce the models themselves, the retail packaging, etc.
Cutting Costs to the Bone
3D printers could eliminate most of the problem model kit manufacturers face. Imagine getting rid of packaging altogether, no need to print instructions either. Shipping and logistics? Out the window with other novelties such as the butter churner.
Now, creating the base model, the research, creation of the instructions, etc are all costs that would still be there. Same for licensing the rights to anything someone else owns.
Those are not insignificant costs but without the rest it would certainly make creating model kits more affordable. Plus, if buyers mess a piece up, they could easily print another.
Control is a Concern
We all know companies love having control over their products. Whether it is Nintendo or John Deere, they want consumers to abide by the company rules on how to use the product.
The same is true for model kits. Companies would not allow this to happen unless there was some form of control in place. Once the consumer has the necessary files, they can make as many as they want without paying anything to the company beyond the initial price.
Also, file sharing would be a concern. Why buy the files if you can simply visit a website and download them for free? This is something most companies have been battling since increased amounts of content has gone digital.
This would likely be controlled through licensed 3D print locations such as Staples stores. This would also allow the companies to control the quality of the final prints rather than relying on consumers to have the minimum quality hardware.
If commercial 3D printing were to be implemented, I believe this would be how they would do it. Or offer a print on demand style option and mail the product in nondescript packaging to the consumer.
Fans Doing It Anyhow
Fans are already making custom model kits for 3D printing. One YouTube user created both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and they transform.
Another created an AT-ST Walker model kit card.
Quality for 3D printed models is a concern. Look at the Bumblebee and Optimus Prime sets, they are clearly not “commercial quality” but for a fan just wanting something on their shelf, maybe in the background of a YouTube video, they would work.
Would you 3D print toys like this if you had access to the files? Let me know in the comments below.