SPA Modeler

We used to do model kits review years ago. Since then we stopped; my guess some to do with Revell thinking we were taking advantage of getting free kits and not posting reviews online.

Is there a chance we could restart it or is it no kit company wants to get involved?

I see youtube videos and they somehow get them for Podcaster review folks. Am I missing something or assuming wrong they're getting kits free or at a discount?

Most of that was through Hobbico. I’m not 100% sure what happened with Revell in the end. But they all went under and the freebies stopped. It was tough to get reviewers to build and post. I don’t recall that being a hard and fast criteria, though.

Our little band of merry-makers is likely too small and not well known enough to get review kits. I also am not that those types of giveaways even exist now. It was also very expensive to me personally to forward the kits that I recieved to those that requested them. The folks at Hobbico , Natalie in particular, started offering to drop ship the kits.

Having said all this, members can always do reviews. Our WIPs usually incorporate reviews of some sort.

Gotcha… now I recall it was Hobbico. It’s just too bad though and I do get it it gets expensive to send kits to reviewers, etc…

If you are paid up with your IPMS or AMPS memberships, it's free to join their review teams. Either is around $30 a year for the membership which pays for itself with one kit you receive. I joined the teams shortly after the reviews here ended and have done hundreds. IPMS has much more selection as it isn't restricted just to armor or military vehicles like AMPS...but they basically send out emails of new products to review...you reply back and if accepted, they send the kit to you for free and you have a limited time to build and write the review.

Not long after joining the AMPS Review Crew in 2018, I was asked to be the review coordinator and now run their program. Sadly things have dried up with the current state of tariffs. Takom used to be our biggest contributor but I haven't received new kits from them in quite some time. We mostly just get books from Casemate and Osprey now...and occasionally a kit from MRC or Tamiya.

BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 26, 2025 9:09 pm Gotcha… now I recall it was Hobbico. It’s just too bad though and I do get it it gets expensive to send kits to reviewers, etc…

It was a neat perk at the time.