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MENG announces airbrush!!
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 07:58 PM UTC
They're really diversifying



Hisham
HermannB
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Bayern, Germany
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 08:07 PM UTC
When will tools, cement and colors follow? Heard that Meng plan to be the Tamiya of China.
Sudzonic
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Scotland, United Kingdom
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 10:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

When will tools, cement and colors follow? Heard that Meng plan to be the Tamiya of China.




Nothing wrong with some healthy competition.
HILBERT
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 11:07 PM UTC
I think they have to go a long way through.. I'll stick to my Iwata.

KurtLaughlin
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Pennsylvania, United States
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 11:49 PM UTC
You have to wonder what they'll claim is distinctive about their product. It looks pretty conventional in design so it would need to do something like spray a finer line, be more robust, or be easier to operate to stand out in the market.

. . . Or they could just get one of the current rock stars in the hobby to include it in some of their article photos along with the paints and pastels. Given that they own two magazines already, I guess that will be easy enough to do.

KL
SSGToms
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Connecticut, United States
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Posted: Friday, January 01, 2016 - 11:57 PM UTC
If Meng continue with the quality and innovation they've shown in their model releases, they'll be a powerhouse if they offer everything like the big T. I've got their models, and I'll bet a buck that's a fine airbrush.
jekrott
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Connecticut, United States
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 04:53 AM UTC
I totally agree,with the companies recent releases and willingness to give customers what they are asking for and how they look for feedback.I can also see them branching into a paintline maybe paintbrushes.I'm a big fan of this company.
MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 11:56 AM UTC
Well you know what they say about the P-51 Mustang and the Spitfire? They fly as good as they look... Well if that's the case with this airbrush it sure oughta be a hit... If it can be a general workhorse brush used for both area and/or fine lines, or if they may versions for either, I may just look into it... In the meantime I'll use my renegade...
48thscale
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Limburg, Netherlands
Joined: January 31, 2009
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 03:51 PM UTC
Why do we need another AB?

As stated, this should be mega cheap and mega good at the same time in order to compete...

May be a Dutch thing, but I'll stay with my Iwata as well,

H.
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
Joined: July 23, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 05:37 PM UTC
I seriously doubt that the people at MENG actually think people are going to start ditching their Badgers and Iwata's to buy their AB.. They probably just want something Chinese made with their name on it to offer to their home market.. like Tamiya has for the Japanese market.. and there are a LOT of people who will buy anything if it has the Tamiya name on it... We need to always remember that they have their own people to think of.. and they are not a small number of people

Hisham
wowcool
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Solomon Islands
Joined: September 26, 2015
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 07:12 PM UTC

Quoted Text

They probably just want something Chinese made with their name on it to offer to their home market.. like Tamiya has for the Japanese market..



I apologize for sounding rude, but in respect to MENG and Tamiya, that made absolutely no sense, just invoking the "home market" argument made me cringe.

Every company has the right and choice to sell their own tools. What MENG is doing wouldn't be any different from what Revell and Italeri have done, sell their own airbrushes; other companies like Hasegawa and Trumpeter sell their own modeling tools as well.

Comparisons to Iwata come from a belief that MENG is marketing their airbrush as a high-end product unlike the basic beginner-level brushes offered by other companies.
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 07:34 PM UTC
Sorry for making you cringe, ,man.. I stand corrected.. they should not be thinking of their "home market"... oops, sorry for making you cringe again

I think modelers need to lighten up and not take everything so seriously

I, personally, will be getting their AB, even though I have two Iwata's.. just 'cause..

Hisham
panzer_fan
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 25, 2003
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 08:04 PM UTC
From the posted picture, it looks to me this would be used for larger areas coverage. the .3 mm nozzle is a bit too large for fine details. Also, the large cup is an indication of the same intended purpose. Nothing wrong with it though.

We shall see what price point is MENG going to market it. Yes, it looks nice, but in order for them to break into the airbrush market it will be quite tough. Take IWATA for example. Their tools are SUPERB ( I own three of their airbrushes, one of them being the highly coveted Custom Micron), and while IWATA is expensive, I am not so sure people would just ditch them for the new airbrush from MENG. The ergonomics of the airbrush is also another thing which I am wondering about.

It looks nice though, with the red handle and the combination of satin and glossy parts.

One other question I have is this: will the new airbrush connect to different compressors, such as IWATA, Badger etc.? Or maybe MENG will come with their own compressor?

In any case, I think it is a bit early to make assumptions on how good the new tool will be.
KurtLaughlin
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Pennsylvania, United States
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 11:01 PM UTC
I still don't see what their "hook" would be. The airbrush in the photo clearly isn't anything revolutionary - it's nearly indistinguishable from three or four others that are on the market now. And let's stipulate that it will be as well made as the best that is already out there. Why would I buy it, or rather why would I buy this airbrush over that airbrush that is the same size, same price, and has the same capabilities? There has to be something different about it, doesn't there, or have we devolved to the point that we will buy whatever we're told to buy?

KL
RobinNilsson
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Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 11:16 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I still don't see what their "hook" would be. The airbrush in the photo clearly isn't anything revolutionary - it's nearly indistinguishable from three or four others that are on the market now. And let's stipulate that it will be as well made as the best that is already out there. Why would I buy it, or rather why would I buy this airbrush over that airbrush that is the same size, same price, and has the same capabilities? There has to be something different about it, doesn't there, or have we devolved to the point that we will buy whatever we're told to buy?

KL



For the modeler who already owns an airbrush there would definitely have to be something extraordinary about this new airbrush to trigger a purchase. (Why would I buy this instead of my Iwata Custom Micron ...)

The first time buyer has another decision to make (let's assume that the decision "Airbrush ? Yes/No ?" has already been made) and the question is now which airbrush is going to be my very first airbrush (mine was a Kager, not completely wasted money but I should have gone directly for the Badger 150 that I bought a year later ...).
Badger ? H&S Evolution ? Iwata (expensive ....)?
Is it just as good as the Badger 150 but more easily available (or even cheaper) on the local (Chinese ??) market.

Maybe the question should be turned around: Why should I select any other airbrush as my first airbrush when there is a locally produced one available in my local hobbyshop ?
User guide in Chinese, availability of spare parts, ...
Made in China could be a valid point in China ....

/ Robin
For
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
Joined: July 23, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, January 02, 2016 - 11:32 PM UTC


Hisham
PRH001
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New Mexico, United States
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 12:15 AM UTC
One thing I've found is that airbrushes are highly personal. Some people buy one and think of it as a lifetime investment while others will buy multiples and try to find the ones that fit their style or use habits. I'd bet that if they bring a quality brush that presents good value to market, they will make money, if not, they won't.

Wave, Gunze's Procon Boy, Tamiya all make money as house brands and BB Rich, Richpen, Iwata, Sparmax, Badger, Harder & Steenbeck, Paasche and Aztek all make money based on differences in form, fit and function. I believe there's always room for good products at a reasonable price.

P H
brekinapez
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 01:06 AM UTC
[quote]
Quoted Text



I apologize for sounding rude, but in respect to MENG and Tamiya, that made absolutely no sense, just invoking the "home market" argument made me cringe.



You don't sound rude, but definitely ignorant of how businesses work. Lots of companies have a domestic product line and a foreign product line. Take a look at auto manufacturers, for example. Ford makes cars for specific markets (Cortina for the UK is one) and even BMW makes cars they don't ship overseas.

So sorry the concept of a home market makes you cringe, but they exist.
AlfredCZ
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Praha, Czech Republic
Joined: January 03, 2016
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 05:40 AM UTC
Ou ! This airbrush looks really good ! I acknowledge it isn't an another Fengda clone.... little inspiration (on trigger) and back of airbrush (needle lock) i saw from Harder-Steenbeck Infinity/Badger.... on picture looks as luxury piece. When was new Meng Airbrush good priced and good quality - why not ? In cell phones sector have today many young Chinese companies good name in price/quality. And Meng is my favorite model producer from China Perhaps was this new "brush" good piece of tool. (Jet was self-centered or screw ?)
wowcool
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Solomon Islands
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 06:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ou ! This airbrush looks really good ! I acknowledge it isn't an another Fengda clone.... little inspiration (on trigger) and back of airbrush (needle lock) i saw from Harder-Steenbeck Infinity/Badger.... on picture looks as luxury piece. When was new Meng Airbrush good priced and good quality - why not ? In cell phones sector have today many young Chinese companies good name in price/quality. And Meng is my favorite model producer from China Perhaps was this new "brush" good piece of tool. (Jet was self-centered or screw ?)



There's quite the possibility that MENG would be selling a third-party product or co-operating with an airbrush company, remember that Tamiya's set of hobby knives were made for them by OLFA and even has their brand-name engraved on the blades. It's been said that MENG outsources plastic kit manufacturing to third-party factories as they don't have their own, so don't expect that they've built an airbrush factory from the ground up.

And no, nobody ever rejected the existence of a home market but invoking it for these tools because citizens from country X will buy any product with your name on it is questionable. Your customers have alternatives and foreign products can be bought cheaper than domestic ones. MENG will release an airbrush simply because it can.
Dimitar
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 08, 2011
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 04:21 PM UTC
I ran through all the comments and i can't understand why you assume that this is something produced by Meng and not just a rebrand of something else. I seriously doubt that they will invest big money for a production line for airbrushes as there are plenty of cheap Chinese products already waitning to be painted as a H&S airbrush.
And I'm seriously concerned about this hobby if some "rock star" modeler is going to bend his back just to say that this is better than an Iwata/Badger/H&S product. Or he will still use his high end Japanese tool and just point this one for the camera making tools of all the newcomers to the hobby... I do hope that this is a good product, but it looks more like a promotional itme rather than a serious attempt at starting something new.
P.S.: When some of Meng's officials will start to pose in black turtle-neck and white snickers...???
Hisham
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Al Qahirah, Egypt / لعربية
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 04:33 PM UTC
I tried not to say anything about this, but I just can't... I just can't believe some of the comments I'm, reading here simply because a company decided to release an AB with their name on it.. Tamiya has been doing this for years without anyone worrying too much about it.. and they don't manufacture those AB's.. they source them out.. I guess that's really sinister, right?

I decided to let this thread be the last one I ever make about any new item.. things just get way to weird.. or maybe I'm the one who's weird for not taking these things more seriously

Hisham
Dimitar
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
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Posted: Sunday, January 03, 2016 - 05:23 PM UTC
Not only meng and Tamiya - some of the Jimenez offsprings also did this not so long ago. And no one raised an eyebrow. But now all that fuss about something as simple as that, marketed as something revolutionary - and people biting that bait... Hence, the Apple reference.
And take Trumpeter - they are releasing tools every month, but no one is making noise about this.
But at the end of the day this is what we asked for not so long ago - more kits, precisely reseached, with lots and lots of details. And the answer is here - that hobby is no longer for the novice, for the kids, for adults to have fun, to express their love of history, battle machines, memories from their past life in the army... Nope, it's about being noticed, being better, louder, bigger.
And this tread is actually about this - brands, marketing and sales. It's not sinister that they outsource, it's sinister that they think that the hot water is invented right now. And for trying modelers to believe that all they need is yet another airbrush to get better (or powder, or panel liner, or eye liner...)
Soon we'll have "Meng fan boys" and "Trumpeter fan boys" and the forums will start to look just like Apple vs. Android.

The sad truth is that this hobby is less and less about building kits - it's about selling them. As something revolutionary. While it's still plastic... And the fun of bulding it is almost gone.
Vicious
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Queensland, Australia
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Posted: Monday, January 04, 2016 - 02:15 AM UTC
i really dont understand....a good relatively new company decide to put someting new in stock...and then?

This diatribe souds like something i know really good,the life in a old small village,the baker live looong time in the village...generation....one day dicede to sell also sun glass,it's ok is choice!!...but also the new toys shop decide the same thing one day,but that man is new in town...nice bloke but new!!!....ooh my god!!...wath a insane idea!!...sun glasses,why??...sure is bad quality!...is a toy shop can't sell sun glasses!!

Sorry but for me all this is hilariuos,in Italian we say "tutto il mondo é paese" "all the world is a small town"

We need a new company produce AB?....maybe yes or maybe no but this is not our problem is MENG problem,our "problem" can be Price and quality!

My 2 cents!...
hugohuertas
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Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joined: January 26, 2007
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Posted: Monday, January 04, 2016 - 07:04 AM UTC
Why cannot we give our own opinions?
Should everyone been excited about every single new release?

One thing I feel here is that some people seem to be over excited about anything to be released with the "Meng" brand on it, while until now they had just demonstrated to be able to produce some good and some excelent plastic kits, no more no less...

I don't know if another AB is needed or not, nor have any idea about the quality and price range of this one, so I'll wait until it is actually available and reviewed.

This is just my own, honest opinion, not intended to offend anyone's sensitivity...
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