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  #1  
Old 03-16-2013, 01:32 AM
chrism chrism is offline
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Default More MPC Rockets on the way

Listed on Hobbylinc's site are 6 new MPC rockets. They are:
Vintage Rocket #1
Vintage Rocket #2
Vintage Rocket #3

Looney Tunes Series:
Porky's Cadet Cruiser
Marvin Martian's X-2 Invader
Duck Dodger's Star Traveler R

Sorry, but there were no photos on the site.

They are due to be available in June.
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  #2  
Old 03-16-2013, 09:51 AM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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Well, I suppose there is a chance that the "Vintage Rockets" are resurrected old kits, but I really doubt it.

This new MPC seems to be in the business of cheap marketing-driven licensed items. Take a generic rocket, slap on some stickers, give it a printed parachute . . . voila!
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  #3  
Old 03-18-2013, 11:06 AM
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My guess is the same. Probably cheap plastic parts and a slap-on sticker set. Yuck. Now if they made a "Marvin the Martian" Flying SAUCER, I'd be all over it.
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  #4  
Old 03-18-2013, 01:51 PM
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If I did this correctly, attached are images of the Looney Tunes rockets
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  #5  
Old 03-18-2013, 02:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghrocketman
My guess is the same. Probably cheap plastic parts and a slap-on sticker set. Yuck. Now if they made a "Marvin the Martian" Flying SAUCER, I'd be all over it.
While these type rockets are unappealing to me, they may still have merit.

I don't care much for easy-to-assemble and ready-to-fly birds, but they have their place in the hobby. They've been part of it since the early days. How much that percentage of the pie chart has grown or shrunk over the years I cannot tell, but this kinda stuff has been around for a long, long time.

Given that, why not launch a new kit line (with an old name) that leverages the recognition factor? Instead of offering three different kits that all use the same fin can and nosecone but have a different colored shiny wrap, these new MPC kits have added Loony Tunes images. So that will help enhance demand amongst the target age group.

So, from a marketing perspective, it appears the re-incarnated MPC is focused primarily on the E2X/RTF segment of the market. That makes sense from a business perspective. (But does little for me, which is fine.) That said, my guess is that we'll see them on the shelf at WalMart pretty soon.

Doug

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  #6  
Old 03-18-2013, 02:49 PM
chrism chrism is offline
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The Looney Tunes series may attract a new generation of rocketeers to the hobby, and that is a good thing. Trouble is how many of today's kids know what the Looney Tunes are?
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  #7  
Old 03-18-2013, 02:53 PM
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They need to put Bugs Bunny on one and those "Just Add Water" Martians on another.
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Old 03-18-2013, 03:16 PM
stefanj stefanj is offline
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Well, at least the new designs have some more complex lines. Transition sections and the like.

RE Looney Tunes . . . it might be dads who are attracted to the cartoon characters, and buy these kits for their kids.

If I could get my hands on a mixed dozen of these kits wholesale, I'd use them as door prizes at the OROC outreach launches.
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  #9  
Old 03-18-2013, 03:17 PM
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These sorts of products rely on misdirection to sell otherwise commodity products. The licensed characters have zero to do with model rockets or breakfast cereals, or Lunchables, but this sort of thing is used to sell any "high margin" product. Good luck!

Soon to be collectibles! Hoard wholesale cases unopened!
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  #10  
Old 03-18-2013, 04:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by turbofireball
If I did this correctly, attached are images of the Looney Tunes rockets


Bob Kaplow will go broke buying up a bunch of those X-2 Invaders
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