Here's why China is winning - unboxing the HobbyBoss Merkava

In this video, I'll be taking a look at the HobbyBoss (part of the Zhongshan Yatai Electric Appliances Co., Ltd.) Merkava IIID, tooled in 2013. After my last video on Revell's 50+ year-old Corsair, this kit perfectly demonstrates why ZY have made such an impact on modelling in the last two decades.

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Video Chapters

0:00 Introduction
1:56 unboxing Part 1
9:05 Announcements
10:06 Unboxing Part 2
13:06 Conclusions
28:40 Like, Subscribe & Share

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[MannsModelMoments]

What do you think of the impact of Chinese-based manufacturers on the hobby? What have your experiences been, positive or negative, and what do you think it means for the future of our modelling? As always, let me know in the comments, and I hope you can join me for the premiere on Wednesday 12th April at 9pm UK time....

[VulcanDriver]

I've made many HobbyBoss kits and I'm always impressed with the quality and detailing. I welcome the Chinese entry into plastic modelling.

[bugler]

For me, as a primarily aircraft modeller, it’s the Eastern European companies producing such a wide variety of kits that have made a greater impact on me.
Great video by the way👍🏼
Ian

[Larry-Lobster]

I primarily make 1/72 scale tanks and AFVs and Chinese brands are honestly top-tier. There’s been so many Chinese model kit companies popping up producing extremely high quality kits in the past couple of years, in addition to the more established ones. I particularly love Vespid, S-model, Border/Takom, Meng, and Foreart. Modelcollect was a great source for 1/72 but they stopped making historical kits a couple years ago…

I think one reason for this is that China is one of the few countries where scale modeling is a growing hobby rather than declining. Unlike in the US, most modelers are on the older side while a lot more younger people are into the hobby in China.

[KitchenTableModeller]

I do believe that the expansion of Chinese based model kit manufacturers has widened the hobby to a broader audience and in many cases made kits more affordable from the bigger brands, with detail and quality of components to match the majority of the old top tier model brands we all know and love. However as Airfix has show with their recent 24th scale spitfire there is still plenty of scope for manufacturing to be done outwith china, this also supported by the likes of ICM and IBG models giving modellers a huge subject choice at really competitive prices. All in all it’s a great time for modellers of any ilk to be involved in the hobby 👍👍

[BearGrisham]

Great review and really informative. I will be adding this kit to my to do list 👍 subscribed 👌

[Andy.Gledhill.Models.]

It looks like a pretty good kit. I do love a good Merkava kit. I built the Meng Merkava Mk4m kit last year. I also have the Takom Merkava Mk1 Hybrid kit in my stash. I recommend Vallejo Model Air 71.023 Tan Green Hemp as the main colour. However, I do get a bit put off by the individual track links in a lot of these modern tank kits. The ones for my Meng kit were a nightmare. They built OK, but would then start to come apart, when I tried to fit them over the wheels. I had to Superglue each track in 2 places. But it came together well in the end. The Meng kit had a 2 piece barrel too. One other thing to note, is that not all Hobbyboss kits are as good. I recently finished their 1/48 Super Hornet kit. That kit needed a lot of filler around the back end. I also had problems with the kit decals. They were so thin, that some of them just broke up on me. I had to try to replace them with my own scanned copies. Not ideal. So, some Chinese kits are not as good as others.

[stephenashley]

Looks Like Revell and Tamiya have a Lot of catching Up to do !!!! Amazing Detail 😁😁😁

[hattrick]

I just ordered a HobbyBoss 1/350 USS Alaska. My god the thing is impressive. I’m new to the hobby, my first was an Airfix VC 1/600 Graf Spee, second 1/350 Tamiya Fletcher. By far the HB is the best kit. By far the AFVC Spee the worst. I will say, great first model, and it is a VC series so the tooling was 1971 so all things considered I’d highly recommend it as a first build. Learned a lot with it.

[miragerd]

Ok. I know which brand to choose for tanks! Thank you for the extensive review

[NOSHER]

The more the merrier in my humble opinion, especially with the value for money and accuracy thus far....

[lesthiele]

Sir, that was a excellent review of one of the worlds most iconic non standard MBT's, this tank as we all know does not follow the standard look of other MBT's, so I may have to get this kit, best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia 👍👍👍👍

[bobz]

What a fabulous kit and well reviewed 👍

[j-frame]

Zhongshan Yatai Electric Appliances Co., Ltd owns Trumpeter, Hobbyboss, Merit International, I love Kits, Monochrome, Gallery Model(Maybe) and Glow2B(Maybe)

[MrSkippingpig]

This should sound like a ringing alarm bell to the complacent, traditional manufacturers. If cheap Chinese made stuff is blowing your offering out of the water then it's time to up your game before you're left for dead.

[Jaykilyourbrain]

This might be a weird question, but what exactly does Opaque do?

[TristanMorrow]

Compare and contrast to the Merkava that's been done by Tamiya, 35 years ago and also in 1/35 Scale of course...

[richardjordan]

Personally I think it is good and is what capitalism is based on.When you make a better mouse trap people will buy it and I hate to say it, but China has learn this lesson starting with Dragon kits.Japan learn this a long time ago but the rest of the producers are just starting to catch up with what they are doing.I do have to say this though, parents have giving up on raising kids and taking time with them, which has hurt the hobby.T.V. and video games have taken the place of most of the hobbies that people have done in the past in the west.These hobbies taught a lot of skill to kids as long with imagination.We need more western producers to step up there game in making this hobby as well as others interesting to all people.China is do some great things in the hobby and glad to see it.Things/details we have to scratch build are now mostly in these kits.The level of detail just amazes me but also I must ask this question, does this detail take away from modeling or enhances it.If you keep the politics out of it, yes China has made a great impact on modeling which will only make others to produce even better kits to compete with China and

[DocFripouille]

My right ear agrees with you but my left ear isn't happy at all.

[DavidLee-df]

In just over a decade several Chinese companies have popped up and destroyed my wallet. Kinetic, Kitty Hawk(RIP), Takom, Meng and more have all produced subjects of interest to me, especially Kinetic and the 1st gen Harriers.