Model Forum / General / Models / February 2009

I remember buying that Red Baron rod JUST to get that little
triplane...I may have to do it again...

In article <7cd4dfa8-8b65-469d-a202-e0994cfbed71
@z1g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>, cwestbrooke@gmail.com says...

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Tom Daniels
about Rommel's Rod, which I believe is the most requested reissue in
model history.  Current ebay auctions frequently list original unbuilt
kits to be sold in the $250+ range.  Not bad for a kit which originally
sold for $2.50.  He told me he wanted to reissue the kit as he said it
was his most requested reissue of all of his previous projects.  His
comments were that due to contractual issues, then Revell-Monogram
asserted co-copyright privileges on the kit molds which might have
prevented their reissue without RM approval.

Although TD held the original copyright and could assert his own claims
for reissue, he was in negotiations with RM to reissue other projects
and issue new ones and did not want to upset this relationship without
RM cooperation.  Further, despite the high interest in its reissue,
Revell-Monogram did not believe the market demand for Rommel's Rod was
high enough to profitably reissue the kit. (100,000 kits sold seems to
be the minimum target for profitability for mass distribution by Revell)
Also, glorifying the Nazi connection in such a fictional kit was feared
politically incorrect and would prevent marketing in EU countries,
further reducing its profitability.

In 2008, Moebius Models also announced on its website
(http://www.moebiusmodels.com/rommels_Rod_Model_Kit.php) that it was
reissuing Rommel's Rod, but the reissue never came about.  This past
year at the 2008 IPMS Nationals in Virginia Beach, I also spoke with the
owner of Moebius Models who told me that he obtained copyright
permission from Tom Daniels but couldn't get it from Revell, thus
preventing its reissue without serious and expensive legal battles with
RM. Moebius attempted to negotiate with RM for the rights and offered to
produce and market it solely at his costs granting RM a hefty license
fee and guarantee of minimum sales, thus eliminating any financial risk
to Revell.  However, RM refused to release copyrights and even
threatened legal action.  

If the CultTVMan website reissue is accurate, apparently Revell has
taken notice of the popularity of Rommel's Rod and potential
profitability of reissuing it without sublicense and reconsidered the
project.