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As it seems both the 1/48 and 1/32 are growing in popularity, it would be nice to some new, outside the box thinking, when it comes to new kits and not just as short run ones!
I disagree to an extent. The increase in 1/32nd scale is similar to the emergence of 1/48th scale - which started to increase in the late 1970s, then lapsed for awhile, before growing rapidly, and continuing to grow. The same has happened with 1/32nd scale, with more, and larger models emerging, and I don't believe it has anything to do with a 'premium' scale, or number of parts - a 'real' modeller will look at the shape and accuracy of the kit overall, with a view to making what is required if necessary, and if the kit has got lots of parts, that may, or may not, be a bonus. The proportions of sales would be interesting to see, with these spread among 'expert' modellers, casual modellers and total novices
It's a case of preference and available storage or display space, and many of the larger scale models are actually aimed at 'non modellers', the thinking behind the marketing being that a large model of a large aircraft, with enough basic detail to satisfy the average viewer, will attract another market niche, and sales to enthusiast modellers will cap that.
And as for Hasegawa not releasing anything new, with their vast range, they can re-release a 40 year old kit, with a new decal sheet, and demand an increase in price of up to 300%, and make a veru nice profit - without the huge investment in research, tooling, manufacture and marketing.
And I don't believe anyone said that large aircraft types are too big for 1/32nd scale - there are many who would lobe a 1/32nd scale B-17 or Lancaster, and I'm one of them - but the reality is a bit different, wanting, and being able to display it are two different things !
Yes, these kits will sell, of course they will, but there'll be few who can afford the space required to have even a medium-sized collection of, say, WW2 aircraft types all in this scale. Heck, even my 1/48th scale B-17 takes up three quarters of one display cabinet shelf!
I don't know if this counts as out-of-the-box, but Tamiya has a 1/48 Lanc that can be built carrying either a Grand Slam or a Dambuster. (I'm jonesing for this kit, personally)