Without 1/18, will you go to 1/32 or 1/48?

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:01 pm

Given the news we are hearing about 21C, if 21C leaves 1/18, what will you plane guys do?

The small guys, Admiral and much smaller manufacturers (and much more expensive) custom 1/18 guys sure won't pick up the 1/18 21C relatively "cheap" slack.

Now, be nice, and don't just say silly stuff like "It's 1/18 till I die" or "It's 1/18 or nothing". That is just not realistic. 21C might go away but other small guys might pop up but they will be in the $300up, and up price range. Will you guys stand for that or go to another class?

I kind of like the 1/48 planes because at a buck and a half they have some nice multi engine stuff. But what do I know, I'm a groundpounder, so I'm looking for opinions.

TTT

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:18 pm

It's 1/18 or nothing. I already have enough projects to keep me busy for over 2 years. I'm finding new r/c planes that are 1/18 or very close all the time and i do expect that some of the slack will be picked up by bbi, admiral, maybe Pegasus and maybe somebody new. If 21c disappears....and that's still an if.

We've already been working on ideas to bring the cost of the custom planes down....and i fully expect progress will be made in that area. Given that, they will always be quite expensive but if there are no mass market planes to buy anymore i can just redirect my funds to custom planes. Buy 2 or 3 of those instead of 8 or 9 mass market ones.

For armour, aside from maybe switching to 1/16, which i am still very undecided on, i can scratch build all sorts of stuff, thanks to paper models. I have experience in this area, so i'm not just blowing smoke. Also, the customizers are hard at work on armour projects too.

I also collect other things 1/18, like cars, motorcycles, star wars, animals etc so it's 1/18 til i die.

I have almost 8 years and thousands and thousands of dollars invested in this scale; i'm not about to quit it. It will pick up again one day, i'm quite sure.

vulgarvulture · Post by **vulgarvulture** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:22 pm

I've collected a little 1:48 diecast in the past year or so, but honestly, I don't see myself moving to another scale, or collecting much more 1:48 diecast for that matter. I think 1:18 planes (I did not collect armor) are fantastic, but I won't be shelling out big bucks if that's what the future holds. Too hard to justify the purchase.

Overall, I'm just bummed about the downturn in 1:18. On the flip side, I feel very fortunate to have benefited from the beginning up to the peak of the affordable 1:18 planes market. I have a great collection that I will enjoy for the years to come.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:24 pm

1/18 or nothing maybe 1/16 for tanks and armor.

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:25 pm

For armor, I go to 1/16th.

For aircraft, I'm going down to 1/48. I'd love to go to 1/32, but I don't see anyone making any 1/32 bombers any time soon.

Have you seen the FM four-engine bombers? The B-17s, the B-24s, the HE-111s are all to die for. All they need to do is make a Lancaster, and I could die a happy man.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:27 pm

1:18 or NOTHING!!! Realistic military aircraft and vehicles in 1:18 are striking for their size, exactly what attracted me to the scale. Nothing else will ever do. With it slowing down, I'm more than happy to invest in my patches and medals once again, my old standby since I was 10.

-Ski

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:46 pm

I cannot imagine a world without 1:18 and as it will never happen, I will continue to collect 1:18 !

phil

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:46 pm

I do have some 1/32 and 1/48 scale but would glady give em all up for 1/18 scale. If 1/18 goes by the wayside . I just might chage over hobbies. Maybe go back to 1/6 scale. There are a lot of 1/6 Tiger tanks around and I don't have one yet .

YET

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:02 pm

I love 1:18, I have a lot of it in aircraft and armor. I will continue to buy whatever gets out there, but I do like the 1:32 scale, and have almost as much.
I think if the 1:18 market fades away, I'll still keep what I have, but continue to buy 1:32. I see this scale continuing on for quite a while. If I can't buy what I want, there are at least some models I can start building, and I've even seen some twin engine bombers I would like to try my hand at, and obscure single engine planes like a Buffalo or an Oscar. Obviously none of the pre-made model companies are going to start making these anyways.

Believe me, if model companies started making 1:18 aircraft, I'd be all over that in a heartbeat.

1:48 scale is all over the place, but I think it's just too small.

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:14 pm

I love my 1/18 stuff, but if the scale comes to an end (which I still consider doubtful--less stuff maybe, and more expensive, but it will still be around), I have already begun a pretty substantial 1/72 collection. Not as impressive, but a lot more space friendly, easier on the wallet, and a lot more variety.

flayrah · Post by **flayrah** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:13 pm

I'm trying not to think about it...

But as I look around at the selections of trucks, accessories, even buildings in 1/32 and 1/48, it makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to find, construct, or make-do with what's available in 1/18 and be satisfied.

Buckyroo · Post by **Buckyroo** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:50 pm

It will be only 1/18 AC for me. I will continue to buy what new items I can, pursue good deals on the secondary market, and work to getting some custom stuff. I have a good start with my collection and still have some ones that I missed that I want to get.

I sure wish they would have put out the second Pappy Corsair with more detail.

Any way it's 1/18 or nothing for me.

:p51:

mikeg · Post by **mikeg** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:31 pm

First and foremost 1/18th AC and armor, whenever possible- same with 1/32nd, though only 21st, Admiral, and BBI. 21st 1/48 AC OK, but the 21st armor came too late to the game, and 1/72nd options can go on forever with different brands and schemes. I refuse to spend 60 to 150.00 for a diecast AC in 1/32nd. My collection of chinese plastic won't finance my retirement, but I got lots of 'em and I'll leave the retirement to roths and IRAs. OH, and I fell for the 144th 21st stuff too, early on, so thats a problem, too.

Stug45 · Post by **Stug45** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:03 pm

I'm staying with 1/18. I just wish FOV was having new stuff this year

Plus BBI needs to start making german figures & vehicles.

tosborne3 · Post by **tosborne3** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:15 pm

Give me 1:18 or give me DEATH I will go on collecting as much 1:18 as possible. As long as we have a way to purchase it, and I have breath in my body and with as much possibilities of customizing, 1:18 will still be around for awhile. Or, the world truly is coming to an end.

Tambo · Post by **Tambo** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:19 pm

I'll stick mostly with 1/18 even if I only find a few items each year. If anything I'll get more 1/6th stuff. Most all of my collection is 1/6 and 1/18 and I have a few other scales but not enough to switch scales...I'm to old to play the game.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:26 pm

I started with 1/32 and still collect in that scale. That being said I now greatly prefer 1/18 and would like to stick with it. Since it is the "set" scale for action figures there will always be something going on in the scale, albeit not in the quality and genre 21C has pioneered.

I think 1/32 may not be a safe refuge if 21C tanks. BBI may crank out a few AC a year but lets face it, 21C made the pre-built scale what it is. If they truly go under I think 1/48 and 1/72 are the only safe refuges.

I will say this, if you want to go 1/32 you better do it now. I think if 21C tanks these will go way up in value. I already cringe at dropping $45-50 bucks for a BBI AC in this smaller scale!

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:31 pm

I am channeling my energies into real airplanes--I start on my sport license week after next.

iflabs · Post by **iflabs** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:51 pm

I've made the jump to a scale 4 times smaller. LOTS of options and variety in that scale.

Muwahahha, my worthless donald duck p-51 is gonna skyrocket in price in a few years once 1/18 dies out.

grunt1 · Post by **grunt1** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:51 pm

:twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted:

1:18

:twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted:

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:03 pm

"Plus BBI needs to start making german figures & vehicles."

Maybe they will. Was a time they refused to do german planes and now we have the dandy 109. So maybe 1/18 german armour is a possibility from them.....especially if 21c does go under and they see an open market niche.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:26 pm

Guys, I gota be honest. I get real tired of hearing this "1/18 or nothing" crap. I use to be that way. I mean I still have shelves full of 1/18th scale aircraft. But I am not going to let scale be a limiting factor in the models I buy. Of all the model I have, and that is a lot of them, my favorite is my 32nd scale BBI F-4 Phantom. In my opinion, it is the model that captures the looks of the real plane better than other models I have. I love 18th scale aircraft, and I hope to get a bunch more. I just think you limit yourself to all the wonderful models out there in other scales.

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:36 pm

The short answer, no...

But the longer answer... If I were to go another way with scales, I'd go 1:6, but honestly I'm content to call it quits if there's no more 1:18 stuff to buy. That's one less thing to spend money on... I bought it mostly because it fit with the scale of my first love, Star Wars figures... If it doesn't, then an easy pass.

1:6 stuff is incredible, but incredibly expensive. That'd be a slow-going hobby, basically. A figure here and there, etc. Vehicles would not be possible... I doubt I'd even go that route. I'd probably put more into Star Wars customs and army building actually.

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:15 pm

I'm going to stick with 1:18 and ride it out. It could be slow, it could get good again in the future, but I'm not interested in starting another scale. Besides, my wallet is thanking me for the lack of 1:18 to buy right now anyways. I'll just put that money into some of my other hobbies.