Noob Q - Why did BBI, 21C, etc., stop selling 1/18 planes?

composite · Post by **composite** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:31 pm

1/18 scale F-18s, F-16s, and A-10s regularly sell for $300+ on eBay. That price is far greater than $60-100 original MSRP. Why did those companies stop selling 1/18 planes?

cardenas · Post by **cardenas** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:23 pm

21st Century went out of bidness, as for the others they still sell thru hobby shops. You might find some at Toys r Us.

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:15 am

Recession+bad economy

trex0770 · Post by **trex0770** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:17 am

No legit 1/18 scale A-10 out there (not talking about RC's either)

nfafan · Post by **nfafan** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:25 am

I too was in a coma when 21C gave up. I just figured that it was the same old same old supply issues we always had at Wallyworld with 21C when they slowly thinned out.

I wonder now if the "lead paint scare" had anything to do with whacking 21C at the knees?

And here I had been hoping for the day we would see a 1/18th JU88 or a 1/32nd B17...

Ta-152 · Post by **Ta-152** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:21 am

nfafan wrote:I too was in a coma when 21C gave up. I just figured that it was the same old same old supply issues we always had at Wallyworld with 21C when they slowly thinned out.

I wonder now if the "lead paint scare" had anything to do with whacking 21C at the knees?

And here I had been hoping for the day we would see a 1/18th JU88 or a 1/32nd B17...

No, putting all their eggs in the Walmart basket is what did most of the damage.

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 8:09 am

trex0770 wrote:No legit 1/18 scale A-10 out there (not talking about RC's either)

Hopefully that will change one day......

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 11:02 pm

Because they like to make us angry. Angry toy collectors are very dangerous however.

coreystinson · Post by **coreystinson** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 9:10 pm

nfafan wrote: I wonder now if the "lead paint scare" had anything to do with whacking 21C at the knees?

I heard it right from the "horse's mouth" (so to speak) that this was not a helpful situation, causing significant and unhelpful costs due to increased testing requirements.

CENT-ONE · Post by **CENT-ONE** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:49 am

Someone mentioned recently, in another thread, that part of the 21st contract with Walmart required that 21st make up the difference to full retail price of any items Walmart put on clearance. If true then I'm shocked that 21st even lasted 6 months. I saw tons of stuff clearance to 75% off right out of the shipping box, the WM toy department managers just didn't want to give up the shelf space. I've read plenty of horror stories about WM dictating insane requirements for vendors to sell but this is just stupid.