Small Scale Military Headquarters

After seeing the "How Did You Get Into This Hobby" thread, it donned on my as to just how long 1:18 scale military planes and vehicles have been a part of our lives and that many of these models have been around for a while.

10 years ago this time of year (January 2004) that 21c was just getting itself established at Wal Mart and the "golden age" of 1:18 military was just beginning. I still get excited thinking about it - and still feel the frustration with the spotty distribution.

But again, some of these items have been around for quite some time. Here is a timeline covering anniversaries we missed over the past couple of years up to what was going on in 2004:

2000 (14 years ago) -- Fall of 2000 brought us the original wave of XD products, including Lou IV P-51D, White 12 Bf-109E, Sherman, Panther, Kubelwagen, Jeep, and the US and German figures.

2001 (13 years ago) -- release of the original Vietnam Line, including the UH-1D, M-48 tank, M151 Mutts, and the figures. I want to say this happened in the Spring/Summer timeframe.

2002 (12 years ago) -- Tiger I tank, M-41 tank, US M3 halftrack, German SDK251 Halftrack, F4U Corsair, Stuka, P-38, US & German Paratrooper figures, bombed out buildings, and repaints of various WWII items. These started to appear in the spring/summer timeframe. I think the first 32x items also started to appear late in 2002.

2003 (11 years ago) -- First, 21c almost died the first time around. The released the WC-151 command car (Patton version), the M3 Bradley, and then the first 32x planes, but then were gone from TRU. Later in the year, 21c was resurrected with the Wal Mart deal. Then things really took off... Fall of 2003, brought the P-47D razorbacks, winter ME-109Es at Wal Mart, and I think even the venerable 1:6 scale M-5 Stuarts.

Taking 21c's place at TRU in late 2003 came BBI. Their initial lineup was pretty impressive with the M1 Abrams, LAV-25, Hummers, Desert Patrol Vehicle, AH-6 Littlebird, AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk, SEAL raft, and all the Army and Navy figures. The F-18 came out late 2003/early 2004 as the first "big ticket" item. (I remember I specifically did not get one at that time because it cost $90)

2003 also saw the initial launch of the FOV 1:32 tanks and figures.

2004 (10 years ago) -- This was a really good year and the beginning of the "Golden Age" of 1:18 military. We started to see the RAF and AVG P-40s, AH-1Ws, Air America Hueys early in the year, winter/spring timeframe. Later came the Spitfires in the spring of 2004 followed by the FW-190D9s in the summer. In the fall we had the P-47 Bubbletops, and the 21c Bf-109G6 that December. Never mind the Panzer IV and various armor repaints, plus the Battle of the Bulge figures. I think the 32x Cold Steel line also came out during this year, though it could have been late 2003. late in 2004, we got the M113 and the Sherman repaint

BBI entered the WWII market with the release of their P-51 in late 2004. The F-16 also came out late 2004.

Oh and yeah, and Britt (P-51) created this forum, SSHQ, in October 2004 as the successor to the original Ground Pounders XD forum (GPXD), which closed down. Its been active ever since. So that's where we were at a decade ago and earlier

If someone wants to continue on with what came after 2004, please do so. I'm getting a bit tired

Great timeline, tman - thank you for doing that! Yes, I was just recently thinking about how it's been over thirteen years since the first XD appeared at TRU. Hard to believe.

i've discovered the 1/18 planes in 2001 ! and bought the majority of my collection between 2003/2006 ! now it's too calm but i ma still on this forum every day !

I think the last 1:18 airplane release from 21C was the "Atlantic Avenger". Right after that, I started hearing all the hype on the upcoming B-25. Then nothing. Was that about 2007?

yes it was around 2007 ! the A1 skyraider, the PHANTOM F 4 , the mig 21 and the B25 were supossed to arrive soon ! luckily the tomcat filled more or less the gap just after !!!!

And then the F15 & Su27 went missing too !

I was completly crazy at the time !

philippe

With all the new stuff planned from 21C at their closing, there has to be assets, (molds, jigs, Etc.) that 21C was using to develop their expanding product line. Yes, these assets where sold off, but who owns them? It floors me no one has come forward with releases for the collectors which would pay higher prices then the toy market.

c119box wrote:With all the new stuff planned from 21C at their closing, there has to be assets, (molds, jigs, Etc.) that 21C was using to develop their expanding product line. Yes, these assets where sold off, but who owns them? It floors me no one has come forward with releases for the collectors which would pay higher prices then the toy market.

I have a 21st prototype !!!

It is a short barreld Panther.

Most of the 21st protos were sold to collectors on e-bay AT PREMIUM PRICES .

c119box wrote:With all the new stuff planned from 21C at their closing, there has to be assets, (molds, jigs, Etc.) that 21C was using to develop their expanding product line. Yes, these assets where sold off, but who owns them? It floors me no one has come forward with releases for the collectors which would pay higher prices then the toy market.

I have a 21st prototype !!!

It is a short barreld Panther.

Most of the 21st protos were sold to collectors on e-bay AT PREMIUM PRICES .

I was able to get a 21st Century prototype:
1/18 M2 Bradley Commander figure:


I would love to have someone make a copy of it, so it can be made available to the rest of the SSHQ board.
Razor

I hope other potential providers of military models and toys monitor this forum and understand how desolate this hobby is. Just the fact that this forum has been around longer the some of the model builders should speak volumes about the demand and loyalty. I commend members of this forum such as Pickelhaube and Pizzguy, who are trying to fill the void.