New 1/18 AC Pricing

[olifant]

After all the hubbub over the $100 KT and 88MM, I thought poor Jason at AT with a Dauntless and A-1 and 21C with a (possible) F-4, Mig-21 and B-25 might be rethinking their big plane strategy. I thought a new thread was in order.

If I recall AT was talking $150 for their Phantom and something similar for their A-1. Lord only knows what 21C would charge for their pieces. Is this unreasonable? I think not; if we are ever going to get these big beauties this is the price we have to pay. The four year old BBI jets were retailing at close to $100 and that was years in the past with much less detail.

Thought?

[VMF115]

Good points!!!!!!!!!!!

At that time I don’t think people where complaining about prices, there might have been one or two when AT announced plans for their 1/18 F-4.

[pickelhaube]

The KT is not much bigger than the Tiger 1 in scale maybe about 4" longer a little wider and mabe a couple of inches taller. A few years ago they made the 1/6 Stuart. This was about 10 times bigger and sold for $150. So for $100 this should be one stand out model.With several crew figures R/C and shooting projectiles with sound and recoil. That would be worth $100 !!!

[CW4USARMY]

150.00 for an F-4 from Admiral is not unreasonable at all. Sign me up!

[VMF115]

The KT is not much bigger than the Tiger 1 in scale maybe about 4" longer a little wider and mabe a couple of inches taller. A few years ago they made the 1/6 Stuart. This was about 10 times bigger and sold for $150. So for $100 this should be one stand out model.With several crew figures R/C and shooting projectiles with sound and recoil. That would be worth $100 !!!

These are different times, diesel and regular gas are not cheap anymore, labor cost in china are increasing.

[tmanthegreat]

I agree with Olifant and don't see $100 to $150 as being entirely unreasonable for an aircraft. The BBI Jets and even the 21c Avenger are a case in point. Still, my BBI F-16 has alot more plastic than my 1:18 Tiger or M1 Abrams, and more complicated pieces and moving parts.

As Picklehaub noted, the King Tiger is not that much larger than the Tiger I, or even the M1 Abrams. Two versions of the Abrams are avaliable w/o an interior for between $30 and $50. Two versions of the Tiger (albeit with widely differing levels of detail) can also be purchased somewhere between the $30 to $60 mark.



I still think $85-$100 is a bit steep for a tank.

[FieroDude]

If I recall correctly, the planned list for Admiral F4 was $140, which was very much within reason. But as has been pointed out, $100 for a tank that is only a little bigger than the Tiger I and slightly less detailed to boot?
I don't think so, unless it is a numbered, limited production.

As Corey mentioned--if the goal is to price it high at the outset to recover costs, then reduce the price later (or maybe not), then I see a lot etailiers balking at ordering in the first place. And those that do will either end up stocking them for a long time to come or cutting the price to the breakeven point to move them out.

Time will tell the future path of XD. But I assure you, someone will fill the void that 21st is creating. I am sure FOV would love to offer a series of better detailed 1/18 vehicles and possibly AC at that XD price point. More money for them, more detail and variety for us. There could essentially be an Action and Enthusiast line for 1/18. And Admiral has shown that they can function in that price range as long as someone else doesn't try to undercut new announcements or duplicate releases. But if 21st prefers to move to the high end of the range and maybe become a niche provider, then others will happliy take their place.