Anything new at all....?

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:51 am

I don't know just feel that there isn't much to talk about let alone get excited about in respect of new 1/18 planes. Certainly the economic gloom makes everyone think twice about raising capital for risky projects and relying just on a plethora of repaints to keep the liquidty engine of commerce oiled and ticking over. I wait with baited breadth for an F-4...well used to anyway and I'm not even bothering to speculate anymore. However I'm hopeful about AT and their A-1 Skyraider. Maybe the lull in anything new is the calm before the storm which will take place in a year or two once the dust clouds settle?

I think its good that everyone has a varied interest in tanks, figures etc....but it just doesn't fire me up as much as when I see a 1/18th scale prototype of a grey primered plane, resting unsteadily on its undercarriage. The cellotape holding back the control services as I marvel God! Even the slats work on it!

Maybe I'm asking too much, perhaps the quiet is a way to speak volumes that the clever elves are busily carving out the planes, tanks so that rival elves don't jump on the same band kubelwagon. I remember a few years back I posted the ramblings of a retailer here in the UK speaking of a 1/18th F-15 because he'd been to China...what was that all about? Why even make such a claim...why am I even wasting the few remaining brain cells to think about it even?

For me this post is about the fact there isn't much to talk about anymore I've been away for awhile and returning I see nothing new or am I being unfair to the folk who have fed my 1/18th habit/fix in the past, after all they have families to feed and a profit line to watch and not see snag.

......oh well there's always the 1/72 diecast jets....alot of good stuff there, I suppose that's where my Great British Pounds will ge going towards now

JoeS....

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 4:54 am

The is a new custom Me 163 coming out. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:51 pm

1/32 seems to be chugging along nicely these days...(Ducking!)

normandy · Post by **normandy** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 3:13 am

Area 21 is getting a lot of mileage out of the "latest news" 3/27/08... new Rudel Ju-87b-2 Stuka.

Post by **aferguson** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:42 am

hopes are for this year the KT and 88, Dauntlass, Skyraider, probably a new plane or two from 21c ( i suspect to spitfire or fw-190A or p-51b) and my trick knee tells me we'll see a wildcat from BBI. FOV could have a bunch of goodies in store...time will tell.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:05 am

AFERGUSON:

I was thinking about what a new BBI 1/18 plane would be--most likely a high profile, established plane from WW II, since a 1/18 modern jet might be a "big box" merchandising problem:

1. BF-109---probably not, many from 21st still available
2. FW-190---maybe, but many 1/32 from 21st available
3. ME-262---probably not, many from 21st and Admiral still available

1. P-38---probably not, 21st P-38 still available
2. P-40---probably not, many from 21st still available
3. P-47---maybe, but TKO211 said 21st may have an all-new 1/18 P-47 bubbletop soon
4. P-51---maybe, but many Mustang bubbletops available
5. F4F---BBI already has a 1/32 version upcoming
6. F6F---probably not, 2 current BBI F6Fs have folding wing problems
7. F4U---BBI and 21st versions still available
8. TBF---21st version still available
9. SBD---Admiral version soon? BBI 1/32 version upcoming
10. SB2C---maybe, but not a high profile plane and has folding wings
11. F8F---maybe, but not a high profile plane

1. HURRICANE---maybe, but overshadowed by the Spitfire
2. SPITFIRE---most likely, very famous plane, 21st version was/is popular
3. MOSQUITO---maybe, but Spitfire is more famous

1. F-14---very famous (TOP GUN/Tom Cruise), but maybe big-box problem. Could be popular like the BBI F-16. Most likely a 1/32 candidate. Lots of repaint potential.
2. F-15---overshadowed by F-14 and big-box problem, too. Most likely a 1/32 candidate
3. A-10---maybe, but not as glamorous as fighter jets. A 1/32 candidate.
4. AV-8---maybe, not as glamorous as fighter jets, but was famous years ago (TRUE LIES).

Conclusion---I think the best candidate for a new 1/18 plane (BBI or 21st) is the Spitfire and P-47.

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 9:39 am

There is a rumor going around about Gabby Gabreski's P-47.

That would be a must buy.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:14 am

Dragon, do you own a 1/18 BBI Hellcat? I only ask because I have one with ZERO problems with wing folding. I think this is more a perception problem than an engineering problem.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:37 pm

OLIFANT,

I almost bought the F6F"Catmouth", but bought the F4U "Daisy June"instead because of the F6F's folding wing problems. But I still want an F6F and might buy one. Since you own an F6F, I want to ask you some specific questions about its folding wings/landing gear later on a specific thread.

Thanks

tko211 · Post by **tko211** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:21 pm

[quote="dragon53"]
3. P-47---maybe, but TKO211 said 21st may have an all-new 1/18 P-47 bubbletop soon...

-Just to clarify this point of interest. This point has been taken out of it's original context. 21C indeed may have a Gabby Scheme P-47 planned for the future (as it's an obvious MUST HAVE) but at this time nothing is planned or set. It MAY come out someday and IF it does I personally believe that it would be the same Bubble top mold that currently is built. Again- Nothing is for sure set. A Gabby scheme makes total sense and would be VERY welcome however! I think there is room for another P-47 repaint or two?

I just wanted to be clear so as not to ruffle any feathers. Or dash any hopes... I do know for certain that 21C does have more planes / repaints planned but it's way too early and I don't have a green light to talk about them yet. Hang in there as there will certainly be more news on AREA-21 as that time gets closer.

DropTank · Post by **DropTank** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:49 pm

normandy wrote:Area 21 is getting a lot of mileage out of the "latest news" 3/27/08... new Rudel Ju-87b-2 Stuka.

Normandy....proof positive being a 21st fan is like the old maytag repairman in the commercial.

They probably intend to get it updated, but the fast developing news on the "Pappy" Corsair and the "Bush" Avenger and the "Mig Mad Mavis" F-86 and the $89.00 Phantom and the Mig 21 and the B-25 Mitchell Bomber along with promotion and marketing of their 1/32 training model line, has them running just a tad bit behind with any news. Of course that is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:04 pm

DropTank wrote:
normandy wrote:Area 21 is getting a lot of mileage out of the "latest news" 3/27/08... new Rudel Ju-87b-2 Stuka.
Normandy....proof positive being a 21st fan is like the old maytag repairman in the commercial.
They probably intend to get it updated, but the fast developing news on the "Pappy" Corsair and the "Bush" Avenger and the "Mig Mad Mavis" F-86 and the $89.00 Phantom and the Mig 21 and the B-25 Mitchell Bomber along with promotion and marketing of their 1/32 training model line, has them running just a tad bit behind with any news. Of course that is just my opinion, I could be wrong.

LOL!!!

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:07 pm

1/32 training models???

Did I miss something along the way? Please do tell.

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:11 pm

normandy wrote:Area 21 is getting a lot of mileage out of the "latest news" 3/27/08... new Rudel Ju-87b-2 Stuka.

I think the last 1/18 update on the bbi website is from October of 2006...

DropTank · Post by **DropTank** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:58 am

olifant wrote:1/32 training models???

Did I miss something along the way? Please do tell.

olifant, nothing more than expressing my opinion of 1/18 -vs- 1/32.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 6:56 am

TKO211:

Thanks for clarifying that. It definitely dashes my hopes as a P-47 Gabreski bubbletop would be on my "must buy" list along with the Steve Ritchie F-4D.

However, I hope you pass on to Roy, that as can be seen on this message board, there are a lot of people besides me who have both of these planes on their must-buy list---if they are released.

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:03 am

You guys don't get it. What's holding them back is the artwork on the boxes of those items, so they don't have to re-release them later, like they did with the BBD "Special Edition".

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:35 pm

King O' Fools wrote:You guys don't get it. What's holding them back is the artwork on the boxes of those items, so they don't have to re-release them later, like they did with the BBD "Special Edition".

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:25 pm

VMF115 wrote:
King O' Fools wrote:You guys don't get it. What's holding them back is the artwork on the boxes of those items, so they don't have to re-release them later, like they did with the BBD "Special Edition".

OK, I get it. The delay is actually caused by the constant quality improvements we've all come to expect from 21st.

Just kidding!

Seriously now, I'm sure they've been working real hard on the artwork for that "Special Edition" re-release of AVG P-40. That's why we haven't seen the other goodies yet.

In other news, Generalissimo Franco's still dead.

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:31 pm

...watches quietly as tumbleweed rolls by and crickets chirp in the area where many happy collectors once gathered...

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:29 am

Yawn....still feeling very inspired despite the positive comment so far. Well I need yet to get that Me 262 from 21st. Hoping I can stumble over one here in the UK....XD isn't that big here, but sells well at airshows. However I think there is something to be said about the 1/32 range. The F-104 looks good from BBi despite the fact that I've been steadfast on the 18th scale...this looks tempting.

Now if they brought out a B-17 in 1/32 then I'm in trouble- would just love the Memphis Belle. Then of course I'll need some escort P-51 Little Friends...then a few FW-190's.....man okay I'll get a few Jugs...Maybe it's good the Fortress isn't there....yet.

.Next month I'll be at Duxford's first airshow- I never tire of seeing the B-17 Sally B / M Belle. Also we have the Vulcan bomber, seen that anvil in the flesh but never flying so it should be an amazing sight to behold.

I've been imagining an 1/18 F-4 by mentally expanding the proportions of a BBi F-4 which I have.....it'll be a big one 4 sure.....Don't know I love the nose profile and the splitter intakes on the jet.

Sorry...sudden urge to sleep again.....my XD alarm clock is set for 2010 7:15am......See you in a few years...

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 3:30 am

Yawn....still feeling very inspired despite the positive comment so far. Well I need yet to get that Me 262 from 21st. Hoping I can stumble over one here in the UK....XD isn't that big here, but sells well at airshows. However I think there is something to be said about the 1/32 range. The F-104 looks good from BBi despite the fact that I've been steadfast on the 18th scale...this looks tempting.

Now if they brought out a B-17 in 1/32 then I'm in trouble- would just love the Memphis Belle. Then of course I'll need some escort P-51 Little Friends...then a few FW-190's.....man okay I'll get a few Jugs...Maybe it's good the Fortress isn't there....yet.

.Next month I'll be at Duxford's first airshow- I never tire of seeing the B-17 Sally B / M Belle. Also we have the Vulcan bomber, seen that anvil in the flesh but never flying so it should be an amazing sight to behold.

I've been imagining an 1/18 F-4 by mentally expanding the proportions of a BBi F-4 which I have.....it'll be a big one 4 sure.....Don't know I love the nose profile and the splitter intakes on the jet.

Sorry...sudden urge to sleep again.....my XD alarm clock is set for 2010 7:15am......See you in a few years...