Over $200 for a Spitfire??

flayrah · Post by **flayrah** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:15 pm

Auction just ended, $206 + shipping for a boxed D-day version. And the stripes aren't even right. That's almost as much as a loose F-16 or F-18. For me to get a Spit, looks like I better save up, or give up.

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:25 pm

never mind the stripes.....it's not even the right mark of spitfire....should be a mark v. And by then mark v's were obsolete; the spitfire in question was just used for artillery spotting for naval ships.

gburch · Post by **gburch** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:26 pm

I was thinking of bidding on that -- but the bids went wild in the last few seconds. I'm thinking there's some "death of 21st C craziness" involved there ...

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:42 pm

Well, one Spitfire MIB available - Any bidders???

207.00 going once

Going twice...

SOLD to Bill Gates in the 3rd row!!!!

Grilledcheese · Post by **Grilledcheese** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:58 pm

I you think that's bad, search Ebay for F-18's and F-16's and check out some of the Buy-It-Now prices.
I won't spoil it for you here, just look for yourself. Many likely won't sell, but if they do, P.T. Barnum's ghost will be laughing up a storm.

Jeffrey

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:09 pm

The D-Day Spits NEVER made it down here.

I whent up to visit my Dad a few years back in Fredericksburg VA. They had 4 of them at Walmart.

It sure was a pain checking those things on the plane but it was well worth it

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:27 pm

It's a funny story indeed in that Roy was in a big rush with the paint master to get it sent to China, and reversed the stripes in the process.

-Ski

normandy · Post by **normandy** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:31 pm

How about $300.
http://www.badcataviation.com/spmkiinkk121.html

Fritzkrieg · Post by **Fritzkrieg** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:47 pm

I picked up a Spit for $40 bucks at the South Florida Toy Soldier Show. I didn't want a Spit, So I sold for $150 and got the Panzer IV and a Minichamps Kubel.

It was a sweet deal, I hope I see that guy again next year.

Roach · Post by **Roach** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:29 pm

I am the one that picked up that Spitfire. I almost had it for $177, but there was a last second bid of $203. Last week I bid a maximum of $259 on a MIB Spit and lost out. Earlier this week a out of box D-Day Spit went for about 160. I actually saved a little money by not winning last week.

I do not think prices are going to come down soon and maybe never. There is a chance that the 1/18 scale may completely disappear. These models are big and fragile. Many Wal-mart aircraft were purchased for children and will suffer from unintentional abuse. The supply will fall and there is no reason to believe that demand will stop. Limited supply will fuel demand at least for the short term. I believe that aircraft like the Mig, P-51 and Starfighter that are common and reasonable now will be expensive in a year.

I have most 1/18 scale models in my display collection. The F-16, F-18, PZ IV, Pearl Harbor Zero, NKK Spitfire, winter ME 109, (4) FW 190s, (3) P-47s, (7) P-51s, Pappy Corsair, P-38 Maru, S1 Tiger, S1 Panther, S1 Stuka, All the early P-40s and many others. I did not pay over $60 including tax/shipping for any of them. In addition I have picked up 20 of the newer models at Wal-mart on sale for less than $25 each the last couple of years.

I am now paying the price for those purchases that I passed on. In the past couple of months as follows:

Snake Stuka $90
Checker Tail P-47 $145
D-Day Spitfire $206
California Cutie $159
ME 109 Nightfighter $69
PZ IV (Europe Exclusive) $149

I have also picked up at least one of each of the Monkey Depot offerings. Actually that savings made up for some of the inflated prices I paid on Ebay. The early buyers of the nightfighter, 88 and Panther had to pay top dollar.

My recent purchases are not bargains, but I do not believe these prices will come down much. There is considerable speculation in the 1/18 military market on Ebay. This is being driven by supply and demand. These prices should be sustained because supply is truly limited. If supply was not limited the high prices would eventually crash like oil prices did this year. I know that there has been considerable debate on this forum regarding prices, but I am afraid that high prices are going to be the norm for most items.

I do believe that many of prices are way too high. This especially true if you already have the model and paid standard price for it. It is amazing how much more value you will attach to a model that you don't own.

normandy · Post by **normandy** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:45 pm

Roach, Welcome to the site! Always great to more collectors around here. Glad you got your Spitfire, the price was up there but what the hell....... we pay for want we want.

flayrah · Post by **flayrah** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:55 pm

Good post Roach, and congrats on your purchases. You brought up some ideas I've been thowing around in my head about availability, pricing, 'collectibility', etc. I wonder if these considerations will be more pronounced with 21st products, or 1/18 military overall.

What's the smartest purchase - two bbi P51's on clearance for $80, or one 21st P47 for the same price before the prices go sky-high? Will 'normal' models be as much in demand as exclusives? Are re-paints and customizations a benefit, or loss to the 'value'?? So many questions, so few Spitfires for sale.....

usmcchet9296 · Post by **usmcchet9296** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:09 pm

There was a BBi Tiger I wanted that went up to 175 bucks, there is a Huey that is already up to 85 and it has broken parts. Yes I do want this stuff but at these prices Im going to pass. I think alot of what we are seeing is panic. Is 21c out? yes but apparently not down for the count. We may still see more 1/18 but right now in this economy cheaper is the name of the game.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:32 pm

I paid $95 a little over a year ago for the D-Day Spit.
Turns out I could have got it for less if I would have called my buddy across town who had told me he was bidding on a D-Day Spit that went for $95 on eBay but lost it to someone else.

Still missing the DWK though.

Panther F · Post by **Panther F** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:00 pm

Those are some crazy prices!! I thought it was bad when I bought the winter Stuka 3 years ago on ebay for $80.00, and missed out on a snake Stuka that eventually went for over $125.00.

I guess those prices are bargains today.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:04 pm

I'm just really glad I got my S1 NKK Spitfire at Wal Mart for $40 back in 2004, and that I got one of the few remaining DWK Spits for $50 in 2006. I take VERY good care of those, my FW-109Ds, and P-38s now with the crazy prices and all. I can't afford broken parts as these things no longer grow on trees

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:13 pm

Yeah I bought the NKK for regular price at Walmart $40, then picked up another NKK for $25 when they had them on sale.

Never saw any other Spits.

Gonna custom the extra NKK or trade it for a DWK, if I can't buy one.

I paid $150 for a ZPA about 6 months ago. That's the most I've ever paid for any XD. It hurt, but I have one now.

I don't even want to talk about jets and helicopters I missed.

Panther F · Post by **Panther F** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:21 pm

I snipped the NKK Spit off ebay for $28.00 in 2006. I was shocked to see the prices they were asking for them later on.

Roach · Post by **Roach** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:41 pm

The NNK Spitfires and the RAF P-40 were common all over central Illinois when they came out. I only bought one of each, but could have got them on sale for $20. I really wanted the Flying Tiger P-40. I must have went to 20 different stores in six months before it finally appeared in my own home town.

I always thought that the Flying Tiger would be my prized peice, but the second release changed everything. Now the RAF P-40 and Spitfire are more sought after. There were Spitfires on the shelf here for over a year, but I never bought any additional planes.

In the fall of 2008 when Wal-mart was discounting all of the 1/18 aircraft to 20-25 dollars I picked up one or two of everything. I did not want to make the same mistake twice.

Dauntless · Post by **Dauntless** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:09 pm

Lets see how this one does, it just came up:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-18-MIB-D-Day-Spit ... 7C294%3A50

Disclamer: It's not mine or anyone I know.

Military Mahogany has the NKK for $169

gburch · Post by **gburch** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:26 pm

Dauntless wrote:Lets see how this one does, it just came up:

For my sake, I hope no one notices

tko211 · Post by **tko211** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:47 pm

Oh yeah, I think we will see spits go for 175 or more all the time now. I am not at all shocked.

flayrah · Post by **flayrah** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:46 pm

one-o-nine wrote:That's mine guys.

I don't intend to gouge any forum members here, so gburch send me a PM if bidding gets out of your price range. I have another NKK spitfire that I would cut you a deal on if you don't have one in your collection.

-109

Whats' with that? And I was the one who started this thread about them going out of my price range....

(cue worlds smallest violin playing sad tune)

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:48 pm

one-o-nine wrote:That's mine guys.

I've had some expenses come up recently that I need to take care of, so out goes my D-Day spitfire!

I don't intend to gouge any forum members here, so gburch send me a PM if bidding gets out of your price range. I have another NKK spitfire that I would cut you a deal on if you don't have one in your collection.

-109

Now is the time to stike when the iron is hot on these items.
Good to see it was one of our own getting the spoils...