2010/2011

[aferguson]

Well?

How was it and how's it going to be, toy-wise?

In some ways 2010 was a good year, toy wise. Tons of star wars stuff, for those who are into that and i bought a pile of Power Team i'd not had the chance to get before. Even found some new True Heroes stuff i liked (knight accessories, AAV). So, for me it wasn't that bad a year. At least not as bad as i thought it would be.

And 2011 should be better, as the world economy improves (thanks again for the recession, bank execs, may you all rot in h***).

So i have some optimism for the coming year. Hopefully new power team stuff, chap mei should be makng a new wave of things, maybe AllGo will get going, and there are strong rumours of a 1/18 Komet from somebody.

What say you?

[Tinman]

I was happy to see the pre-built Pegasus Bell X-1 this year. And I didn't decide to go for the JSI F-14 until February, so that counts for me in 2010 also. Plus the PTE rocket attack helicopter, or whatever they call it, and the PTE Chinese tank.

Be interesting to see how next year pans out.

[normandy]

In 2011, I'd love to see All Go's King Tiger and this mystery 1:18th Komet.........that would be very cool.

[Threetoughtrucks]

My 2010 in 1/18 would have been dull if it were not for Pickel and his custom "toys". I picked up some 1/18 "old" Sherman tanks for trade/sale/customs.

My 2010 in 1/16 added a King Tiger and Jagpanther and an odd little metal M3A1 Stuart in need of "correction".

My 2010 in 1/6 added a couple of Stuarts, a Pack 75, a rocket Jeep, a bunch of figs including a great Arnie as a T2 T-800 and a pre-ordered DML Panzer II. Pickel is customizing a Sdkfz 250 into a 250/9 for me.

My 2010 in 18" consisted of just one item, a Endoskeleton Model T-800.

For 2011 in 1/18, I'm not expecting anything except for custom pieces. But you never know.

For 2111 in 1/16 I do expect some interesting tanks.

For 2011 in 1/6 I'm expecting some great things from DML and DID.

2010 has been a good year for me and I see nothing to change for 2011.

TTT

[Jesse James]

Star Wars was grand... Some of the best stuff ever on the best packaging the line has seen in, well, a long time. One of my favorite items was the Defense of Hoth set, but there was a lot to like.

My first 1:16 tank bought this year, and loved it, and will be buying more... I'd like a Jagd something or other next, or a StugIII, or a SturmTiger, or, or, or... *sigh* What I'd really like is the Sherman to hit a better price because I love Shermans.

2011's Star Wars line-up started off meh, but then they wow'd with images of 4 new figures and 2 pre-production sculpts, and all 6 look amazing. One I've waited for a decent version of since I started collecting Star Wars seriously when I was 15 and a modern line didn't even exist. It's taken Hasbro a while, but they told me last year at NY Toy Fair that they were getting to my most wanted guy next year and they are, so hooray for that.

1:18 will be dead again probably, though I keep hearing about a line of German WW2 figures being available at some point so we'll see. I would love to buy more WW2 figures, but vehicles I'm only into the armor or nada. At this point I'd really like to just see action figures cranked out by these small companies who can't really take financial risks on huge products that aren't as versatile.

[coreystinson]

From the retailer perspective I can say that 2010 has been a great year for clearing out a glut of excess product in all levels of the supply chain. The consumer has had an opportunity to get some good prices, many of which were close or equivalent to the best (internet) prices of a few years ago.

At this point I'd say a decent amount of older product that was clogging warehouses and store shelves both in China and the U.S. has been sold through. This "deleveraging" has actually been going on for more than a year in retail but if my experience is any indication the process is probably mostly complete, or at least completed to the point where those carrying inventories aren't terrified anymore.

So, we move into 2011 with sort of a fresh slate and an eye toward manufacturing more new product again. However, what I expect you will see is smaller production runs and higher prices. Whenever this happens, it always re-casts the marketplace feasibility of certain categories of products and 1:18 (especially non-figures) is probably right at the top of that list to be tested.

[coreystinson]

BTW, if I were All-Go what I'd do is resurrect the 1:32 scale line. So many great tools there. Test the waters there with some more limited production runs and some new schemes. Try to keep something from most or all of their designs out at retail exposure. If that goes well, use some of the proceeds to step back into 1:18.

[DropTank]

BTW, if I were All-Go what I'd do is resurrect the 1:32 scale line. So many great tools there. Test the waters there with some more limited production runs and some new schemes.

I agree on 1:32 marketing. Great potetial. On the 1:18 side, with All-Go lost, Admiral history and BBI AWOL, I expect zero products to emerge in 2011. The only possible product would be from JSI, and those chances right now are spotty.

[margras77]

2011 is really going to be make or break for 1/18. PTE stuff is good, but its not the real deal. 2011 is really All-Go's year to shine, if they are still around. If they, JSI, or BBI don't put out something, then I doubt we will see much more.

Please JSI...just put out the damn Huey....

[tmanthegreat]

2010 was really the year for 1:72 moreso than anything else For the very small scale military fans, this year was, and continues to be, a fantastic one.

[Dauntless]

The only thing that impressed me this year that much was Hasbro's Star Wars. They really outdid themselves. Along with the Clone Wars they had a good collector based as well as better detailed offerings. The AT-AT was the icing on the cake.

I'm hoping that AllGo goes in 2011. It would be nice to see something come out of the pipe. Though most anything 1:18 would be really cool, I would be equally moved with some rumored 1:32 airplane offerings to just let us know they are alive and viable.

[snake]

2010 was pretty much a non starter for 1/18. The only thing that actually came out was the JSI F-14, and we all know how that turned out. Pegasus was a pleasant surprise with their cool X-1. Collectors are still wary of any news from JSI. Unfortunately AllGo didn't get off the ground with their "Passion Wagon". Hopefully they will regroup, and I think 1/32 would be a good scale for them to start with.

However 2010 was a great year for the smaller scales, with Hobby Master really leading the way' Lots of repaints of existing molds, and some really great new releases. Skyraider, F-111, F-105, and F-102. And an A-26 soon to be released. They are also expanding their 1/48 line substantially.

Not much new from Corgi, but they did release a new 1/32 Spiftfire, and Me109, with another Mosquito coming.

Pretty much repaints from Century Wings, and everyone is eagerly wondering which their next model will be.

Not sure if we will see anything in 1/18 in 2011. I hope JSI gets their act together and release either the F-15, or Su27. but I am not very hopefull. Corgi seem to be treading water, and Hobby Master will continue to dominate the smaller scale market.

I just hope the world economy recovers, so that people are more secure in their jobs. This benefits everybody, especially companies that produce products targeted at disposable income. Diecast is included in this.

[vmf214]

Star Wars was definitely the pinnacle for 2010 although I didn't buy any of it. I quit collecting it a couple years ago and my youngest who was a rabid SW collector discovered airsoft & lost interest in SW, which btw, I wish he was still into SW coz airsoft is expensive!

I truly hope All-Go makes it, JSI as well although I'm not holding my breath for the latter anymore.

[coreystinson]

If JSI wants to continue there are a few things they will need to do:

(1) Repair their reputation with collectors and retailers by publicly admitting a mistake was made with the F-14 and indicate a desire to do better in the future (I'm not holding my breath).

(2) End their exclusive distribution arrangement with Merit. Wouldn't be surprised to see the latter happen given some of the rumors I've heard swirling about. Monopolies in the distribution chain produce bad service and likely contributed to the rush-job and subsequent screw-up on the F-14.

[grockwood]

1/18 is my only scale. I collect diecast autos in it and 2010 was a great year for them. In military 1/18, disappointed that there is still no Tiger 2. However, pickelhaube's Sherman parts have helped keep my interest up. There are 9 versions I have plans to do some day In 2011 still looking for the Tiger 2 and pickelhaube mentioned making a M8 or M20 has my interest. Also waiting for pickelhaube' 105 mm howitzer.

[dcway]

Hi All
I have to agree 1/72 scale made a big showing this year !!!! I collect some 1/72
but lately thats getting harder to . Why are the prices of the 1/72 scale getting so high !!!!!! the repaints of the same planes are getting to the point i can't see spending that type of money !!!!!!! And i thought 1/18 was getting out of my price range ...
the cost of these keeps getting higher were going to see the same thing happen !!!
Nobody will buy !!! another hobby killed by high prices .....
Thats my 2 cents .......
Dana (dcway)

[usmcchet9296]

For the sake of argument lets ditch Star Wars, comic, and movie 1/18th scale figures from the conversation and focus on "military" figures. That being the case in 2010 1/18th was almost non-existant with the exception of the JSI F-14, which I think was a great plane paint problems aside, and the Bell X-1, which really isnt a military plane. I dont see much happening in 2011, All-Go is All-Gone and while the A-10 may make it out I think it will be priced out of most of our range. BBi is not doing 1/18th and there are no major players in the loop anymore. Is 1/18th dead? No but I dont think there will be anything other than customs, small players, and cheesy mfgrs like powerteam releasing anything this coming year. Sorry to sound to bad but Im just being realistic.

[gouchy]

I think Tieka Ourwar set of 7 modern us troops deserves a mention

Not to everyone's liking, especially the molded sunnies, but it was a new release and I really liked them as plain joe groundpounders with good enough realism to complement my other FOV and BBI troops.

Besides Tieka, I only bought the 21st german troops Ulrik Schenker and rifleman Bauer though they might be considered as not a new release. I did not get either Bell X-1 or the Jsi F-14, so pretty dry year for new 1/18

[Dauntless]

As far as military toys, there was not a whole lot of anything for the WWII fans last year.

The future looks promising for 1:32 at least.
It was cool thing to see the 21st Century Toys B-17 prototype revealed knowing that four engine bombers were possible in that huge size. Though a major let down that didn't materialize, at least there is now a 1:32 B-17 model coming out by Wingscale, along with a B-25, B-26, P-61, and shortly an HE-111 by Revell.

The reality is no 4 engine and very doubtfully any 2 engine bombers would ever be built in 1:18.
I'm not holding my breath for any affordable new 1:18 WWII aircraft anytime soon either.