POST ALL FOV 1/18 FINDS AND DISCUSSION HERE!

[Birddog]

Is it just that we finally have some regulars that everyone is so pleased with the fov guys or are they that good?

Regulars or not, I think they are that good. I think what we have been given so far from FOV in the their 1/18 figures truly rivals bbi. The FOV line could use some improvements on some of the weapons in the area of size, but the figures themselves are equal/on par with bbi in my opinion. Each of course has it's own positives and negatives if you nit pick enough.

I think the 1/18 FOV figure line will only get better provided FOV realizes its potential and runs with it. They have the body sculpts, just do new head sculpts for these bodies. Then you have a whole set of new characters and another wave to release.

On the vehicles, same thing. However, I think the paint applications on FOV's M1 make it stand a head above bbi's M1. The M3, which technically is a different variant of the Bradley, is short on detail compared to 21st M2 by a long shot. Still for the price, you can't complain much and it is customizable.

With the 1/18 FOV line being an "Exclusive" Target line at this point and bbi's 1/18 modern line sharing shelf space there as well, it will be interesting to see how each line progresses forward. Especially since the figures are selling for the same price and look identical to eachother, except for the packaging, when you see them side by side on the shelf. New product and packaged accessories could be key to how well each line sells over the other.

If I remember correctly from posts in the Direct From the Source Threads, unless it has changed with Target picking up the bbi line, bbi will not do more 1/18 armor. Given this and bbi's recent record with releasing new 1/18 products, FOV has a market to capture here and they've started out with a strong first attempt in my opinion.

As someone posted earlier, here's hoping we get some armor (WWII and Modern) with Ts in the name....

[aferguson]

FOV's 1/18 line is priced close to Chapmei or PTE items but far superior in accuracy and realism. It's what i've been hoping either Chapmei or PTE would do, for years. I never expected FOV, who seemed to be more interested in higher end collectibles, to step up with a line like this. I can forsee HUGE potential in the years ahead, for this line.

We love this line, the Joe guys will probably love it and the price will attract casual interest buyers as well.

I think they've really hit a bullseye with this line.

[grockwood]

I found 2 of the FOV M1's and 2 of the Bradley's this weekend at a Overland Park Ks. Target. What seemed odd was the M1's were different cameo but the Bradley's were the same. Unfortunately there were no figures on the pegs.

[scbvideoboy]

But I can't complain too much, considering that BBI and FOV at least made an Abrams in 1/18 scale, while the "leader" in 1/18, refuse to do so.

Perhaps the leader wasn't able to get licensing agreements as some other company got in first?

That is something that doesn't get too much air play, the licensing costs might decide what gets made or not.

Personally I think its absurd to have to license a scale toy.

DH

[immeww2]

I think the FOV 1/18th scale line is gonna be a big winner for Unimax! Price vs detail is beyond comparison. I just recently spotted the repainted pak-40's at TRU and they're going for $30! For that same price you can get a M1 tank from FOV! Now to the casual buyer of these items, which one is gonna be bought first? I would think that for the money spent, the tank would be considered before the pak-40. I too, hope that this line goes far and we begin to see a more varied assortment of items offered in the future both in armor and figures.

[GooglyDoogly]

But I can't complain too much, considering that BBI and FOV at least made an Abrams in 1/18 scale, while the "leader" in 1/18, refuse to do so.

Perhaps the leader wasn't able to get licensing agreements as some other company got in first?

That is something that doesn't get too much air play, the licensing costs might decide what gets made or not.

Personally I think its absurd to have to license a scale toy.

DH

I doubt it's about licensing issue, since 21st had made a 1/9th scale RC Abrams (bad, toyish version of an M1A2). Dunno why they would not release an Abrams in 1/18th, when they released a Bradley and an M113.

They released a Walker Bulldog(a pretty obscure tank), but no Abrams(a tank that's been getting a lot of good press for the past 18 years)...hmmm good marketing tactic 21st.

Oh wells, It's awesome that FOV are in the 1/18 mix now. Right now, like many had said previously, it seems like FOV is the only company that would be willing to satisfy our armor cravings.

And yes, the FOV figures looks better than the BBI figures in general. There are many little things that made FOV figures look a little better than BBI's. For example, compare their Interceptor body armor. Then go look up pics of a real US soldier wearing an Interceptor body armor. FOV captured the bulky look of that body armor perfectly.

[luftpanzer]

I saw the bradleys and the M1 Abrams at Target in Clarksville Tn on Saturday.

[ostketten]

I think they've really hit a bullseye with this line.

Agree completely. It's a brave new world, and a great time to be a collector, the possibilities are Ginormous IMO , and whoever the guy is at Unimax/FOV who made this decision is looking like a genius right now.

[grunt1]

The other beauty is that they've addressed what many people have said is the biggest challenge, the molds..

If they are using a computer to upscale the 1/32 molds.. Or, perhaps someone smart over there starts the molds at 1/6 or 1/18 and then downscales those to 1/32 and 1/72.. then that cost as well as potentially some of the prototype cost is already sunk. So other scales, ala 1/18, become nice new low price of entry markets..

That would explain why they can hit the Target price point we are seeing now. This bodes really well considering just how many unique items FoV has already produced...

The game is afoot!

[Teamski]

You know..... If FOV gets in 1:18 deep, what you wanna bet that we may very well see our first Russian Vehicles and figures??? Makes me giddy thinking about the possibilities!

-Ski

[tmanthegreat]

Although I know FOV went with the Bradley and Abrams because of the familiarity (and popularity) of those tanks, however, it would have been even cooler for us had they done a "good guy/bad guy" pairing like the Sherman and the Tiger, save that we got an M1 with a T-72. Again, that would have been too big of a risk for starting off, but I share Teamski's optimism about the potential this line could have...

[ostketten]

it would have been even cooler for us had they done a "good guy/bad guy" pairing like the Sherman and the Tiger

Oh My Gawd!!! I smell another Tiger -vs- Sherman debate in the making Just kidding of course...but seriously, I do agree...would have preferred the pairing you mentioned, but hey we gotta start somewhere, and it looks as though FOV is off to a good start. I know I've done my part to encourage them to keep it going, bring on the Tiger with zimmerit, and the sooner the better.

[75th Ranger]

I wonder did 21st and bbi had a clearance event and sold their old molds to the highest bidder?
These FOV items look like almost exact copies of some previously released items, with some minor modifications....nevertheless, the FOV 1/18 line is an excellent addition to any collection...plus it seems like they soon may gain the lead on the competition because their products are nice, price is decent and availability is pretty good.

HOOAH!

[GooglyDoogly]

I wonder did 21st and bbi had a clearance event and sold their old molds to the highest bidder?
These FOV items look like almost exact copies of some previously released items, with some minor modifications....nevertheless, the FOV 1/18 line is an excellent addition to any collection...plus it seems like they soon may gain the lead on the competition because their products are nice, price is decent and availability is pretty good.

HOOAH!

I must disagree with that. The FOV Abrams is a completely different mold from the BBI Abrams. The shape of the turret is slightly different, the size and length of the barrel, and all the little molded details on the tank are completely different from BBI's.

And one of the pics in this thread clearly show that the FOV Bradley is a smidge smaller than 21st's...so no. Unimax made these vehicles from their own molds, and not merely copies.

[donnieboy]

Hey dudes and dudettes (if any)! I too was disappointed with the pix of the new FOV 1:18 Bradley-thought it looked rather strange, and lacking some of the bells and whistles of the 21C XD Bradley-for instance, that hinged bracket atop the Bushmaster cannon, and the air intake grilles in front. Then I Googled pix of the Bradley and guess what? The FOV XD Bradley doesn't look like an M2A1 or M2A2 Bradley cause it aint! It's actually a very realistic looking M2A3 Bradley, the newest variant just going into battle. The M2A3 looks very different from earlier versions-it has a different-shaped turret, no cannon hinge bracket, and no air intake grills in front, and knobby armour all over. But it DOES look just like the FOV 1:18 model. Go google for yourselves-just type in "M2A3 Bradley"
Booyah!

[aferguson]

yes the A3 has been in service since 2000; lots of them over in Iraq. Nice to see FOV is on the ball.

[scbvideoboy]

The other beauty is that they've addressed what many people have said is the biggest challenge, the molds..

If they are using a computer to upscale the 1/32 molds.. Or, perhaps someone smart over there starts the molds at 1/6 or 1/18 and then downscales those to 1/32 and 1/72.. then that cost as well as potentially some of the prototype cost is already sunk. So other scales, ala 1/18, become nice new low price of entry markets..

The molds still have to be machined and manufactured, computers will be fine for scale and details but the biggest cost is still the molds to be machined up. Each scale has to have it's own.

As for someone who is learning machining, huge amounts of manhours and time go into making something as complex as a 21C type 88 for example.

So when someone mentions "oh just scale up the exsisting 1/32 item"
it doesn't appear to be that easy.

It would be eye opening to actually see the dollar amount that goes into a prototype. Probably a lot more than we think.

Even the limited detail and features is moot if we can get some Russian and British armor or less traditional vehicles.

DH

[immeww2]

Great! So we don't have an exact twin of the Bradleys between the 21st version and the FOV version. Is that the same for the Abrams as well?

[tmanthegreat]

Yes, there are slight differences. A boardmember above noted that the BBI M1 Abrams represents an earlier version of the M1A1 from the '80s and early '90s, while the FOV version a later model used from the '90s on.

As far as the toys themselves go, both are quite similar, but with only small differences. The BBI version has some weathering (more on the recent Target release) more "stowage" on the turret, shallow hatches, and the flat blow-out panels over the ammo magazine. The BBI version has excellent weathering, no "stowage" on the turret, deep hatches, and protrusions on the magazine doors that are correct for the later M1s. The panel detailing seems more realistic on the FOV tank, though the BBI tank actually has the better-looking turret machineguns. Nevertheless, like the 21c and FOV Bradleys, both the BBI and FOV Abrams can actually compliment each other quite well

[holensock]

I hope FOV will come out with a Jeep! And a U. S. Amphibian would be cool!!!

[75th Ranger]

I wonder did 21st and bbi had a clearance event and sold their old molds to the highest bidder?
These FOV items look like almost exact copies of some previously released items, with some minor modifications....nevertheless, the FOV 1/18 line is an excellent addition to any collection...plus it seems like they soon may gain the lead on the competition because their products are nice, price is decent and availability is pretty good.

HOOAH!

I must disagree with that. The FOV Abrams is a completely different mold from the BBI Abrams. The shape of the turret is slightly different, the size and length of the barrel, and all the little molded details on the tank are completely different from BBI's.

And one of the pics in this thread clearly show that the FOV Bradley is a smidge smaller than 21st's...so no. Unimax made these vehicles from their own molds, and not merely copies.

It is obvious the they are using the same molds!.....just slight modifications....toy factories tend to do that...

[hworth18]

FOV 1/18 Abrams and Bradley with all the figures showed up at the Super Target in Tulsa.. They also had a BBI LAV and Humvee w/ asssorted figures..

Still waiting for the FOV 1/72 B-25/B-26 to show at Target..

[GooglyDoogly]

I must disagree with that. The FOV Abrams is a completely different mold from the BBI Abrams. The shape of the turret is slightly different, the size and length of the barrel, and all the little molded details on the tank are completely different from BBI's.

And one of the pics in this thread clearly show that the FOV Bradley is a smidge smaller than 21st's...so no. Unimax made these vehicles from their own molds, and not merely copies.

It is obvious the they are using the same molds!.....just slight modifications....toy factories tend to do that...

I'm in the process is cannibalizing both BBI and FOV Abrams, and from what I can tell, if FOV did get this mold from BBI, then they made more that slight mods to it.

If they had bought the mold from BBI, then I dunno why they would go through all the work of modding it, when they have the right to produce it.

Plus, if you compare these models side by side, then you'd see that there really is no similarity between them. The only thing thing that's similar is that they are both Abrams. That's about it.

For example, the FOV Abrams turret has more of a curve on top, while the BBI is much flatter. The FOV turret is narrower in front. That is far from a simple mod. They are better off making the molds themselves, if they have to go through all that. And we can all see that Unimax/FOV are very much capable of making their own models, judging from their 1/72, 1/32, and 1/16 lines.

Plus the FOV Abrams has a completely different tracks from BBI's. FOV's T158 tracks are inaccurate. But eh. I'll take it.

(And no, their 1/16 Tiger isn't a copy of Tamiya's.)

[grunt1]

The molds still have to be machined and manufactured, computers will be fine for scale and details but the biggest cost is still the molds to be machined up. Each scale has to have it's own.

As for someone who is learning machining, huge amounts of manhours and time go into making something as complex as a 21C type 88 for example.

That's generally true, but rapid prototyping has made a nice dent in the traditional process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3gHHeD6cv8

From there, you can give the prototype to an injection mold company to mass produce.

Supposedly, when the RP process becomes more mainstream, limited runs (500-1000) items will just be printed using the RP and never go to the injection mold plant.

Here is an ABS plastic functioning screw-top container a guy made so you can see how tricky they can get with the parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NghIH0JT3gQ

This one does color and really fancy details. Working gears, etc..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyZtBYG0QOg

There are at least five very different technologies used for RP today. Do a search on youtube with Rapid Prototyping as the keyword and you'll see about all of them.