...Is 1:18 scale over?
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tmanthegreat
- Officer - Brigadier General
- Posts: 11239
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:38 pm
- Location: Central California
They have made articulated figures in 1:32 
Well, at least somewhat... All of the pilots in the new 32x planes, from the Zeros and Macchis on, feature movable heads and arms. The figures that came with the Opel Blitz trucks also have moving heads and arms. Except for the pilots, though, articulated figures are not a standard in 1:32 yet 
Well, at least somewhat... All of the pilots in the new 32x planes, from the Zeros and Macchis on, feature movable heads and arms. The figures that came with the Opel Blitz trucks also have moving heads and arms. Except for the pilots, though, articulated figures are not a standard in 1:32 yet "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
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holensock
- Officer - Lt. Colonel
- Posts: 1214
- Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:35 am
- Location: Cleveland area
That's cool! I'll have to take a look at those. I've always been 'tempted' with 32, but the lack of articulation kept me away. I mean, how many kneeling shooting troops can you use? FOV may have 'one' guy just walking, but how many sets would I have to buy to get a few of those...tmanthegreat wrote:They have made articulated figures in 1:32
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Charlemagne
- Sergeant
- Posts: 155
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:22 am
- Location: Piney Flats, TN
I have been in this hobby long enough like many of you who have heard of the demise of the 1:18 rumors forever and I quite frankly don't believe it. I do however, see a slow down in the number of new releases and an increase in the number of repaints. Many of you have sighted several valid reasons for not so many 1:18 vehicles/aircraft so let me parrot some of them back along with several of my observations that you may of may not agree with. 1. Economic/risk reasons for not investing in design and molds of new aircraft. 2. The rise in the popularity of other scales most significantly 1:32. 3. Space and cost issue(altough thats never stopped us before) 
4. My observation is that in terms of aircraft there are getting to be fewer types to be done that are both attractive to make in terms of cost and that the general public would identify with and purchase......Now as to my point #4, before you guys totally bust my chops on this point I fully realize that as enthusiasts and history fans we could come up with a list a mile long of good aircraft that would be awesome in 1:18th scale. But to my earlier points, how much of a risk would it be to fund production costs lets say a KI-84 Frank as an example and then get the general public to buy it. Yes, we would be all over it but we are but a small fraction of those that do the buying. The manufacturers need to make something that is familiar to the general public say like the "Zero" or P-51, Corsair, Spitfire etc. These aircraft are more popular and familiar to the public in general and also have been produced!! So back to my point and that is we will still see new types like Admirals SBD and A-1 but we will see longer spans of time before we see new types made but not a total stoppage.
4. My observation is that in terms of aircraft there are getting to be fewer types to be done that are both attractive to make in terms of cost and that the general public would identify with and purchase......Now as to my point #4, before you guys totally bust my chops on this point I fully realize that as enthusiasts and history fans we could come up with a list a mile long of good aircraft that would be awesome in 1:18th scale. But to my earlier points, how much of a risk would it be to fund production costs lets say a KI-84 Frank as an example and then get the general public to buy it. Yes, we would be all over it but we are but a small fraction of those that do the buying. The manufacturers need to make something that is familiar to the general public say like the "Zero" or P-51, Corsair, Spitfire etc. These aircraft are more popular and familiar to the public in general and also have been produced!! So back to my point and that is we will still see new types like Admirals SBD and A-1 but we will see longer spans of time before we see new types made but not a total stoppage.“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”
- George S. Patton
- George S. Patton
yes, what you've said is right on the money. We still need to see a Fw-190A and a later version Spitfire, but aside from that the real big name planes have been made. Wildcats, Hurricanes, Tonys, Komets etc are second tier, although some, like the Komet, would have great novelty appeal and probably do really well. There are also exotic planes, like the Ar-234 or Do 335 that would have broad appeal because of their looks, rather than their recognizable name.
However, i suspect that many, many of the people that buy these big planes are fairly knowledgeable when it comes to WWII, as i can't see a lot of people forking out $40+ for a Spitfire or FW-190D unless they are very familiar with what it is, and that the second tier, less well known planes would still do quite well....i just don't know if any of the manufacturers are willing to chance it. It's possible that someone will come along, out of the blue, much as IXO did in 1/72 and make some lesser known types and clean up.
Other than the two fighters mentioned above, the only mainstream recognizable planes left are the larger types like Mosquitos, B-25's, Ju-88 etc. and of course the big bombers. Whether anyone is willing to make these types, only time will tell.
If 21c follows through with the B-25 then i can see them doing a Mosquito and Ju-88 eventually, as the Mosquito has the looks and the Ju has probably more repaint potential than any other plane, when you factor in minor structural tweeks...they could literally be selling it for the rest of their company's lifetime.
As for big modern jets........the jury is out on this one.
However, i suspect that many, many of the people that buy these big planes are fairly knowledgeable when it comes to WWII, as i can't see a lot of people forking out $40+ for a Spitfire or FW-190D unless they are very familiar with what it is, and that the second tier, less well known planes would still do quite well....i just don't know if any of the manufacturers are willing to chance it. It's possible that someone will come along, out of the blue, much as IXO did in 1/72 and make some lesser known types and clean up.
Other than the two fighters mentioned above, the only mainstream recognizable planes left are the larger types like Mosquitos, B-25's, Ju-88 etc. and of course the big bombers. Whether anyone is willing to make these types, only time will tell.
If 21c follows through with the B-25 then i can see them doing a Mosquito and Ju-88 eventually, as the Mosquito has the looks and the Ju has probably more repaint potential than any other plane, when you factor in minor structural tweeks...they could literally be selling it for the rest of their company's lifetime.
As for big modern jets........the jury is out on this one.
i never met an airplane i didn't like...