Small Scale Military Headquarters

I've been collecting for about five years. Mostly aircraft. While I have quuite a few WWII aircraft, I really got into this hobby hoping for modern fighters. When I say modern I mean Vietnam to the present. The lack of these aircraft is really bumming me out. Is anyone feeling the same way? BBI, Admiral,21st please make some new modern fighters. Put me down for 3 of each new one you make.


The f-4, followed by the a-10, followed by an f-15 and a-6 are good starting points. And to those of you who say the boxes are too big, I say make the damn box bigger. Problem solved.

rant over

SMOKEY1:

I've posted about the lack of plastic modern jet several times.
My current solution: buy diecast because that's the only way to get modern jets. They're usually too small, 1/72, but 1/72 is better than nothing. I've got a Ritchie and Cunningham F-4s, an F-15E, two F-14s and two A-6s. Also, I've got a 1/48 F-117.
My only plastic modern jet is BBI's 1/32 F-4.

Good luck! I have already downsized to 1/72 die casts for my modern needs. Sitting around with broken promises, hope, and a barrage of WWII warbirds just isn't for me.

Boyah! Can't wait for the flying tiger A-10 to come in, looks vicious especially with its full loadout.

I feel your pain Brother! I got started late with this hobby due to the $39.00 price tag on the Razorbacks and Hueys, but once I took the plunge...who can really go back to small aircraft after holding one of these monsters?? WE need more big flyers, who cares if it costs a little more? The company could probably take orders instead of selling the planes through retail sites. I'll just sit back and wait, where theres demand, there will eventually be supply.

I started collecting this stuff because of GI Joe. Now i want 1:18 scale aircraft to fit their needs. I was to late to hop on board with the F-16 and the F-18, which i really regret. I would really like to see those released in non-aggressor colors again (as the aggressors are the current line-up for these craft). I would probably severely injure a hobo for an a-10 and an f-22. I need the black hawk and apache again too.
My real pain though has been in hopes of getting a 1:18 T-72 tank and a Hind Helicopter. How my loins ache for Russian Armor and aircraft.

paulpratt wrote:I started collecting this stuff because of GI Joe. Now i want 1:18 scale aircraft to fit their needs. I was to late to hop on board with the F-16 and the F-18, which i really regret. I would really like to see those released in non-aggressor colors again (as the aggressors are the current line-up for these craft). I would probably severely injure a hobo for an a-10 and an f-22. I need the black hawk and apache again too.
My real pain though has been in hopes of getting a 1:18 T-72 tank and a Hind Helicopter. How my loins ache for Russian Armor and aircraft.

Loins ache ? Yikes that is nasty , I had that problem. But a little medication and some time took care of that

Its the same over and over again we cry,we wine, we beg,we say we will buy more then one, we would even take a repaint of the F-16 and the F-18 , and still no 1/18 scale modern fighters from anyone, so what do we do, I have been thinking about buying the RC Yellow manufactured F4 but its 400.00 or so and you have to paint it, put it together and that is for the basic F4, if you want drop tanks, landing gear and detailed cockpit you will pay a little more, but you get a nice BIG F4 and it flys , or we can wait till 2009, so they say, if anyone has any ideas of what we need to do to add new modern jets to our collection let us know remember it has to be bigger then 1/32 carlos

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/su-27.htm

in waiting for more modern jet can someone tell me if this SU 27 is at the right scale ?

Thanx

supersonicfifi wrote:http://www.hobby-lobby.com/su-27.htm

in waiting for more modern jet can someone tell me if this SU 27 is at the right scale ?

Thanx

Based on the dimensions listed at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-27), the wingspan is very close to 1/18. The length is too small - should be a full 48 inches but is only 42.75, putting it at closer to 1/20.

The wing area is also too small - should be 296 sq. in but is only 242, putting it at about 1/20 again. So for my own tastes it would be very much close enough to 1/18.

dcmacharlie wrote:Its the same over and over again we cry,we wine, we beg,we say we will buy more then one, we would even take a repaint of the F-16 and the F-18 , and still no 1/18 scale modern fighters from anyone, so what do we do...

If anyone has CAD skills we could begin designing our own craft. After that it could be farmed out to a shop with a rapid prototype machine. That would allow us to work out any scale kinks or issues. Once that is OK, i think, but I'm not sure, we could use the rapid prototyping machine to make the production pieces on which to base the molds/tools. The tools could then be sent off to a manufacturer in china and production could begin.

You could do some limited runs and work with Internet retailers, which should be easy because of the direct market to people that are passionate about the product. The right balance needs to be struck in price to the consumer. I think the magic numbers for 1/18 aircraft are between $50.00-$100.00. Once you go over that you lose the general consumer. Armor should be between $20.00-$50.00. The rules can be broken, obviously, but the piece would have to be special to go over.

Boxing for shipping would have to be considered as well. The nose, the wings and possibly, depending on the shape, the tail section could be removed. If the series will only be in internet stores, at least for the beginning, the website does the marketing, so elaborate window boxes and ornate graphics could be bypassed in favor of simple type on a blank box.

No figures. These can be purchased by the consumer in the toy line of their choice. All pieces are able to fit 3.75-4.00 inch figures.

Each line consists of two pieces and needs to anchored by an era: One American and one enemy or international craft. Creating themes are essential. So as a good modern grounding wave you could an F-15 and a MIG-27 or MIG 29. A World War II wave could be a P-51 and an BF-109 (Obviously overplayed, but just as an example).
Armor could be done the same way. An Abrams and a T-72/T-80 for example.

Each series could be rotated every 6-9 months with a new series of Aircraft and Armor taking it's spot. All vehicles would be printed for 1 year and then would go away temporarily to make room for another series.

Obviously, this all a big boy dream here, but i think that there has to be something that can be done by companies to trim costs and continue delivering a quality product and new pieces.

OMG! [1/18]*[1/4] A-10! Our prayers have been answered!

zats not funny.....


Well maybe a little funny.

Now this is an original topic

I think we need more P-51 repaints, and a few more Corsairs as well

IFLABS:

It's not 1/18---it's 1/72, but it's better than nothing.

dragon, what are the dimensions on that a-10?

SMOKEY1:

The A-10 is 8.75" long and 9.75" wingspan.

i've said it before and i'll say it again. The best chance of getting modern jets in this scale is to look at r/c planes.

There is a decent F-15, A-10, F-4, Su-27, F-35 available and probably an F-14 coming. All of which are very close to 1/18. They are made of foam and have a bit of a texture to them when viewed close up, lack ordnance for the most part but are still pretty nice and a lot better than nothng.

If you don't mind going a bit bigger (about 1/15) then there is a mirage 2000, rafale, and saab grippen as well. Plus there is the very real possibility of seeing more jet subjects in the future.

They have the added benefit of being very light, so they are easy to hang.

aferguson wrote:i've said it before and i'll say it again. The best chance of getting modern jets in this scale is to look at r/c planes.

There is a decent F-15, A-10, F-4, Su-27, F-35 available and probably an F-14 coming.

Any more news on that F-14? It looked pretty awesome from the initial pics! Esp. since they seem to be including a full ordnance load!

aferguson wrote:The best chance of getting modern jets in this scale is to look at r/c planes.

Can you get the kits without the electronic and mechanical ballywoo? I just want a shell that allows my son to stick his GI Joes in.

I don't like the landing gear on the rc planes. It alone make the planes look fake.

smokey1 wrote:I don't like the landing gear on the rc planes. It alone make the planes look fake.

I completely agree, but then again they are RC planes, and aren't supposed to look realistic.

yes well you'll have to display them in flight or make your own undercarriage.

It's that or have nothing, most probably..

paulpratt wrote: I would probably severely injure a hobo for an a-10 and an f-22.

YOU WIN BEST QUOTE OF THE DAY!!!

I have a feeling once the Olympics blow over and the U.S. dollar continues to gain ground and oil prices begin to fall (once we begin drilling exploration in the U.S.) we'll see the economy pick up again and 1:18 will revive. We may see the F-16, F-18 repaints within 6-9 months and perhaps an F-4. I think these toymakers would be shooting themselves in the foot not to introduce something new for us. The collectors are here - waiting. This board is evidence alone.

Razor17019 wrote: YOU WIN BEST QUOTE OF THE DAY!!!

Thank you. I hope that's a compliment.