Small Scale Military Headquarters

Just so everyone knows

Roy Sutherland is no longer with 21st.

so all bets are off on new stuff

KAGNEW wrote:Just so everyone knows

Roy Sutherland is no longer with 21st.

so all bets are off on new stuff

What's the story??

KAGNEW wrote:so all bets are off on new stuff

What do you mean by that?

Roy is a great guy and all he said at IPMS nats in Va beach was that there was big cutbacks at 21st. and he was one of them.

WOW!

1) What is the IPMS?
2) I had always thought Roy was the owner of 21C. Obviously I am incorrect so what was his title and who is the owner or parent company?

Thanks for the heads up KAGNEW.

ipms is international plastic modelers society.

this is where the model builders meet. nats was the yearly nationals.
a place that everybody looks at what other people are building.
a model builders candy store!

Looks like 21C is going the way of the pooper. These are really tough times right now. I wish Roy the best of luck. What a serious loss for 21C.

Roy was not the owner, but the head of the modeling/design department. He was not always affiliated with 21c, only coming on around 2003. You will notice the change in detail between the first two series of aircraft and the more recent ones - that was Roy's influence.

I have heard similar information regarding Roy's departure from 21c, and I am not entirely surprised. 21c aparently owes alot of money to both their Chinese factories and retailers and so obviously has to get their finances in order. The way that company did business was obviously not very sound and it got them in the long run. The fact that they were able to live this long is surprising considering their limited product line, history of missed release dates, QC issues, and generally poor sales.

Obviously 21c is not dead, but in a very similar position to where they were in 2003. They could either rise again to the occasion or go bust. Time will tell. Either way, it means we will not see anything new for a while other than what was already in the pipeline. Again, the usual people in the midwest and upper south regions will be the ones who find this stuff while the rest of us will be screwed. A part of me also welcomes 21c potentially disappearing - if anything because I am sick and tired of not being able to find their new items. Better that no one gets them than always the same few people

it would be nice if BBI or Admiral were get him as a advisor

KAGNEW wrote:it would be nice if BBI or Admiral were get him as a advisor

Yes, it would be; particularly if he went to Admiral Toys. What a coup that would be

Maybe he will start his own version of 21stC???

(rumorsrumorsrumors)

I think Roy will do great.
i have his book on Mosquitos. and a lot of his resin model stuff

This makes me want to curl up into a little ball and cry...

Well that's just "caca poo poo".

Mark

I wish a 1/18 Phantom would have been made.

and i feel sorry for all the none building collector guys.
but i guess its a sign of the times.
without Roy i think 21st will relap into toylike products.
not collector quailty products.
i can only hope the others won't follow suit.

While it may not mean 21st's total demise, losing Roy will definitely hasten the end of the quality we were beginning to see. And to be honest, if 21st leaves the 1/18 (and even 1/32) marketplace, it may be a good thing for the industry. 21st has historically stifled competition wherever possible, and often in ways I don't consider particularly honorable. Efforts to establish joint projects, avoid duplication, and generally do business in an ethical manner were met with arrogance and even hostility.
With a little luck, someone else will seize the opportunity and step in. There is a big market to be tapped there--hopefully Roy still keeps an eye on this forum and maybe considers working with Admiral or FOV, or developing his own company.

I personally think that with Roy's departure, 21C will get out of the larger 1/18 scale, the same way they did to 1/6, and concentrate on the little guys (1/32, 1/48 and smaller).

It remains to see if the KT and the 88 are "in the pipeline" or ready for production. We may get lucky and get them, but the B-25? I'm really sorry to say....... forgetaboutit.

TTT

That's a sad news. And the future of our hobby seems to be suddenly darker

phil

So I guess I can spend my 89 dollars I have been holding on to for the 18th scale F-4.

Well the feeling was everything had come to a standstill and now with confirmation of the major loss of Roy, it all makes sense. I had always thought we would see lots of exciting pieces from 21st, but without him at the helm, I have lost confidence in future products being produced or even seeing the current pipeline completed. A little early yet, but I do not think the odd 1/18 from others like BBI & FOV, is going to keep my passion for my 1/18 alive. Lets hope something good comes out of all this.

Guys , I think you are all right. Without Roys technical guidance 1/18 scale may end at 21st as we know it.
I feel like Alloy Skull I can't do the little ball thing but I got the fetal position down. I guess I could pull out my old 1/18 King Tiger drawings. Dust them off and sigh. This is not to be. Or maybe another project on the to do list.

These are sad sad days indeed.

Now that Roy is gone it will be interesting to see the quality of subsequent releases if we get any at all.