Badcat--2009 outlook
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:09 am
From Badcat's blog:
Looking Ahead to 2009--What to Expect in 1:18 and 1:32 Plastic
I'm not usually a celebrant, but I will ring-out 2008 with a less than fond "good-riddance" and welcome-in the new year with open arms. Staying positive, I think 2009 has some potential. Despite what you see in the news, consumers are starting to buy again as people begin to come out of their holes and realize that the media has been chiefly responsible for creating an atmosphere of doom, despair, and panic--all in the name of television advertising ratings. Housing will begin to pick-up as the inventory of homes begins to dry-up and low interest rates make buying a home more attractive. We live at ground zero for the housing bust and we've noted an improved market about four months ago. Expect the rest of the nation to follow suit in the months to come. By the end of 2009, businesses will begin hiring again and we'll be off to the races.
So where does this leave 1:18 and 1:32 plastic military collectibles?
All major manufacturers are struggling. In 1:18, Blue Box is going to be it for this year, barring some outside luck. No longer distributing, BBI gets individual retailers or distributors to sponsor a project then once they have a "bird in the hand" they produce the item. This saves them warehouse rental and also labor. On the downside, few retailers can afford to gamble on such a huge investment in a single item and this limits what is released. LA Cal Tek sponsored the 1:18 109G earlier this year and Historic Sales the 1:32 Dauntless and Wildcat, for example. The 1:32 F-104 has yet to find a suitor.
Repaints will be the name of the game for 2009. LA Cal Tek will be bringing in the 1:18 Sakai Zero in March. I think we can expect a re-release of both the 1:18 Hornet and 1:18 Falcon. Several schemes have been batted about but my money is on the show birds, Blue Angels and Thunderbirds aircraft. The BBI 1:18 F4U tooling has proven golden and a new paint on this aircraft is overdue. Hopefully, the BBI 1:18 Mustang tooling will be given an honorable retirement.
Old-fashioned hobby shop, Pegasus Hobbies, is an unknown quantity. They surprised us in 2007 with the V-1 and Gee Bee Racer, will anything new appear in 2009? That's a good question. We may still see an X-1 in 2009 and if someone has the stones to produce a 1:18 J-3 Cub, they're the ones who might do it.
If there is a warm ember left at 21st, I'd say we could see a gray 1:18 Flak 88 and maybe a few 1:32 Spitfires for general release. The company's staff is doing their best to turn the ship into the wind after a WM pullout combined with the economy's collapse hit them with a one-two punch. If anyone can do it, it's them.
Resurgent Forces of Valor has been bombarding the 1:32 diecast market with lots of new product during the last six months of 2008. The company gives us precious little advance product info nor do they solicit consumer information from us so we don't really know what to expect. It simply shows up and is added to the price list. It's really up to the retailer to notice that there is something new to buy. Chances are we'll see some new 1:32 military vehicles from this power house.
Looking Ahead to 2009--What to Expect in 1:18 and 1:32 Plastic
I'm not usually a celebrant, but I will ring-out 2008 with a less than fond "good-riddance" and welcome-in the new year with open arms. Staying positive, I think 2009 has some potential. Despite what you see in the news, consumers are starting to buy again as people begin to come out of their holes and realize that the media has been chiefly responsible for creating an atmosphere of doom, despair, and panic--all in the name of television advertising ratings. Housing will begin to pick-up as the inventory of homes begins to dry-up and low interest rates make buying a home more attractive. We live at ground zero for the housing bust and we've noted an improved market about four months ago. Expect the rest of the nation to follow suit in the months to come. By the end of 2009, businesses will begin hiring again and we'll be off to the races.
So where does this leave 1:18 and 1:32 plastic military collectibles?
All major manufacturers are struggling. In 1:18, Blue Box is going to be it for this year, barring some outside luck. No longer distributing, BBI gets individual retailers or distributors to sponsor a project then once they have a "bird in the hand" they produce the item. This saves them warehouse rental and also labor. On the downside, few retailers can afford to gamble on such a huge investment in a single item and this limits what is released. LA Cal Tek sponsored the 1:18 109G earlier this year and Historic Sales the 1:32 Dauntless and Wildcat, for example. The 1:32 F-104 has yet to find a suitor.
Repaints will be the name of the game for 2009. LA Cal Tek will be bringing in the 1:18 Sakai Zero in March. I think we can expect a re-release of both the 1:18 Hornet and 1:18 Falcon. Several schemes have been batted about but my money is on the show birds, Blue Angels and Thunderbirds aircraft. The BBI 1:18 F4U tooling has proven golden and a new paint on this aircraft is overdue. Hopefully, the BBI 1:18 Mustang tooling will be given an honorable retirement.
Old-fashioned hobby shop, Pegasus Hobbies, is an unknown quantity. They surprised us in 2007 with the V-1 and Gee Bee Racer, will anything new appear in 2009? That's a good question. We may still see an X-1 in 2009 and if someone has the stones to produce a 1:18 J-3 Cub, they're the ones who might do it.
If there is a warm ember left at 21st, I'd say we could see a gray 1:18 Flak 88 and maybe a few 1:32 Spitfires for general release. The company's staff is doing their best to turn the ship into the wind after a WM pullout combined with the economy's collapse hit them with a one-two punch. If anyone can do it, it's them.
Resurgent Forces of Valor has been bombarding the 1:32 diecast market with lots of new product during the last six months of 2008. The company gives us precious little advance product info nor do they solicit consumer information from us so we don't really know what to expect. It simply shows up and is added to the price list. It's really up to the retailer to notice that there is something new to buy. Chances are we'll see some new 1:32 military vehicles from this power house.
