Small Scale Military Headquarters

of course my assumption would be they see it as too controversial and they dont want the trouble.
but the same companies seem to have no problem with releasing 1/6 or that is 12" versions of these figures.

they have to know the figures would sell very well, i cant help but like those uniforms.
and who doesnt want there diorama soldiers fighting off nazis?

1. Cost/Benefit - A 1/6 figure can be priced over $50 and sell reasonably well, returning a good profit back to the manufacturer. A 1/18 figure at $5 returns 1/10 the same gross profit (or less), yet I doubt the development costs (molds, packaging artwork, etc) are MUCH more than 1/10 the costs for a 1/6 product.

2. Volume - Because of the lower individual profit on 1/18 items, a larger volume needs to sell. SS figures automatically exclude you from the US retail market. Right now, the 1/18 armor marketplace doesn't have a "BCA" or a "Cotswold" or a "Squadron" to ensure demand, like 1/18 Aircraft, 1/6 figures, or plastic models all have.

The one hope would be that if 1/18 takes off in Japan, then you would see more stuff that might make its way over here.

why does it exclude the american market?
im not informed on these things that is why i am asking, is there some reason the american market cant carry those items?
i thought ive seen those figures in 1/6 and 1/32 here before.
as far as the cost goes companies like 21c already have the molds they just have to cast them and paint them in different colors.

i personally am not so much a military buff as a 3 3/4 1:18 action figure buff.
i understand all the people that collect the vehicles and aircraft and love the detail of them.
im just surprised there doesnt seem to be as many people that feel the same about the figures and uniforms.
i like the vehicles but the room and money are just too much for me, i love the detail on the figures and i love having my figures of different worlds and times all displayed together.

im just surprised i thought the figures sold well, and that those figures would sell very well also.

i know im not the only one that was ready to lay down $150 on that small blue planet set.

Political reasons may preclude how well 1:18 SS figures would sell. Although they have a high recognizability factor, action figures of Nazis in black uniforms with red swastika armbands would not be appreciated by the general public. Those guys were just too evil and assiciated too closely with some of humanity's worst crimes. Yes, I know regular German soldiers (of which we already have many action figurs of) were also involved in these same incidents, but those incidents were largely perpetrated and symbolized by the SS.

Further, while there is a certain amount of appeal behind the creation of such action figures, that appeal is held by a small fraction of a small group of 1:18 historical action figure collectors. Companies don't want to expend the effort to make new figures (or even repaints) for mass distribution that won't sell well. Certain small retailers, as well as large stores, may not want to sell them for risk of seeming to endorse Nazism. The very small fan base, production costs, and potential lack of profit, combined with the political nature of the subject, perhaps accounts for why SS soldier have not been made in 1:18.

One of many reasons why: http://www.bnaibrith.ca/article.php?id=805

I can understand why retailers might be hesitant to carry these figures.

Imagine yourself walking in Wal-Mart or Target, not knowing 21st, BBI, FOV, not knowing about this hobby at all.

Suddenly, you saw an SS figure, in a box that has "FORCES OF VALOR", or, "ULTIMATE SOLDIER".

You say to yourself, "What? SS goons are forces of valor? Ultimate soldiers?! That sounds like Nazi ideology!"

Maybe if they packaged it differently...

Nazism and Anti-Semitism is still alive and well these days, particulary in America and Europe. Even Germany has seen a resurgence of this ideology, despite strict anti-Nazi laws. So don't think that people complaining about these toys are just politically correct, or being too sensitive.

These are just toys and models to us, but to some people, these symbolize pain and terror.

I know some would say that this is history, and we must never forget history lest we repeat the mistakes in the past. That is so true. But some in the hobby of collecting/building WWII models/toys are bordering on Nazi and master race ideology because of the admiration they feel about Panzer/Luftwaffe aces, etc.

I know of this one website with a lot of 1/15 and 1/16 models on display. Very well made models, the guy is artist. But the rants and rhetoric on his website are so pro-Nazi, it's not even funny.

The American public has acepted the premise that not all German soldiers in WW2 were Nazi SS and were involved in war crimes against us and the rest of the world. Be that is may, the average German soldier reacted the same way our average soldier did. Some good, some not so good. Give a 18 or 19 year old a gun and tell him to go out and shoot "bad guys" and some of those kids forget when to stop shooting people. I speak from experience, not personal experience, I personally was never an 18 or 19 year old kid. I skipped those years.

Sales of German infantry, vehicles, planes and warships are steady. The big retailers would be forced to react by a PC firestorm if 21C and others produced a big line of SS products. The forces of PC have not disapeared, they are only hiding in the shadows, waiting for the next battle, be it over guns, anything military, even toys. It is about time for the annual Christmas war over toy guns and how evil they are

As to the SS figures in 1/6, the money is partially involved, I've seen the big Nazi's figures starting at a couple of hundred, and going up quickly. They are limited prodiuction pieces, usually made by small etailers.

I don't think we will ever see a big production of SS figures. I'm pretty sure I don't even want to, what would come next, concentration camp guards, or a line of WW2 Japanese POW guards with bamboo sticks for beating our guys after Bataan.

Forget the SS, put them back in the closet and let those of us who want to strap on the armband and play with them, bring them out once a while, and I do hope that is a very few of us.

TTT

Well, first of all, I don't think it's "PC" to oppose the sale of ANYTHING related to the SS in a store like Wal-Mart or Target. There is a proper place and way to buy and sell items like SS uniforms and actions figures (just like there is a proper place and way to buy alcohol and porn). Wal Mart not NOT the proper place for any of those things.

I know a Joe collector, who also collects militaria. He has a large collection of SS items. He even sells them at shows and such. I have no problem with that. In fact, I consider Phil to be one of my best friends in the hobby.

The reason I said that I thought we might have to wait for 1/18 stuff to catch on in Japan is because the Japanese have a facination with Nazi German and the SS, and they are a HUGE market for action figures.