Small Scale Military Headquarters

Just a few thoughts and ideas here gleamed from previous forum posts.

I think we all agree there is little if anything we can do as 1/18 collectors that will influence new product development. We put together all these wish lists but it never really comes to fruition unless its already planned for production.

So what’s The Way Ahead over the next several years. Current and future enthusiasts will probably purchase 1ea of every new 1/18 airplane as they are released when they can find them on the market and maybe a repaint here and there. 1/18 will still be supported by buyers who dont want to pay more than $40 and those that will pay more for a premium airplane and those that buy both.

The companies will still push the repaints and the market will probably be saturated and maybe overstocked. Anybody looking to purchase a 5th Mustang (another repaint) for your collection next year?

I’d say sometime after you purchase your 6th airplane in 1/18 you realize that man these things are big. I finally took my 1/18 fleet and hung each one individually on the wall because my ceiling looked like a bat cave and I need more room for future releases. Like most of you I am to the point now if I have one type of 1/18 airplane I am not going to buy the exact same airplane with just a repaint. Hold hat thought for now

1/18 has a great opportunity to enter the niche of the traditional plastic Modeler. If you look at the modeling websites such as Large Scale Planes, Cybermodeler, Modeling Madness, Fine Scale Modeler etc. there are new reviews for 1/18 airplanes and 1/32 21C kits, pictures of modifications done to 1/18 scale aircraft and armor, forum questions about availability of after market photo etch and decals etc. There are positive comments about the scale, quality and the price compared to the more expensive traditional plastic models and even hype about the new F-4 Phantom.

Probably most significant are comments about bringing fresh air and marketing to the plastic modeling hobby if they continue to expand their range of models and distribution outlets (… sounds familiar) but to gain momentum in this market its going to take something more than just a pre-built ready-to-display plane straight from the box. If this niche is willing to pay $100 for a complex Trumpeter P-38 in 1/32 scale what do you think they would pay for a huge 1/18 scale P-38 that can be built and detailed.

So here are some product recommendations that I believe will give the 1/18 community the WOW (I-gotta-have-it) Factor, will appeal to the discriminating collector and the traditional plastic modeling community and provide additional sales opportunities to existing product lines.

1/18 Conversion Group Series (Premium Price)- Prepainted or sold with base paint scheme similar to the Admiral Toys Silver 86, with painted or unpainted cockpit. Can be painted to suit the builders need. Build one of many different variants out of the same box. Includes different conversion parts including interchangeable Props, cowlings, canopy, external stores and decal sheet. Motorized prop and lights?

1/18 Scale Combat Group Series - Build it ready-to-display right out of the box or build it as a Battle Scarred Veteran. Comes with extra battle damaged parts like damaged wing with exposed wig ribs, damaged rudder, aileron and or elevator. Can also be sold as a conversion plane (Premium Price).

1/18 Scale Phantom Series (Premium Price) – The ULTIMATE COLLECTIBLE and showcase for the 1/18 Scale. The first 1/18 manufacturer that builds this one will go down in history for setting a new standard.

Can be produced similar to the old (no longer in production) Monogram 1/48 Scale visible B-17 with port-side fuselage casting in clear plastic to see the fuselage detail inside or produced much like the motorized 1/32 scale Monogram Phantom Mustang Model (now produced by Revell).

The Phantom Series features would include a transparent fuselage and wings revealing the inner structure
of the airplane. Comes with electric motor to spin the propeller(s). The aircraft is mounted on a base that contains the batteries and controls for the engine. If you look at the 1/32 scale Phantom Mustang there really is not a significant amount of detail once the aircraft is built but it still is pretty tight.

Seeing as though more and more people are modifying 1/18th scale planes, i'm waiting (hoping) for a plane with a modeled engine. I dont know how these would affect the end price but surely even a basic merlin in the mustang and spitfire would be a good thing. In my mind that would add extra playability for those using them as toys and would be a great basis for those of us who static display or go the step further and detail their models. This could even open up a new direction for figures, where you could buy an "aircraft maintainance crew" set with a couple of figures/ and workbench, step ladder, and some tools to lay on the bench or ground.

I'll take all the F-86/CL-13 repaints 21st Century and Admiral can make. Sabrefan can never have enough Sabres.

yappyI would like to see some of those links of customized 1:18 A/C and armor,

I think that the way forward is for the companies to build a better-detailed 1:18 aircraft, that dont have toy like cockpits but look realistic.
Just look at that Corgi 1500 spitfire, is it worth it maybe, but I think that level of detail can be reproduced for under 100 USD.

Engine details alone would make me happy.

I've wondered about that from the beginning why no engine details in the planes when all the vehicles have some sort of opening hood to show off the engine.

DH

scbvideoboy wrote:I've wondered about that from the beginning why no engine details in the planes when all the vehicles have some sort of opening hood to show off the engine. DH

Same here. I would love engine detail. It would be great to be able to access the engine on the Sabre for example.

Rowsdower wrote:

scbvideoboy wrote:I've wondered about that from the beginning why no engine details in the planes when all the vehicles have some sort of opening hood to show off the engine. DH

Same here. I would love engine detail. It would be great to be able to access the engine on the Sabre for example.

Like This

Great looking Sabre model. That type of engine detail would be awesome.

Yappy, very good post! I like your thinking here.

Although I am not much of a customizer (got way too many hobbies, no where to put my stuff, and I can safely say that I have not taken ONE of my planes out of its box to put together and display yet (some I haven't even broken the tape on (I just wanted to add another parenthesis inside parenthesis inside parathensis))) I like the idea of being able to start a custom with not as much effort as a standard kit. Even when I was a modeler, I wasn't much of a painter and some of the large scale paint apps just seemed too overwhelming. As a result, I agree that the Admiral Silver F-86 would have been the best way to start out.

But you have to remember that details are always compromises. Everyone says that if they can do that type of detail on model X, they should be able to do the same thing plus this other thing on model Y. But it just doesn't work that way. However, I am one that will spend for a better plane, but when I do spend that much, I would prefer that it doesn't mean I have to expend as much effort to make it complete.

Something like that Sabre there is my ultimate 1/18 dream!

I agree with Scbvideoboy, they should have made engine detail a long time ago. It is not difficult on piston engined planes.

The way others I know see it and pointed it out to me:
Here you have a huge 1:18 aircraft bigger then Tamiya’s 1:32 scale kits, but lack the detail that 1:32 “smaller kits have. Many folks I know have pointed out that before they will invest any money in this scale that more detail must be added.


I know they are not HPH and are made to sell for kids but there are a few folks I know who are veteran fighter pilots who are looking for a cool display model with a lot of detail for a good price. I can’t wait to see what detail the new 1:18 A/C will have but I doubt they will have engine access.

Yappy,

Excellent writings....my food-for-thought freezer is stocked for a long time!

Thanks,

dV

Engine detail would be awsome. I think BBI said they were going to put some engine detail on their Hellcat then have the removable engine cowl but the cost would have been to high. I also would have liked to see a 1/18th Mustang with a detailed Merlin but thats just a pipe dream I guess.

VMF115 wrote:
Like This

Oh man yes! Exactly what I'd love to see. A removeable tail section and exposed engine would be sweet! Great pic!

That is very nice VMF115. What great detail and perhaps the future of this business.

yappy wrote:Just a few thoughts and ideas here gleamed from previous forum posts.

I think we all agree there is little if anything we can do as 1/18 collectors that will influence new product development. We put together all these wish lists but it never really comes to fruition unless its already planned for production.

So what’s The Way Ahead over the next several years. Current and future enthusiasts will probably purchase 1ea of every new 1/18 airplane as they are released when they can find them on the market and maybe a repaint here and there. 1/18 will still be supported by buyers who dont want to pay more than $40 and those that will pay more for a premium airplane and those that buy both.

The companies will still push the repaints and the market will probably be saturated and maybe overstocked. Anybody looking to purchase a 5th Mustang (another repaint) for your collection next year?

I’d say sometime after you purchase your 6th airplane in 1/18 you realize that man these things are big. I finally took my 1/18 fleet and hung each one individually on the wall because my ceiling looked like a bat cave and I need more room for future releases. Like most of you I am to the point now if I have one type of 1/18 airplane I am not going to buy the exact same airplane with just a repaint. Hold hat thought for now

1/18 has a great opportunity to enter the niche of the traditional plastic Modeler. If you look at the modeling websites such as Large Scale Planes, Cybermodeler, Modeling Madness, Fine Scale Modeler etc. there are new reviews for 1/18 airplanes and 1/32 21C kits, pictures of modifications done to 1/18 scale aircraft and armor, forum questions about availability of after market photo etch and decals etc. There are positive comments about the scale, quality and the price compared to the more expensive traditional plastic models and even hype about the new F-4 Phantom.

Probably most significant are comments about bringing fresh air and marketing to the plastic modeling hobby if they continue to expand their range of models and distribution outlets (… sounds familiar) but to gain momentum in this market its going to take something more than just a pre-built ready-to-display plane straight from the box. If this niche is willing to pay $100 for a complex Trumpeter P-38 in 1/32 scale what do you think they would pay for a huge 1/18 scale P-38 that can be built and detailed.

So here are some product recommendations that I believe will give the 1/18 community the WOW (I-gotta-have-it) Factor, will appeal to the discriminating collector and the traditional plastic modeling community and provide additional sales opportunities to existing product lines.

1/18 Conversion Group Series (Premium Price)- Prepainted or sold with base paint scheme similar to the Admiral Toys Silver 86, with painted or unpainted cockpit. Can be painted to suit the builders need. Build one of many different variants out of the same box. Includes different conversion parts including interchangeable Props, cowlings, canopy, external stores and decal sheet. Motorized prop and lights?

1/18 Scale Combat Group Series - Build it ready-to-display right out of the box or build it as a Battle Scarred Veteran. Comes with extra battle damaged parts like damaged wing with exposed wig ribs, damaged rudder, aileron and or elevator. Can also be sold as a conversion plane (Premium Price).

1/18 Scale Phantom Series (Premium Price) – The ULTIMATE COLLECTIBLE and showcase for the 1/18 Scale. The first 1/18 manufacturer that builds this one will go down in history for setting a new standard.

Can be produced similar to the old (no longer in production) Monogram 1/48 Scale visible B-17 with port-side fuselage casting in clear plastic to see the fuselage detail inside or produced much like the motorized 1/32 scale Monogram Phantom Mustang Model (now produced by Revell).

The Phantom Series features would include a transparent fuselage and wings revealing the inner structure
of the airplane. Comes with electric motor to spin the propeller(s). The aircraft is mounted on a base that contains the batteries and controls for the engine. If you look at the 1/32 scale Phantom Mustang there really is not a significant amount of detail once the aircraft is built but it still is pretty tight.

I think that the acknowledgement of 1/18 as a new route in modeling is gaining gradual acceptance. I got back from an IPMS show and among a group of smaller German tanks and armor was a nicely repainted 1/18 Stuka. A lot of people were cursious about the 1/18 scale plane there and many were not aware such scales existed. I think good things are to evolve pretty soon. I think by next year, we'll see a more extensive selection of Armor/Planes and accessories as demand and awareness increases.

der Vogelfänger wrote:Yappy,

Excellent writings....my food-for-thought freezer is stocked for a long time!

Thanks,

dV

LOL!!!!!

i know of several modelers, besides myself who are taking apart 1/18 models to super detail them,

21st has even given a friend, their 1/18 ME-262 unassembled to super detail for IPMS nationals in California this year.
so there will be lots of modelers seeing 1/18 planes this year
it can only help us to get more people looking & buying.