Small Scale Military Headquarters

Spoke with Roy Sutherland from 21st toys today. He called me to address the recent concerns with the quality of the Bubbletops and S3 Fw-190D and wanted me to pass on some comments about it.

21C is well aware of the problem and is working proactively to solve it. The problem stems from the fact that there was a major fire in the factory just prior to these recent production runs. It's not clear exactly why but in the aftermath the quality control of the products from this factory has been poor. 21c hopes to have reruns of these products done by this factory.

Roy wanted me to assure everyone that the future quality of 21c products will be better than ever. They have been working hard to produce better and better items. (For the most part i think we have all seen this is true. Except for the bubbletop and s3 FW i think everyone has been pretty pleased with the stuff coming from 21st of late...i know i have).

So let's just look at this as a gliche in the system that won't be repeated. I know i have a lot of faith in and anticipation for the upcoming releases and i'm confident that quality control concerns will quickly become a thing of the past.

Now on to some news: No major revelations but a few tidbits.

Next airplane coming out is the F-104 followed shortly thereafter by the Avenger. Also in the first half of the year will be the F-86, MiG 15 and the Me-262. Other planes are in the works for the latter half of '05; no details given. The S1 paint scheme on the F-104 will be a USAF bird, the S1 Avenger scheme is the Atlantic version...there are at least two other paint schemes planned for the Avenger, the Me-262 will come with removable bomb racks and bombs so that a Sturmvogel fighter-bomber version can be created if desired.

There are two more Panzer IV repaints coming out....both will include side skirts! These have been tooled and will be included in the upcoming S2 and S3 versions. That's pretty cool. No other details of upcoming armour releases for '05 but i'm confident we'll see some stuff.

Japanese soldier figures are still in the works and will probably be released some time down the road. The new pilot figures coming with the new planes will have better articulation including ball jointed shouldlers, along the lines of BBI figures and will be stronger as well. The first of these new and improved figures will come with the F-104

In 1/32 news there is a bubbletop P-47 and an FW-190D coming out soon...other airplanes are planned as well in this scale. Also, there are a couple of cool surprises in store for this scale....no details given.

The new retooled P-51 will also be out in the next six months or so and aside from being stunning will feature some innovations not seen in 1/18 scale aircraft thus far.

The possibility of selling aircraft through a collector's club was discussed. These could include club exclusives which would be wholey new aircraft types (not just repaints) that, being less well known, would not fair as well in mass market sales but that would be highly desirable by collectors. Prices for these planes would naturally be somewhat higher as the number of units produced would be lower. So one day there may be an opportunity for us to get some of the planes we would love to see but have had little hope for thus far. Examples could include planes like the P-39, Arado 234 etc that are considered 'B' or even 'C' list planes that would probably not do as well in mass market as would be needed to justify a general release.

I think that's about it for now...

Good to hear they are aware of the problems.. I don't suppose we will qualify for returns to get the re-runs???

Did they say anything about the S2 109G??? I REALLY want that one..

Thanks Aferg!

I need that news. I've been thirsting for info for awhile now and am excited to hear about the new planes. Was starting to lose hope on the ME-262 and Im glad to hear we may see it after all. Did he hapen to mention anything about displays at 2005 New York Toy Show?

Thanks Andrew for the update!!! I hope the fan club gets a boost!

-Ski

Thanks for the great intel! Looks like I'll be spending a little more $$ in 2005. The Avenger, ME-262, F-86 and MiG-15 are deffinite musts! I'm so tempted by the F-104, but I really need to control myself in this hobby, which is going crazy!

Thanks Aferg...

Again, not much on figures and ground vehicles, so I'm not overly excited, but the news on the Japanese IS good. They need made at this point. 21st needs to just get it going on figures in general because they're about to be overrun if they don't I'm afraid.

Thanks that you did ask about new armor! I hope we will see some news in 2005. I don't collect any planes. Only armor and figures. I hope we will see an Abrams, Stug or Kingtiger this year. Japanes figures? I would prefer some US and German figures. About the product quality: You know the Panzer IV has no detailed interior and no removable turret. I don't know if this is a good sign for the EXTREME DETAIL Line.

Another thing I'd love to hear some news about...

What are they doing with those army builder packs? Like A) are they even being done still, and B) what were the figures inside gonna be like (removable helmets/hats? New style articulation? Etc.)?

I'd love to find out what's up with these because they're interesting ideas...

great news!!
now I can get started on planning my "Mig Alley" diorama...lol

I am a bit disappointed in the sort of brush aside it looks like the Japanese figures are getting. But other than that, I am thrilled. I like the fact that the 262 can go fighter or bomber style. The Avenger is just going to be a beast and I can't wait for it. The 104 is not a must own. Though, i think it will be cool and I will eventually buy one. What really has my attention is the Sabre Mig combo. This will most certainly be a must buy for me. Dad was a jet jockey flying that ship (Sabre not Mig) so I will want one to have done up for sentimental reasons. Also, I am intrigued by the idea of the fan club exclusives that would be really exclusive like the P-39 and so on--oh the posibilities. I think that if they doubled the price I would be there in a heartbeat for a rare bird that I like. Much more than double and it would have to be one damn ultra spectacular model of a plane that looks drop dead gorgeous.
Aaron

Thanks for the update and great information! Of everything that was mentioned, the Club exclusives are the best idea 21st has had in a long time, IMO. With bbi, Dusty Trails, Power Team, now in the mix, it would be foolish for 21st to not "exploit" the hundreds - thousands? - of collecters who are on their club rosters. With all we've experienced from 21st in the past and present, they are frankly no longer my first choice for purchase; but if they were make available some truely unique and different pieces that other manufacturers wouldn't tackle, 21st would be getting a lot more of my 1:18 money. At the very, VERY least, they should make available to the club some of the protypes we've seen.

And ball-jointed shoulders are a good move forward, too. Looks like more aircraft I'll have to buy, just for the pilots!

Great news. I'm glad to see 21C keeping intel coming through Aferg.

I actually think the best news is not the products, but the fact the fan club man finally get some respect. This could turn out to be the best thing 21C could do.

Dang. No mention of an F-4 at all. Maybe BBI will be the first to take this one on.

vulgarvulture wrote:Dang. No mention of an F-4 at all. Maybe BBI will be the first to take this one on.

My understanding of this was that the plane would be too heavy to produce with the amount of plastic required. Looking and holding the F-18 makes me believe it, unfortunately. The F-4 would be the biggest plane made; the actual aircraft is 5 feet longer than the F-18............

-Ski

Hey, I got a logical choice for them to start club exclusives - the Kubelwagen. They already have the molds, those things don't go cheap on eBay, so there must be demand - C'MON!!!!! They've already improved and rereleased the Willy, can't we get the Kubelwagen now?

I agree a good fan site would be great. More people are online and more people collect than three years ago so I think it is due for a revival. How nice would it be to get info from the "horse's mouth" rather than from BCA, or through a 2d hand conversation? It would be awesome.

I would think they are considering releasing the Kubel again - as you said: there is demand, we only got one version, and they got the mold. I wouldn't be surprised to see that by year end.

How was the Willy's improved aside the figure (I should know this, I have both)?

Oh, and as for exclusives or high-end pieces - COUNT ME IN!

AFerguson: thanks so much for taking the time to apprise the board of your chat with the Yoda of 21C. Your idea of a 21C Collectors' Club selling "rare birds" is very appealling. Please tell Roy I want a P-39 Airacobra, P-61 Black Widow, F4F Wildcat,
SBC Helldiver, Junkers Ju-88, and Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank).
Tell him I want them NOW NOW NOW!
I want my toys! Waaaaaaaaaah!

Aferguson, great news and thanks also thanks to Mr. Sutherland for the intel. I can now tell my Father-in -law that his Avenger is coming out soon. I told him months ago about 21st's Avenger. He thought He'd have it by his birthday, then Christmas.... so like the rest of us He has to wait. Just hope it comes out soon cause He flew in them during the war so ya know He's not getting any younger. Oh His ship was the USN Hornet..........
Looks like I'll have to get out my airbrush and give it a Pasific USN color scheme

That fan club thing is cool, but how about armor and ground vehicles included in that. I'm not that big on planes, but I would get them if they are offered.

I second that Kubelwagen idea. They could give us that one with the top up in centone unproduced archive.

Also I too would like to know where the stand on the troop builder sets. If they are a go or not? If so, when? I would love to get a set with many figures.

The figures are a must. I hope we see the Japanese figures with the Marines. That is what hurt 21st C the first time, IMO. Coming out with BOB figures and not the being able to release the German counter parts, but we have many to thank for that problem. Stuff was so much simpler when TRU was getting XD stuff, but we got better prices with WM. Maybe if 21st C would have done what they are doing now (multiple repaint at one time with many items) back then, TRU would have had a back bone and told the people that didn't like it to stick it.

I have an idea for the fan club, one work Vietnam. Didn't the 2-pack figures they had a while back sell well? I know they were the tanker and Mutt driver, but they were good figures. I think they would sell better today if they add the para/bob articulation. What do you think?

momaw nadon

How about a Kubelwagon in the tan "summer" cammo (to match the Tiger and SDK-251 already in those colors) like the one seen in the background of some of the toyfair pictures?

It's good to hear that future releases of new armoured items isn't dead.

I always enjoy the updates-Thanks Roy and Aferg. Some things to look forward to. I think there would be interest in some fan club exclusives. Especially if they were unusual planes and not repaints of existing models. Still would love to see an A-10!

A Club release may be the only way to get a Zero.

After all seems like we all will get at least one.

Ill buy anything Pacific, P-39, F4F, SBD, L-5.
Hell, Ill even add on to the house for a P-61.