Would a 1/32 B-17 sell at WM?

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:08 am

TKO mentioned that someday 21C could make a B-17 in 1/32 at a $50 price point. Question is, if they attempted to move these at WM would they sell or sit and gather dust?

I say they would sell. In my AO 1/32 seems to move fairly well; they seem to get a case of 6 AC in at a time. I grab my one and the others seem to move within the week, so we have some sleeper collectors out there. I think WM could sell the Fortress at WM; lord knows I would get one of each scheme.

Jagdpanther · Post by **Jagdpanther** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:01 pm

Im sure they would. And I would definitely buy one, but we can dream about that day.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:02 pm

In my area, at least, it would sell among only a general audience, with perhaps only a limited appeal to the broader mass of consumers. Thus I think a few of the planes would sell, however if truckloads were ordered (as often seems to be the case with Wal Mart) then they would have the sales potential of the Avenger.

Veterans, aviation buffs, historians, collectors and the like would immediately recognize the plane and get it. However, the majority of people in my community, especially those going into Wal Mart, know next to nothing about US history, if they can even speak proper English! A 1:32 B-17 would be the same as a 1:18 Bf-109 which is the same as an F-104. Something that perhaps catches interest if they need to get a present for their child, but which at $50, already costs too much to spend their precious few earnings on.

Now, perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on my fellow citizens. Yet, when you have to teach college students about who Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were because they had no idea such people existed, and you see parents directing their kid away from the 21c products to some cheap "Homies" car/bike crap as the 21c items cost too much, it gives you an idea of what their mentality is like...

I won't get into the distribution system, or the hoarders/ ebay sellers that would further limit the supply.

So in conclusion, the plane would proabaly sell just like any other product 21c makes

rmoore456 · Post by **rmoore456** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:28 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:In my area, at least, it would sell among only a general audience, with perhaps only a limited appeal to the broader mass of consumers. Thus I think a few of the planes would sell, however if truckloads were ordered (as often seems to be the case with Wal Mart) then they would have the sales potential of the Avenger.

Veterans, aviation buffs, historians, collectors and the like would immediately recognize the plane and get it. However, the majority of people in my community, especially those going into Wal Mart, know next to nothing about US history, if they can even speak proper English! A 1:32 B-17 would be the same as a 1:18 Bf-109 which is the same as an F-104. Something that perhaps catches interest if they need to get a present for their child, but which at $50, already costs too much to spend their precious few earnings on.

Not so much them ordering boatloads as their distribution. One store gets dozens and others nothing.

Ray

Now, perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on my fellow citizens. Yet, when you have to teach college students about who Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were because they had no idea such people existed, and you see parents directing their kid away from the 21c products to some cheap "Homies" car/bike crap as the 21c items cost too much, it gives you an idea of what their mentality is like...

I won't get into the distribution system, or the hoarders/ ebay sellers that would further limit the supply.

So in conclusion, the plane would proabaly sell just like any other product 21c makes

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:43 pm

Yes indeed! I think us guys in the forum would buy every one that showed up at Walmart.

B-24Sharky · Post by **B-24Sharky** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:46 pm

I'd buy quite a few B-17s, but would buy every B-24 scheme if they would give us one.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:47 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:In my area, at least, it would sell among only a general audience, with perhaps only a limited appeal to the broader mass of consumers. Thus I think a few of the planes would sell, however if truckloads were ordered (as often seems to be the case with Wal Mart) then they would have the sales potential of the Avenger.

Veterans, aviation buffs, historians, collectors and the like would immediately recognize the plane and get it. However, the majority of people in my community, especially those going into Wal Mart, know next to nothing about US history, if they can even speak proper English! A 1:32 B-17 would be the same as a 1:18 Bf-109 which is the same as an F-104. Something that perhaps catches interest if they need to get a present for their child, but which at $50, already costs too much to spend their precious few earnings on.

Now, perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on my fellow citizens. Yet, when you have to teach college students about who Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were because they had no idea such people existed, and you see parents directing their kid away from the 21c products to some cheap "Homies" car/bike crap as the 21c items cost too much, it gives you an idea of what their mentality is like...

I won't get into the distribution system, or the hoarders/ ebay sellers that would further limit the supply.

So in conclusion, the plane would proabaly sell just like any other product 21c makes

Tough day Tman?

Last night in WM I was pleased to note that there was no "Homies" merchandise on the shelves, but then I saw what had to be a sign of the coming apocalypse: A woman in her thirties was wearing a "Homies" sweatshirt.

You can imagine how square I looked in my shirt, tie, slacks and loafers next to this fashion goddess.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:53 pm

No way. Put all that work into making 1:32 Lightnings and Mosquitoes instead.

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 5:13 pm

Maybe they could test the" waters" with a 1/32 B-25

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:26 pm

I am all for one, and I am damn sure I would buy multiples. Ah yes, my own little section of a thousand plane raid. I already have a formation of 262s in the classroom. Ok, I will need to come off of my imaginary high.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 6:31 pm

My area seems to sell really well. I know I have competition. I don't know who, besides my friend's dad who has pretty much every 1:18 and 1:32 aircraft made by 21C. But I usually go to the different WMs every week or sometimes more, and 32x sells. There were about 6 Berlin Express P-51Cs at my local WM, and in a week or so they're gone. I got mine while I could. Glad I did. The only Red B 262 sold in a few days. All but 3 of the Me-109Es are sold. The stuff that sits, unfortunately, is the 1:18 figures and the 1:6th weapons packs. I buy 1:18 figures, but I've got almost all the ones in the series at WM, except the ones I didn't want.

The other WM in my immediate AO sold every friggin' one of those blasted overstocked Tarheel Hals and winter Me-109Fs in a month... So I'm betting it would sell, at least here.

corpbob · Post by **corpbob** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:55 pm

If they kept the price below $50, preferably below $40, they would sell like 21st wouldn't believe................. The B-17 is one of those planes that catches even the non-aviation fan's eye.

KAMIKAZE · Post by **KAMIKAZE** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:48 pm

I would buy some. I would rather have a few twin engine planes.

Mark

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:59 pm

I'm not speaking from experience here - we don't get 21C in Canadian Wal-Marts - but if there were 1:32 B-17s on the shelf, I'm sure that they'd sell well enough. They'd take up an a$$load of shelf space though! I don't know if Wal-Mart would find 'em profitable enough to 1) keep large numbers of them in stock and/or 2) to keep them in stock if they sell out.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:59 pm

People around here stop and admire the big 21st stuff but they just don't buy it. There are tons of retirement communities around here and scores of WWII vets, but most of them have no interest in big static models.
The big thing here for the old timers is RC aircraft. My local hobbyshop sells tons of RC planes and supplies and just about every flyer is 70+.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:13 am

Rowsdower wrote:People around here stop and admire the big 21st stuff but they just don't buy it. There are tons of retirement communities around here and scores of WWII vets, but most of them have no interest in big static models.
The big thing here for the old timers is RC aircraft. My local hobbyshop sells tons of RC planes and supplies and just about every flyer is 70+.

My only hope is they can fly better than they park a car! Today I almost asked an elderly gentleman if he wanted my help in getting out of his parking spot; it was like an eight point manuever...

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:27 am

I really can't picture WM shoppers having any interest in such a large and specialized product. As noted it would take up a lot of shelf space (or require a LOT of assembly)and it would be too big for children to haver any real hope of playing with it. It would be a "collectors" item, and even then it would have a small niche.
But it would be a great model but given that 1/32 fighters are $15.00 I can't imagine it going for less than $100, with crew an additional $75. At least not if it afforded any decent detail at all....

Col.Pickle · Post by **Col.Pickle** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:34 am

I agree with itcbj. Most people wouldn't have the interest enough to fork out the cash. And besides I think it would end up costing like $75 which would put most non-collectors off for sure. It would be cool though...

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:44 am

i have little doubt there will be one some day made by somebody. Figariti have one coming out but it's nearly $1K if i recall.

digger · Post by **digger** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 11:21 am

This would be a big seller. After the recent BCA post and from the way companies are cranking out 1/32, it is clearly FAR more popular than 1:18 right now. A 32x B-17 would fit in a 1:18 Avenger box and while I doubt it would cost only $50, I imagine it would be a huge hit. I could even see some strict 1:18 guys jumping on it just because it would have the impressive size that keeps people stuck on 1:18. That, and it would never happen in 1:18 anyway...

I voted yes although with WM you never know. I just think it would sell somewhere - TRU, online, etc..

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:24 pm

Does that $1K include bombs?

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:52 pm

I think a Fortress has the same curb appeal as a Mustang; everyone can recognize one immediately, even if they are not a war buff. I think this alone makes it a good bet to sell. Many would move because someone sees it and decides they just have to have it.

Isn't that how most of us got into this hobby? Saw something and just couldn't resist the itch?

ltcbj · Post by **ltcbj** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:21 pm

I wonder. Given the really poor public education, lack of historical context and general self-absorption of today's youth I suspect that the the B-17 is even less recognizable than the P-51 to someone who can't find India on a map.
We're in a pretty select, and self-selected at that, group here but out in the world I strongly doubt the desire for, based upon recognition of, the B-17 exists.

olifant · Post by **olifant** » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:34 pm

ltcbj wrote:I wonder. Given the really poor public education, lack of historical context and general self-absorption of today's youth I suspect that the the B-17 is even less recognizable than the P-51 to someone who can't find India on a map.
We're in a pretty select, and self-selected at that, group here but out in the world I strongly doubt the desire for, based upon recognition of, the B-17 exists.

Maybe the kids don't, but I think adults do. At work I interact with everyone from MBAs, programmers, consultants, engineers, machine operators, truck drivers and janitors. I bet that 75% of them watch the history channel. Recently I have found that these programs get as much talk around the water cooler as MNF. Perhaps this is some strange regional phenomenon but somehow I doubt it.