Small Scale Military Headquarters

Seeing as the 1/18 forum is ready to boil over with resentment with the price increase on the new 21C KT and 88MM I thought I would come to the cool and calm oasis of the 1/32 forum where we can count our blessings. A veritable cornucopia of pieces, more repaints than you can shake a stick at, a new release every month recently, constantly improving quality and rock steady prices. Things are so damn good we can turn our collective noses up at new 1/32 Chinese figures!

Ahhhh, life is good here in small scale land.

olifant wrote:Seeing as the 1/18 forum is ready to boil over with resentment with the price increase on the new 21C KT and 88MM I thought I would come to the cool and calm oasis of the 1/32 forum where we can count our blessings. A veritable cornucopia of pieces, more repaints than you can shake a stick at, a new release every month recently, constantly improving quality and rock steady prices. Things are so damn good we can turn our collective noses up at new 1/32 Chinese figures!

Ahhhh, life is good here in small scale land.

Hear, hear!! Exactly why I "defected" over a year ago.....1)Less space required, 2) Availability, and 3) Cost.

Since 1/32 has become more detailed (look at the Bf-109 Wespe/Wasp of 1.5 years ago vs. Fw-190A of today) this scale is a very comfortable choice. All we need now, IMHO, are some twin engine types; Bf-110, Mosquito, P-38!!, He-111(probably never), Ju-88, SkyKing's Bobcat and/or 310 (just kidding ). The atmosphere is just right for a twin to (FINALLYYYYYYYY) appear!!

dV

(..and yes, I do have 1/32 armor, too!!!!...there, I finally said "it" )

The detail on the 1/32 really has improved, hasn't it? Does anyone suspect there will ba a dumping of 1/18 now as collectors scale down?

That is "be a dumping". I don't know what "ba" anything would be.... heh heh heh

the cool and calm oasis of the 1/32 forum where we can count our blessings. A veritable cornucopia of pieces, more repaints than you can shake a stick at, a new release every month recently, constantly improving quality and rock steady prices.

I guess the cat is out of the bag now.... I believe the future holds even better things for 1:32, stay tuned.

Does anyone suspect there will ba a dumping of 1/18 now as collectors scale down?

Just the opposite, as Ebay prices have shown. As 1/18 releases become fewer and fewer and an increasing number of collectors worldwide search for older releases, the prices will continue to go up.

aktiger wrote:

Does anyone suspect there will ba a dumping of 1/18 now as collectors scale down?

Just the opposite, as Ebay prices have shown. As 1/18 releases become fewer and fewer and an increasing number of collectors worldwide search for older releases, the prices will continue to go up.

I predict a peasant's revolt. Storming the Bastille type stuff. Homies burning parties in the WM parking lot. Frankenstein movie torches and pitchforks in front of 21C HQ. Cats and dogs living in harmony. Reverend Wright winning a Nobel. Dark times to come in 1/18th. Glad to be a dual scalist!

So you think that "dual scaling" will save you? You will be the first to go under the new regime....

You will be the first to go under the new regime....

Would you like a cigarette and blindfold before we proceed...?? LOL

this thread has a 'methinks thee doth protest too much' feel to it. A bunch of people, frustrated by their tiny toys, trying to convince themselves they're happy, by convincing others.

frustrated by their tiny toys, trying to convince themselves they're happy

Statistics show it aint' the "size" that matters...it's how you use it..LOL

My thousands of 1/285s will bring down your dinosaurlike 1/18s like army ants scour the jungle floor.

I'v got collections going in 32, 72, 144, and 18 scales, so whenever one slows down there's something else coming on to pick up the pace!

1/18 is tiny compared to my 1/6 scale stuff.

and I'm running 285, 144, 72, 48.50, and 32. I've got to find out what's in the water....

ostketten wrote:

You will be the first to go under the new regime....

Would you like a cigarette and blindfold before we proceed...?? LOL

I regret that I have but one life to live for this hobby...

1/32 is really going well and I don't consider these tiny by any means. In the last year alone I remember us getting:

F-4 Phantom
38T
MarderIII
MarderIIIM
Panther re-release
Stuart re-release
KT Porsche turret
Sherman dozer upgrade
155MM Artillery
8in. Artillery
Firefly
DAK figures
Italian figures
New Mustang D mold
Mustang B/C
FW-190A
Stuka/Maachi re-release
Zero/Corsair re-release
ME-262 re-release X2
Spitfire coming soon
Dauntless coming soon
Wildcat coming soon

Wow, that is one hell of a list. Am I missing any?

give, not live.

aferguson wrote:this thread has a 'methinks thee doth protest too much' feel to it. A bunch of people, frustrated by their tiny toys, trying to convince themselves they're happy, by convincing others.

Denial is the first sign of the problem Aferg..
You just can't see the writing on the wall that 1/18 is a dying horse..
Many have come over and you can too, but don't wait too long or you'll be missing out on some really good stuff..


Come'on Aferg.. Take the plunge....

ostketten wrote:Statistics show it aint' the "size" that matters...it's how you use it..LOL

Can you say 16 points of articulation? I don't think so..

Ha ha.. anyway yes 1:32 land is clearly rockin right now.

Can you say 16 points of articulation? I don't think so..

Well, you've got me there Grunt.. It's interesting that you should mention "points of articulation" because I think figures may be the one facet of 1:18 collecting that will actually see an increase in new products and relatively stable prices. From that perspective I suppose you could say there is something of a "Silver Lining" in the looming dark cloud.

I recall that original Star Wars figures had as few as four points of articulation.

aferguson wrote:give, not live.

I know, I am not going to die for my toys though...

You don't die for your toys. Your toys die for you.....

If 1:32 figures had at least 4 points of articulation...I'd be ALL OVER 1:32!!
The ONLY thing keeping me out of completely collecting 1:32...is articulation.

One can hope that just as 1/18 scale troopers have evolved in their articulation so may 1/32. I suspect that the articulation joints simply become more fragile as the scale diminishes. With constantly improving manufacturing processes someone is going to arrive at a sturdy way to achieve this.
I have always felt that with more and greater articulation the actual play value gives way to "posing" and imagination becomes less and less part of play. I remember when my little (~1/32) cowboys, Indians & soldiers gathered around the mess table I'd just lean them against the table and that was it. Today I need little chairs so I can properly sit them down and can place some of their elbows on the table in a paean to bad manners and put little silverware in their little kung-fu grip fingers and before I know it what once took 30 seconds and simply added a little "real life" to my play has now taken 45 minutes and I am bored stiff. Too much detail in toys can destroy their play value.
That is one of the reasons I love the 21stC 1/32 vehicles. I used to build 1/35 models to play with. All the tiny details, lights, tools, accessories- each of which had to be carefully glued on and then easily broke off in play were a big frustration. Then 21stC came along, had all the detail one needed for play and the tracks rolled too. Too much exacting detail can ruin play and overwhelm imagination.
I see photos of members collections carefully placed on shelves for display and realize that kids, the people for whom these toys were originally meant, are gonna need a new set of toys soon because not only are adults with their deeper pocketbooks buying up and raising the prices on these toys, we're also demanding (and getting) greater detail and complexity and moving them out of the realm of "toy" and into that of "collectible." I look at 21stC's new Marder and it looks more breakable than playable- especially when compared to their original Tiger or later Panther.
I'm old and running out breath.....