Small Scale Military Headquarters

Well, with Hobby Master 1:72 ground offerings approaching the $35-40 mark and Dragon 1:72 ground offerings approaching the $30-35 mark it's about time to bid adieu to buying any of those products not on sale.

Tell me about it Pak. I just started collecting about a month ago and I found the best way to buy is from fellow members, sales or secondary markets. It seems the prices are jumping for such a little amount of metal.

Agreed. I'd like to get the new Hobbymaster M-18 Hellcat, but at $40, its really almost too steep for something so small. But I haven't completely backed off yet and I will have to go see if my local Hobbytown has them in. I just got a $5 off coupon, which will help somewhat...

1/32 is certainly more bang for the buck. Tough to drop $35 on a 4" tank.

I agree with other collectors sentiment.

I used to buy all 1/72 armors. But, as 1/72 armors reached $25+ mark, I had completely stopped buying them. I just cannot justify paying so much for them.

I have used the following comparison against one 1/72 armor ($25+):
Corgi 1/72 Stuka ($25-$30) Stuka is a better buy
HM Phantom ($40-$60). Are two 1/72 armors worth 1 HM Phantom? Phantom is a better buy
Loose FOV 1/32 armors ($20-$60). No contest.

Presently, I am only looking forward to Panzerstahl Flak 88s.

That is how much FOV 1:32nd cost when they foirst came out. We all feel your pain of the rising prices. I saw some of the new FOV 1:32nd at $70 for a light tank.

Totally agree with everyone here especially Tparkhere,

I collect planes and armor and I now make the very same comparisons and think planes gives a better bang for the buck, though planes are also rising in costs by the same margins too

I'm so regretting not getting more Dragon Armors before my local dealer called it quits, their prices then I consider a steal now

Well just wait a couple of years. The price tends to be below €15 then. At least that is what I do

And by other brands like Altaya and Easy model. Not as good but still nice.

Cunha

Got the Hobbymaster M-18 yesterday for about $28 at my local hobbyshop. Its a nice little tank. Again, I had some coupons and discounts that I used. Beat buying it online and having to pay shipping on top of the already high price.

I can only rationalize up to about $30 for a nicely finished 1/72 tank.

The new $35+ prices on the M18 Hellcat make me sad. But not sad enough to buy it, just sad enough to wait around for a $20 Alataya/Warmaster/whatever.

Just getting back into diecast collecting, I've been buying planes. I've found the prices a little high, but on the flip side I'm also finding that a lot of these planes are very limited in number made. Sometimes it's a very low production number. Not even close to say the 5000 run of a 21stC plane. I've found them as low as 800 total made. That's low. When they sell out they are very hard to find, and the prices don't go down on the secondary market, and sometimes they bring ridiculous amounts just like the large plastic ones I used to buy.

The detail is very much improved compared to the ones I bought just 5 years or so ago. Collectors are more picky in that regard, but we have to pay for it.
I thought that my decision to buy a butt load of 21stC was a wise choice, but I'm finding that some of these little diecast planes are turning out to be a good investment also. Just like anything you have to be selective in what you buy, but at least when I find out how rare some of them are becoming I don't have buyers remorse.

It also satisfies my hunter-gatherer instincts to track down the ones I want. When 21stC went belly up there was a void in my life, but now the thrill of the hunt is on again.