Small Scale Military Headquarters

21st Century Toys announced a new scale today. Product is already on the way to stores.

Cool, I really like that 1/48th scale P-51B Mustang. Any chance 21st Century might make the P-51B in 1/18th scale?

1/48th scale really opens the door for large aircraft like bombers. I hope they make a B-17 or B-24 in this scale.

Yep, for some reason I like the B model better than the D. Maybe it's because of the 1/32 balsa/paper model I built in Middle School. At any rate, the B would kick ass in 1/18.

What's cool is that this scale in some ways has already started - there are a variety of vehicles in WM already, and some can still be had at BCA for $5 each which is a pretty good deal.
Not my cup of tea but better than 1/12 which really bothers me...whew..

The picture of the 1/48th scale P-51B on the 21st Century web site looks great.

I just love 1:48th scale planes. I have 2 Amour B-17s and a Liberator. This will go great with them. I do hope they make a couple of bombers as well. Maybe this is where the “Big Boys” line will go.

Sorry if I sound a little bit negative here but unless you really hate to build your own. 1/48 is a very popular scale for model airplanes, and thier are a few 1/48 bombers out there. I was hoping we would see them in 1/32 scale or bigger personally.

Is 1:48 the same scale (or at least roughly) as the various Kubelwagens and other support vehicles that are at most Walmarts right now in non-21C boxes with 21C colors?

grunt1 wrote:Is 1:48 the same scale (or at least roughly) as the various Kubelwagens and other support vehicles that are at most Walmarts right now in non-21C boxes with 21C colors?

yup.

I like the bigger scales. Model companies like Tamiya already have this scale covered very well. I would much rather see them put the same effort into expanding existing lines.

Mark

Wow, I'm very impressed with the 1/48th scale P-51B Mustang. And its a B Model!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

You know something 21st seems to impress me more and more. They won me over with their Bunker Hill F4U, Their new tool Mustang and now this.


As lord Vader would say,

"Impressive, most impressive"

It's about damn time they made a B model P-51, even if it is only in tiny scale. Maybe this will translate into 32x and XD sometime soon. And, yes, I hope this will usher the way for big bombers.

Also, go figure. I used to build 1/48 models with my students and then hang them from the ceiling in my classroom. Then, I went to hanging up only 32x planes because I got to busy to stay after school and build with the kids--and the price was right. For 5 dollars less than I could buy a decent kit, I got the plane done glued and painted. Now, I am just going to give up and have a mixed scale air force on my ceiling.
Aaron

Personally I'm not a fan of 1/48th. Fixed landing gear and canopy (opened or closed) and non functioning control surfaces. Maybe the propellers spin! Why not go to 1/72nd? Larger selection that exists and easier to store.
No thanks. I will stick to 1/18 and 1/32.

aktiger wrote:Personally I'm not a fan of 1/48th. Fixed landing gear and canopy (opened or closed) and non functioning control surfaces. Maybe the propellers spin! Why not go to 1/72nd? Larger selection that exists and easier to store.
No thanks. I will stick to 1/18 and 1/32.

Quote from 21st:

21st Century Toys proudly introduces the first releases in the all new 1:48 scale product line. Shown here is the P-51B Mustang
and Bf-109G-10. Each of these highly detailed airplanes are provided with alternate position landing gear and canopies suitable for display of the model in flight or on the ground. Look for these exciting new releases on toy shelves in the next few weeks. This new scale promises to be the best quality and detail in this scale with a focus on value. Good luck and happy hunting!

Landing gear work along with open/closed canopy.. Looks like the same options as with 32x..

On July 17th I was at a walmart 2mins east of Jacksonville Airport Fla on Duval Rd and saw 1/48th Kumbelwagons, Schimwagons and 3/4 ton Dodge trucks. I don't collect this scale but I've got to say the detail on these was Very good. More nice work from 21st, keep it coming.

I started with FM 1:48 scale aircraft and deiced that I like the 1:18 scale much better

Jericoeagle1:

Sorry if I sound a little bit negative here but unless you really hate to build your own. 1/48 is a very popular scale for model airplanes, and thier are a few 1/48 bombers out there. I was hoping we would see them in 1/32 scale or bigger personally.

Agreed. I've already built just about every 1:48 bomber, and a few other 'odd' 1:48 a/c, like the P-61. Oh well. I'm quite happy with 1:18. Very happy, in fact. And looking forward to the day someone comes to their senses and makes a F-4 or A-10.

Always glad to see new product, even if it's not a scale I will pursue. If they make the P-51B in 1:32 or 1:18 then I'll go for it.

(sighs loudly)...so...um...did we really...you know...jeeze (shrugs, looks so weary as to perhaps weep)...this is just...how to phrase it...did we really NEED 1/48 scale airplanes from 21st?

Every time they put the same stuff out in another scale, it's just...my god, what's next? A cunning plan to produce P-51s and BF-109s in 1/72nd scale? 24 repaints of each? Because no one makes model kits of those! No one is already making toys of those!

I guess this is the well-thought-out strategy of a totally boss toy company that is rewriting the book on military toys, but my goodness...

Is it all 40 year olds who want to decorate their home office with P-51s in every scale imaginable?

Is there still any neighborhood at all left in the USA where a kid with a 1/18 scale P-51 is chasing another kid carrying a 1/18 scale BF-109 around the yard and thinking, wow if he had an ME-110 in 1/18 scale wouldn't that be cool?

Is anyone still playing with stuff? Using their imaginations?

It's like the action figure world in general. Increasingly, it's all statues, plaques, maquettes, busts, replica props and other crap that has nothing to do with realistic little poseable people with accessories they can hold, vehicles they can sit in, and buildings to stand around in. 21st still has one toe on this base but the leadoff they are taking toward reinventing the work of every model company in the world is getting pretty profound.

Obviously I am fondest of the 1/18 scale line. If you've been giving up sleep because there wasn't a 1/48 scale Mustang on your Walmart's shelves then god bless you, it's the dawn of a new and enchanting world for you and I wish you all the best.

I am cautiously optomistic about the XD line. In armor for 2006 (or 2007, 2008, 2009...*cough* avenger), so far we have seen one ok and one completely awesome rework of two of their best vehicles to date; the halftracks. We've got a much needed artillery piece coming, but unless it comes with a couple of figures and lots of accessories, if it's anything more than a $10 blister carded item it's kind of shady. I am still amazed by the F-104. 21st has gotten their aircraft stuff together in spades and with Admiral and BBI also pushing themselves, we're getting some fantastic innovations. It looks liek figures are startign to come out in healthy numbers again, and with much more to offer than before, with the still tricky problem of not falling apart (Herr BF-109G pilot, F-104 dude, you know I'm talking about you guys and your legs).

I'd love to see 21st get into wargaming. Since they're probably going to branch out into 1/72 anyway, or even 1/285, come up with a cool wargame set with addons that one could buy at walmart, kind of like Heroscape. Wargames are getting bigger in Europe but it'd be nice to go into a..gulp..Walmart (ick) and buy a wargame set with a bunch of prepainted troops and vehicles in 1/72 or 1/144 and some terrain, and a board and rules.

I am glad to see a B model mustang. I am sure the 1/48 and 1/144 scale stuff will be really cool..I hope it makes 21st a ton of cash and provides an opportunity for their employees to derive a rich and satisfying experience doing what they love. I hope people love the toys. I would love to see great tradition of 1/18 scale stuff continue vigorously and legitimately.

If there is a market for them to sell it and make a profit then i say go for it. Maybe it will translate to bigger projects in the bigger scales at a future time. I have always loved the 1/48 scale but have lost time to build the models i have always wanted. 1/18th is my fave but if the model is right I’ll buy it.

yea I agree with the negative. I already collect 1/32 and 1/35 models. 1/48 is just too much.

and the p51B and FINALLY a non E 109 but in the wrong scale, go back and make the 1/32 molds and they will sell.

FOV needs to hurry up and do a S2 of their 109G