BBI - Blue Box Toys Information Q&A (Mike)

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:42 pm

aferguson wrote:Mike wrote:

"To all
Thank you for your comments regarding our showroom display from the recent Toy Fair in New York.
This event is known as the Fall Show and was started 2 years ago as an event for major retailers to preview proposed new product for consideration for the following Fall.
The show held in February of each year in NYC is intended to display products that are confirmed for release in the Fall of that year and are available to all retail outlets. "

Mike,

So if I understand and "see" this correctly, we might be able to start eating again in February....

Thanks for the information Mike.

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:50 pm

Mike wrote:

" for Birddog
if you really are on a hunger strike then you will not make it to next February and thus will never know"

How's that for a real time response?

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:55 pm

Pretty dang good timing...

Mike,

Should I take you up on the soup offer.........

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 8:20 pm

Mike wrote:

"wait and see"

coreystinson · Post by **coreystinson** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:12 pm

holensock wrote:Will you also be getting the new Marauder set?

I'd like to carry any 1:18 scale articulated military action figures that are available to specialty retailers.

If you mean the Merill's Marauder's set (from 21st Century), I do not know if I will be able to get my hands on these. Might be TRU exclusives but I will inquire. I generally prefer not to carry big boxed set items because these do not sell as well via mail order - they are intended more to be impressive at brick n' mortar retail. However, if this is the only way to get those figures then I'll of course get some (if available).

KAMIKAZE · Post by **KAMIKAZE** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 10:38 am

Mike your just a big tease. Do it again.

Mark

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 12:47 pm

Yea, I've had girlfriends that weren't as bad as you are mike. Which begs the question, "Will JericoEagle spend more money on BBI products?".

"Wait and See"

...I just couldn't resist.

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 8:42 pm

Mike,

Would a 1/18 F-8 Crusader cost more than a Hellcat or zero to develop and produce and tool, yet cost less to develop the 1/18 hornet and falcon?

Just wondering, since a 1/18 MIG master would be awesome.

And for that matter would costs for a 1/18 F-14 for development, tooling and production be astronomically higher than the hornet an falcon?

And, are there any more planes in the 20$ pricepoint aside the A-10 coming for targets' combat command line?

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:42 am

Sounds to me like Mike's saying that the Hellcat might be available next fall, not in February. Of course I hope I'm wrong - did anyone else interpret his statement the same way I did?

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:24 pm

naw he's being cryptic again.

I think he was mainly saying that in response to the A-10. As in the stuff we see in fall toyfair is a prelude to the realdeal stuff we see in febuary. Since the Hellcat is already displayed with box and all I imagine it is near ready for production. Remember the corsair came out of nowhere a while back. So I think he was trying to say, if an A-10 1/18 realistic scale toy is shown in febuary then it is a definite go for the fall.

Since the hellcat looks about done, I would think it would hit at spring 06 at the latest, I would not be surprised if we saw it a little before or after x mas to be honest.

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:28 pm

to borrow a line from Mike:

"wait and see".............

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 3:58 pm

Yes, yes...(rubbing hands together) as Mike would say..."Wait and see, yes wait and see!!!" (maniacal laughing and drooling)

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 8:37 pm

True, but I crafted my questions as to not get a wait and see answer...hhehe.

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:22 am

Mike wrote:

"for Shin Densetsu

I would imagine the Creusder would be a similar development cost to the Falcon.
I can't answer you on a Hellcat as we don't have one but the Crusader would certainly be more than Zero.

I have no doubt the F-14 Tomcat would be more expensive that the Hornet or Falcon..it is larger and the swing wing, swinging front vanes and complex undercarriage would certainly add to the production cost.

There are new "aircraft" planned for introduction into the Target line for 2006...one for Spring and one for Fall.

For Jericoeagloe1
No comment from me regarding co-operation from your old girlfriends...as for your "wait and see"...well, I'm patient.

for Kamikaze.
Thank you."

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:25 am

Mike wrote:

"for Shin Densetsu in the Q&A post
reference "Since the Hellcat was displayed with a box..."
not quite sure where you have seen any Hellcat box in the images that were posted of our showroom.
I was there, and in fact I set up the showroom, and did not see a Hellcat box anywhere.
Must be wishful thinking on your part. "

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:13 pm

Wow! The glove vanes are only used on the F-14A, but deleted on the F-14B/D. So if you guys eventually make a tomcat, making the later models might save you money since you would not need the glove vane mechanism at all!

But the notion of you guys even wanting to implement it in an F-14A(if you guys decide to make one), is awesome! I and I am sure many other collectors, did not see that coming! Talk about attention to detail!

BTW are the "aircraft" you mention jets or helicopters? And being that I liked the A-10 and fighters even more, do you think I will like the upcoming aircraft? Also will they be sleeker than the CC A-10? And are sales for combat command in target doing better than expected?

I know that the demand for the phantom and tomcat and some WWII birds is much higher than the crusader, but is there anyone amongst the BBI team who desperately wants to work on a Crusader?
I know it may be more "obscure" per se, but it is a famous plane and a downright beautiful one if I may add!

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:11 pm

Hey Mike,

When you mention new aircraft for the "Target" line, are you talking about
aircraft like the A-10 that is currently at Target?

Thanks,

AndyVW

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:27 pm

yes he is..

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 5:23 pm

Mike wrote:

"for Shin Densetsu
Re the new Target Aircraft..."wait and see"...as for Target sales, as a policy we do not discuss sales volumes of our customers.

For CW4USARMY
yes like the A-10 "

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:45 pm

Mike will combat command be shown at toyfair? I can't remember if I asked you this before since it is a target line, but if it isn't, is the BBI hotnews system the only way we would know of impending combat command releases?

When does the first wave of the spring 2006 line hit? And is the fall wave of combat command all we will get until january?

And for the 1/18 realistic scale line, can we expect more jets, than warbirds?

Post by **aferguson** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:24 pm

Mike wrote:

" for Shin Densetsu

Nice to see you never give up....the Target ( Combat Command) line will not be shown at the February Toy Fair and is only shown in the October one as this is the preview for major retail accounts.
We ship the new Target line at the end of the year so I expect that you will see the new releases in the stores some time in February.
The Hot News system is not used for retailer exclusive lines such as Combat Command but only for our core Elite Force products.

As for your question on the 1/18 jets or warbirds....you already know what I will say..."wait and see" "

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 12:53 pm

Mike, (can you share)

I wonder how retailers response was for a 1/18 scale A-10- Positive or Negative?

It's great to know BBI is listening to us and I deeply thank you and them.

Shin Densetsu · Post by **Shin Densetsu** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:40 pm

Mike,

At fall toyfair, a black F/A-18 was shown...this time with VFA-103 liveries. You told us a few months back that you would try to get us a black F/A-18 before x mas....is this it? Will it have VFA-103 liveries or was that done for the show? And are we getting black F/A-18 before x mas? And if so, through where, online stores or amazon/TRU? I ask because it looked awesome and I was not sure if it was a genuine product or if one of the team just painted it really well. If it was just a showpiece, good work to the team member who painted it!

And if we are getting it but not before x mas, when could we expect it?

Post by **aferguson** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:32 am

Mike wrote:

" for Birddog
regarding the retailer response to an A-10 at Toy Fair I'm afraid that all such enquiries need to be referred to digger

for Shin Densetsu
yes the black VF-103 Hornet at the show was production ( not a hand paint) and is being shipped to TRU / Amazon .com to fix up the earlier screw up with the black one...I have to say it is a very sexy piece too and will be there before Christmas."

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:51 am

Hey Mike,

Just a general action figure question or two regarding your 1:18 Elite Force line...

With the figures, do you view them as being a potential area to visit some of the more "obscure" areas of military history, or do you think you'll stick to the core "popular" themes we've seen? For instance is it on your mind to branch into maybe British troops, or even Russian?

Also, neither your World War II or Modern figure lines have an enemy to combat. Are there any possible plans for that, or is the past issues 21st Cent. Toys had with Toys R Us a major obstruction to you even considering these items?

Thanks for having the sit-down and talking with the people here, it's appreciated. I wish I could pull this kind of attention from Hasbro when I need to!