Small Scale Military Headquarters

chunks wrote:Mike, welcome back and thanks. There's no TRU here and even the new wallyworld is showing signs of getting rid of all 21c stuff. Concerning the sitings of the new helipeller configured Cayuse, can you offer any hint when it might be available from e-tailers?

Thanks and Regards

I'd also like to know this as am in the UK would like to know if these releases will get to the e-tailers or just be a tru exclusive like last series.

scope uk wrote:Well being a manufacturer sounds like a nightmare! you know you have good product that there is a market for it but you cant get buyers to pick it up .

My observation: 21st Century product, in addition to being positioned with a major retailer, is also *very* available through alternative sales channels such as the online retailers.

Can't say the same for the BBI product. Why that is I don't know - but when you have an alternative sales channel out there ready and willing to sell the product and are unable to get that product 75% of the time, it is rather difficult to read these "it's a tough business to be in" posts.

I don't even know what is involved in becoming a retailer for bbi anymore--I know I looked into it a couple years ago, to try to get some sort of outlet into this area besides TRU, but they were transitioning all of it to Merit at that time except the very big retail (TRU) contracts.

FieroDude wrote:I don't even know what is involved in becoming a retailer for bbi anymore--I know I looked into it a couple years ago, to try to get some sort of outlet into this area besides TRU, but they were transitioning all of it to Merit at that time except the very big retail (TRU) contracts.

Who knows what the whole story is? BBI is still dealing directly/occasionally with what I'll call the alternative sales channels. Meanwhile, Merit is still distributing some (but not all) of the product too. How this could possibly work for Merit is a mystery to me, but Merit has their own issues which would warrant a whole separate conversation (like them turning over their sales staff every 1 or 2 months, won't correspond by email, etc. etc.?!?!).

You can pretty much forget about making any inquiries directly. 50% of them are DOA at the first point of contact. Yet, someone on this board is able to contact them and be sent a set of figures that haven't even been released yet, while retailer(s) willing to buy thousands of dollars of the same product are summarily dismissed.

It is all a highly dysfunctional situation from my perspective out in the peanut gallery.

The bottom line is is that BBI is missing out by not releasing more 1/18th airplanes. 21st and Admiral are doing all the delievering and are announcing new planes every week it seems while BBI remains silent. I know it takes awhile to produce a 1/18th airplane but when was the last time BBI released anything new? And I'm not talking about repaints. Its seems like a long time ago to me and I could be wrong about that. BBI is losing alot of money and its sad to see.

Im confused? BBI silent?

just picked up the new F4u, the new littlebird is out - I think we were told they moved headquarters - now sure we would all like to see something new - but this is the off season.

I wouldn't rule out BBI yet, they tend to suprise us every once in a while. I'm waiting for Toyfair. I bet that is when we see something.

Lest anyone forget, BBI is a part of a very large toy company. Their strategy is to bet on the winners, and make those winners happen.

A few vocal collectors, I am sure, are probably a point of pride for this company, but at the end of the day are just a bit of a drop in a bucket. They have nothing to gain by laying out their strategic plans, and nothing to lose if they decide a niche market in scale war toys cannot support their efforts.

I do not ask anything of BBI, and am quite fortunate to have seen F-18s, F-16s, Zeros, Blackhawks, Apaches, and Kiowas in 1:18 scale. I do not really understand why they decided to make a Mustang and Corsair, but they did and apparently sell well. If they make something worth my while, I will buy it, but I won't lose sleep if they don't.

Finally, it doesn't make sense to compare them to the other manufacturers, since Admiral is in the boutique business, and 21st has a ready made market (which I am sure cost them more than their first born). BBI does what they can with what they have. The last thing any of you should want is for BBI to get in a bidding war with 21st for certain retailers' attention. Although BBI could probably win and use some of their other properties as leverage, it would be at 21st's expense, and I assure you that a retailer such as WalMart would rather push one to extinction for this particular segment.

i only want an f-2 viper zero that is it.

Plane Nuts wrote:Lest anyone forget, BBI is a part of a very large toy company. Their strategy is to bet on the winners, and make those winners happen.

A few vocal collectors, I am sure, are probably a point of pride for this company, but at the end of the day are just a bit of a drop in a bucket. They have nothing to gain by laying out their strategic plans, and nothing to lose if they decide a niche market in scale war toys cannot support their efforts.

I do not ask anything of BBI, and am quite fortunate to have seen F-18s, F-16s, Zeros, Blackhawks, Apaches, and Kiowas in 1:18 scale. I do not really understand why they decided to make a Mustang and Corsair, but they did and apparently sell well. If they make something worth my while, I will buy it, but I won't lose sleep if they don't.

Finally, it doesn't make sense to compare them to the other manufacturers, since Admiral is in the boutique business, and 21st has a ready made market (which I am sure cost them more than their first born). BBI does what they can with what they have. The last thing any of you should want is for BBI to get in a bidding war with 21st for certain retailers' attention. Although BBI could probably win and use some of their other properties as leverage, it would be at 21st's expense, and I assure you that a retailer such as WalMart would rather push one to extinction for this particular segment.

I agree. We wouldn't have any of the great modern aircraft and helicopters without BBi. I wish they'd make more, but I sure am thankful for what they did make. Now that Admiral is around, I dont think about BBi as much (but if your reading BBi, I'll still buy any aircraft you make )

Is BBI at Toyfair this year? Has anyone seen or heard of any new product from them yet? You figure we would see something by now.

BBI is the reason why I got into collecting 1:18th. I thought that they looked cool along with my vintage 3 3/4 GI Joes.

tkjaer21 wrote:BBI is the reason why I got into collecting 1:18th. I thought that they looked cool along with my vintage 3 3/4 GI Joes.

Same here i was always a joe collector but when BBI came out i was hooked i am impressed by every item they have done. I only wish they could release them over here in the UK again.

I hope the new stuff they bring out gets to the online etailers so i can get it.

Mike,

The 1/32 package mockups look great! Will these feature the moving parts found on the bigger 1/18 releases? What stores will carry this? What is the msrp? And when will they be released?

ya, when will they be released, because that my favorite news so far

Mike,

The Hellcat is awesome. Nice going.

Mark

Mike


Just saw the pics of the WWII British Para Nice great.
thanks to you and BBI for the British troop. I also hope that this will mean that we will get to see some WWII British Paras on the ground?

Thanks

Hello,
Seen the new modern figures - disappointed that BBI still went with the parachute attached straps. Lots of those just sit at my TRU. Great looking accesories though.

What about WotW line? Any plans to continue this line?

I am waiting to see where BBI goes with this before I buy any more troops.

Thanks
Mark

The WoW line has more in store than Elite Force it seems. BBI showed fantasy figures from this line that included a Huge Dragon (with some range of motion), Merlin, beasts, warlocks, and other "creatures" that people might know the names of but look like characters from the Never Ending Story or the like. They also previewed cardboard cut-outs of the Civil War line, with both sides, a mounted soldier, and a cannon. There are pics out there I am sure..I will try to track down.

scope uk wrote:

tkjaer21 wrote:BBI is the reason why I got into collecting 1:18th. I thought that they looked cool along with my vintage 3 3/4 GI Joes.

Same here i was always a joe collector but when BBI came out i was hooked i am impressed by every item they have done. I only wish they could release them over here in the UK again.

I hope the new stuff they bring out gets to the online etailers so i can get it.

ditto (but in france)

i've never heard of any of the fantasy stuff for WOTW, where did you see it digger? Sounds like they would be to go with all the knights BBI has made. Papo and Schleich have done similar things with their knight lines.

Yes, there is supposed to be a Civil War line released this year. I think overall, the WOTW is pretty popular, worldwide, so i am hopeful it will continue for years to come, with more eras introduced.

Ask and ye shall receive....I've seen the Dragon (big & COOL, with moving neck/head) but can't find any pics..

Aww nice finally a 1/18 Civil War Figure!!!!!!!!

there's actually a bunch of civil war figures coming and cannons. Some of the poses look great for army building. Can't really tell what the fantasy figures look like but they appear sort of lord of the rings-ish.