New FOV items ????

[demonclaw]

Looks great but the extra details and interior makes the 21stC one the winner hands down , kind of funny that the first 1:18 tank still is the best one on the market . The figures also look great so I can't wait until someone picks up a couple of those guys together with a Sherman

[aferguson]

the sherman and panther were the first tanks on the market.....the tiger came out a year and a bit later. The interior on the Tiger is nice but was expensive. When the Tiger came out it cost more than 1/18 tanks are costing these days, so the extra goodies of interior and engine were deemed too expensive to continue with, as many buyers would balk at the higher price tag and thus sales weak.

Simple and cheap is the way to go.......unless you go super expensive and limited numbers.

I'll take all the simple $20-$30 tanks FOV can pump out..

[normandy]

This Tiger looks great. I do like the camo scheme pictured on the Abrams box better then this two color scheme. Just have to get out the old airbrush Oh and whats with that shovel on the front of the tank?
I can't wait to get my hands on a few of these.
Big Iron and Grunt, Thanks for the intel and pics.

[demonclaw]

the sherman and panther were the first tanks on the market.....the tiger came out a year and a bit later.

Ok , I thought it was the other way around . But the BBI Sherman is also very detailed with a engine compartment so I don't its that expensive , interior details might be a little over the top but the rest shouldn't be very expensive

[grunt1]

The interior is also something that can be molded in and those that want can crack it open and paint it can do so. I can see 21C possibly doing this with some existing molds to hit a certain price point. would also be great for fov so they would have an option to do an enthusiast version later..

And for FoV keep em coming! This makes what, five armor pieces in less than 2-3 months.. wow..

I hope they crank out some little stuff like krads, schwimms, kubels, willys, and motorcycles.. Heck even a duk would really shake things up and they've done all these already!

[digger]

Simple and cheap is the way to go.......unless you go super expensive and limited numbers.

I totally disagree..I really hope our hobby doesn't go this way. When these things look more like Toys than models I am no longer interested. That is why I no longer have a bbi M1. Just didn't make the cut imo.

It is easy for us to say we'll take simple and cheap when we get a piece of armor we already have, but if the 21C KT was simple and cheap - and looked it - we would all be upset. As someone mentioned, bbi managed an awesome piece of armor - with hatches, engine detail AND extras like shells - with a figure, for $40.

I rather pay $40-$60 for a detailed, well painted piece of armor with figure, than $30+ for a lesser mold, with colored plastic and no fig.

Don't get me wrong, I am excited about FoV being in the game, but I really hope simple and cheap is not the way of the future..

[STUKA]

but paying 40-60 bucks for the detail is good for us - but most people buying these for the grandkids are just doing that - buying a tank and the cheaper one will get picked up over the detailed one - the days before Christmas - all those cheap military toys at TRU are gone and the 21st century stuff is still sitting.

FOV is what we were begging for last year and the year before - more compaines to come in give us product and bring the overall cost of the hobby down. I'm picking a FOV Tiger over a 21st Tiger if the 21st is 49.99 and the FOV is 29.99.

[VMF115]

Simple and cheap is the way to go.......unless you go super expensive and limited numbers.

I totally disagree..I really hope our hobby doesn't go this way. When these things look more like Toys than models I am no longer interested.

I agree with digger.

[SGT. Saunders]

Hi Guys

Nice pics BigIron and grunt1,thanks. Nice looking figures. Iv never had or seen any of the FOV figures how do they stack-up to BBI's figures? the pics on the back of the box looks to be alittle dark Im sure the figures uniformes are not that off. Im not much of a vehicles collecter but I think Im going to have to go with 2 of each and a hole mess of figures, if they are good quality.

I also agree with digger.

[grunt1]

It's easy to agree with Digger because he's right. More detail IS better.

The problem is that for some reason it isn't happening... It certainly isn't because we don't want it.

When was the last time you remember seeing a tank from 21st Century?

We're two weeks from this year being over and unless there is a last minute surprise, there was not a single tank shipped by the leader in this scale for over a year. Not even a repaint!

If FoV is going to make them, and getting in under a magic $30 mark at Target is the way it will happen, I'll take it.

I don't mind voting with my dollars, but the other candidates have to show up...

[aferguson]

exactly my point. Of course i want more detailed too. The point is these things have to sell in large numbers to justify the production costs. Selling them for lower prices means larger volume of sales (look at the super cheap PTE, Corps, Chap Mei lines).

BBI's Sherman was a very good offering....and they haven't produced a follow up tank have they? If sales of their Sherman were good you'd think they would have, so maybe sales were not that good. Had they been selling for $19.99 (which is what i expect FOV's Sherman to sell for since it's more comparable to the Bradley in size) then sales would have been much better no doubt. But then it wouldn't have had detailed engine and all the other goodies.

FOV has struck, what i feel is the optimal balance between price and realism. I'll take accurate, realistic tanks that need some weathering and other bits of work to bring them up to snuff over shelves filled with toys that are not 1/18 scale tanks at all.

Besides, as we all know, everyone's products improve over time, while the price point tends to stay pretty fixed. So i imagine FOV's 1/18 scale line will improve in quality and detail too....though i would never expect to see detailed interiors and engines.

[75th Ranger]

WOW!
this FOV 1/18 line is getting better and better!!!

I wonder if they are also going to do other periods....

Please FOV make a VIETNAM - FOV 1/18 set!!!!!!!!!

[Tinman]

The figures look very promising. Looking forward to those!

[digger]

I rather get fewer pieces over time that are very nice, than a bunch of pieces that are mediocre. Admiral puts out a plane every year or two but they always seem to raise the bar. I wish someone would do that with ground pieces. From the look of the 88, I think 21C may be doing just that. Once the molds on nicer pieces pay off you can see the $40 Tiger at WM, or perhaps the bbi M4 at Target for $25.

If the manufacturers can't count on us to appreciate detail - and we know most kids don't care - then who is left to want the high quality pieces?? If the future of the lines is toy-like stuff, than I rather there be no future, or just much less.

Andrew, remember when the FoV Bradley first showed your guess on price was $40. No reason why we should now expect to pay $20 in 2008 for armor that was a deal at $40 in 2003.

[aferguson]

when i said $40 for the Bradley i didn't know how simplified it was...all i had was one fuzzy picture to go on and the asumption that FOV was going head to head with 21c. But they're not quite.

They took the approach i would have taken, which was a compromise between high quality and detail (and expense) and the simplicity of PTE, Chap Mei and the likes. Realistic, pretty accurate armour at a sell fast price.

There's really nobody doing that and it's what i've been saying for years that someone like PTE should do. Fill a niche that will appeal to the kids who just want cool toy tanks to play with, the Joe fans who like big tanks to go with their stuff and us 'historical buffs' who want real armour not fantasy tanks. So in one fell swoop they are appealing to a very broad base of buyers and making them all (for the most part) happy. And as i said, quality will no doubt improve with each new batch (please God let there be new batches).

21c seems to be still cranking out the quality stuff still......so Digger, if you'd rather just have fewer high quality pieces then stay clear of FOV and just buy 21c. I'll take the FOV T-34 and Stug that you don't want.

[billgiff]

I like the 1/18 FOV. You get a basic tank or vehicle at a reasonable price. I am a modeller who customizes
everything anyway so these are perfect for me. The base tank with a lot of room for customizing, painting, weathering
and upgrading. I say keep bringing them!

[VMF115]

A toy will come and go with time,,,,But something geared toward the adult collator will have the staying power.

I think, and I hope that the FOV 1/18 line will improve in detail, if not I suspect most will sit on the selves. even a 30 Dollar toy is a bit spendy to most

[ostketten]

I like the 1/18 FOV. You get a basic tank or vehicle at a reasonable price. I am a modeller who customizes
everything anyway so these are perfect for me. The base tank with a lot of room for customizing, painting, weathering
and upgrading. I say keep bringing them!

Ditto here. To a certain extent I think the FOV foray into the 1:18 scale arena is a work in progress, and they are probably "testing the waters" so to speak. In time, it's entirely possible, even likely, that we will see some improvements in detail and/or weathering. Rome wasn't built in a day, so we shouldn't judge too harshly at the initial releases IMO.

[immeww2]

We all know what FOV can do in terms of realism. Just look at their 1/32nd line. I too believe that FOV is trying to determine which way they should go on their 1/18th scale items. I just hope that these initial releases are not a one time thing and we won't be seeing anything more after that.

[MG-42]

1) I like FoV's marketing approach in this scale. "Simple yet Effective".

2) Judging from the pics I've studied , the Tiger's tracks have more detail and seem to lay on the road-wheels too. That in itself is realistic.

3) The zimmermit is a nice touch too , and at least there are some hatches that do actually open and are'nt molded in.

4) Lots of custom potential here.

5) I can see more of these in the future , different models , even exotic ones.

* I appreciate those who provided pics. That always helps. *

* My nickles worth ! *

Mitch v MG

[digger]

21c seems to be still cranking out the quality stuff still......so Digger, if you'd rather just have fewer high quality pieces then stay clear of FOV and just buy 21c. I'll take the FOV T-34 and Stug that you don't want.

Lmk when you spot them!

[75th Ranger]

I have to agree with Andrew on this one Digger....I think it is all a matter of KISS..."keep it simple ...stu*&^....."

i think FOV is great, excellent price that will sell and fly of the shelves...

I don't want a $40 Bradly!!!
I waited for the time when 21st $40 dollar Bradly was selling for $25 and then I bought 8 of them; therefore, 21st stuff sell better when it is on clearance..except for the $4.99 figures.

On the other hand, FOV stuff seems to sell pretty well at their regular prices and the extra accessories are really cool!!!!

FOV please a 1/18 VIETNAM set!!!

[MG-42]

i think FOV is great, excellent price that will sell and fly of the shelves...

FOV please a 1/18 VIETNAM set!!!

>>> "A Sheridan would be neat in 1:18 for a Vietnam display". *

* Something 21st. never got around to do and probably never will. *

Mitch v MG

[ostketten]

A Sheridan would be neat in 1:18 for a Vietnam display". *

* Something 21st. never got around to do and probably never will.

Hmmm.... you know Mitch, you're right... I had never thought of it, but the Sheridan would make a very cool model in XD. I built several of these way back when in my 1/35 kit building days, and the M551 Sheridan is a cool looking little tank with an interesting history, a vehicle with a lot of promise that never quite lived up to expectations, due mainly to problems with the main gun and Shillelagh missile system. In Vietnam the Sheridan did have some success firing canister "beehive" rounds against the Cong, and I believe a few are still in use by some of our Airborne forces as an armored recon and assault vehicle.

[olifant]

I think it is great that FOV is getting in to 1/18. My thoughts are that in each of their markets (1/72, 1/32 high/low grade and 1/18 ) they are appealing to slightly different people and price points. That should help make for a healthy company with diverse sales.

If their 1/32 line is offered in two different grades, why not 1/18th? My guess is that they could offer weathering and goodies for sale to the e-tailers and cover every base. The difference between the 1/32 Tiger I and II are dramatic; the base grade at Target looks incredibly toy like while their collector grade which I purchased look like museum pieces.

FOV has done the right thing which is getting product out at an incredible price point. I work in the manufacturing industry and trust me, volume covers many sins. Moving hundreds of thousands of these things at $20-30 is the best way to see the line widen to other pieces.