21C vs. competitors

[olifant]

I managed to find the new FW-190F tonight and I would agree that this is one beautiful bird. I have always been partial to the myriad of Luftwaffe camoflague schemes and the red 9 is a great example. The only flaws are where I dripped super glue adding the accessories!

Remembering the thread of our "favorite '07 1/32 releases" many chose the BBI Phantom. I too really like this plane and wish for more releases from BBI. That being said I am amazed that 21C can churn out AC that we pay only $15 for at WM. Hands down they have not only the best quality now a days but also the best price point.

I would rather have three of these butcher birds than one Phantom. I could do this and still save a few bucks. In reality I probably will have each FW release (5, 6, 7 or more I hope) and one singular F-4.

In the past I felt that I was OK with only a singular Mustang, ME-109 or Thunderbolt but the quality of these new offerings has me buying everything I can get my hands on. My hope is that 21C realizes that 1/32 is where they can move the most product and keep the new releases coming.

[MG-42]

>>> "I agree and share the same opinion w/ the above statements", but .........

My hope is that 21C realizes that 1/32 is where they can move the most product and keep the new releases coming.

>>> 21st.C already realizes this , and this line will only continue to expand , as well as we know it just keeps growing. *

* My hope is that they keep cranking out New 1:18 AC , figures & armor too. * + =

Mitch v MG

[KWR190]

Olifant where did you find them?

[vmf214]

I think they will keep cranking out new aircraft. I'll also take all the repaints I can get as well. I just hope someday someone makes some WW1 aircraft.....Pegasus?

[olifant]

KWR, they had five after I bought mine at the WM on 168th +/- and Meridian. I don't normally go to this WM but if you get off 512 on Meridian in Puyallup and head towards Spanaway it is probably 6-7 miles from the highway.

Bit of a drive for you but strike now and you can find them. All the other WMs in Pierce county are completely cleared out of 1/32.

[Shin Densetsu]

21C has the best price merely because they have a mass market retailer behind them, and the one with the biggest clout at that.

I love getting the 1/32 birds for $15, so I'm with you on that, but the BBI Phantom was shown at toyfair this year. Toyfair is where all the new stuff is shown with hopes that a retailer may pick it up. Since the BBI Phantom is online only thus far, and may not be picked up by a retailer til next year, BBI deserves some praise for having the balls to even produce such a huge item without mass market support. Undoubtedly this is more costly than mass market, but the fact is, they still did it nonetheless.

I'd love to see the Phantom in mass market as well as BBI's other releases, however this might not happen till next year. With that said, I'm glad BBI didn't wait for mass market and went ahead and released the Phantom(remember TRU saying they wanted the Zero and F-16? here are they?).

I had the "buy one of each" mentality until the B/C Mustangs came out. I have 2 so far, but can't resist buying more. Especially with the D coming out, I want at least 2 different D paint schemes.

[Sabrefan]

I have to disagree strongly that 21st Century has the best quality. I find the 32nd scale BBI F-4 to be far and away the nicest 32nd scale plane I have seen. I enjoy 21st Century models also, but nearly all of the 32nd scale models I have seen by them have some sort of quality issues.

[olifant]

Sabrefan, I have had pretty good luck with the 21C 1/32 birds. Unfortunately I seem to be odd man out because my BBI F4 had some paint flaws and a flawed sparrow mount. I take this all in stride; if I wanted perfection I would spend years and thousands of dollars learning how to do my own modelling. Having that dangerous combination of laziness and lack of skill I depend on the experts!

[Sabrefan]

I know what you mean. Seems this is kind of a hit or miss hobby. Sometimes you can get a flawless model, and the one in the box next to it will have fingerprints or other defects. But that is the way the hobby we love so much goes.

[tmanthegreat]

In my experience, BBI planes were generally more reliable than 21c ones as far as not having any serious paint flaws or broken parts - in any scale. Thats not to say they don't happen on BBI planes. I had a BBI Zero with a grossly misaligned yellow stripe on the fuselage. However, BBI does not seem to have the same frequency of QC defects as 21c, and I usually feel better about ordering a BBI plane and having a good example arrive than with a 21c aircraft. With 21c aircraft, its best if you can find a bunch of the same planes in one spot so you can pick and choose. Quite often, however, the one isn't so lucky...

[MG-42]

I don't know man ,.. I had to hand pick my BBi 1:18 re-released "green Zero" @ TMTS , because the one they sent me was a production goof.

1) * The antenna was glued in backwards and had some QC issues as far as paint-splatters , glue blobs , and fingerprints etc ... *

2) * I went through about 2-dozen before I found a satisfactory example. * + =

Mitch v MG

[Light.Inf.Scout]

For price and variety, you can not beat 21C!!!!!!

[Sentinel]

Agreed.

Now only if Wal-Mart would stock up again.

I know, I know - that's a whole 'nother subject.

[vmf214]

Absolutely, for variety 21st can't be beat. I think we see more QC issues with 21st because pure and simple they pump out more product than the competitors. The Gee Bee will be testement to Pegasus' QC standards as it's a semi-complicated paint scheme, the buzz bomb was cake so looking forward to the Gee Bee. BBi's modern schemes ie Hornet, Falcon are pretty basic schemes so not too awful hard to flaw and they just don't seem to make as many of their items. Blue Angels Hornet was nicely done but the blue could've been abit more glossy imo, easy fix just do it yourself but is just as easy to screw up as painting. I've been modelling for the better part of 30yrs and the most mistakes I see guys do is with the clear coats whether it be gloss or flat. I think the new offerings from BBi (especially with a limited run of 2000 pcs) will have some pretty darn good paint. I just hope they stick to their plan of limited release so the collectibility factor stays...