New BBI 1:18 tank

donnieboy · Post by **donnieboy** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:33 pm

In somebody's thread there was a link to Figures.com showing pix of BBI's new line-up at the NYC Fall Toy Show. The fifth picture in the second row (next to the Sherman) shows a weird-looking tank with a small turret set way back and a round ring with a hatch inside in the center of the vehicle. The turret's gun barrel looks like an M1A1 Abrams', but I can't figure out what this beast is. Anyone?

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:56 pm

Some futuristic take off of the Abrams is my guess. I know that it’s an Abrams chassis so they must be planning a new line of futuristic army guys.

victory · Post by **victory** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:54 pm

The following article confirms toyktdlgh's guess.

http://www.figures.com/databases/action ... rticle=178

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:39 pm

let's hope response isn't positive. What a waste of plastic..

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:10 pm

Perhaps BBI needs to do some more toy line research... The origional 3 3/4" GI Joe line failed when their designs got too funky and sci-fi-ish, many other similar lines have had similar runs. Star Wars has only lasted because of the story (aka movies) behind the toys and a very huge fan base. Don't go in the direction of "Space Marines" BBI!! Focus on the Modern and WWII lines!!

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:30 am

I disagree... Especially if there's some similarity here to a certain "Alien" film. This line would have a positive support base right away.

That said, I think the concept's interesting. Star Wars has nothing competing with it on any level... This could possibly do that, or act as a complement to that line. Already customizers are talkinga bout that stuff.

I'm still more anxious over WW2 figures though... Those looked so damned top-notch that I'm drooling about thinking of the armies one coudl build.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:03 am

I also think it would be a mistake to do up a line like that. As mentioned above, most successful lines have a movie or TV series behind it. This allows for "buy-in" from the customer. I don't think that anybody will shell out $30 for a unknown vehicle that has no backround to it........

-Ski

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:14 am

POST BY DIGGER:

With no movie, role-playing game, comic book, or tv show tie-in, it's pretty wishful thinking that all of a sudden there will be a market for such a line....at least they haven't spent much effort so far - that's a LAV Turret with an m1 120 stuck on instead of the cannon, and then as has been said, set back on the M1 chassis. Even the gear on the front is from the back of the M1. The odd skirt on the turret is clearly stuck on with puddy and in haste. Hey guys - if you want a "futuristic tank" now you know how to make them, and you can get a brand new LAV for $15, and M1 for $20 at tru. Let's just say if they're gonna do it they better come with more than a couple of kitbashed retreads. (OK, maybe I'm just bitter they're not focusing on what I want - REALITY).

donnieboy · Post by **donnieboy** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 6:49 pm

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm not the world's greatest tank expert, but I knew I hadn't seen anything like that thing before. The design team at BBI must be smoking those funny French cigarettes!

kenhil2 · Post by **kenhil2** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 7:29 am

i have to agree, while a small following might be created, i dont think that this would ever get the same sales as regular modern and WWII figures.

macvsog · Post by **macvsog** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:00 am

I really hope the new line does work well for them, because why would we want it to fail for them?

Obviously they are going to keep making stuff we want, there is a chance for some good scrap plastic to use on stuff we like and if kids like it, it just gives bbi more money to make the stuff that we want.

Its the same thing that 21st is doing rightnow... walk down the isles of wallyworld and look at all the little kid stuff they are making that we would never buy, but it gives them extra cash flow to make the stuff we want.

It can only help what we want to get made.

reasonable diversity is the best thing a company can have... because without saved cash you don't get new models... you get repaints.

-mike-

Post by **aferguson** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:39 am

i don't want them to do it:

a) cause i think it's gong to bomb and thereby have the exact opposite effect that you described ie they will lose money and make less 1/18 stuff as a result.

b) because i feel it will detract from their efforts to make more 1/18 wwii and modern stuff. They only have so many resources; i don't want to see them wasting a chunk of them on some fantasy warrior line that has no basis in any 'reality' (whereas star wars, aliens, starship troopers etc do have a basis in a 'reality').

macvsog · Post by **macvsog** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 12:16 pm

yeah aferg, i see your point and i understand it.

however i would like to see any venture bbi or 21st try out work well for them, i guess because they are small companies and i figure if they can mature into something more financially stable we will benefit from it.

it could easily fail... but lots of things could have failed horribly, it could also work perfectly... only time will tell.

its a gamble,sometimes they work, sometimes not... but if you never try something new, we wouldn't have 21st or even bbi. I bet there were a lot of people who thought 1:18 wwii stuff would never sell with G.I. Joes and everything else there was out.

but i do see your points and they are good ones, but i hope it works for them all the same.

-mike-

ExtnsvEnterprise · Post by **ExtnsvEnterprise** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 1:54 pm

I guess I have to disagree here on both points Aferguson.

aferguson wrote:
a) cause i think it's gong to bomb and thereby have the exact opposite effect that you described ie they will lose money and make less 1/18 stuff as a result.

b) because i feel it will detract from their efforts to make more 1/18 wwii and modern stuff. They only have so many resources; i don't want to see them wasting a chunk of them on some fantasy warrior line that has no basis in any 'reality' (whereas star wars, aliens, starship troopers etc do have a basis in a 'reality').

a) Who's to say whether it will bomb or not. I personally know quite a few people that were more than just a little excited, seeing mere mock-ups from ToyFair. Myself included. I'm more worried that there modern stuff will suffer because of diverted attention to their WWII offerings.

b) You say their not based on anything in reality, yet people easily picked out the parts that made up that tank. And again, it's just a mock-up. They looked futuristic, but not to the point of the extreme. Nice, subdued colors...no neon [i.e. late '90s GI Joes], and what I thought were pretty cool and realistic future designs. Of course, they might not be future fighters at all...they could be a fake enemy for our modern figures to 'fight' instead of terrorists and the like. I'd love to set up some battles instead of just having good-guy patrols

Personally, I was hoping that they'd stay out of the WWII genre all together as I don't collect those.

So to each his own.

coreystinson · Post by **coreystinson** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 2:08 pm

ExtnsvEnterprise wrote:I guess I have to disagree here on both points Aferguson.

So to each his own.

I also concur. I am excited about the possiblity of a sci-fi 1:18 scale military line, but one that is not TOO out there i.e. sort of not-so-distant-future, which is kind of how BBI's mock-up stuff looks.

I'm keen to see this become a reality, while I am certainly less keen to see BBI sit around and reproduce 1:18 scale WW2 vehicles that 21st Century has already had on the market (on and off) for several years.

Post by **aferguson** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 3:46 pm

Personally i just don't see the appeal of a fantasy military line. If it was even based on real designs that just never did/will never see the light of day then at least that would hold some interest.

I can sit around all day designing fantastic looking tanks, guns, planes etc that have no practical chance of reallly working. One of the things that appeals to me about modern military stuff is that not only is much of it very cool looking but it's also very functional. Fantasy stuff just doesn't have that functionality and thus is so much fluff to me.

But as you said to each their own. From some of the responses in this thread it is clear that the possibility of this line has created quite a buzz, so if there is a demand for it, more power to BBI.

Also, i do like warhammer stuff and that is pure fantasy despite it being 'substantiated' a bit by the game. So, i guess if the designs were interesting enough and the look real enough i could become interested in it.

Maybe if there is a comic supporting it.

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 5:02 pm

I think it could be a good chance to get some more enemies for out modern troops. I need some Al-Quedaesque guys other than 21st's Eastern Warriors. BTW, did you see that the one guy looked like a Wermacht flamethower guy?
Aaron

USCGSARdog · Post by **USCGSARdog** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 4:40 am

I personally don't see the appeal of futuristic weapons/vehicles either. However, I do believe that bbi may be on to something that may do well for them. I was always interested in the GI Joe line but never got into it because it was just a little too far fetched. I think this new bbi stuff may appeal to those who are kind of "middle of the road" between realism/historic and futuristic/fictional items.

I love the fact that bbi is entering the WWII market. It was noted earlier that bbi is producing WWII vehicles that have already been made. From what I have seen thus far the new Mustang and Sherman are a vast improvement over the 21C offerings. Who can argue with an improved product? This kind of competition can only benefit ourselves, the collectors. I love bbi's modern line as well and hope their venture into the WWII market doesn't affect its great offerings. Although I guess its possible this could happen, I don't believe that will be the case.

-Rob

ExtnsvEnterprise · Post by **ExtnsvEnterprise** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:57 am

USCGSARdog wrote:I was always interested in the GI Joe line but never got into it because it was just a little too far fetched. I think this new bbi stuff may appeal to those who are kind of "middle of the road" between realism/historic and futuristic/fictional items.

This is what I meant...Futuristic, but firmly based in reality. No physics defying space craft etc. As far as GI Joe...as an extremely huge fan, I'm slightly biased[

], but much of their early offerings were based in reality. The Vamp Jeep was based off the Lamborgini Cheeta. Even the horrid X-Wing Chopper from the near end of the line was, albiet saddly, based on a real military design. If BBi can keep their head in the clouds but their feet on the ground so to speak, I think that they could really put out some great stuff.

mburduck · Post by **mburduck** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:52 pm

Ditto what our Moderator stated--a waste of plastic. Yuk!

Mike

Small Scale Military Headquarters

New BBI 1:18 tank

New BBI 1:18 tank

New BBI 1:18 Tank

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Nice Idea