Bad Cat has Panther up for pre-order....

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:11 am

My $34 21st Century 1/18 Tiger I from Monkeydepot.com last month is looking better and better...

digger · Post by **digger** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:19 am

It is $70 now...$10 more than what it was 4 years ago...not that outrageous frankly.

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:08 am

it's everywhere, the new Tamiya 1/35 Pz III N is 45-55$ for a kit now...everything is going up in price. New Dragon figure kits are going for 14-18 dollars now...I can get the old ones at my local for less than 6-10.00

I like this repaint, never noticed it was a semi-late G model, minus the raised fan(can't tell from the photo if it is raised or not)

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:39 am

From Badcat's blog:

"1:18 fans have had little to cheer about in 2008 but the late May release of the 1:18 Panther should help ease the pain a little. Citing huge increases in production costs, 21st's Panther will retail for more than previous iterations. "Red 332" sports a late war scheme, and if anything like its predecessors, should go rather quickly."

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:39 am

The carzy part for me to understand is that they sold the new Me 262 Nightfighter (which IMHO is of high quality, very solid, and a new mold) for 69.99.
Now they sell a very light plastic rehash of an old tank mold with a new paint job for the same price as the new night fighter? Id be tempted to buy another nightfighter than this lesser tank selling at the same price.

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:41 am

dragon53 wrote:From Badcat's blog:

"1:18 fans have had little to cheer about in 2008 but the late May release of the 1:18 Panther should help ease the pain a little. Citing huge increases in production costs, 21st's Panther will retail for more than previous iterations. "Red 332" sports a late war scheme, and if anything like its predecessors, should go rather quickly."

It'll go quickly, just as soon as they give a sale price!

hotrodrock · Post by **hotrodrock** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:43 am

There are 2 Panthers on ebay right now with bids at under $40. There is one with a BIN of $53. For someone just wanting a Panther, some good deals. Unless someone just has to have a specific paint scheme, why pay that $70-$100.

My last 3 prchases from ebay: 1/16 Heng Long Tiger $58 (included shipping). 21st RC Panzer IV Ausf H $48 (tan long barrel, included shipping). 21st winter Panther $58 (included shipping). All in the last couple of months.

My only point is that there is very affordable armor to be had. I'm probably more patient than others and not one of the got to have it now people so I have always been able to get what I wanted at a very reasonable cost. At $100, 21st is above the 1/16 RC tanks which are more detailed (well, except for that god awful Heng Long Panther). I'm with a lot you guys, if it were a new T-34 or M10 I would probably go for one.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:56 am

Motorpool.com is selling the new Panther at $89.99.

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:04 am

You can bid on this one :

http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/21st-WWII-Germa ... 18Q2el1247

phl

Jagdpanther · Post by **Jagdpanther** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:51 am

Well I was gonna buy one of these but now I just dont no.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:57 am

I sold off my S1 Panther years ago, as lacking in features. I'm holding out for the KT.

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:05 am

CW4USARMY wrote:The crazy part for me to understand is that they sold the new Me 262 Nightfighter (which IMHO is of high quality, very solid, and a new mold) for 69.99.
Now they sell a very light plastic rehash of an old tank mold with a new paint job for the same price as the new night fighter? Id be tempted to buy another nightfighter than this lesser tank selling at the same price.

King O' Fools · Post by **King O' Fools** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:50 am

dragon53 wrote:From Badcat's blog:

"1:18 fans have had little to cheer about in 2008 but the late May release of the 1:18 Panther should help ease the pain a little. Citing huge increases in production costs, 21st's Panther will retail for more than previous iterations. "Red 332" sports a late war scheme, and if anything like its predecessors, should go rather quickly."

"[...] the late May release of the 1:18 Panther should help ease the pain a little."

They're being sarcastic right?

"if anything like its predecessors, should go rather quickly."

Hmm, yeah. Only problem is they're JUST like their predecessors in every aspect but one—PRICE. Like they say, it's the "little" differences. (Or, perhaps more to the point, "It's the economy, stupid!")

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:54 am

Well I guess they saw all our bitchin' and they dropped the pre-order price to $69 this is a little better. Now $59 would even better . At $59 I would get 2 maybe three. Maybe.

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:50 pm

Just pre-ordered myself one of these, and with shipping to my location it ran me just under $82. Call me crazy, but I like the paintjob and I never cared for the winter scheme, which I sold two of on ebay not that long ago for nearly $200 apiece,

and I think this new one will probably be a good investment even if I decide not to keep it for my own collection.

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:03 pm

special price of 69.99 for the first 50? I think I'll get the speacial price of 49.99 when they clearance them later in the year. Hate to say it but if this was one of newer to the market 1:18 companies (Admiral, FOV) I would buy it now to support their chance of success but this feels like a slap in the face from 21st for my many years of support to them.

Im sure glad Indiana Jones stuff is a couple of days away!

General Blasto · Post by **General Blasto** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:57 pm

I don't want to take the chance on missing them

I did my pre-order for 4 tanks. I hope to find a few more at TRU and round out at 6-8 units. But no word on the KTs or 88s

I won't be gaining and tanks as I will be trading off all but 1 of my winter Panthers. It's just to hard to model winter in FL

These should go nicely with the Eastern Tiger 1s and the new KTs (if ever made). Da General

ARMY GROUP 1 · Post by **ARMY GROUP 1** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:02 pm

I see the 88 is shown on the packaging of the re-paint Panther on the ebay auction listed on this thread. Hope yet.

lightning2000 · Post by **lightning2000** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:47 pm

Hi,
PMFJI, but the new 1:18 scale Panther will come with one articulated tank crewman. It is all plastic, unlike the King Tiger which is supposed to be part metal (lower hull) and part plastic. In today's economic climate, still terrific value for what you get, no matter whom you purchase it from.

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

CW4USARMY · Post by **CW4USARMY** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:05 pm

lightning2000 wrote:Hi,
PMFJI, but the new 1:18 scale Panther will come with one articulated tank crewman. It is all plastic, unlike the King Tiger which is supposed to be part metal (lower hull) and part plastic. In today's economic climate, still terrific value for what you get, no matter whom you purchase it from.

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

repaint panther a terrific value at 69.99? ROTFL!!!

[CAT]CplSlade · Post by **[CAT]CplSlade** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:13 pm

Hey, Lightning -

I will be in NYC the first three weeks of June. Other than the TRU in Times Square and one good hobby shop on the Upper East Side (Jan's Hobbies @ Lex & 93rd) what places are there (if any) to find 21st Century or other good 1/32 WWII military vehicles/aircraft? I lived there a whole ten years but didn't enter this hobby until after I moved.

lightning2000 · Post by **lightning2000** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:34 pm

Hi Cpl,
If you look like your avatar, I'd be more than happy to show you around!

Frankly, I dont spend much time in the hobby stores or even the mass merchants, so I'm not sure I can offer much help.

There is a large hobby store near where I live called Willis Hobbies, which is just across the Queens-Nassau border. Not sure if they sell 21st Century stuff. I think they have a web site, so you may want to call them if you plan on coming out to this neck of the woods.

Of course, I can always sell you whatever we stock so you wouldnt pay any shipping fees. If we have the Panther by then, you can have one at our pre-order price.

I doubt the King Tiger and 88mm will be ready by then. Probably more like a third quarter release on both counts.

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

lightning2000 · Post by **lightning2000** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:46 pm

Hi CW4USARMY,
Strange as it may sound, that is a good price based upon the dealer cost plus shipping. The days of the $40 1:18 scale vehicle may be fast coming to an end if there arent any large mass merchants around ready to offset much of the production costs. Lets face it, there are no etailers the size and scale of a Walmart or TRU.

I'll give you a for instance. According to Wikipedia, Walmart operates some 971 discount stores in North America. Now lets say, for arguments sake, each store took four cases of the upcoming Panther tank, a total of 8 pieces. Distribution to Walmart alone therefore would come to 7,768 pieces. That goes a long way towards driving down production costs so that a 1:18 scale vehicle could sell for $40 or so. Take them out of the equation and maybe you can sell a couple thousand to the rest of the retail network willing to carry an item of this size and nature, and you readily see that the costs creep up big time.

Now factor in the higher prices of oil to make the product, its packaging and transit, and the cost of each unit goes up again.

Lightning2000
www.themotorpool.net

[CAT]CplSlade · Post by **[CAT]CplSlade** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:47 pm

lightning2000 wrote:Hi Cpl,
If you look like your avatar, I'd be more than happy to show you around!

Nope, that's just something I'm trying to convince my wife to wear.

Of course, I can always sell you whatever we stock so you wouldnt pay any shipping fees. If we have the Panther by then, you can have one at our pre-order price.

I don't do 1/18, but might this instead apply to the 1/32 BBI Dauntless? When is that due, anyway?

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Bad Cat has Panther up for pre-order....

$69

88

1:18 Panther

Re: 1:18 Panther

21st Century

CW4USARMY

Re: 21st Century