Now that bbi has entered the field...
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flayrah
- Officer - Major
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- Location: A long way from Tipperary
Now that bbi has entered the field...
does that increase the chances of seeing more variety in 1:18 WWII vehicles? Do you think one of the manufacturers might try to outdo the other by making a twin engine bomber, or unusual armour or ground vehicle; or even an amphibian or boat? Or will we continue to see repaints of more of the same - P-51's, P-47's, 109's, Tigers, Panthers, etc?
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tmanthegreat
- Officer - Brigadier General
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A "see who can build the biggest and best" 1:18 scale aircraft or armored vehicle competition is a distinct possibility between BBI and 21st. BBI with the F-18, I would imagine, holds the current postion of having the biggest and best 1:18 aircraft out there! 21st still has the best armor. Bigger planes (ie Mosquito, B-25, F-4 Phantom, A-10, etc.) may be a possibility as each company tries to compete.
Another approach would be to create the most variety of unique, but important aircraft. 21st holds the lead concerning this sort of variety (think of the Stuka, FW-190D9, razorback P-47, etc), and may seek to keep it by making aircraft such as the ME-262, F-86, Mig-15, and what ever else. BBI could immediately compete by producing, say a Hellcat and a Zero!
I am curious to see where BBI will go with their new WWII line, which right now is off to a similar start as was 21st's WWII line, though the products are superior. BBI may have a certain advantage over 21st in the WWII product area: they can use 21st's experience (as far as what sold and what didn't) to devise new products and avoid potential blunders. Or at least thats what I would do if I were them!
You can tell by my long message that I really don't want to study!
Another approach would be to create the most variety of unique, but important aircraft. 21st holds the lead concerning this sort of variety (think of the Stuka, FW-190D9, razorback P-47, etc), and may seek to keep it by making aircraft such as the ME-262, F-86, Mig-15, and what ever else. BBI could immediately compete by producing, say a Hellcat and a Zero!
I am curious to see where BBI will go with their new WWII line, which right now is off to a similar start as was 21st's WWII line, though the products are superior. BBI may have a certain advantage over 21st in the WWII product area: they can use 21st's experience (as far as what sold and what didn't) to devise new products and avoid potential blunders. Or at least thats what I would do if I were them!
You can tell by my long message that I really don't want to study! -
vulgarvulture
- Officer - Major
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- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 3:05 pm
i think the biggest advantage to us from BBI entering the field is that now neither of them will be able to 'play it safe' by just making the standard Mustangs, Thunderbolts, Shermans etc because all the 'safe' topics will quickly be covered by the two manufacturers.
So, they can either close up shop or if they want to keep making money they will have to take chances on subject matter that they may not have otherwise, if they had a monopoly in the scale.
So, in time we may see more offbeat armour and aircraft as a result.
Another advantage is they we will probably see variants of aircraft we may not have otherwise. For example, BBI may want to do a Spitfire as well but will most likely do a Mk IX rather than cover the MkI that 21c has... If they do a Corsair we would more likely see a late war 4 bladed version and if they do a Stuka we will probably see a D/G rather than another B model....and so on. Much in the same way they produced a 105mm armed Sherman rather than a 75mm.
I don't know that we would see Mk IX spits and D/G Stukas from 21c as i suspect they will feel they are to similar to the earlier versions they already made and thus think they wont' sell well (which is wrong).
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So, they can either close up shop or if they want to keep making money they will have to take chances on subject matter that they may not have otherwise, if they had a monopoly in the scale.
So, in time we may see more offbeat armour and aircraft as a result.
Another advantage is they we will probably see variants of aircraft we may not have otherwise. For example, BBI may want to do a Spitfire as well but will most likely do a Mk IX rather than cover the MkI that 21c has... If they do a Corsair we would more likely see a late war 4 bladed version and if they do a Stuka we will probably see a D/G rather than another B model....and so on. Much in the same way they produced a 105mm armed Sherman rather than a 75mm.
I don't know that we would see Mk IX spits and D/G Stukas from 21c as i suspect they will feel they are to similar to the earlier versions they already made and thus think they wont' sell well (which is wrong).
]
A couple of other considerations here are that the competition between the two may drive 21C to improve the quality if it's finish work. Though some of the recent models have generally been problem free, I was surprised at the lack of QC on the FW190s at Walmart (missing guns, broken parts, sloppy paint work). I hope BBI ups the ante on QC and in turn, drives 21C to do the same.
Also, I hope that such competition will motivate these companies to add more features such as detailed engines and gun bays with removable covers. The wheel well detailing on the FW190 was a nice step in this direction.
Also, I hope that such competition will motivate these companies to add more features such as detailed engines and gun bays with removable covers. The wheel well detailing on the FW190 was a nice step in this direction.
im just hoping that any competition that might exist goes in a good way.
meaning, i hope that bbi starts making better quality, more detailed stuff like we usually see from 21s (excluding the terrible modern stuff) and not the other way around, where 21st has to downgrade their quality in order to stay alive against bbi.
my bet is that we will start seeing smaller things from both companies. like smaller tanks and ground vehicles. or at least thats what i hope.
-mike-
meaning, i hope that bbi starts making better quality, more detailed stuff like we usually see from 21s (excluding the terrible modern stuff) and not the other way around, where 21st has to downgrade their quality in order to stay alive against bbi.
my bet is that we will start seeing smaller things from both companies. like smaller tanks and ground vehicles. or at least thats what i hope.
-mike-