How did you choose what to collect?

[zzzippper]

Basically, why do you collect the specific types (tanks, vehicles, figures, planes, etc) in a specific scale and a specific manufacturer?

Do you ever mix makers? Scales?

I'm asking because I can see that I will pretty quickly exhaust the available tanks from FOV in 1:32. I guess the next logical step would be to their airplane line. But I also hear that 21st Century are pretty compatible and offer different tanks than FOV.

I know 21st went under but I still see their products available.

[tmanthegreat]

I've always been attracted to the smaller scales and quite often my choices were determined by what company made what, for what era, and what was available.

To provide an example, FOV makes (or made) a Matilda tank in 1:32, but does not have the appropriate German armor to oppose it. 21c, however, makes a Panzer III, so I got one of those to pair against the Matilda. Sometimes one company or the other comes out with a duplicate vehicle that is superior. The FOV Jagdpanther is far better than the 21c version, though 21c makes an awesome M-113 APC versus the more simplistic FOV version, for example. Each company also makes different vehicles that the other does not and FOV has an extensive modern vehicle lineup.

In terms of aircraft, the FOV 1:32 examples stink for the most part - save for the P-39 which is excellent. The early 21c 32x aircraft are not the best, but most of their mid to late examples are fantastic.

If I were to do everything all over again, I'd collect FOV 1:32 armor, fill it out with some of the unique 21c pieces that FOV does not make, and then collect the 21c 32x planes.

[zzzippper]

Interesting take, thanks. Being in Korea I don't get to see anything but the pictures on the interwebs. So far I have just bought what the tanks that were always my favorite, so I grabbed a Panther right off. The Matilda is the only Brit tank that ever appealed to me so I'm sorry they retired it. I also wish they made an M3 Stuart. And a Hetzer. They just don't make enough to feed this new disease.

I just started looking at the planes and when I saw a FOV Erich Hartmann (Black Tulip) Me-109 I started getting itchy.

[Dauntless]

Dude, Up close the FOV Hartmann is a turd. You should really try to get a 21C 109G or F, they are superior. Not so much the earlier 109E.

You couldn't really beat 21C in the availability, price and variety of it's products when they were offered at Walmart and TRU a few years back.
Especially in the aircraft choices. I started out buying the 1:18 planes, but after a while started buying the 1:32 planes.
The prices were so good that I ended up buying a lot of armor too, even though that's not what I initially started to collect.

FOV's 1:32 aircraft that I saw at retail never really impressed me for the higher price (never saw the P-39, but plan on getting it)
The 1:32 armor wasn't easily available at an inexpensive price except at few and far between stockings at Target. So I have a few pieces.

1:18 and 1:32 is what I have the most of, but even before those scales were available (they weren't at one time) I'd bought a lot of GI Joe and 21C 1:6 and diecast Matchbox, FOV 1:72, so yeah I'm all over the place in scales.

Funny I'd never bought but a few pieces of 1:48 though.

The bottom has dropped out of the 1:18 and 1:32 so who knows what I'll collect. Maybe more 1:72 or even 1:144.

[NightVyper]

you know this is a good thread and i have always been curious about what scale would be right for me so i will ask. i am a big Gi joe / 1:18 collector but my favorites are helicopters and i was curious as to what of the smaller scales has the best diversity and quality of modern helicopters but also still has a good selection of armor.

thanks guys.
Also welcome aboard zip!

[Dauntless]

Probably 1:72 is your best bet to find some whirlybirds and get armor to go with it too.

Other than 1:18, I haven't seen hardly any 1:32 helicopters. I think Motorworks put a Huey out quite a while ago, but it's very hard to find. Testors has a snap together Apache kit.

It's a shame no one really made many helicopters and much aircraft from post WWII to modern in 1:32 other than model kits. I think it's an untapped market.

[Epap]

I frequently mix scales for warbird and armor models and am not wedded to any manufacturer. As a rule, I go the thematic route like the North African desert battles, Pearl Harbor, Battle Of Britain, etc. and select the best models, no matter who makes them, for each theme. Sometimes I replicate scales. I may complete a mini collection in 1:72nd and then go the same route in 1:48-50. I also do a lot of modifying with my models. For example, while waiting for a decent desert schemed BF-110 to appear, I converted a Russian Front IXO model into a Lybian based machine in an overall sand over light blue motif.

[snake]

Welcome to the forum zzzipper.

A good question.

You will find that most manufacturers are pretty consistent,Either they are good,or they are bad.And a good armour model,does not mean a good aircraft model.FOV is probably the best example of this.Their 1/32 armour line is very good,while their 1/32 aircraft are not.

The best[and cheapest] way to get this info,is through forums,such as this one.A little advice is free,and you won't regret your purchase in the future.

Don't be afraid to mix manufacturers to get the best quality model,in the scale you want.But quality also means cost.

It's a learning curve,but advice from members will help.

In regards to Helicopters,NightVyper.From what I understand,Corgi has the best selection and quality,but it is in 1/72.Might be kind of small for you.

[zzzippper]

Thanks guys. I've been surfing around seeing what looks interesting. I thought about collecting the airframes I've worked on for the past 30 years but there are sooo many: F15, F18, AV8, T45, C17, C130, S3, E2, F16, A10, H60, H53 are the ones that come to mind but there is no common thread or theme.

I looked at the Corgi WWI birds and that was interesting. Also their larger scale pre-WWII planes like the Buffalo, Peashooter, etc. Nothing has grabbed me yet. I think I'll re-look the 1:32 21st Century armor to see what goes with my FOV armor.

Thanks again!

[Ruger]

Basically, why do you collect the specific types (tanks, vehicles, figures, planes, etc) in a specific scale and a specific manufacturer?

Do you ever mix makers? Scales?

Let's see... Why do I collect? Who knows? I'm sure some sort of therapist out there could come up with some sort of bu#$%&it reason, but basically, I've always been a fan of machinery, and military machinery in particular. While each arena; land, sea, and air, has it's own "top dog" so to speak, the tank seems to be the king on land. Land being where I spend most of my time, the attraction seems only natural. Don't get me wrong, I like planes and ships/subs also, but I've only got so much room...

Which brings us to scale. I'd been aware of some of the smaller scales of models for quite a awhile, and of course, the entire realm of plastic model kits, but mostly I had no interest in them, as for me anyway, the tracks have to move. If the tracks don't move, I don't buy. It's a simple rule, but it has served me well. So well in fact, that the only model or toy tank I had was my somewhat beaten up G.I. Joe Mauler. Most all of my Joe stuff got passed down to family friends, but I kept a few choice pieces, and that was always one. Then one day I was in a Toy'sR'Us store and I spotted a 21st Century M-41 Walker Bulldog. In 1:32 scale it was a decent size, but not too big, I've always been a fan of the looks of the M-41... So I bought it. Not long after getting it home and all set up and played with, I set out to see if there were more of these nicely sized and nicely detailed tanks... And there were. The collecting began.

Now, where were we? Oh yeah, scale... I stick to one scale and one scale only. Long before I got into this hobby, in fact, even as a youngster, it was always inportant to me that everything was in scale. G.I. Joe never rode on Stompers, nor did Hot Wheels ever race Stompers. G.I. Joe did, however, hang out with my sister's dollhouse people, who were roughly the same size. Sure Duke did stand a full head taller than Mr. Dollhouse, but hey, that's 'cause Duke was a real man. No wonder Mrs. Dollhouse left him for the guy who could put a tank in the driveway and a gun under every bed in the house.

I do tend to stick to the modern era. I have pieces from many, if not all, eras, but I prefer modern. Simply put, since I am at heart, a fan of the machine and the technology... The modern stuff is better. Modern tanks are faster, travel further, and hit harder than those of any other era. Will this change as I get older? Will I still have a softspot for the M1 series after it has been superceeded? I guess we'll wait and see. I just might... I still like the teen series fighter planes more than the up and coming ones. But I think it's because at the heart of it, they're better fighters. And the A-10 is a better ground attack platform. New designs are built from the beginning as multi-purpose platforms, and you know the saying about a Jack-of-all-trades.

Do I mix manufacturers? You bet. If I can find it in 1:32, I'll buy it. Tanks are great, but they are only one part of the picture. They work together with infantry, which means Bradleys. And HMMWV's, lot's of HMMWV's. But that's not the half of it, unless I want to display tanks parked on base somewhere in a rather boring diorama, I need all sorts of other stuff in 1:32 scale. Civilians, cars, trucks, motorcycles, equipment... All sorts of stuff. I'm working on a decent sized modern day Iraq diorama, but it's currently on hold due to a recent move. Suffice to say, I'm always on the prowl for anything 1:32.

And I can always use another M1...

MV