Is Kickstarter a Means of Getting Our A-10 ?

[pickelhaube]

I just made this post on the Fighting 1/18th .

This could be a way of getting our A-10.

Is this worth pursuing ?

I just checked out a post where people pledged over $150 , 000 for red girly figures !!

WOW !!!!!!!!!

Back in the heyday of 1/18th scale aircraft , it was a known fact that if you had $ 150,000 you could have 3, 000 of any plane made .

You could also have multi paint schemes in that 3,000 .

Bad cat had some made of the P-51 I forgot what their names were but they sold them between $70-$90

An online dealer Down Under had BBI make a couple of Australian P-51s and sold them for $150 each.

That was high because they were in Wal-Mart ( generic paint schemes ) for $ 39.94 .

If you do the math $150,00 divided by 3,000 comes out to $50 a unit .

That was back then .

The BBI Pavehawk helo sold for about $ $70-$80 per unit back then . Now the new Blackhawk sells for about $160 per unit .

Doubling the price from then to now.

So ... doubling the $150,000 is now $ 300,000 I am guessing they still want a minimum order of 3,000.

So that will be $100 a unit ( finished and painted ) cost.

Of course I am not sure what collector would want 3,000 A-10s so I am sure that the investors would want to sell them.

Probably $180- $200 per unit in fact doubling your investment.

$200 x 3,000 = $600,000 that come out to $ 300,000 profit .

Unless you back off the mark up to $150 so.. $150 @ 3,000 units comes out to $150 , 000 profit .

Unless there will be in fact 3,000 ( maybe less because folks could want doubles ) collectors who will ante up $100 each we as collectors could finance our own Holy Grail.

Would this be worth pursuing on Kickstarter ?
__________________

[pickelhaube]

No interest ?
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My rep got back to me .

The minimum order is 2,000 .

He wants to know what features would we want to see on the A-10 .

More features means more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

So what would we like to see ?

Here is my opinion FEEDBACK NEEDED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Opening canopy
working landing gear
standard load out ( is there ? )
opening hatch to reveal the Vulcan cannon

I am cool with fixed tail surfaces .I have never tried to operate tail surfaces on any of my 1/18th planes . The only plane that I can see in needing them is the Dauntless because of those intricate holed diving flaps .

Speak up .
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[supersonicfifi]

Can not agree more

the principe of theses projects is : KISS keep it simple stupid.

so the less moveable part the cheaper it will be.

The F18 and F16 are OK without them. But for the harrier it could be cool.

Concerning the A10 the parked picture only show the inboard flaps down.... a little.

Concerning the store : Pickel you can make a buisness of customs loads !

the only one needed is the ALQ 119 pod

the retailers are afraid of this :


So buy them !

[supersonicfifi]

Can not agree more

the principe of theses projects is : KISS keep it simple stupid.

so the less moveable part the cheaper it will be.

The F18 and F16 are OK without them. But for the harrier it could be cool.

Concerning the A10 the parked picture only show the inboard flaps down.... a little.

Concerning the store : Pickel you can make a buisness of customs loads !

the only one needed is the ALQ 119 pod

the retailers are afraid of this :


So buy them !

[granch]

KISS...
Agree with Pickel, opening canopy, retractable undercarriage, but opening panel to get a view on the panzerkiller canon, meaning something would have to be made Inside...$$$.
About the flaps:
I'm sorry that my F/A-18 has no moving control surfaces. This means that no pic can be made from a landing Hornet
So, for an A-10, the plane itself has a relative simple design. Both right and left stabilizator and rudder are exactly the same - in the concept of the A-10, many other pieces are interchangeable to spare $$$ and maintain spare parts stock low. It could be the same for the model, and if so, it would be fine to move the flight control surfaces, with the ailerons.
About flaps: A-10 attack happens probably with relative low speed, high lift power to keep the manoeuvrabilty as best as possible in small radius curves (and maximum thrust), this implicates flaps less or more down, probably not as much as for landing, so half down, but fixed flaps could be a compromise...

[rschaap]

I agree with Matt also. I also believe there should be a panel to reveal a portion of the cannon since the plane was literally build around it. Plus it would make it that much more interesting on the ground. My two cent...

[MUDHEN336]

Great idea! Let's do this. I will commit my $ to get this thing going. If nobody is willing to make the A-10 then let's do it ourselves.

[USCGMK2]

Would it be cost effective to make landing gear plug in? Like the smaller diecast aircraft where you can have the option of in flight or gear down, I think it would be easier and smoother lines.

[pickelhaube]

Would it be cost effective to make landing gear plug in? Like the smaller diecast aircraft where you can have the option of in flight or gear down, I think it would be easier and smoother lines.

I thought of that myself but the problem with that is the wheels when retracted are still visable.

The reason for this is the hydrolics get shot out at least the plane will have a chance in forced landing.

So the plug and play will not work unless you have the gear in the up position then the down.

Rather than 2 just use the one and let it move.

[MUDHEN336]

The only two requirements I have are retractable landing gear and a cockpit w/ a canopy that opens and holds a BBI pilot action figure. Those are a must for me. Everything else I can be flexible on. If we do this, let's do it right.

[pickelhaube]

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This idea looks favorable but it is not sience .

12 guys on 2 forums does not constitute 2,000 worth of sales .

The A-10 has been on a few radars for years now and nobody given todays economy wants to make the jump.

So here ( if things play out ) is a chance to for a manufacturer to make an item at a low risk because somebody else is taking the risk.

So , I will submit my original features and see if he can price point other wanted features.

Original features for a A-10 c "

working canopy
working gear
hatch that opens to reveal cannon
standard load out

Itemized separate price

working tail feathers
rotating cannon barrels
pilot access ladder
additional munition package

Now if we get numbers back and get all of our ducks in a row , can someone set this up on Kickstarter ?

I am not that computer savvy and would have no idea how to do it.

Some of the set up look to be prof done. Is there a service that does this or are the partisipants ones who set them up ?

[Black_Dragon_One]

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This idea looks favorable but it is not sience .

12 guys on 2 forums does not constitute 2,000 worth of sales .

The A-10 has been on a few radars for years now and nobody given todays economy wants to make the jump.

So here ( if things play out ) is a chance to for a manufacturer to make an item at a low risk because somebody else is taking the risk.

So , I will submit my original features and see if he can price point other wanted features.


We need a prototype on video so that people can see what they are investing in


nice idea but a kick starter need a finish model so that people can get an idea what they paying for.. the last person that has our model ..is u know who


Original features for a A-10 c "

working canopy
working gear
hatch that opens to reveal cannon
standard load out

Itemized separate price

working tail feathers
rotating cannon barrels
pilot access ladder
additional munition package

Now if we get numbers back and get all of our ducks in a row , can someone set this up on Kickstarter ?

I am not that computer savvy and would have no idea how to do it.

Some of the set up look to be prof done. Is there a service that does this or are the partisipants ones who set them up ?

[jmd250]

I think its a great idea. Let the GI joe forums know as well. I'll bet there are a bunch of buyers there as well

[supersonicfifi]

Pickel can you contact me by PM ?

[dcway]

Hi All !!!
i think its a great idea !!!! the more i read the more questions that enter my mind !!! I like the idea of the A-10A rather then the C model !!! the only diffrence between the A and C is mostly extrrnal cosmetics ... aantenna,s more sensors on wing tips and end of tail !!!
i prefer the A-10 a model with the laste and GPS antenna up grades !!!!! More paint schemes and unites that had them !!! then to make a C model would just be afew custom add on,s !!!!! I know the insturment panells are different between the 2 !!! but im more critical about the over all apprence ..... I'd also like to see moving flaps, speed brakes rather the a rotating gun barrel !!! OOOOO YEA !!!! and a PILOT !!!!!! Just my 2 cents !!!!
Been a long time waiting !!!!!!!! Gotta happen !!!!!
Thanks Dana

[pickelhaube]

I talked to the rep today and he said that working flaps is not that big of a deal but a rotating barrel is .

I will check on him Friday and see if he has his numbers together .

If not he said that he can get them together next week at the latest.

[Jesse James]

PH, Kickstarter type campaigns are really hit and miss... and while it's not prevalent here, in other toy communities they're seeing they can also get burned on them. A few sites recently were openly supporting a kickstarter for "hallways" of ships, Death Star, etc., from Star Wars. People pledged tons, and the "company" (which is really a guy with an idea who thought he could essentially do garage kits) got a 3D Printer... However, since 3D Printing isn't exactly perfect, they suddenly were opting to mold/cast which, as you're aware, isn't exactly simple nor cheap.

Anyway, long story shortened, this was eons ago and some people who pledged literally $100 or more are still waiting while fan sites who promoted their stuff got theirs right away to review... Funny how that worked eh?

Kickstarters can be good and bad. They can be great when the people involved in running one knows what the hell he's doing. When someone jumps in because they think they have a great idea, but the realities of production smack them in the face and they honestly had no clue about what was involved, then people wind up being po'd they didn't get their stuff. IMO it sours my view on kickstarters in general. I'm certainly leery of them.

A company like 4 Horsemen had the expertise to get going... The aforementioned "hallway" manufacturer was pretty clueless, and now just has trails of people annoyed with him. *shrugs*

I'm not interested in an A-10 so it's nothing I'd be backing, but I think with someone helming it who is already trusted to an extent, it'd have more support, if that makes any sense.

[TOOL]

Opening canopy and landing gear in the down position for me.

I'm in for 1 for sure, maybe more depending on price point.

[Jolly Roger]

I'd be in for at least one, if not a few for friends.

You can't judge kick starter until you do it, once word gets out, people will funnel in from other military
toys sites, and with the huge amount of press the A-10 is currently getting, it may be now or never.

I say do it.


If it doesn't succeed, no one loses any real money.

[ASC McLaren]

My F-14 was $300. So for a model of the A-10 I would be real happy under that price with retracting gear, opening canopy, and something to hang off the wing stations. Is it too early to ask about paint schemes?

[pickelhaube]

My F-14 was $300. So for a model of the A-10 I would be real happy under that price with retracting gear, opening canopy, and something to hang off the wing stations. Is it too early to ask about paint schemes?

I am thinking either the Worthog or Sharkmouth from the Louisiana National Garde .

[dcway]

Would love to cee it in the euro 1 paint scheme !!!! go Flying Tigers !!!!!!!!
Any updates ??? Dana

[Warbird Kid]

I'd probably buy one. But it would be great to see it in this scheme:

[dcway]

Any news ???? any word from the rep ????? as the cost of the project ??
Dana

[pickelhaube]

Any news ???? any word from the rep ????? as the cost of the project ??
Dana

we are waiting for the rep to get back with us .

the whole of last week was spent going back and forth talking about options and load outs.

hopefully now we are on the same page and he can come up with some numbers.