Phantom II for 89.99?

[tko211]

It's all good! Hey I am a fan too and man ANY F-4 is good fo me!

I get caught in the cross hairs all the time! I knew that going into my aggangement and its all good. Frankly everyone here is pretty darn cool and we all get to have our opinions and that is part of what makes this fourm work! When the day is done and the dust settles what do we have?

2 Phantoms to choose from and lots of fan boys who ALL agree on one thing! That is the intent to buy the Phantom! All good things in my book. It means there IS a market for large planes... Like the F-14! Like the A-10 (someday) and like my personal flag that I like to wave... the B-25!

Guys let me say one more thing to leave you with! 21st has at least 3 more 1:18 planes in development today! they have about 6 more in the same condition or status of the A-10 we all like to reference! They are not done making planes and F-4 project (duplicate or not) has not effected those projects one little bit! Looks like an AMAZING year for 1:18!

And a huge thanks to all the fans who allow mw to be in the crossfire and thanks for letting me still be a FAN TOO!!!!

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings,

This is a very interesting topic and since I am snowed in I have some time to reply with some comments. I agree to a certain extent with all parties about their opinions with regard to the notion at hand.

I agree with some of what TKO says in the fact that I personally think that companies in competition should not work together or help each other, unless they build an alliance or something of that sort. Take for example cars. If you look at the market niche for say the Toyota Corolla, look at all the competitors in that market share. You have the Chevy Cobalt, Ford Focus, Pontiac G5 and a host of others. I personally do not think that Chevy and Ford tell Toyota what they are making so that Toyota can make the same thing. As a result, we have many different cars, with similar performance and equipment, but it is your choice what you buy.

That being said, I think it is everyone's choice here what they want to buy. Aferg had a good point with that. If you support Admiral, you support Admiral. If you are a supporter of 21st, you buy the 21st products. Personally with such a great niche of airplanes on the market, I'd expect most of you to have a little something from everyone.

As for the repeats of models, I am with a lot of the board members here, I hate it too but can understand it. Popular airplanes sell. I always laugh when a company decides to start making airplanes because usually you can guess the first model-a P-51 Mustang. I personally have seen so many companies make the Mustang that when I see them at the airshows, I care very little about them. I think the Mustang has to be the most overproduced model airplane in the world. LOL The F-4 will be made and a lot will be made because it has also become a very popular airplane. I would say the same is true for the Corsair and even possibly the 262 or Zero. The lesser known planes I feel are more geared for collectors, but for the aviation and military gearheads, we love them all. I expect lots of schemes for the Phantoms, so many it could possibly be a total overkill. They are bigger than most planes, and it begs the question for the average buyer, where they will put it. I think both companies will sell these to people on the board, BUT, how successful will they be to the general public. Hopefully having two of the same model again will not hurt either company.

When the 1/18 planes first came out (I remember the first P-51 and 109 at TRU), I thought they were great, but I was turned away from them by the repaints. I realized that trying to collect them all was pointless, and that I did not have the room. So I stopped entirely. While they are tempting when you see them in the box, I pass, because there will be another repaint and at this point, I could never catch up.

I get the feeling now reading some of the posts people would rather see new offerings than multiple repaints of the same offering. It's nice that companies offer repaints, you can get the scheme you want. But I do have to say I am with people when they say, do we need another Mustang or Corsair?? Perhaps everyone else is running out of room here too:) With the recent big planes, I think everyone is running out of room these days.

I hope these two companies produce their airplanes, continue to contribute to military toy collecting and compete but do so in a civilized fashion. I agree with several on here, the way this was announced looks bad. I just think it is great we live in a country where we can have this competition over toys freely and companies such as Admiral and 21st can start from the ground up and be successful businesses. I hope they are both successful for many years to come.

As for the A-10, if there was a 111th FW scheme from Willow Grove, that I would buy!!!

Regards

Corey

[Sabrefan]

Thanks TKO, yes this will be a good year to be a 1;18th scale military airplane fan. I look forward to whats around the bend. I just wish I had more room.

[tmanthegreat]

Wow! Another F-4 I really was not expecting this and am sort of mixed about it. On one hand, I've been waiting for 21c to produce an F-4 since the Viet Nam line was out back in 2001, but coming right on the heels of Admiral Toys announcement, especially when AT has worked very hard on their investment as well. Not to mention the fact that AT makes an F-86, 21c suddenly decides to speed up their efforts; AT makes an ME-262, 21c suddenly speeds up their efforts and announces one...

All I can say is that AT will probably have the more concrete release date, and that both will be very similar in level of detail. The 21c plane will most likely have the best figures, however.

I'm leaning towards the AT version, despite the increased cost. Here's my reasoning:
21c has shown that they can produce highly detailed and very accurate aircraft and get them all over the country at mass retail - but quality seems to suffer with the larger planes. Take the Avengers: the first wave was missing the screw covers, and the second wave had messed up wings. A stack of "fixed" Atlantic Avengers I saw at a hobbystore all had some sort of small QC defect and none were truly perfect examples, which they should be edging towards at that high price. Now we're getting even larger with the F-4...

Yes, some QC issues are to be expected with any product that gets mass produced, but 21c seems to have alot more of them when compared to other companies. My first AT ME-262, for example, even though it was missing the screw covers, still had a stellar paintscheme, and that was essentially a random sample and not chosen from the best of an assortment on a store shelf.

Again, I don't want to come across as bashing 21c on this matter - I have been and will continue to be a fan However, the duplication issue is getting annoying! I think these retailers need to start communicating and that 21c really needs to go for the A-10

Again, either because I just spent and 11hr day at school or because I'm tired of seeing duplicates on the market and not origional stuff, I'm feeling a little iffy and disappointed... Sorry for the long rant.

[MK]

like you, I suspect that the 21stCT image may be of the 1/32 prototype

Interesting observation.. ?

My gut is telling me there isn't a 1/18 prototype but they can certainly prove me wrong. Wanna bet AT will come out with their s first?

Why aren't they advertising the price of the 1/32 version as much as they are with the 1/18th scale? Let the conspiracy theories continue...

[STUKA]

I love Chess.





not cheese....chess

[Sabrefan]

I love OREOS. I am sitting here reading all this F-4 stuff and eating OREOS. Man do I have a life or what?

[STUKA]

Im eating sun chips and drinking tea

[Birddog]

Interesting observation.. ?

My gut is telling me there isn't a 1/18 prototype but they can certainly prove me wrong. Wanna bet AT will come out with their s first?

Why aren't they advertising the price of the 1/32 version as much as they are with the 1/18th scale? Let the conspiracy theories continue...

I'd love to see the 1/18 prototype they have too.......

[Plane Nuts]

I love Chess.





not cheese....chess

Me too, but not the stinky, rotten stuff that women seem to like!

[FieroDude]

Im eating sun chips and drinking tea

Oreos and salsa. With a beer chaser. That's where it's at.

[STUKA]

Oreos and salsa. With a beer chaser. That's where it's at.

Id think that combo would make my toes hurt...

[FieroDude]

No sense of adventure, these youngings....

[Black_Dragon_One]

sine this was such a hot topic did this one top pic beat any board messege for the most posted and or view in one day?

[chunks]

I haven't checked, but yeah likely.

[Jericoeagle1]

sine this was such a hot topic did this one top pic beat any board messege for the most posted and or view in one day?

Usually it takes a few days for a topic to get this many replies and I'm sure it is not over yet.

[FieroDude]

Nope, no new record. Except maybe my blood pressure.

[Birddog]

TKO,

Is the A-10 an A-List plane in 21st Century's opinon?

I'm assuming it is a B-List plane since they condem it so much.

[Jolly Roger]

i dont wanna seem like im beatin down 21st.
they make great stuff, my room is full of thier products.

its just aggravating to see the next big announcement is a plane thats already been anounced by another company.




and for those who say other wise, my AT Sabre's alerons do not sag.

[Jericoeagle1]

No, no A-10, stop asking everyone.

Sorry Bud, I just can't because I'm a rebel with a cause!

[tko211]

For A-10 lovers (me included so don't lynch me)

Cool plane! Rugged to the hilt! Very popular with most people! 21st must have thought the same at one point. They built one. I have seen the hog in 1:18 on it's gear in all it's glory. Is it cool YES! Do I want one YES!

Does it really have schemes that 21st at this time feels will sell well enough for folks to buy more than one.... NOPE! Does it mean it is a dead issue for 21st... not exactly.

A-list?... YEAH, I think so. But, this big stuff is really really new! You got only a small handful of these big guys to draw sales research on! You know... the A-10 is just suffering from timing. And right now it isn't it's time. Phantom sales could change that perspective in both camps! So perhaps we will get 2 of those next year!

I wish someone would make one already just so you hunger strikers could get a hot meal!

I wanna talk about something else! You guys are wearing me out. -What is the weather like where you are at?

[Birddog]

Thanks for your input TKO. I know where you stand on the A-10 and that's nice to know. You aren't the one that is condeming it though.

What's 21st (I'm assuming Roy would be good to answer this) stance though, A-List?

Thanks again.

[MIGMADMAVIS]

well, its warming up here, but so far it has pretty much been overcast, and a little bit rainy

[Spudkopf]

24°C with thunderstorms brewing tomorrow 31°C and Friday 36°C is that what you wanted.