Admiral Toys Information Q&A (Jason)

JoeS · Post by **JoeS** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:17 pm

Yes Jason, feeling the need for a little speed and wings sagging under the burden of formidable plastic injected ordnance. Some with extended fuses to whet an explosive appetite for flying anvils in 1/18th......echo the desire to see more of the F-4 and the Sandy. No pressure, really, just an 'afterburning' thought on a Saturday night here at Canary Wharf in London with a total moon eclipse overhead- Oh wait that's not a celestial event, it's Jason's F-4!

There goes my sobriety for a second year...I nod wistfully and my girlfriend's eyes widen with alarm as the words tumble from my quivering lips......'Hi I JoeS I'm an Admiraltoys-aholic!' ...

Okay...okay...Woman! I'll sleepeth on the couch!!!

viperzerof-2 · Post by **viperzerof-2** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:20 pm

so is the f-2 a possibility for some day?

Juneau@1 · Post by **Juneau@1** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:15 am

Jason,
How about some more information and pictures for the tanks being released after the two Panzer III. The pictures that others have posted from the toy fair look nice, but more information would be great!
Thanks,
Eric

Rogue · Post by **Rogue** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:20 am

Jackson wrote:Bf.110 G-4/R3 8th Staffel 3rd NJG Has both sets LiechtenStein radar SN2 and the smaller C1 centered in nose- also the nice teeth {sharks mouth} motteled gray leopard camo- just a purty aircraft.......not to get to specific on what I would like to see....... TJJ

That is also a awesome looking plane!

Charlemagne · Post by **Charlemagne** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:35 pm

Jason,

Can you tell me if a P-61 BlackWidow has ever been discussed as even a remote possiblity at AT? I'll understand if you'd rather not divulge that.

Thanks
Dan

Jason of Admiral Toys · Post by **Jason of Admiral Toys** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:24 am

I am so sorry that I am unable to answer questions tonight. I am leaving town in 3 hours. It is 1:30am and I have not packed. I will be back mid-week and will answer everyone’s questions at that time.

Regards,
Jason

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:18 am

Thanks Jason look forward to it.

tkjaer21 · Post by **tkjaer21** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:02 am

Thanks for keeping us updated as always Jason.

KAMIKAZE · Post by **KAMIKAZE** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:25 pm

Ju 88 in mediteranian camo would be at the top of list.

Mark

tkjaer21 · Post by **tkjaer21** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:18 am

Jason, I'd be careful to make any comparable axis aircraft to the B-25 such as the Mossie. Knowing 21C, they probably have won in the works like they normally have. They have a strong history of giving many allied/axis planes and armor to compare with eachother. Examples include:

Avenger/Stuka, Spitfire,Warhawk/109, Mustang,Thunderbolt,Lightning/190, Sabre/Mig-15, Sherman/Panzer,Panther, MB/Kubelwagen, M3A3,MI6/Hanomag(s)

This is not tosay by any means that I did not wish for you to make one as I would certainly by it right away when available.

pokeyjtc · Post by **pokeyjtc** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:01 am

I'd really like to see the A-26 Invader

Jason of Admiral Toys · Post by **Jason of Admiral Toys** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:01 pm

Hello fellow members.

Sorry that I have not answered any of your questions lately. I have been out of town. But now I am back with a mountain of paperwork and countless phone calls to make. I wanted to stop by and give you my feelings and thoughts about your suggestions and give you what information we can discuss regarding the upcoming projects.

Firstly regarding your suggestions about the small twins; we like many of your suggestions. I cannot tell you which ones, as I am sure you can answer for yourself why silence is a virtue around here.

The F-4 does not have a definite timeline, anymore. It was going to be a fall release; however, since we now have competition on the aircraft it will go into modification mode and it will not be released until we are confident it will be the very best F-4 on the market. It will not be the cheapest F-4 on the market. How the competition is able to offer the price they have stated is beyond me, but it does sounds like a great price. We are readjusting our production strategy for the aircraft and hope to get it at a more competitive price. However, I can tell you that in order to make our price point acceptable we would like to offer extras that have never been seen on a production version in 1:18. Think along the lines of working navigation lights, strobe, and lit cockpit, sound cards etc. We are working with a great company out of California that has many great ideas. I think they would make the 1:18 models awesome show pieces. Not promising anything, but we are in discussions.

However, as discussed many times before, many of the diehard collectors would love to see more detail and would pay the price. But, how many can you sell to the other customers?

In my opinion, there is a bad trend happening in 1:18 and unfortunately even Admiral Toys is part of the problem. What has happened is the “we will not be outdone by the other guy syndrome, WWNBOBTOGS.” (I may have made up the name for this particular syndrome.) Anyways, we had our particular production schedule planed for 07, the other guys have their particular production schedules, and neither wants to be outdone. What happens is the market gets flooded by no less then seven aircraft. I cannot speak of when the competition plans on releasing their aircraft, but they make it sound like it should be this year.

I kind of went off topic there, back to the “BOBTOG Syndrome.” What has happened is that each collector is getting a little of what they want. There may be room for purchasing of multiple “subjects” but I think the market for multiple paint jobs, per subject, is lacking. I know that you are the exception to this rule, but what about the rest of the market? I hope we do not see a trend where there are so many new examples of subject matter coming out that the market quickly dies for the existing subject matter. I am not just speaking for Admiral Toys when I say this would not be good for all manufacturers. Sure there is the mass-market outlet, but how many is the retailer going to be willing to liquidate at $39, $15, $2 before they say “we don’t want anymore.”

You better hope mass retailers remain interested in this hobby, because without them….
(This should be fun, fill in the blank.)

Right now is a great time for the collectors of 1:18. But I promise that every manufacturer in this scale has had interoffice meetings regarding “will this work.” And I promise that none has come up with a definitive answer.

I have read most of your questions and the answers are in the works. If I did not answer your question in the above litany of information, I will reply to you specifically in the next couple of days.

Regards,
Jason

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 2:36 pm

Jason

As always thanks for your info and I am looking foward to your other answers to follow.

tkjaer21 · Post by **tkjaer21** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:01 pm

I hope that we don't get BOBTOGs syndrome.

By extra for the price, do you mean more armament? Hopefully so. I's rather have that then a sound card. It would also be nice to have a ground crew and their respective equipment. Of course, for the price, I do not mean with the plane and would buy them sepperatly.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:03 pm

Wow Jason, lit cockpits, strobe lights, navigation lights! That is to cool!

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:38 pm

That would be slick, indeed! Thanks Jason for your openess. It is truly appreciated.

-Ski

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:00 pm

So we may not see many repaints or variants?
Will the price be higher then 140. price tag??????

scbvideoboy · Post by **scbvideoboy** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:26 pm

Sabrefan wrote:Wow Jason, lit cockpits, strobe lights, navigation lights! That is to cool!

Ha, I had that on my 1/24 Airfix Hawker Harrier in the mid 80's! I even had a green led with aluminum refector pointing up mimicking the HUD. Radio shack had a ic chip that you could wire to cycle off and on for nav lights and strobes.

my coolest idea, and you guys can use it, was to wire up the 2 drop tanks with internal batteries and have contact pins sticking up from the tanks and you inserted those into the wing mounts. Wha la! Batteries for the lites.

I even had a little motor for the fanblades. I still have pieces of it somewhere, I took it apart as I was "going" to scratchbuild a 1/12 scale harrier.

It adds a super cool factor. The F4 and radars would be perfect.

DH

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:01 pm

Sounds like you guys have some good things comming. Though, I don't know about the sound card---it seems those toys always have to have vents cut in for the speaker and it looks cheesey. But, all in all, I am stoked.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 5:02 pm

I like the lights idea, but please no sound card.

toyktdlgh · Post by **toyktdlgh** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:15 pm

Love the lights idea. Sound cards a bit iffy. I say do the sounds if you allow it to be turned off somehow and still run the lights. It may sound like someone pissing in a tin can. Those little speakers mounted in a plastic toy usually sound pretty tinny.

FieroDude · Post by **FieroDude** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:19 pm

This lights idea sounds quite cool, of course, I could see myself burning through batteries at an impressive rate.

Moth · Post by **Moth** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:12 pm

I do not like eithier ideas,
I see no reason for lights, it is a model, not a toy, and sound on a turbine aircraft seems pointless to me too.

I would really rather see more detail, like opening engine covers, or even a removable engine.

Jericoeagle1 · Post by **Jericoeagle1** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:20 pm

I just don't know about any of it. While it sounds nice I've found that "extras" just tend to break or get unused over time. I have a remote controled tank and R-2 D-2 unit with all sorts of bells and whistles on them that haven't been operated in years even though they still work. The key to keeping this hobby going is to make a good product affordable. Thats longevity. Most of the things I've collected over the years I found I didn't touch after a month or two, they just become dust collectors with optional things like lights unused.

When people complain you have a quality control problem with say just the paint being off or a part missing how much worse will it be when. The lights don't work, or the sound quits or someone breaks the battery door. You think returns are a problem now, what about then?

Nope Jason, I'd say let the others break the bank trying to do all that stuff keep your products simple and accurate. I know thats what I want something good thats going to look nice to display without bankrupting me. Look at the Frankenstien Star Wars has become.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:49 pm

Moth wrote:I do not like eithier ideas,
I see no reason for lights, it is a model, not a toy, and sound on a turbine aircraft seems pointless to me too.

I would really rather see more detail, like opening engine covers, or even a removable engine.

I had some time to think about it and I think the light and sound idea is a bad one, focus on better detail, do what 21st will not do.

Small Scale Military Headquarters

Admiral Toys Information Q&A (Jason)

1/72 tanks?

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P-61