Post
by Coreyeagle48 » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:07 pm
Perhaps you are right that the members of the forum are a limited amount of the collector base. But the market for these models is limited in the sense that most of the people are buying them are collectors or history nuts who like the models. Despite the fact that these toys are available for kids and kids buy them.
I feel this is different than other lines, take for example Star Wars. Star Wars appealed to such a mass audience both collectors and the average adults. Most everyone in the world has heard and seen Star Wars and the results of the success of the franchise. With the prequels, the Star Wars franchise will keep going for a long period time. Kids like Star Wars as well. They like the characters, the lightsabers and the ships. The Star Wars lines could be expanded and expanded and people would buy it simply because it is Star Wars. Can't think of how many Star Wars backpacks were around last year when in reality, the only thing Star Wars on the backpack is the drawing. Take off the drawing and it is a same old backpack.
I agree that if I were a company and I saw people tearing apart a model over small details I wouldn't be happy either. But it is the nature of the business I suppose. People aren't going to be happy with everything. I for one just care that the models look decent and work like they are supposed. I'd rather see a minor canopy adjustment that makes the canopy work better than see it 100 percent accurate and have it break two seconds after buying it. Today, functionality is a major part of the toy market. It has to do something and work and survive in order to be marketable. The variations in these airplanes make them work better I suppose, but there is always room for improvement. I believe these models will continue to advance and improve over time and one of the companies will tackle a super airplane one day, meaning a big model.
I think if the continued interest in the "Greatest Generation" continues, we will see these models continue to be built. More people know what a P-51 and a Corsair are now thanks to recent movies and television series. There has also been a large influx of warbirds onto the airshow scene, people see these planes and like them and like the color schemes. That helps our hobby tremendously.
It is all about customer wants, right now customers anc collectors want World War II airplane models. I do believe people want these models, as
I see plenty of them sold at the airshows. There is an interest in it. 20 years from now if due to carbon emissions standards, lack of parts or accidents, the vintage warbirds now flying are placed into museums and never flown at airshows or the Greatest Generation dies off, will people still "want" these items.
That would be my gravest concern I suppose, but I never thought I'd see a series of WWII fighters in a large scale but not so large at the same time (RC birds are too big). It is a great time to be living and seeing these wonderful models made to collect and enjoy.
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