[Epapazian]

It's starting to look like a shakeout is occurring among diecast makers. First, we see Dragon cutting back, or at least delaying future risky ventures such as its promised P-38. We all know about Corgi's recent troubles, but add in newcomers like Hobby Master, Carousel 1 and Gemini--at least in the military arena--plus those cautious folks at Century Wings and you can see the impact of new competition on what was once regarded as "The Establishment" in this field. Enter MRC ( Easy Model ) with a huge new lineup of low cost plastic product and things are getting even more complicated---and competitive. Small wonder that GMP is opting out. Which begs the question. Who will fall next? And if over saturation is an issue---with too many companies offering "me-too" Mustangs, Spitfires, P-40s and BF-109s -- isn't it time that the remaining players start branching out to offer us planes that haven't been done to death. Finally, as was suggested in another thread, isn't it time that the much cheaper plastic option be considered for bigger planes such as the B-29, B-47, B-36, and many others for which there seems to be a ready market?