[Epapazian]

The fact that Corgi and Gemini aren't talking is probably a good sign, though it frays their customer and trade relations a bit. My take, is that both will return to the field of battle and not only that, but they may surprise us with new directions in product selections. On the other hand, I'm not so sure about Carousel and Witty, like FOV, runs the risk of becoming a marginal player unless it stops putting out shoddy products. The departure of Dragon creates some slack, for the surviving marketers to capitalize on and the production slow down at the Chinese factories may wind up being a good thing as it gives the companies time to regroup and make more rational plans for the future.

One thing that strikes me as most important, is how we collectors respond to events. As I noted in another thread, if we go out of our way to support new directions---such as Hobby Master's Kate, we will get more of the same---namely Vals, Oscars, F-105s, Mig-15s, Nicks, Tonys, IL-2s, MC-202s and the like. If, however, we continue to be totally self interested, demanding more and more P-51s, P-38s, F4Us etc until a perfect one, somehow , is made, we are channeling the marketers into needless duplication and redundancy, which is bad for their bottom lines and further gluts the marketplace. I've been taking a long hard look at my own collecting habits and am trying to adjust them along the lines, mentioned above. For example, although I mostly buy 1:72nd scale product, I will now make it a point to purchase any 1:48th or 1:144th scale entries that depart from the norm with the goal of stimulating such initiatives. What I'm much less likely to do is buy yet another P-51D. I've got too many of them already.