[John Youngs]

In a nutshell, I'm looking to get into collecting 1/18th scale JET fighter & attack planes; not limiting myself to these, it's just that these are where my primary interests lie, at the moment.

Primarily, within that category, I'm interested in collecting the F-86 Sabre series, the F-4 Phantom Series, the ME-262 series, along with the MiG-15, 17, & 21 series of acft; as well as any future offerings of the A-4 Skyhawk series, the FJ-Fury series, the A-7 Corsair II series, and last, but certainly not least, the F-8 Crusader series.

I'm primarily concerned about the quality of fit, finish, "user-friendly" instructions, decals, under-wing armament & under-wing stores (are they historically accurate), are rivet lines to scale, are seams mated properly, etc; things like that.
I realize that nothing out there is perfect, nor likely will ever be - but everything is "relative" - in this scale, you'd naturally expect a little more attention to detail than the smaller scales.

I got into collecting diecast years ago, as I have (being honest, here!) relatively little patience for "complex" modelling projects in which you've got to put in hundreds of man-hours of time & labor just to get a "reasonably" nice-looking model, when it's all said & done. I realize that "some" work must be done, of course; I just don't want to get into something that's not likely to be finished in 6 months...

Soooooo, if any of you out there would care to offer suggestions on which companies tend to be good, or bad, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHY, I'd be MOST appreciative!!
Many thanks, John

[Alph]

Hi Welcome to our Group,
For me I've been collecting 21st Century because of price and the hunt for the offerings. I don't know much about BBI or other makers,but do understand many of the models your seeking are available accept the F-4 Phantom "Due out soon".. I like 21st as WalMart gets the majority of Century models. Available are the Mig, F-86 Sabre,F-104 and many other WWII aircraft. Simple to assemble but a bear to get out of the package! There are many more guys in ths Forum that have Big $$$$ invested in 1/18th scale models and they'll Chime in for sure Nothing hard about assembly of these models the newer ones have screws to hold the wing sections on but that's it. Some guys actually modify to get a more scale look by adding hydrolic lines and extra decals. Enjoy your search and let us see what your able to get. Alph of Spokane WA

[trex0770]

Originally Posted by John Youngs

In a nutshell, I'm looking to get into collecting 1/18th scale JET fighter & attack planes; not limiting myself to these, it's just that these are where my primary interests lie, at the moment.

Primarily, within that category, I'm interested in collecting the F-86 Sabre series, the F-4 Phantom Series, the ME-262 series, along with the MiG-15, 17, & 21 series of acft; as well as any future offerings of the A-4 Skyhawk series, the FJ-Fury series, the A-7 Corsair II series, and last, but certainly not least, the F-8 Crusader series.

I'm primarily concerned about the quality of fit, finish, "user-friendly" instructions, decals, under-wing armament & under-wing stores (are they historically accurate), are rivet lines to scale, are seams mated properly, etc; things like that.
I realize that nothing out there is perfect, nor likely will ever be - but everything is "relative" - in this scale, you'd naturally expect a little more attention to detail than the smaller scales.

I got into collecting diecast years ago, as I have (being honest, here!) relatively little patience for "complex" modelling projects in which you've got to put in hundreds of man-hours of time & labor just to get a "reasonably" nice-looking model, when it's all said & done. I realize that "some" work must be done, of course; I just don't want to get into something that's not likely to be finished in 6 months...

Soooooo, if any of you out there would care to offer suggestions on which companies tend to be good, or bad, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHY, I'd be MOST appreciative!!
Many thanks, John

Hi John,
the big 3 in 1/18th scale are, as previously stated by Hworth, Admiral Toys, 21st Century Toys (aka - The Ultimate Soldier)and BBi (aka - Blue Box Int. & Elite Force). Here's a partial list (& my personal opinion) of what each company offers in 1/18 aircraft.

1) Admiral Toys - the newest of the big 3. Great products, crisp paint & overall QC, figures worst of big 3.

a. Me 262 Swallow - available now, great
b. F-86E Saber - available now, great
c. F-4C Phantom II - announced, release date TBD
d. A-1 Skyraider - announced, release date TBD

2) 21st Century Toys - started the modern 1/18 aircraft/armor genre, good selection of liverys for each aircraft they offer & offers the most aircraft types of the big 3, QC worst of the big 3 in terms of sloppy paintjobs, figures (cartoonish) 2nd to BBi, annoucement to availability of products is often looong (years) and sometimes never.

a. P-51D Mustang - available, s2 awesome, s1 not so much
b. P-38 Lightning - available, great
c. F4U-1D Corsair - available, great
d. P-47D Thunderbolt (Bubbletop) - available, good
e. P-47D Thunderbolt (Razorback) - available, okay
f. TBF Avenger - available, awesome
g. Supermarine Spitfire - rare, awesome
h. P-40 Warhawk - available, okay
i. BF-109E & G - available, s2 great, s1 okay
j. JU-87B Stuka - available, good
k. FW-190D Dora - rare, great
l. F-86F Saber - available, awesome
m. F-104C/G Starfighter - available, awesome
n. Mig-15 bis - available, great
o. Mig-15 bis - available, great
p. UH-1C Huey - rare, great
q. AH-1W Super Cobra - rare, great
r. B-25 Mitchell - announced, release date TBD
s. F-4J? Phantom II - announced, release date TBD
t. Mig-21 Fishbed - announced, release date TBD

3) BBi - very nice models, paint & QC excellent, some inaccuracies, most realistic figures.
a. P-51D Mustang - available, awesome
b. F4U-1D Corsair - available, awesome
c. Mitsubishi A6M Zero - rare, awesome
d. AH-64 Apache - rare, great
e. UH-60 Blackhawk - rare, awesome
f. MH-60 Pavehwak - rare, awesome
g. OH-6 Little Bird - available, great
h. MH-6 Little Bird - available, great
i. OH-58D Kiowa - rare, awesome
j. F-18C Hornet - rare, awesome
k. F-16C Viper - rare, awesome
l. F6F Hellcat - announced, release date this Aug/Sept 2007!

Sorry if I forgot any. Only 3 of 10 you mentioned are currently available with the Mig 21 and Phantom (announced by Admiral & 21st Century) on deck. I wouldn't hold my breath for the A-7 Corsair II or F-8 Crusader let alone the Mig-17 & Fury (unless you're willing to hold your breath for years).

All three companies have the good points and things they need to work on, but the products they offer are really very nice for the price. I collect these eventhough I don't have the room to display all of them.

Some people don't consider these true collectibles and more like toys but once you see a nice example in person it's amazing how fast you can get hooked!

[VMF115]

I started collecting the 1:18 birds last year and have not looked back. As for many thinking they are toys and not collectables, that was the same mind set when the first 1:18 diecast cars came out. Give it time, and this hobby will only get better over time. I would watch out for 21^st and admiral toys, while Bbi puts out a few good aircraft I find their contempt for the collector a little disturbing. Their aircraft are flawed with mistakes and quality problems. Also they refuse to fix the inaccuracies in their molds. In my book 21^st and AT are the big 2 out of the 3.

[John Youngs]

Originally Posted by Alph

Hi Welcome to our Group,
For me I've been collecting 21st Century because of price and the hunt for the offerings. I don't know much about BBI or other makers,but do understand many of the models your seeking are available accept the F-4 Phantom "Due out soon".. I like 21st as WalMart gets the majority of Century models. Available are the Mig, F-86 Sabre,F-104 and many other WWII aircraft. Simple to assemble but a bear to get out of the package! There are many more guys in ths Forum that have Big $$$$ invested in 1/18th scale models and they'll Chime in for sure Nothing hard about assembly of these models the newer ones have screws to hold the wing sections on but that's it. Some guys actually modify to get a more scale look by adding hydrolic lines and extra decals. Enjoy your search and let us see what your able to get. Alph of Spokane WA



Many thanks!! I'll keep all of this in mind - I appreciate your comments! - John

[John Youngs]

Originally Posted by trex0770

Hi John,
the big 3 in 1/18th scale are, as previously stated by Hworth, Admiral Toys, 21st Century Toys (aka - The Ultimate Soldier)and BBi (aka - Blue Box Int. & Elite Force). Here's a partial list (& my personal opinion) of what each company offers in 1/18 aircraft.

1) Admiral Toys - the newest of the big 3. Great products, crisp paint & overall QC, figures worst of big 3.

a. Me 262 Swallow - available now, great
b. F-86E Saber - available now, great
c. F-4C Phantom II - announced, release date TBD
d. A-1 Skyraider - announced, release date TBD

2) 21st Century Toys - started the modern 1/18 aircraft/armor genre, good selection of liverys for each aircraft they offer & offers the most aircraft types of the big 3, QC worst of the big 3 in terms of sloppy paintjobs, figures (cartoonish) 2nd to BBi, annoucement to availability of products is often looong (years) and sometimes never.

a. P-51D Mustang - available, s2 awesome, s1 not so much
b. P-38 Lightning - available, great
c. F4U-1D Corsair - available, great
d. P-47D Thunderbolt (Bubbletop) - available, good
e. P-47D Thunderbolt (Razorback) - available, okay
f. TBF Avenger - available, awesome
g. Supermarine Spitfire - rare, awesome
h. P-40 Warhawk - available, okay
i. BF-109E & G - available, s2 great, s1 okay
j. JU-87B Stuka - available, good
k. FW-190D Dora - rare, great
l. F-86F Saber - available, awesome
m. F-104C/G Starfighter - available, awesome
n. Mig-15 bis - available, great
o. Mig-15 bis - available, great
p. UH-1C Huey - rare, great
q. AH-1W Super Cobra - rare, great
r. B-25 Mitchell - announced, release date TBD
s. F-4J? Phantom II - announced, release date TBD
t. Mig-21 Fishbed - announced, release date TBD

3) BBi - very nice models, paint & QC excellent, some inaccuracies, most realistic figures.
a. P-51D Mustang - available, awesome
b. F4U-1D Corsair - available, awesome
c. Mitsubishi A6M Zero - rare, awesome
d. AH-64 Apache - rare, great
e. UH-60 Blackhawk - rare, awesome
f. MH-60 Pavehwak - rare, awesome
g. OH-6 Little Bird - available, great
h. MH-6 Little Bird - available, great
i. OH-58D Kiowa - rare, awesome
j. F-18C Hornet - rare, awesome
k. F-16C Viper - rare, awesome
l. F6F Hellcat - announced, release date this Aug/Sept 2007!

Sorry if I forgot any. Only 3 of 10 you mentioned are currently available with the Mig 21 and Phantom (announced by Admiral & 21st Century) on deck. I wouldn't hold my breath for the A-7 Corsair II or F-8 Crusader let alone the Mig-17 & Fury (unless you're willing to hold your breath for years).

All three companies have the good points and things they need to work on, but the products they offer are really very nice for the price. I collect these eventhough I don't have the room to display all of them.

Some people don't consider these true collectibles and more like toys but once you see a nice example in person it's amazing how fast you can get hooked!

Many thanks! You've obviously done considerable research! I'll try and keep all of this in mind! - John

[STARMAN 352ND]

I would really like to see one of the big 3 make the A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) in 1:18
JP

[VMF115]

An A-10 would be cool but only if they do it right the first time, I would hope that either 21^st or Admiral Toys makes the A-10. If Bbi did make one it would probably not have much of an ordnance selection and have A cheesy over scaled landing gear.

btw I want an A-10 badly.

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by VMF115

An A-10 would be cool but only if they do it right the first time, I would hope that either 21^st or Admiral Toys makes the A-10. If Bbi did make one it would probably not have much of an ordnance selection and have A cheesy over scaled landing gear.

btw I want an A-10 badly.

I believe someone or some folks from the Small Scale HQ forum started a 'hunger-strike' campagne a few years ago to have an A-10 made in 1:18th? Whatever happened to all that bruhaha?

[VMF115]

Originally Posted by flyXwire

I believe someone or some folks from the Small Scale HQ forum started a 'hunger-strike' campagne a few years ago to have an A-10 made in 1:18th? Whatever happened to all that bruhaha?

I think its still going on.