[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

About a year ago, I had a conversation with Martin at the Flying Mule on this subject and his estimate of the number of dedicated military diecast collectors was so low ---about a thousand...

I wonder how Martin would define "dedicated" collectors? I don't necessarily consider myself a "dedicated" collector since I pick and choose and have far fewer models than many on this forum. Maybe there are lots of folks out there like me.

I am probably "more" dedicated at the larger scales (except for Franklin Mint), because I have at least one model from almost all the molds at 1:48 to 1:32 and some I have several models from each mold. If there were greater variety at these scales, I would bury myself with models. I have often wondered myself how to grow interest in larger scale diecast, but I am at a loss. Almost all of my inner circle have no interest whatsoever in aviation or modeling, that is why I hang out here with the rest of you loonies. Since I have no hobby shops in my area dedicated to diecast, there is no place else to go but the internet to satisfy my interest. Thank goodness for the internet, or I would have no diecast hobby to persue (but I would have more money to spend on other things!) I wish there were a magazine dedicated solely to diecast modeling (especially military). This may grow the hobby... no?

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Elmer

I wonder how Martin would define "dedicated" collectors? If there were greater variety at these scales, I would bury myself with models.

I think that statement alone qualifies you as "dedicated" Elmer!

Seriously, though, I think you'd be part of the segment Martin was talking about... based on yoru self-descripition...

I think the number of casul collectors -- people who have one or two models or maybe just pick up models of warbirds they see at air shows, or "gramps flew in the war" is vastly greater...


Hence the reason sets like Corgi's BBMF set have sold out -- big set, big price, if only "hardcore, dedicated collectors" bought it there would still be 4,000 on the shelf...

[skysurfer808]

This was discussed in the MH1 and estimates of Collector "Nutters" was about 1000 as well. Yet many models have sold out or are otherwise not available. There is likely a bit of squirrling away going on, and hearing certain members having 4 of certain models definately confirms some of this. One thing I regret not being able to do is buying duplicates of every model I've ever purcased, but that would have made my collecting habit even more expensive...I have another life, and did have an island lifestyle to support. Still, I agree that even with these sorts of multiple buying habits, it doesn't make sense to have so many models disappear. Obviously somebody is buying them. I think the above posts state it best, there is the hardcore thousand, and then there are those who have a few planes here and there. Don't forget too that some vets may have bought them, though this is a fast disappearing part of the collecting set.

As for ways of expanding this hobby, the Museum idea is perhaps the best. I've thought a lot along these lines, and look forward to doing what I can to make something like this happen. If enough people are informed about diecast, I have no doubt that this hobby can continue to gain momentum. Example, I did even know about diecast models until 2002, thanks to the internet, and one of my flight instructor's collecting habits. Yet Armour has been around since the late 90s, and Matchbox started in 2001. Therefore it takes time to develop the hobby. I am surprised that the major manufacturers haven't begun promoting their habits on the History Channel's dogfight show. I mean this has been discussed before...but how cool would it be to be able to buy a model of the featured planes....or maybe even a dogfight set with two. There will likely be a backlash against all things military in the not too distant future, as our decadant civilization once again turns away from herioism, expect a sort of 70s redux. Still, even during that bad old decade, people still bought and made plastic models. It just won't be as cool to do so....but to me, heroism and good music don't have a shelf life. I collect planes because I love aviation...and the stories behind the planes and pilots.

So lets all do what we can to promote our hobby. It can only help us all. I know that I will be promoting these models as a Flight Instructor, and using one of my Corgi 1/32s as an instructional aid....after all what better way to teach flying then with a model that has working ailerons, elevators, rudder and flaps...sure beats those foam things they have at most flight schools.

Skysurfer808

[mhackl]

Maybe 1000 rabid online collectors.

I believe that an estimation of 1000 total is a gross underestimation of the collector base. We have a mailing list of over 6,000 people, and we only sell die-cast products that are discussed on this forum. I know that we don't service every die-cast collector out there so I'd have to say the number is more like 10,000 plus at least. Don't judge the number by TMH membership (sorry Gavin), because a significant portion of collectors that we serve don't even own a computer, or want anything to do with "that evil newfangled technology".

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by mhackl

Maybe 1000 rabid online collectors.

I believe that an estimation of 1000 total is a gross underestimation of the collector base. We have a mailing list of over 6,000 people, and we only sell die-cast products that are discussed on this forum. I know that we don't service every die-cast collector out there so I'd have to say the number is more like 10,000 plus at least. Don't judge the number by TMH membership (sorry Gavin), because a significant portion of collectors that we serve don't even own a computer, or want anything to do with "that evil newfangled technology".

I agree with you. Still, the weight of the dedicated segment sales-wise can't be underestimated. To demonstrate, let's say that there are 10,000 diecast collectors, including 1,000 dedicated collectors who buy, on average, 30 models per year. Let's assume that the remaining 9,000 buy an average of five planes annually. If these hypotheticals are projected against overall sales volume, the dedicated group would account for 40% of all models sold. Whatever the real numbers are, I think we all agree that encouraging more people---especially younger people--- to take up this hobby would be good for everybody.