[Iroquois]

I am some what new to the Aviation Diecast MKT in collecting, I have been collecting now for about a year.
What I find intresting is the earlier Corgi models that were produced were limited editions of 4000 to 6000 and even a few higher than that.
But you really cant find these at any Diecast dealer, you can only pretty much find them on Ebay. And when you watch ebay.... the prices some of these fetch for is amazing.... .
What I have seen with the more recent models is limited editions of 1500 to 3000 and as low as 500 for special commisions. Outside of the commisions for 500, I still see diecast dealers still selling these 1500 to 3000 limited editions on their sites or at the hobby shop's. Is this a sign of the Market? or is Corgi losing their edge to the competion?
I am 43 and where I work at there is a guy who is in his early 50's who also collects, but most people I know have no intrest in diecast especially the younger people, they seem more into Video Games and electronic entertainment.
It is funny, when I go to my local retail stores to their diecast section in the toy dept, or to my local Hobby Shop, I feel like I am in some Adult book store or something . I see more older men at these stores who are between 35 and 60 who are buying toys and diecast, than younger people.
I would chalk it up to prices and how much money they may have to spend, but they buy Ipods and video games and all the new electronic gadgets.

For those who have been around the Diecast Mkt for awhile where do you think we are headed , Do you think more younger people will get involved ?

[djjeffhall]

Iroquois,
Hey there.

I haven't been around much longer than yourself, but the vibe I've picked up from the folks on this forum as well as the U.K. forum is that the special shine of diecast has worn off.

There are only so many folks who are going to pick up a Spitfire or P-51. Those folks already have their plane and are happy.

Corgi however, is now producing their 30th Spitfire and 25th P-51 (I'm maiking those numbers up, but check out Tricitus's web site and you'll see there are a LOT of each of those planes.) and even the hardcore folks are getting fed up.

A question for the people who have been here a while to ask is this: How many diecast planes is there a market for? There just are not THAT many planes that will generate enough interest to create a top-notch plane. IXO has the right idea from a marketing point of view. Don't spend that much on your moulds. Things are missing or made on the cheap, no problem, there isn't any competition for Russian Italian or Japanese planes.

The other option is for a company to make a truly TOP notch plane, but then charge an arm and a leg for it.

Okay, I've digressed from your original point. No, young people are not going to get involved. Diecast isn't that sexy. The market is specialized and the casual collector only wants one plane. Be that a P-51, P-47 or ME-109, they have enough choices that they have found one of those planes and they are done.

Despite the fact that Corgi is doing a really nice Johnny Johnson set any day now, I decided to pass as I already have one Corgi Spitfire. I surmise that there are a lot of diecast collectors who are saying the same thing as you can only sell the same thing to someone so many times. Hence, instead of 5000 of this set we are more likely to see 1000 and even then they will get dumped soon.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong in anything I've said above. I'm feeling a bit rambly today.....

[flaps]

I have to disagree somewhat, I like having more than one of any given plane, thanks to the fact there were so many different markings and countrys that flew some of these a couple of each is more fun.

I have at least 6 P-51's and all look slightly different, due to Country who flew it as well as Pilot and Markings. Plus for each airframe there are many variations over the years it was flown. I doubt we will see any since IXO releases so few, but it would be fun to have some more releases like the HE219 or BF110 in different markings/colors.

Its also fun too collect planes based on the fame of the Pilot or Battle it was in. I also enjoy some of the packaging with info on it about the model, Corgi is the best at this. They used to have a couple of planes that came with a booklet recreation of what the Pilot that flew the real thing in WWII got, way way neat.

There are also so many planes from the early 30' until now that no one has made.

I think if you want to be a fun and continueing hobby the collector base needs to grow a little each year, but I still meet people all the time that did not know this level of quality in diecast metal even existed.

The other good sign is new companies making diecast military planes like Hobby Master and Gemini Jets as well as IXO growing and more.

Flaps

[mhackl]

I guess where I would disagree is that those planes being made on the cheap discourage other manufacturers from then making a quality version. The surge of interest from a new casting is almost a necessity in paying for new tooling costs. I myself will wait for high detail rather that buy anything new casting made on the cheap.

[Freefall Kiwi]

I think there's still a huge untapped market out there of 30 and 40+ blokes who loved Airfix and Matchbox plastic kits when they were tweenagers, and would like to recapture their early interest. The marketing of Corgi and Dragon models isn't exactly mainsteam - it'd be intriquing to know of the circulation figures for the mass-market (and TV-advertised) IXO models/magazine

[admin]

It's a call to arms men. Recruit Recruit Recruit!!

[jjckfc]

Movies are the best recruiting tool. It's been quite some time since a decent WW2 aviation movie was out. That will spur interest more than anything else.

How's about a movie on the 357th?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Well in that case a "The Blue Nose Ba***rds of Bodney" movie is long overdue as well.Ther story of the 352nd of the 8th USAAF.
JP

[chiefs70]

I consider myself a relatively new collector (I started in January of this year for all practical purposes) and have acquired 100+ pieces since. I was a modeller in my youth but ran out of time, interest and skill but not a love for military models. When I stumbled across my first diecast model I was amazed (and since it was a FOV model that says something). I started searching the web and stumbled onto Dragon USAs site which was pushing the Kansas Tornado P-47 at the time and I was sold. It has been downhill ever since.

I think there are a lot of folks who are much like myself and only wait for the opportunity to find the quality that is available today. We are in a golden age with all of the fantastic models and companies just now and it can only fuel the interest of folks who never knew these items existed. After all, toy soldiers have been around for centuries and people still seek them out.

Just my opinion but it seems to be the case.

[admin]

Originally Posted by admin

It's a call to arms men. Recruit Recruit Recruit!!

Prime Target: Civil Air Patrol & USAF ROTC cadets