[mustangdriver]

I can't figure out why. I don't care about spending the money, just so it is a great product, and it is. I guess some feel that if they spend that much on a model, just pic their favorite scheme and only get that one. I wish I was able to do that. I own all of the GMP aircraft this far.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I can't figure out why. I don't care about spending the money, just so it is a great product, and it is. I guess some feel that if they spend that much on a model, just pic their favorite scheme and only get that one. I wish I was able to do that. I own all of the GMP aircraft this far.

Well, many collectors don't have the luxury of not caring about a $150 price tag for a single model -- they'd rather pick up 5 or six 1:72 birds for that dough instead. I think a lot of folks that buy GMP are "one shots" -- that executive type that wants one to display in his office or what-have-you. Myself, I certainly wouldn't have four GMP mustangs if they weren't getting dumped online... I'd just have the Old Crow. And I got to say the current stock dumping has me a bit leary of buying new GMP releases at MSRP -- I bought the JL P-40 for $140 delivered the day it came out... now, not even a year later, you can score it for less than half of that, which kind of cheeses me... and can't be good for GMP in general.

This is why I like the fact that the new releases are much more limited...

I'd love to see GMP do more models, and I certainly would take a good long look at an F-86, but I suspect I'd wait a while to see if it hit the "bargain bins" before coughing up for it. A corsair, on the hand, I'd unlock the wallet for immediately... I'm just helpless when it comes to Corsairs, and I know GMP would likely give us the best one we're likely to see in larger scale, metal diecast. And I think a Corsair would probably appeal to more people than the F-86, but who knows. Theoretically, they could start with a WWII Big Hog, and Lulu, and then experiement with some Korean liveries -- if those do well, perhaps an F-86 would be more likely.

Just my $.02.

[admin]

The answer is simply YES!
I love GMPs models, and I plan to order them all.

[Raven]

I have really become a fan of GMP models in the last 6 months or so and would love to see both an F-86 and a Corsair. If they did it right and maybe threw in a stand, GMP could enjoy even more success with collectors. They just need to first and foremost pick the "right" schemes and don't release too many variants like they have on the P-51 (which has hurt values (IMHO)).

By the way, I am still in shock that they have not released a Corsair. The first diecast manfacturer that releases a large scale (1/32-1/35) Corsair is going to clean up!

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I don't care about spending the money...

Boy, I wish I could do THAT...

But most of us aren't that lucky, I guess. If diecast brands only have to cater to those with limitless funds, then I suppose GMP is doing the right thing; shoot, they should charge even more. But the fact that their products, as pointed out already, are going for one third the original price on e-bay tells me the limitless-fund theory may not be quite right...

There's got to be a happy medium somewhere (between price and quality), which I believe Corgi had reached with their 1/32 line. Unfortunately they've halted it for now. Too bad.

I for one will only buy GMP at vastly reduced prices, because I can't afford the full-up price and I don't like the 1/35 (versus 1/32) scale that much. There were well established aircraft model scales (for decades now), so why they had to start a new one is beyond me (I'm well aware it's a standard armor scale). It's not a deal-killer in itself for me, but that and the prices together sure is.

The one thing that would make it attractive to me is if they do a subject I REALLY want. Two of them have been mentioned: F-4U and F-86. Then I might look beyond the scale thing, and wait for those on e-bay.

FVD

[TopHat]

I'd love to see a GMP 1/35 Sabre.

One thing to consider re: the "dumping" of GMPs on ebay and other auction sites is the wholesale cost and the interplay between cost and profit margin. I know my brick and mortar dealer goes with MSRP on his GMPs, but the margin on those things might be such that a price cut to $100.00 still provides some level of profit for the dealer. And that reduced profit margin may be okay with an ebay dealer who has no overhead other than ebay fees. Anyone know what they cost wholesale? It may be much less than you think. And, of course, a lower profit margin per unit can be countered with increased sales volume due to the reduced price...as has been pointed out previously.

Personally, when I see a bbi Red Devils F/A-18 Hornet made from plastic going for $200+ on ebay, paying $140.00 for a GMP P-51 ain't so bad.

[TopHat]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Well, many collectors don't have the luxury of not caring about a $150 price tag for a single model -- they'd rather pick up 5 or six 1:72 birds for that dough instead. I think a lot of folks that buy GMP are "one shots" -- that executive type that wants one to display in his office or what-have-you.

I don't know about "one shots", but I'm not sure I understand why spending $150.00 on one model would be considered a "luxury" if that same person is prepared to spend the same amount ($150) on 5 or 6 models of (presumably) lesser quality. $150 is $150. The only difference is quantity vs. quality. My analysis would be: do I want a shelf full of dross or one gold nugget. For me, I'd go for the gold.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by TopHat

Personally, when I see a bbi Red Devils F/A-18 Hornet made from plastic going for $200+ on ebay

Wow there going for that much now....Hummm maybe i should think about selling mine then.
So i can buy more GMP's.
JP

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by TopHat

I don't know about "one shots", but I'm not sure I understand why spending $150.00 on one model would be considered a "luxury" if that same person is prepared to spend the same amount ($150) on 5 or 6 models of (presumably) lesser quality. $150 is $150. The only difference is quantity vs. quality. My analysis would be: do I want a shelf full of dross or one gold nugget. For me, I'd go for the gold.

I see your point, but to most people I think "collection" refers to having more than one thing -- so if I want to "collect" diecast airplanes and have $150 to spend... I might be more tempted to buy 5 Corgi AA models, rather than 1 GMP... which is where I suspect more collectors start out. "should i buy one really nice mustang, or 1 mustang, 1 p-38, 1 corsair, etc." If we did a poll, I suggest the number of people who would toss $150 at a single model without thinking about it would be in the minority versus those that would really think HARD about it.

I'm pretty obsessed with this hobby, but it took me a long time to get to the point where I let myself spend $150 on that Old Crow GMP (I'm certainly glad I did, though)

[TopHat]

Hey, Pappy! I knew I'd draw you into the fur ball with my post.

I see your point, especially if you are talking about a new collector. For me and, I suspect, most of the old hands around here, I've got enough Hornets, Tomcats, Phantoms, etc., etc. to outfit my own carrier air wing. So I don't need to choose between one really nice model or several less detailed models to use as place fillers. I don't know if that's good or bad. I think I'm a little OCD.