[Epapazian]

The way that the latest series of Altaya's 1:144 series of bombers, seaplanes and transports of WW II is being distributed and the significant improvement in quality leads me to speculate that this company plans to design this and future product lines to cater to collectors, in addition to fulfilling the promotional needs of European publishers. The latter will probably provide the initial financial cushion that Altaya needs to cover its basic costs, however the collectors' market, much of which is clamoring for more diversity in manufacturers' offerings, looms as a major source of new profit potential.

The key, of course, is quality, and after examining Altaya's B-17G and FW-200 first hand, it looks like Altaya has come a long way in this department. Not that the models are perfect, mind you. The B-17 had issues with some of its machine guns, painted side windows and misaligned stripes, and the FW-200 had a few similar problems , plus minor gap flaws. Yet, all in all, these models are really quite decent, and readily "corrected"----if one is willing to make a modest effort. The published list of Altaya 1:144 warbirds includes many very interesting planes---the SM-79, Betty, JU-290, Emily, Mavis, and many others, as well as a few really far out selections. What's next? My guess is a new line of WW II and beyond fighters and attack planes in 1:100nd scale for 2009, including many that I personally am very interested in---the MC-202, P-36, MS-406, Yak-3 Mig-15, IL-2m, SB2C, Oscar, Tony, Val, Kate, etc. If I am right on this we will soon have diecasts diversity coming out of our ears and at fairly reasonable prices.

[Cruver Collecter]

Just curious, will they be continuing to put new WWII fighters out in 1/72nd scale?

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Just curious, will they be continuing to put new WWII fighters out in 1/72nd scale?

Nothing would surprise me, however the generally bad reviews that the IXO models received suggests to me that this is a riskier proposition for them---even if they improve on the quality of this line. There seem to be a lot of unsold IXOs out there, so coming out with a new series of 1:72nd scale fighters---unless they do post WWII planes---is almost like competing with themselves. Still. I wouldn't put it past them and I would certaimly welcome a properly done Yak-3, MS-406, Oscar, etc. from IXO/Altaya in 1:72nd. But please don't try to sell us any F4Fs or P-38s or F4Us.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

Nothing would surprise me, however the generally bad reviews that the IXO models received suggests to me that this is a riskier proposition for them---even if they improve on the quality of this line. There seem to be a lot of unsold IXOs out there, so coming out with a new series of 1:72nd scale fighters---unless they do post WWII planes---is almost like competing with themselves. Still. I wouldn't put it past them and I would certaimly welcome a properly done Yak-3, MS-406, Oscar, etc. from IXO/Altaya in 1:72nd. But please don't try to sell us any F4Fs or P-38s or F4Us.

Would not mind seeing them do a MC 200 or a Fokker D XXI.

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Would not mind seeing them do a MC 200 or a Fokker D XXI.

Me too. Add to that list a Nate, PZL-11, PZL-23, Fiat CR-42 and many others.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Epapazian

Me too. Add to that list a Nate, PZL-11, PZL-23, Fiat CR-42 and many others.

You could definitely sign me up for those too! (I would want to tack on a Fiat G 50 to the list.)

[Epapazian]

The basic problem Altaya has in deciding what scale to use is the willingness of its magazine publisher client ( partner? ) to share the upfront costs--or cover them--via a multi-plane orders to serve its subscription selling needs. Obviously the cost of the mold---or, more properly, the molds, depending on how many parts are done separately--is the key factor. A quality mold for a 1:72nd scale fighter plane probably runs to about $45,000, while the comparable cost for a 1:144th scale bomber could be as little as $10,000- $15,000 if they make as few individual parts--or sub-molds-- as possible. So when a publisher orders 50 planes at the same time, with a run of 5,000 per plane---we are talking fairly big buck differences here.

Of, course, as things seem to be evolving, if the latest Altaya line sells well due to its improved quality, choice of subject matter and much broader distribution ( online as well as eBay sellers ), things may change. In this event Altaya may go after the collectors' market as its first priority and cut a new deal with the publishers ( asking them to bear less of the upfront cost in exchange for a bigger share of the collector sale profits ). If this happens, a highly diversified but quality line of 1:72nd scale models might emerge---which, frankly, would make me very happy.

[JoeGTO]

Hi guys, this is my first message and yeah, I'm excited about Altaya's new 1/144th scale line. As with their 1/72nd line, they really livened things up with a variety of more obscure aircraft or famous ones that no one else makes models of. I have their "Jack" proudly on display in a diorama case. I also have their Tony, Frank, George, Oscar, Grace, Mc 205, Me109 G-10, Me 110, Ju 87, Hs 129, He 219, Do 335, La 7, Dauntless & Beaufighter! But since I was a kid, miniplanes have been a passion. I remember clearly, on my 6th birthday, picking out a Ju 87 and B-25 off of a Bachmann Miniplanes rack in the toy store of my youth. Those were my first two...After a couple of years, I had a shoebox full! If I had only kept them... Now, I have a collection of 1/144th scale WWII aircraft that is expanding; including a few old Miniplanes that I've found on ebay and antique stores. My real interest is finding some of the many WWII Japanese models made by them. It seems that only the Zero, Tony and Emily are common here although I do remember seeing some other Japanese plane at a K B Toys around 1981? or '82? when I worked there. At the time, I had lost interest in them but now (in my second childhood, lol) I would love to at least see them at last, almost 40 years later. If anyone has any pics, I'd love to see them! And, wouldn't it be cool if Altaya made some 1/144th fighters to escort these new 1/144th bombers? I have some of the 21st Century ones...not bad...they need some aligning; especially the gear but the plastic bends or can be glued. I've even included some Furutas! Know what they are? They're miniplanes that come disassembled in little eggs! But, like Altaya, there's quite a variety of obscure and even prototype aircraft that never saw combat like the Japanese versions of the German Me 262 jet & Me 163 rocket plane. Not to mention the way cool Kyushu J7W1 Shiden. Well, again, I'd love to see pics of Japanese WWII planes; in any scale but especially small scale. Thanks, Joe

[Captain Eddie]

Welcome to the Forum, JoeGTO. I collect mostly 1:72 myself, but you shouldn't run into "lack of space" problems with 1:144.