[Louie]

Hey have you noticed the huge absence of Matchbox diecast fighters on E-bay? I was looking for tri-planes (to steal the pilots) and noticed that aside from many many P-40's MB planes are all but gone. Is this a sign? I wonder if they are going to be big bucks one day. I thought the announcement of Corgi doing WW1 planes and the "Flyboys" stuff coupled with the other C1 releases may have caused a stamped for the skin and sticks planes. I saw one green fokker way over-priced and maybe one Corsair otherwise there used to be 5 pages of MB planes! What are ya'lls thoughts on this?

[fileasfog]

I noticed that too, I also noticed they have gone down in value.

[skysurfer808]

I think the decline in price has seen people sitting on the ones they do have. Expect ups and downs, but Matchbox is still one of the better lines, despite the new releases. One note, the packaging on these is the lousy sealed box, which makes it impossible to remove the model and retain the integrity of the packaging. This has been the case with Matchbox's Spad XIII and their Fokker, as well as their later releases of the original molds, and their F-86, F-104 and Mig 15s.

Skysurfer808

[mustangdriver]

Didn't someone say that matchbox was coming out with a few new airplanes?

[Canucklehead]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

Didn't someone say that matchbox was coming out with a few new airplanes?

That was a false alarm MD, no official (or verifiable unofficial) statement has been made regarding new Matchbox aircraft.

[HotTrap429]

Originally Posted by skysurfer808

I think the decline in price has seen people sitting on the ones they do have. Expect ups and downs, but Matchbox is still one of the better lines, despite the new releases.
Skysurfer808

Some how, I seem to have acquired quite a few of these Matchbox planes. Problem is no matter how great the newer, more expensive Corgis, Dragons, or Gemini Aces planes are, I still love my Matchbox planes. The price decline can be attributed to several factors: new collectors don't know about them (they aren't really out in the public's eye anymore), most serious collectors have already sold theirs and are not buying them any more, or only the newer, mass produced versions are now available.

As to the decline in ebay listings, I think many collectors are holding on to these gems. I know I really enjoy owning the ones I've got.

[Louie]

I still have all the Mustangs and 8 other MB models I just love them. They were gems for the price and surprisingly detailed. I was crazy about the WWI planes they did. The MB pilots were and still are the very best although Corgi's swordfish crew closed the gap big time.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by HotTrap429

...new collectors don't know about them (they aren't really out in the public's eye anymore), most serious collectors have already sold theirs and are not buying them any more, or only the newer, mass produced versions are now available.

You hit it right on the nail head, HT. Matchbox's buying base shriveled up, and the company has itself to blame.

That said, Matchbox models are terrific. But for the struts-up-only gaffe, I’d say they’re every bit as good (lots of ‘em, anyway) as Corgi or Dragon. In fact, it was a MB P-38 and Spit that introduced me this whacky, wonderful diecast-collecting world in the first place.

But I moved on and sold my entire collection a year ago (every last friggin' little plane they made). Oddly, as much as I loved 'em, I haven’t missed ‘em – even a little. Figure that one out!

[mikeb1958]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

Didn't someone say that matchbox was coming out with a few new airplanes?

Nope. just a few left-over old stock found in the back of the warehouse, next to the rat-traps. So don't worry!

[djjeffhall]

I think the disspearance of Matchbox birds has been due to declining interest.

As pretty as they are, the "serious" collectors want gear up and down issues. (I know I do and once I found Corgi and Dragon I stopped shopping for Matchbox.)

The folks who want toys, want toys they can find at their local store. Your average mom buying a toy for their kids don't shop on ebay, it's an impulse purchase.

The collectors that want Matchbox already have them so the value goes down an fewer as fewer collectors are left with birds to buy. Plus, the planes they offer are being done by other companies.

Does this mean that your Matchbox birds are garbage? Of course not. Keep them and enjoy them, but don't expect to put your kids through college by selling off the collection either.