[Epapazian]

I noted some posts on the UK forum which claimed that Corgi gets 75% of its diecast business from the UK and only 25% from the U.S. Obviously this is wrong since it means that Corgi sells nothing at all to countries like Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Australia, to name only a few. However, the posts set me thinking. Taking military aircraft only, how does the diecast market break down by country or broad groupings of countries?

After some noodling, plus a look at the eBay listings for various parts of the world, I developed rough estimates of each area's share of diecast warbird sales relative to its percentage of the total World-wide population. Bearing in mind that these are nothing more than guesstimates here's what I came up with:

1) U.S.A.: 4-5% of the World's population, 40-45% of diecast sales.

2) Europe, including Russia but not the UK: 10-11% of the World's population, 20-25% of diecast sales.

3) UK: 1% of the World's population, 3-5% of diecast sales.

4) Australia, Canada and New Zealand: 1% of the World's population, 3-5% of diecast sales.

5) All other countries: 82-84% of the World's population, 15-20% of diecast sales.

If these projections are reasonably close to the mark, they certainly call into question Corgi's persistent orientation towards the tastes of UK collectors and its lack of concern for the vastly larger U.S. market. Perhaps the company's new management will take steps to remedy this situation.

[rarmenda]

I agree Apapazian, If car manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes) do this already. I do not see why diecast manufacturers can not realize that as well. I still think ex-Soviet and Russian aircraft are highly underrrepresented. If your an American you also want Soviet aircraft because they are or were the advisery. I do not know about you, but i love to display them facing each other.

[kwiky]

UK forum?? i didnt know there was one, got a link to it??

[Epapazian]

Originally Posted by kwiky

UK forum?? i didnt know there was one, got a link to it??

It's The Diecast Aviation Website and Forum.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by rarmenda

I agree Apapazian, If car manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes) do this already. I do not see why diecast manufacturers can not realize that as well. I still think ex-Soviet and Russian aircraft are highly underrrepresented.

Former Soviet Union still remains a kit building territory. The models we are hailing as top of the line are still dismissed as being too crude and lacking in detail. In short, unlike with models of cars in 1:43 and now in 1:18 scale there is no "tradition" of collecting built up models of AFVs and A/Cs. It certainly doesn't help that only FoV and Easy Model brands are the ones that are easily accessible. Stock lists also carry Dragon models, but nobody orders them.

In short, until a company like Hobby Master or even Century Wings produce a model of a Soviet Aircraft (Su-25 and MiG-25 seem to me being the most popular ones), I don't see diecast models making any headway over there.

From what I've noticed by hanging around Russian model car forums, collecting is very popular with the higher income bracket folks, and price is no option as CMC, GMP, and EXOTO seems to be the most popular brands in 1:18

Regards,

Sergey

[jim]

You must have put in some hard work to get those figures Epapazian, well done.

Then we must also consider the preferences of types and eras bought by each country.

Looking at the UK site not surprisingly there is a bias towards British and German planes for the WW2 era, but with strong support for the good old Mustang.

Common sense should tell us that the US market "must" be bigger than the UK surely?

The largest proportion of my collection is American.
However if I take all those P40s out of the equation it seems I have a balanced selection of US, British and German planes with a very small number of Japanese French and Russain birds.

There is definately a shortage of Russain and Japanese model planes on the market.

I nearly forgot, IXO does help to fill the gap until?

[jim]

Originally Posted by Berkut76

Former Soviet Union still remains a kit building territory. The models we are hailing as top of the line are still dismissed as being too crude and lacking in detail. In short, unlike with models of cars in 1:43 and now in 1:18 scale there is no "tradition" of collecting built up models of AFVs and A/Cs. It certainly doesn't help that only FoV and Easy Model brands are the ones that are easily accessible. Stock lists also carry Dragon models, but nobody orders them.

In short, until a company like Hobby Master or even Century Wings produce a model of a Soviet Aircraft (Su-25 and MiG-25 seem to me being the most popular ones), I don't see diecast models making any headway over there.

From what I've noticed by hanging around Russian model car forums, collecting is very popular with the higher income bracket folks, and price is no option as CMC, GMP, and EXOTO seems to be the most popular brands in 1:18

Regards,

Sergey

Sergey maybe in time and as the wealth of Russia builds up (and it surely will with all those oil and gas revenues flooding in) perhaps hobbies such as ours will grow and maybe even take off?

[Shawn 507]

25% for the US huh? Maybe the word got out quick about their P-51s, and lack of 8th AF B-24s.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by jim

Sergey maybe in time and as the wealth of Russia builds up (and it surely will with all those oil and gas revenues flooding in) perhaps hobbies such as ours will grow and maybe even take off?

Hey Jim,

The basic groundwork for the hobby is already there, just no one to lead the way. Trust me, people who are going to collect this stuff will be highly educated with engineering background. Like I've said, as things currently stand, only Hobby Master and Century Wings are capable of delivering a model to satisfy Russian market. The folks over there will be willing to pay top dollar as long as the product warrants it.

Unfortunately, for me WWII models seem to be less popular than the modern era jets and helos.

Regards,

Sergey

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by jim

Looking at the UK site not surprisingly there is a bias towards British and German planes for the WW2 era, but with strong support for the good old Mustang.

Let those guys know that Corgi's (1/72nd) depiction of the Mustang is total garbage. That's not what they look like...Make sure you get the word to them, Jim. I'd go tell them myself, but that nasty Merlin would have a go at me, and my feelings would be hurt....and I'd end up with diarrhea..