[mapleflag]

In view all of the changes in the last year or two in the diecast marketplace, consider how many of each manufacturer's models you have purchased versus the overall number. In the last year I have bought 7 HM, 2 FOV , 3 Century Wings and 2 Corgi. Three years ago when I first started in the hobby I bought 17 Corgis alone.

[HotTrap429]

Due to financial constraints, I've been forced to become a "bargain hunter", "secondary market" collector. This means all these new releases are out of my reach. When I started out two and half years ago, I bought nothing but Corgi models. Lately, I've gotten 11 SpecCast models, 4 HobbyMaster models, 2 Dragon and 3 Matchbox all off ebay at reduced prices. Many are American aircraft such as Aircobras, Corsairs, Mustangs and T-bolts. Sadly, even without their troubles, Corgi has nothing at all that is new that even remotely interests me. I'm simply not a collector of British planes and their American or Germain planes I have one already or I'm not willing to spend money on a particular model. I believe that I'm the type of collector that Corgi (and the other manufacturers) need, but due to rising prices are losing. As to new releases, lately Hobby Master seems more in tune with my wants and needs.

[jim]

For my part I have most of the Corgi releases I wanted. I still about 6 models on my hit list but they will come off ebay as and when the prices come down ( I hope).

HM seems to be the one that is making the new and different molds at the moment so they are taking over my number one spot.

All this may change as and when Hornby get to grips with Corgi and perhaps starts to bring out new models, when I say new , I mean new and not just new camos on existing planes.
Come on Hornby show us what you are made of and get those wheels turning.

[Epapazian]

I agree with Jim on this one. With Dragon fading from the scene and Gemini, FOV, Witty, Carousel and Century Wings, moving slowly----sometimes very slowly--- Hobby Master is the unquestioned leader at the moment. However, I'm one of those who believes that Corgi will shortly resurface as a major player and, indeed, was planing such a move even under the old management. If some of the rumors come true, this impending revival will see a major change in direction ---new mold-wise---- and make lots of us happy. While the military diecast market was not large enough to support all of those companies that sought to exploit it, I think it can handle a situation where Corgi and Hobby Master compete at the top rung in the 1:72nd scale arena, quite handily. As for larger scales, who knows? Clearly, HM is being cautious about 1:48th scale product, though it may dabble here and in the 1:32nd scale class as well. Whether Franklin Mint opts to upgrade its Armour line may be the key determinant regarding future HM moves in 1:48th.

[dboulais]

I collect W II propeller driven aircraft in mostly in 1/72 scale, my current count is:
268 Corgi, 96 Dragon, 58 Witty, 48 IXO, 42 EasyModel, 27 Hobby Master, 15 Gemini Aces, 11 FOV
I don't pass up any Hobby Master WW II models with propellers in either 1/72 or now 1/48 scale (damn the 1/48 scale fetish I just started). I buy them all. I don't pass up WW II any Corgi either. I'm passing on most of the Easy Models. I'm still into Witty and Gemini. If I was not just unemployed, I'd go nuts on eBay trying to fill in all those early Corgi's (I'm still looking for that 1/72 BOAC Mosquito. I passed on it when it came out and I've been kicking myself ever since). My "won'"t power is gone, I have proven my "got to have power" is in ascendance.

[dboulais]

Oh, I collect armor also. I've been collecting ROCO Minitanks since 1958. You don't want to know how many of those I have, and I dont' either. I have all the 1/72 scale Dragon WW II 1/72 scale (every cotton pickin one of them) and all the released HM and most of the CDC(still missing 5), all the FOV, 20 of the IXO. If Hobby Master continues to release good W II armor I can afford to keep up, I think!

[swoop]

My collection is slightly more than 50% Corgi at 142 models.IXO at around 25 Armour about 30. The rest are divided between HM and Dragon. for a total of 232 models.

[Cruver Collecter]

Majority of my collection is Corgi with Hobby Master being the next in line as far as number of models go. I do also have Marushin, Carousel, lXO, Carousel, Matchbox, and Easy Model products too.

[Captain Eddie]

With the exception of the Corgi's at TM, most of my (few and far between) purchases have been HM for this year.