[Ken]

Well the......the forum members need to get the HM, Carousel, FM and everyother manufacturer distributors list we can find and e-mail these guys asking if they have these Soviet aircraft or can they get them.

If they feel there is the interest then they will push the suppliers for us. As that is where the volume really gets shipped to anyway then maybe that can help us get these on the production floor faster.

Yak 3/9 - IL-4 - IL-10 - LA5/7 in 1/48

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Ara1

Well worded thread.

I am thinking, we need to get the point across to manufacturers that not is the market there, but the collector's space as well. I suspect manufacturers believe our so-called limited space is a deciding factor for the market. We need to make the point that we will find the space, or get our models on a box and display rotatation system. Bottom line: don't make plane manufacturing decisions based on a perceived lack of collector space. We will buy what we like and will display it or not, as we choose.

Ara is on to something here. Space is an issue; however, a rotation system is a terrific idea... one I will more than likely turn to when my space can no longer accept another display piece. Boxing up a display piece--with fiddly bits, fragile bits, and frustrating clam shell packaging--can be tedious/laborious. May I suggest manufacturers could "re-think" this issue and help collectors out (and themselves, I think) by re-designing "rotation friendly" packaging, with models that require little if any fiddling to re-box, with sturdy metal little bits that will not break.

And yes, I also want Russian/Soviet aircraft models. I would love a complete MiG collection in 1:72 or 1:48.

[Cruver Collecter]

Quite a few Russian WWII Warbirds I would like to see. For me, collecting diecast aircraft is all about aviation history. Lack of Russian aircraft makes for a pretty large gap. What good is it to have Luftwaffe aircraft for the Russian Front if their opposition is missing? I am really hoping that the folks at HM help fill this gap. Here are some of the ones I would like to see.

1/48th

1. Polikarpov I-16
2. Polkarpov I-15
3. Polikarpov I-153

1/72nd

1. Lavochkin LaGG-3
2. Ilyushin Il-2 Stormovik (Preferably single seat variant)
3. Lavochkin La-5
4. Petlyakov Pe-2
5. Yakovlev Yak-3

[djjeffhall]

I've been thinking about the "Russian (Japanese, etc.) warbirds won't sell thing for a while. The response to the Hobby Master Kate is very encouraging, but the real test is "Will the sixth issue of the Kate sell as well as the first?" (If I recall, six birds is the break even point for most manufacturers.)

With the above mentioned Russian birds I think we all, to a more or less degree, would be excited, but after the first Sturmovik would you purchase a second, or third?

I gobbled up the first Kate and think is is swell, but I'm wondering what Hobby Master will do for the 4th, 5th or 6th release that will intrigue me? Pearl Harbor leader, I'm all over it but 1944 Kamikaze bird for the sixth release? (I'm just making something up so work with me.) I'm not so sure?

With American birds, we will purchase 6 P-51's since we know the pilots but I cannot name one single Kate pilot of note. Dauntless pilots, I could name a few and have a few Dauntless's but Japanese bomber pilots? Not so sure?

With the Russians, there are a few possibilites but I still think that they will lack the "Name recognition" that you find amounst the American's, British or Germans. (I think pilots and their stories bring a bird "to life" and spur me to purchase a third, fourth or fifth example of a plane.)

I hope I'm wrong but maybe folks should start looking and suggesting things along those lines if we really want to get Russian and more Japanese birds in our hangers?

[brunowbe]

Originally Posted by Elmer

Boxing up a display piece--with fiddly bits, fragile bits, and frustrating clam shell packaging--can be tedious/laborious. May I suggest manufacturers could "re-think" this issue and help collectors out (and themselves, I think) by re-designing "rotation friendly" packaging, with models that require little if any fiddling to re-box, with sturdy metal little bits that will not break.

Interesting idea Elmer, I think the manufacturers should take a cue from how Corgi packaged it's 1/32 scale models and to a lesser extent how GMP packaged their models. I've got a total of 11 of the larger scale single engined warbirds, all delivered from various parcel services without any damage to them. The styrofoam they are packed in makes for an easy time taking them out and putting them back in the box. I'm sure this can be done with 1/72 and 1/48 scale planes. My only concern is that it may raise the price of the models even more.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

I hope I'm wrong but maybe folks should start looking and suggesting things along those lines if we really want to get Russian and more Japanese birds in our hangers?

I think that Kate is doing well so far because of re-surgent Japanese domestic market, which HM is trying to capitalize on. There is no way in hell the second release of Huey would have come in JAF livery if this wasn't the case.

Unfortunately, there is no domestic market at this point in time in the former Soviet Union. It's strictly kit-based environment over there. And trust me these guys are such rivet counters, like you've never met.

On the other hand, the major issue with WWII Japanese birds is the lack of attractive paint schemes, it's either all bare metal grey or all grey for the most part (please don't bash me with a big stick if I have shown ignorance).

Neither Soviet, nor French, nor Italian birds suffer from this problem.

What I don't really get is to why the Russian Cold War planes seem to be so popular.

Regards,

Sergey

[leeG]

There is more interest in Russian planes now due to two factors:

(1) The end of the cold war has opened the gates to Soviet first person accounts and memoirs of the war on the eastern front, as well as access to records previously closed to Western historians. Just look at books like the "Black Cross Red Star" series by Bergstrom or "Attack of the Aerocobras" by Loza.

(2) The Il-2 Strumovik computer game by Maddox Games. The best education on Soviet World War 2 aircraft and the Air War on the Eastern Front I've found, anywhere.

I don't think people will buy as many MiG-3s or Yak-9s as they might Spitfire or Mustang liveries, but I believe a lot of collectors would be interested in one or two of each major Soviet type. I have six different Soviet types in my collection, not counting Pokryshkin's P-39. All I can find. (As an aside, the same applies with Japanese types, which the Kate seems to be showing.)

So the manufacturer's challenge is can new molds be made inexpensively enough to turn a profit on modest runs of two or three liveries? My money at this point would be on Hobby Master being able to pull this off. They have demonstrated the ability to rapidly design and fabricate high quality molds PLUS they control their own factory. This is a new sort of game, and HM may end up a big winner.

[leeG]

Originally Posted by Berkut76

What I don't really get is to why the Russian Cold War planes seem to be so popular.

Regards,

Sergey

Because Cold War planes were front page news during Viet Nam and the Middle East conflicts. The World War 2 birds were hidden behind the Iron Curtain. Now that it is down, I think you will find the interest is there.

[Paladin18]

I'm more of a fan of modern Russian jets than their WW2 antecedents in part because Soviet WW2 planes are just too crude looking. Personally, I find that they lack the grace, elegance and beauty of the Spitfire or the Mustang. That said however, I'm not averse to seeing some WW2 Soviet planes in diecast. Agree with forummers that the flying bath tub IL-2 would be a good choice for a start.

[planenutsfrog]

1/48

I-16
I-153

1/72

Pe-2
Il-2
La 3, 5, 7
Yak 1, 3, 7, 9