Man, why are jetways so rare and expensive?

waiping · 11-20-2006, 08:38 PM

I have been on the lookout for jetways plus other GSE but often the price just put me off. In some cases the jetways/GSE is more expensive than the plane itself and they are not even diecast!

I am thinking of making my own jetways now!

Iceman_c27 · 11-20-2006, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waiping

I have been on the lookout for jetways plus other GSE but often the price just put me off. In some cases the jetways/GSE is more expensive than the plane itself and they are not even diecast!

I am thinking of making my own jetways now!

I have some Gemini ones, PM me if you are interested. They shouldn't be that expensive...they are rare though...

CLE757 · 11-20-2006, 10:12 PM

my only wish for now is extending gates and baggage trailers

JOHN JOHNSON · 11-20-2006, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waiping

I have been on the lookout for jetways plus other GSE but often the price just put me off. In some cases the jetways/GSE is more expensive than the plane itself and they are not even diecast!
I am thinking of making my own jetways now!

I do not consider this as a rarity.

I believe that such GSE will be re-release anyhow.

Take a Prozac and relax.

fazeman · 11-20-2006, 11:28 PM

The Herpa jetways are by far the best on the market. Even though they are 500 scale, they mat up perfectly with the aircraft doors. If you can find part numbers 519694 and 519786, don't wait any longer. Just plunk down the money for them.

presidential · 11-21-2006, 12:56 AM

The GJs are easily obtained and cheap. AC put out a nice retro GSE set with a ton of pieces too.

I believe that herpa has a few more 1:400 pieces coming out shortly too .

waiping · 11-22-2006, 04:07 AM

The common ones I came across are those from GJ but I don't really like the white color. I thought I have seen some in grey color ones before, maybe from DW? Are there any jetway that has 2 piers on each?

fazeman · 11-22-2006, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waiping

Are there any jetway that has 2 piers on each?

Yes. Herpa has a jetway pack that comes with the following: 2 double jetways and 2 single jetways. Part# 519786.

goldy · 11-22-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazeman

Yes. Herpa has a jetway pack that comes with the following: 2 double jetways and 2 single jetways. Part# 519786.

I have the 5 piece Herpa jetway listed in my store at the moment.

Peewee

L-1011-Heavy · 11-22-2006, 10:27 AM

Yes I Think The Manufacturers Are Selling These For Far Too Much.
Surely These Must Be Pennies Per Pound To Manufacture. I Guess It's Thier Cash Cow For Early Retirement.
I Bought Mine Discounted.

fazeman · 11-22-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldy

I have the 5 piece Herpa jetway listed in my store at the moment. Peewee

Hi Peewee,

Hopefully, waiping will respond to your thread. I let him know about both Herpa sets in threads 5 & 8, but he has not replied.

airParadigm.com · 11-22-2006, 05:49 PM

GSE is alot more expensive to manufacture and produce then one might think especially when you don't just copy and scale down GSE from other manufactures.

L-1011-Heavy · 11-22-2006, 07:25 PM

Not That Wxpensive, Either. According To Klink, A Step Is Free With A Run, But Costs If Not With A Model.
If The Factory Can Offer A Free GSE With A Run Of 500 Pcs, They Can't Be Very Expensive To Produce.
Anyone Have A Look At Star Wars Toy Sets At Toys 'R" Us? How Much Are Those? 20 Bucks For The Entire Set?

waiping · 11-22-2006, 08:45 PM

Thanks guys especially Iceman_c27, fazeman and Pee Wee. You know, I immediately check out the jetway on your eBay store but after some thought I think I will try to create my own jetway first using either hard card board or ordinary straw (yes, it's round). After much delay I have decided to spend the next 6 weeks or so to try to create a place that I can "park" my planes and take some photos.

Been facing some obstacles (wrong materials, less than ideal layout) but I would say I am making progress everyday, albeit a bit slow. Some of the materials recommended on this forum (including Prozac

) is not available locally and I don't want to spend too much time and money buying all these stuff from elsewhere. Yesterday drop by at my local stationery shop to get either a yellow or white marker pen but was not satisfied with the result. So I'd decided to paint the tarmac marking by hand.
Anyway, thanks for the responses.
I thought why not DW release their models with standard jetway, instead of the plastic stand.

fazeman · 11-23-2006, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-1011-Heavy

Not That Wxpensive, Either. According To Klink, A Step Is Free With A Run, But Costs If Not With A Model.
If The Factory Can Offer A Free GSE With A Run Of 500 Pcs, They Can't Be Very Expensive To Produce.
Anyone Have A Look At Star Wars Toy Sets At Toys 'R" Us? How Much Are Those? 20 Bucks For The Entire Set?

It may be free or of little cost when one GSE item is included with a model. They just put it in a piece of plastic and tape it to the bottom of the aircraft blister pack. When it comes to producing a GSE set with multiple items, the cost of the GSE items, blister pack, box and shipping have to be considered.

I figure the Star Wars, Barbie and GI Joe stuff is mass produced because they have always been so popular. One would think that a lower purchase price would be passed on to the customer. But, some of these items are quite expensive and there are other companies that produce GI Joe type dolls that have greater detail with a limited run. This type of product is generally found in a hobby store and carries a higher price tag.

The 1:400 scale diecast aircraft market is so niche that the manufacturer may be hard pressed to get the best bang for the buck. This is to keep costs down on such limited runs.

airParadigm.com · 11-23-2006, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-1011-Heavy

Not That Wxpensive, Either. According To Klink, A Step Is Free With A Run, But Costs If Not With A Model.
If The Factory Can Offer A Free GSE With A Run Of 500 Pcs, They Can't Be Very Expensive To Produce.
Anyone Have A Look At Star Wars Toy Sets At Toys 'R" Us? How Much Are Those? 20 Bucks For The Entire Set?

How many Star Wars sets are produced? Thousands? Hot many Hot Wheels cars are produced tens of thousands? Like I said when you don't "scale and copy down* GSE the cost is alot higher, next time you get a chance check out 1:200 PPC Holland GSE and see what it looks so similar to. Try doing a search for a plastic toy manufacture and ask them how much it costs to manufacture and produce a full set of GSE, the cost isn't cheap.

dboyd001 · 11-23-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waiping

I have been on the lookout for jetways plus other GSE but often the price just put me off. In some cases the jetways/GSE is more expensive than the plane itself and they are not even diecast!
I am thinking of making my own jetways now!

.....Understand completely. The GeminiJets jetway ramps are just not very good looking. I'd love to find some Herpa jetway ramps, but they are harder to find than an honest politician in 1/400 (come in a set with GSE).
.....Then I have the bright idea, make my own. Plenty of plastic structural shapes to use. Go to a model railroad hobby store, look at the structural shapes (Plastruct brand)... everything is either square, round or flat! The jetways are rectangular. I think, hey, metal shapes. Same thing... round square or flat except more expensive.
.....Maybe someone has a techniques (as with the great tarmac thread) to mass produce good, realistic jetways. There are surely a lot of raw materials out there that can be used (some of it even gets thrown in the trash) to not only make jetways, but all other items to use in an airport. It's great to see a diorama with original terminal building, ramps and even GSE.
.....I don't know how much it cost to produce the jetways, but a manufacturer who can supply our hobby with inexpensive and realistic jetways is going to endear themselves to diorama makers. It might even be advantageous to make them as kits so that the buyer could build or modify them in any number of ways to suit their needs (this is called kit-bashing in model-building). As far as that goes, there may even be model kits for something totally unrelated to model aircraft that could be kit-bashed for airport parts or structures.
.....Hopefully some manufacturer reads this thread and gets inspired.
Dave

fazeman · 11-23-2006, 11:19 AM

I'd like to see some GSE limousines. Possibly one with Lloyd sticking his head out the window.

11-20-2006, 08:38 PM	#1
waiping Unlicensed Collector Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,364	Man, why are jetways so rare and expensive? I have been on the lookout for jetways plus other GSE but often the price just put me off. In some cases the jetways/GSE is more expensive than the plane itself and they are not even diecast! I am thinking of making my own jetways now! __________________ *Air Asia - NOT* everyone can fly** My collection at: Waiping's Collection

11-20-2006, 10:12 PM	#3
CLE757 Senior Collector Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Age: 25 Posts: 407	my only wish for now is extending gates and baggage trailers __________________

11-20-2006, 11:28 PM	#5
fazeman Setting The Pace Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Age: 49 Posts: 2,044	The Herpa jetways are by far the best on the market. Even though they are 500 scale, they mat up perfectly with the aircraft doors. If you can find part numbers 519694 and 519786, don't wait any longer. Just plunk down the money for them. __________________ Steve

11-21-2006, 12:56 AM	#6
presidential Master Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 779	The GJs are easily obtained and cheap. AC put out a nice retro GSE set with a ton of pieces too. I believe that herpa has a few more 1:400 pieces coming out shortly too . __________________ -Drew My soul is in the sky. www.dc-9.us www.dc-9.com *www.collectablejets.com*

11-22-2006, 04:07 AM	#7
waiping Unlicensed Collector Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,364	The common ones I came across are those from GJ but I don't really like the white color. I thought I have seen some in grey color ones before, maybe from DW? Are there any jetway that has 2 piers on each? __________________ *Air Asia - NOT* everyone can fly** My collection at: Waiping's Collection

11-22-2006, 10:27 AM	#10
L-1011-Heavy The Heavy One Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada, Eh? Trijets & Landors 4 EVER Age: 45 Posts: 4,754	Yes I Think The Manufacturers Are Selling These For Far Too Much. Surely These Must Be Pennies Per Pound To Manufacture. I Guess It's Thier Cash Cow For Early Retirement. I Bought Mine Discounted. __________________ *The Heavy Armada* *"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."*

11-22-2006, 05:49 PM	#12
airParadigm.com Got Koalas? Join Date: Jan 1999 Age: 22 Posts: 5,243	GSE is alot more expensive to manufacture and produce then one might think especially when you don't just copy and scale down GSE from other manufactures.

11-22-2006, 07:25 PM	#13
L-1011-Heavy The Heavy One Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada, Eh? Trijets & Landors 4 EVER Age: 45 Posts: 4,754	Not That Wxpensive, Either. According To Klink, A Step Is Free With A Run, But Costs If Not With A Model. If The Factory Can Offer A Free GSE With A Run Of 500 Pcs, They Can't Be Very Expensive To Produce. Anyone Have A Look At Star Wars Toy Sets At Toys 'R" Us? How Much Are Those? 20 Bucks For The Entire Set? __________________ *The Heavy Armada* *"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."*

11-22-2006, 08:45 PM	#14
waiping Unlicensed Collector Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,364	Thanks guys especially Iceman_c27, fazeman and Pee Wee. You know, I immediately check out the jetway on your eBay store but after some thought I think I will try to create my own jetway first using either hard card board or ordinary straw (yes, it's round). After much delay I have decided to spend the next 6 weeks or so to try to create a place that I can "park" my planes and take some photos. Been facing some obstacles (wrong materials, less than ideal layout) but I would say I am making progress everyday, albeit a bit slow. Some of the materials recommended on this forum (including Prozac ) is not available locally and I don't want to spend too much time and money buying all these stuff from elsewhere. Yesterday drop by at my local stationery shop to get either a yellow or white marker pen but was not satisfied with the result. So I'd decided to paint the tarmac marking by hand. Anyway, thanks for the responses. I thought why not DW release their models with standard jetway, instead of the plastic stand. __________________ *Air Asia - NOT* everyone can fly** My collection at: Waiping's Collection

11-23-2006, 11:19 AM	#18
fazeman Setting The Pace Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. Age: 49 Posts: 2,044	I'd like to see some GSE limousines. Possibly one with Lloyd sticking his head out the window. __________________ Steve Last edited by fazeman; 03-08-2007 at 09:25 PM.

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