Think a lot of people have been waiting a longtime for this tooling! I have, definite pre-order. Now I'm anxious on the pre-pros and to knockout any inaccuracies.
I also love that fact the F-15 is finally on the production schedule. Given the small issues and the first livery, I can wait to see how this one turns out before pulling the trigger to make the purchase. I am hoping for an IDF F-15 and also other AF low viability liveries, so it is a wait and see on this one. But very happy to see HM making the leap on this one and looking forward to supporting such with multiple future purchases.
So we're getting a F-15E strike eagle first? Odd choice, seeing how we don't even have a normal HM F-15 release yet. Does this mean we're still going to see an F-15 release in the not so distant future? There are some great US National Guard, Israeli, and Japanese F-15 schemes ready to be put into mass production.
So after doing some research online and getting the call from the diecast retailers I usually buy from, it seems they all have HM's new F-15E listed at $105. I wonder if there's a reason behind that steep price? I don't recall any other recent HM model that has commanded a price that high. Is this a totally new tooling made from scratch or based upon an existing plastic model kit? Even other comparably sized models like HM's F-18 and F-22 isn't nearly as expensive as this one!
I can see their point, if you put this one to one with the CW Tomcats. But first of all they will have to be perfect to warrant a premium. The model will be Heavy Metal obviously, but they will surely be overpricing themselves.
I agree that this is an expensive model. But since I flew with this bird back in 2008, I will def be purchasing it.
Flew as in flew in the airframe or were you the one that took that photo of it while you were flying in another aircraft? Also is this a completely new tooling not based upon any existing model kit? If HM were to have built this F-15E from scratch I suppose they CAN justify the higher costs. Maybe...
Im glad they did the mudhen but will be passing on this first release. Not a big fan of tiger skins specially those NATO tiger meet schemes. Will look forward to the second USAF release. By the way anybody know why its called "Tiger Meet" and not "Tiger Meat".
They better get the tooling and paint work mint otherwise they can get stuffed on this one lol
Witty's Eagles are starting to look prettttty good right about now
The cost of labour in China has quintupled over the last few years and Government subsidies are being withdrawn from Chinese East Coast factories and given to factories located in the interior of the Country instead.
Higher prices are unfortunately the new reality of this Hobby (including Witty).
Yep too expensive for me, will not be getting this one. That being said the scheme isn't really too great (No offence meant). And Witty's aggressor scheme is good enough (For now, im just biding my time unti a scheme i like comes out).
Also i am very reluctant to buy a CW F-14 due to high pricing, its simply i dont want to support that.
Will be waiting for future F-15E releases - price may be getting a tad high (especially with currency conversions here in Oz) but prices will only go up as costs increase unfortunately. No one works for peanuts these days.
The cost of labour in China has quintupled over the last few years and Government subsidies are being withdrawn from Chinese East Coast factories and given to factories located in the interior of the Country instead.
Higher prices are unfortunately the new reality of this Hobby (including Witty).
Dan
Cheers Dan for the info. While it's a harsh reality that prices will go up, my real gripe with the cost is the lowering of quality at the same time
Still going to get at least one Eagle, an ODS scheme, IAF if the paint is good, not holding my breath on the later though
The cost of labour in China has quintupled over the last few years and Government subsidies are being withdrawn from Chinese East Coast factories and given to factories located in the interior of the Country instead.
Higher prices are unfortunately the new reality of this Hobby (including Witty).
Dan
Dan is absolutely right about this. I love in Shanghai and know the distributor here quite well. He told me HM has two factories one in Guangdong (Canton) where most stuff from China used to get made and one that is much further in the interior in Guangxi. Many of the workers in Canton didn't return after Chinese Newyear and those that did demanded that they be given better working conditions, such as ventilated spaces for painting and obiously a decent raise. They know that they are skilled labor and there is a serious shortage of that.
What these workers are asking for is not unreasonable, quite frankly. Realistically we have been paying too little for our models for quite some time now. HM is not some evil mega-corporation trying to squeeze every last penny out of us, I think this is much more of a labor of love for them. I know I don't mind paying a little more for a model knowing that the people who made them are being treated just that little bit more humanely.
What local distributors do could be quite a different story, however.
For me it is a 100%-buy and the pre-order is already set!
Hobby Master makes great models and i think, after i had saw the blank molds, it will be worth the price!
With this kind of price, i will try 1 or 2 pieces, but i will wait, at least, an IAF Ra'am...
I don't buy in france, even with the shipping fees, it's better to buy in HK (mainly).
But if chinese prices catch up french prices, i will buy less and less diecast models.
Dan is absolutely right about this. I love in Shanghai and know the distributor here quite well. He told me HM has two factories one in Guangdong (Canton) where most stuff from China used to get made and one that is much further in the interior in Guangxi. Many of the workers in Canton didn't return after Chinese Newyear and those that did demanded that they be given better working conditions, such as ventilated spaces for painting and obiously a decent raise. They know that they are skilled labor and there is a serious shortage of that.
What these workers are asking for is not unreasonable, quite frankly. Realistically we have been paying too little for our models for quite some time now. HM is not some evil mega-corporation trying to squeeze every last penny out of us, I think this is much more of a labor of love for them. I know I don't mind paying a little more for a model knowing that the people who made them are being treated just that little bit more humanely.
What local distributors do could be quite a different story, however.
I couldn't agree more. This hobby has enjoyed substandard prices for years and collectors, including myself, have gotten used to it.
The reality is that you would pay much more to get a kit and try to make one yourself, from plastic.
The Chinese labor force should be entitled to healthy work conditions, and imo that will improve the quality of the product they create. A happy workforce is proven to care more about their job than people toiling in bad conditions.
No one is forcing any of us to buy these products. The rule of supply and demand will determine how these changes affect our hobby. There is simply no use in complaining about it. If you have constructive criticism, then by all means use this as a platform to try to improve the quality and accuracy of the models.
The Hobby Master is having problems with its employees in China? I will send my resume for Hobby Master. I will give my hours worked in exchange for collectable models.
The Hobby Master is having problems with its employees in China? I will send my resume for Hobby Master. I will give my hours worked in exchange for collectable models.
Looooooool at least yearly bonus could be a bunch of models lol
You'll have to get in line, I have my eye on the QC Supervisors position hehe
At over 100 dollars, I am really going to have to like the livery to make the purchase. HM is really going to have to listen to the consumers on this if they want this to sell well in the long run. Quality and detail will be all important on this model.
At over 100 dollars, I am really going to have to like the livery to make the purchase. HM is really going to have to listen to the consumers on this if they want this to sell well in the long run. Quality and detail will be all important on this model.
I have heard from William that they have a former F-15 Pilot providing advice on this release - so hopefully we are in good hands.
Even less?! By the sound of it you've bought nothing at all!
Dude I have some like 140 models and spend hundreds of $$$ worth every few months, your logic is flawed, it's because I BUY lots of models that I'm pi$$ed at poor quality and price
Hobby Master HA4501 USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 391st FS, Afghanistan
Re: Hobby Master HA4501 USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 391st FS, Afghanis
Re: Hobby Master HA4501 USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 391st FS, Afghanis
Re: Hobby Master HA4501 USAF McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, 391st FS, Afghanis
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