I have a feeling that the price point for HM's F-14 will be somewhere between the price of their F-15E And their upcoming E-2. Can't really see it being less than $100, given the current climate of 1/72 diecast pricing.
am really caught by surprise to see the announcement of HM doing the F-14 tomcat.....its amazing......i have no doubt theyll do it well and wont go under CW quality....and cheaper hopefully to make it affordable to not so rich collectors with lots of cash to spare.... am still waiting for the Vigilante, Hawkeye, Viking and Powler to land on mycollection.....lol
I have a feeling that the price point for HM's F-14 will be somewhere between the price of their F-15E And their upcoming E-2. Can't really see it being less than $100, given the current climate of 1/72 diecast pricing.
Price of the new HM F-14 must naturally cover all HM costs incl. expensive new mold + their usual profits/ transport costs/ retailers margins/ VATs/ taxes etc. This could indicate that F-14 price could be slightly higher than F-15 (+ swinging wings)/ Vigilante prices (+ ordnance), which could mean something slightly over 100 USD. Not exactly cheap, but still pretty much under CW prices - I´m just hoping that HM will go this way.
Of course someone in HM can stand up and say: considering CW/ebay prices - can we ask for our F-14 much higher prices? Of course they could try this, but firstly I believe HM is not this type of company, and secondly if the price would rise close to CW level, HM will most probably lose many of current CW owners, all married buyers, lot of buyers from newcomers segment and some of the collectors currently not having „legendary“ CW F-14s. If HM would want to address entire market with very high priced F-14, they would have to offer something really extra and here I see only problems. For example they would have to offer:
- much much higher quality / much better detailing over already excellent CW mold (but this is pretty much not easy, I´d say even impossible)
- offer some really attractive not yet released liveries. But many (most of) attractive liveries has been already released by CW, so why to buy very expensive HM F-14s in the same liveries then?
There is one more reason for HM to be conservative with pricing – very high number of possible F-14 variants / attractive schemes = long term profit. F-14 is something like Golden Egg for every diecast producer. With so many attractive liveries I´d say HM could stay on „normal“ pricing level, with probable added bonus for collector of more modern / better mold over CW, and capitalize F-14 potential through long list of future paint schemes, similar what they do with their current Phantoms.
I sure hope they find a better way to install the pallets. That's the one major eye-sore on the CW Tomcats to me (along with the fuselage joint... but that's not as noticeable on some).
I sure hope they find a better way to install the pallets. That's the one major eye-sore on the CW Tomcats to me (along with the fuselage joint... but that's not as noticeable on some).
Good point.
For example this is not a good way how to install pallets, apparently:
What I don't quite understand is why HM announced the Prowler and Viking 'New Toolings' several months ago, yet we still have no release date? Yet the F14 tooling gets announced in July with a release date 3 months later???
same as the vigilante and Hawkeye......takes sooooo long to land at my local hobbystore....can hardly wait....
What I don't quite understand is why HM announced the Prowler and Viking 'New Toolings' several months ago, yet we still have no release date? Yet the F14 tooling gets announced in July with a release date 3 months later???
if HM wants its F-14 to be saleable and profitabe to lots of collectors, they should make their asking price reasonable to make it payable to mostly everyone ....with so many schemes to make....
I can live with that paying about $100 for a HM tomcat but I will NOT buy one from CW for $150 or $200+... Not trying bash the CW collectors out there but I just don't have that kind of money to spent..
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Last edited by Surinam Air 747; 07-24-2015 at 06:53 AM.
I have no doubts HM will do a good/reasonable F14 model. I am at this stage more curious to the accessories (ie. armament ) that come with it.
Personally (at this stage) I think ti would sway me the most.
I'm also interested in what HM has in store for us collectors, I just hope they come up with some nice looking Jolly Rogers tomcats, just what CW did a couple years ago...
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I WANT TO BELIEVE...
...that one day I will see many more colorful JC Wings MD-11 models and the long-awaited Gemini 200 TWA twin stripes 727-200!
I always fly America's favorite airline: Southwest Airlines and the World's oldest KLM!
Pariswas the greatest city on earth! Vive la France! Tokyo 2020!
maybe i choose the wrong words, i am absoluly agreed that for sure RA-5C, E-2 and EA-6B are great, thats all new tooling.....but did we need another F-14? There are already so many out there, as i said CW, WW, FOV ...so now HM. Same with F-4. So when HM decide to make a new tooling, why of a DieCast already existing in so many ways.....why no YF-23, F-117, Bronco....or a B-2 ......i hope i make my point of view more clear
maybe i choose the wrong words, i am absoluly agreed that for sure RA-5C, E-2 and EA-6B are great, thats all new tooling.....but did we need another F-14? There are already so many out there, as i said CW, WW, FOV ...so now HM. Same with F-4. So when HM decide to make a new tooling, why of a DieCast already existing in so many ways.....why no YF-23, F-117, Bronco....or a B-2 ......i hope i make my point of view more clear
Believe me if done correctly the Tomcat and Superbug will sell well and there is potential for many releases.
The rest of them I`m not so sure about and think HM is out on a limb with the RA-5C/EA-6B/E-2C/S-3B but there is release potential there as well.
What you are asking for presents very limited release potential and even though they might sell very well it would be very difficult to justify the tooling at this point.
I would like to see HM do a nice B-1B and B-2 myself.
You should contact HM and present your wishlist and you can think at least my voice was heard.
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You can have too many Tomcats in one and only one way-- if the amount you've spent is going to get you hauled off to debtor's prison, or if the 'Cats are gonna get repo'd.
In that case, the decision to go from having fewer to having more resulted in the loss of all (or separation from all, in the case of debtor's jailing), so it was definitely too many!
But if we modify the claim to "you can never have too many Tomcats, up to the point where you can keep them and take care of them," then yes, it's true. Actually, not just yes, but hell yes
...And the answer to the question, "should new manufacturer x make Tomcats?", the correct answer can only be Anytime, Baby!
The rest of them I`m not so sure about and think HM is out on a limb with the RA-5C/EA-6B/E-2C/S-3B but there is release potential there as well.
What you are asking for presents very limited release potential and even though they might sell very well it would be very difficult to justify the tooling at this point.
I'd tend to agree that the Prowler and Hoover releases seem kind of adventurous.
To me the Vigi seems like a stronger gamble, because it's got a strong underground following and because after all it's a sleek, good looking pointy jet that will probably sell a goodly number on looks alone, even to people not really familiar with the history of it. But I'd agree there too that it doesn't seem like an intuitive slam dunk. I'm personally also a big supporter of it, and enthusiast for it though, so if anything I'm probably erring on the side of drinking the Kool Aid here a little.
E-2 seems like a bit of a gamble in that it's big and expensive, but it's also unique in the 72 scale diecast world, and it has the advantage of a really long history, as well as international operators including the significant-for-diecast JASDF and Taiwanese militaries. Israel and Singapore probably help meaningfully there too. IMO it's probably the best of these four choices from a strictly business point of view for HM.
Of course there's also a nice synergistic effect with these four USN aircraft, the Tomcat, and two really strong USN Phantom releases coming up with fixed paint. I think HM is aiming for collect-the-whole-set mentalities to develop, much like the hope that people would get one each (if not more) of the whole Century Series.
I personally am being completely sucked in by this, and I'm sure I'm far from alone in that
I'd tend to agree that the Prowler and Hoover releases seem kind of adventurous.
To me the Vigi seems like a stronger gamble, because it's got a strong underground following and because after all it's a sleek, good looking pointy jet that will probably sell a goodly number on looks alone, even to people not really familiar with the history of it. But I'd agree there too that it doesn't seem like an intuitive slam dunk. I'm personally also a big supporter of it, and enthusiast for it though, so if anything I'm probably erring on the side of drinking the Kool Aid here a little.
E-2 seems like a bit of a gamble in that it's big and expensive, but it's also unique in the 72 scale diecast world, and it has the advantage of a really long history, as well as international operators including the significant-for-diecast JASDF and Taiwanese militaries. Israel and Singapore probably help meaningfully there too. IMO it's probably the best of these four choices from a strictly business point of view for HM.
Of course there's also a nice synergistic effect with these four USN aircraft, the Tomcat, and two really strong USN Phantom releases coming up with fixed paint. I think HM is aiming for collect-the-whole-set mentalities to develop, much like the hope that people would get one each (if not more) of the whole Century Series.
I personally am being completely sucked in by this, and I'm sure I'm far from alone in that
Really good points about the subsets etc.
I guess it depends on the depth of your pockets
I`m actually surprised the first Tomcat release was`nt VF-14 as it would have set the table and does`nt seem particularly complicated.
One thing I do know is that my VF-31 Phantom needs mates that are not stupidly Ebay expensive.
Time will tell but in the end USN collectors see the benefit.
My hats off to HM for this.
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Simply because you can never have to many F-14 tomcats period.
agreed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by books
I'd tend to agree that the Prowler and Hoover releases seem kind of adventurous.
To me the Vigi seems like a stronger gamble, because it's got a strong underground following and because after all it's a sleek, good looking pointy jet that will probably sell a goodly number on looks alone, even to people not really familiar with the history of it. But I'd agree there too that it doesn't seem like an intuitive slam dunk. I'm personally also a big supporter of it, and enthusiast for it though, so if anything I'm probably erring on the side of drinking the Kool Aid here a little.
E-2 seems like a bit of a gamble in that it's big and expensive, but it's also unique in the 72 scale diecast world, and it has the advantage of a really long history, as well as international operators including the significant-for-diecast JASDF and Taiwanese militaries. Israel and Singapore probably help meaningfully there too. IMO it's probably the best of these four choices from a strictly business point of view for HM.
Of course there's also a nice synergistic effect with these four USN aircraft, the Tomcat, and two really strong USN Phantom releases coming up with fixed paint. I think HM is aiming for collect-the-whole-set mentalities to develop, much like the hope that people would get one each (if not more) of the whole Century Series.
I personally am being completely sucked in by this, and I'm sure I'm far from alone in that
agreed... again.
yups... i'm not a fan of the vigi either but it looks far more imposing to me than the other new toolings (don't flame me, this here's my personal opinion). and yes, i'm looking for one that catches my fancy before i add a vigi representative into my collection. i already have a couple of intruders in my collection so i may or may not get the prowlers to complement my collection. as for the e2... makes business sense but no, i think i'll stick with my jets... and yes, i generally like them to be sleek and pointy
My first thoughts when I saw that Hobby Master is doing the Tomcat is Oh No! My second thoughts is more of a please don't! I have this feeling that they will rush it to get it on the shelves and when we the consumers finally get to see what it may look like and how they decided to manufacture it, as in where the join lines and how parts will fit together. Let alone the shape, It will be too late into the process to change anything. Markings aside, if the model isn't proportioned like the 1/1 scale version things snowball down and can be a disaster. In this day in age most collectors don't like being surprised when we are about to shell out 100-200 bucks. The Century Tomcats are good. But they have issues too. Prior to this announcement there was a part of me that would have preferred HM to do the Tomcat in 1/48 scale and do a beautiful job with options to pose position and arm the aircraft anyway we want. Releasing only a few a year. Not every month or two. Obviously more expensive but the Franklin/Armour Cats need some company! This 1/72 Tomcat instills the same level of fear as Hearing about Top Gun 2. Impending disaster? Time will tell.
My first thoughts when I saw that Hobby Master is doing the Tomcat is Oh No! My second thoughts is more of a please don't! I have this feeling that they will rush it to get it on the shelves and when we the consumers finally get to see what it may look like and how they decided to manufacture it, as in where the join lines and how parts will fit together. Let alone the shape, It will be too late into the process to change anything. Markings aside, if the model isn't proportioned like the 1/1 scale version things snowball down and can be a disaster. In this day in age most collectors don't like being surprised when we are about to shell out 100-200 bucks. The Century Tomcats are good. But they have issues too. Prior to this announcement there was a part of me that would have preferred HM to do the Tomcat in 1/48 scale and do a beautiful job with options to pose position and arm the aircraft anyway we want. Releasing only a few a year. Not every month or two. Obviously more expensive but the Franklin/Armour Cats need some company! This 1/72 Tomcat instills the same level of fear as Hearing about Top Gun 2. Impending disaster? Time will tell.
no... not a 48!!! there's only so much space for my displays
ah well... that's not the collector's but hm's headache, unless you're such a fan of the flying checkmates. someone did mention that the reason why they chose that squadron is that it was a relatively "safe" option... even if their casting sucks, they could improve on it for a high demand squadron like say the jolly rogers. but imagine if they released the jolly rogers on their very first attempt and it bombed... that would be a marketing disaster of epic proportions. they can't possibly be releasing another jr thereafter. but yeah, time will tell...
i have so many brands of diecast models in my collection....have never been bias to any brand....whether century nor witty or whatever......if HM gets the F-14 tomcat right.... i wont hesitate getting it....and besides....im not a trader of models trying to make big profits selling....am just a simple collector and what i buy....it remains in my collection......lol
i have so many brands of diecast models in my collection....have never been bias to any brand....whether century nor witty or whatever......if HM gets the F-14 tomcat right.... i wont hesitate getting it....and besides....im not a trader of models trying to make big profits selling....am just a simple collector and what i buy....it remains in my collection......lol
same here... it's a mixed bag. some manufacturers have more epic fails than the others, that's all. again, buy what you like and like what you buy
i have so many brands of diecast models in my collection....have never been bias to any brand....whether century nor witty or whatever......if HM gets the F-14 tomcat right.... i wont hesitate getting it....and besides....im not a trader of models trying to make big profits selling....am just a simple collector and what i buy....it remains in my collection......lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by tomcatter
same here... it's a mixed bag. some manufacturers have more epic fails than the others, that's all. again, buy what you like and like what you buy
Yep, I am with mar_ji and tomcatter.
Plenty of manufacturers and scales in my collection. I love the diversity of the Hobby and the Era's it represents.
Are there howlers from all the manufacturers...yes, of course. Does that significantly bring a downer of the Hobby on me. Nope, maybe the occasional release,.......but the Hobby, to me is wonderful.
I have to say, for those of us who have collected for years like myself, seen manufacturers come and go, in my mind, there is no suggestion that the standard in the Hobby has fallen. Indeed the opposite in my view.
For manufacturers who produce models en masse, they are doing OK me thinks.
hobby master
what i like: bugs, thud, aardvark, new tooling (tomcat, superbug!)
what i don't like: qc slack (blue eagle, kill mark error), bland schemes
airforce one
what i like: new tooling (su35)
what i dislike: inaccurate schemes, exposed screws, seam gaps, trademark rivets, scaling
witty wings
what i like: price, tomcats, superbugs, sukhois, colurful schemes
what i dislike: no more production
falcon what i like: price, hawks
what i dislike: limited ac's, lack of attention to detail, no more production
corgi what i like: red arrows
what i dislike: everything else
terebo what i like: price, rusky jets
what i dislike: inaccurate schemes
geminijets what i like: iriaf tomcat
what i dislike: no idea... that's the only one i have
gaincorp what i like: rusky jets
what i dislike: entered hobby late and they're not worth the price they command
dragon what i like: no idea. haven't got any.
what i dislike: no idea. haven't ever considered.
For all the wonderful diversity that HM provides,...its a little disconcerting how many manufacturers have fallen by the wayside in recent times.
With the HM F14 one wonders if CW is next??
Dunno if I want the Hobby to be dominated by just one or two manufacturers?
ah well... we'll see if hm starts releasing the exact same scheme whenever cw announces their impending release. otherwise they'd probably complement one another to the benefit of tomcat lovers all over. i'm sure everyone's waiting for hm to do the vf84 jr
For all the wonderful diversity that HM provides,...its a little disconcerting how many manufacturers have fallen by the wayside in recent times.
With the HM F14 one wonders if CW is next??
Dunno if I want the Hobby to be dominated by just one or two manufacturers?
I have a sinking feeling that HM too may soon fall by the wayside due to increasing prices, increasing numbers of fussier collectors, and lack of influx of new collectors.
I think someone recently mentioned on one of the forums that the future will likely be mostly filled with cheapie magazine/subscription models.
Competition is always good for consumers, it keeps manufacturers on their toes to keep up quality or be surpassed by others.
I think HM's issues are most likely with high growth right now and trying to do so much, as well a bit of a lack of attitude because of the current growth pressures. William cares about his company and products, that shows, but he also has let things slide that should not have. That is where another company can be good for consumers.
I have a sinking feeling that HM too may soon fall by the wayside due to increasing prices, increasing numbers of fussier collectors, and lack of influx of new collectors.
I think someone recently mentioned on one of the forums that the future will likely be mostly filled with cheapie magazine/subscription models.
I hope that's not the case.
what's wrong with cheapie magazine/subscription models??? everyone has got to start somewhere, right? i know i did
mmm that's around £80 gbp. that is still about £20-30 minimum CHEAPER than Century wings tomcats in u.k!! they are normally £100-120 gbp minimum list price. usual discount around 10%. making hm f-14 around £70-75 gbp! awesome!!
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Aviationmegastore has it up for pre order at 130€... Which is the same price as CWs F-14 over here
So that would equate to about £92/93 at present? Sounds like it will come in cheaper (in the UK at least) than a CW F14 then, given they usually have an RRP around £120?
Really? I paid 130€ for my VF-31 cat. But maybe that's because of the weak euro right now. I guess we have to wait for the British retailers to list their prices then.
Re: Hobby Master USN Grumman F-14A Tomcat, VF-211 "Flying Checkmates", 2004
, lot of buyers from newcomers segment and some of the collectors currently not having „legendary“ CW F-14s. If HM would want to address entire market with very high priced F-14, they would have to offer something really extra and here I see only problems. For example they would have to offer: 
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