Small Scale Military Headquarters

I was wondering if 21st could sell playsets in 1/18 just like the ones currently in 1/32.

For example, the bunkers, sandbag emplacements and the new dug out holes could be really useful for our dioramas.

they could include one figure and a piece of wall, or a set of already painted sandbags...just like the 1/32 look.

furthermore, this wall and other diorama accessories could then be assembled or used in combination with other sets....so people would buy more than one.

it would be great in combination with smaller items like jeeps, artillery pieces and other stuff....what do you guys think?

keep me posted.

That would be sweet! 32X has some really cool sets that would be wicked in 1:18 and would really spice up displays.

Playsets of any sort would be a great addition to the 1/18th world, but from those that were produced the first time around, I guess they did not sell very well, hence there has been no further development with regard to releasing new playsets.

There are a lot more people collecting XD now compared to when the first playsets came out so maybe they would be more popular and sell more.

Quite true, but maybe 21st doesn't think so.

Long overdue imho..

I'd buy them all. And heck if they were buildings, multiples to make that small French village my troops have been anxiously waiting to take from the Germans..

grunt1 wrote:Long overdue imho..

I'd buy them all. And heck if they were buildings, multiples to make that small French village my troops have been anxiously waiting to take from the Germans..

Mmmm, Band of Brothers taking Brecourt goodness!

I would like to see some new 1:18 playsets featuring the bunkers and pillboxes, but I agree they may be a bit unlikely. The last sets really did not sell well - I bought several on extreme discount from TRU a couple years ago - new ones might go the same way. The fact that the origional playsets had poor sales may have something to do with the subject matter. A pillbox or sandbag emplacement seems to a bit cooler than a blown up barn. Such sets would add alot to the 1:18 line and 21c's prices would beat the prices for similar custom buildings made by other companies.

tmanthegreat wrote:The fact that the origional playsets had poor sales may have something to do with the subject matter. A pillbox or sandbag emplacement seems to a bit cooler than a blown up barn.

I do believe that you have hit the nail on the head. Somehow, I don't think a city fountain offers up the same degree of defensive coolness as a bunker or guard tower.
"Men-load up. We are going to take out that fountain at all costs. There has to be a small fortune in change in there, and I am not going to let Jerry keep us from getting it!"

FieroDude wrote:

tmanthegreat wrote:The fact that the origional playsets had poor sales may have something to do with the subject matter. A pillbox or sandbag emplacement seems to a bit cooler than a blown up barn.

I do believe that you have hit the nail on the head. Somehow, I don't think a city fountain offers up the same degree of defensive coolness as a bunker or guard tower.
"Men-load up. We are going to take out that fountain at all costs. There has to be a small fortune in change in there, and I am not going to let Jerry keep us from getting it!"

If that was the case, some of the best War movies would have to be renamed: SAVING PRIVATE RYAN'S FOUNTAIN, Band of Brothers with 3 Coins in the Fountain, All Quiet on the Western Fountain... I could go on...But I won't push my luck...

guys 21st lost money the first time around.. i do notthink they will invest any more money on building.. any way i found site that teaches you how to make cheap building....the new finescale modeler have a great way of making brick building out of dry wall.. i bought the mag just for that reason..

I don't think 21st lost ANY money on those... I do think TRU might have though. Considering even the cream of the crop from the Playset sub-line saw clearance in my area (barn and farmhouse), much less the much weaker efforts like the "government building" and fountain (and those were kind of weak for their cost), I doubt 21st tests that troubled water again...

Part of the beauty of armor or planes is the repaint factor... Your fixed costs are in place so really all you do is diminish the actual cost every time you re-release any given plane or tank... After that 4th P-38 Lightning, you're looking at a much better margin for profit for 21st Century, and even some leeway with pricing...

Playsets don't have that charm though. There's only so many times you can sell the same chunk of wall to someone, or the same fountain...

I think to many the complexity of the playsets didn't jive with the price too, and that hurt them. As "toys" they're very dull as well, and more a display piece than an actual "playset" in the traditional sense. The Star Wars line has struggled with similar issues... The day of playsets is largely considered over by the Toy Industry, especially in the Boy's Toys market where the demographics have shifted down dramatically compared to when I grew up (1980's)...

I think what collectors in the 1:18 scale really could hope for is a simple single-piece display piece packed in with a figure or something like the PAK-40 or some such. A single "U" of sandbags for instance... More akin to a complex stand/display chunk. A brick wall section would be feasible... Maybe things like that packed in with a a figure or some such. Those seem pretty possible, but fall way short of a playset (as 21st defined them at least). I'd be happy with that stuff myself... Small things to display with the figures that might (upon packaging redesign) be able to be packaged WITH the figure is cool. I would be surprised to see anything larger than that put out by 21st though at this point.

I think what collectors in the 1:18 scale really could hope for is a simple single-piece display piece packed in with a figure or something like the PAK-40 or some such. A single "U" of sandbags for instance... More akin to a complex stand/display chunk. A brick wall section would be feasible... Maybe things like that packed in with a a figure or some such.

That is want i meant to say from the beginning....not a complete playset like before...but more of small peices here and there sold in combination with figures or vehicles which can then be used alone or in combination to enhance the figures, vehicles and planes.

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75th Ranger that sounds good to me.

I say make them the same but in 1/18 scale. Don't change anything.

Black_Dragon_One wrote:guys 21st lost money the first time around.. i do notthink they will invest any more money on building.. any way i found site that teaches you how to make cheap building....the new finescale modeler have a great way of making brick building out of dry wall.. i bought the mag just for that reason..

Got a URL for them?

I've often wondered why they did not sell XD playsets as well, but I agree with the other guys who have said the early playsets apparently were not great sellers and this may have something to do with the decision. Possibly the subject matter (barns etc.) just were not of that much interest at the time. Maybe the powers that be at 21st Century are listening now, and will give 1/18th playsets another go with items like sandbag emplacements, bunkers and so on that have done well in 32X, I would definitely buy these if they were offered in XD. BTW, on the subject of making your own buildings, I found this... http://www.jeffholbrook.com/castle-kits.htm
it looks like you could make some very high quality and nice looking European style stone structures with this system, not the cheapest thing going, but from the looks of it you could produce some great looking buildings, either "intact" or "destroyed" and the system is flexible enough that you could produce your own designs, ie. it wouldn't have to be a castle type structure, you could basically make anything you wanted with it, kinda like Legos.

Instead of going retail, and perhaps losing their shirt again, what about developing a line of modular pieces available only on line through some kind of 21st Century collectors club? Other companies have offered similar "exclusive" stuff ( Mattel comes to mind, but there are others). The line could include a series of modular diorama pieces, but also limited edition collector only pieces of armor and aircraft or figures. Stuff which might not have appeal at WM but would do nicely with people like us. Or stuff that wm would not allow at retail, such as accurate insignia. Advertising for the club could be through inserts in retail boxes. What do you think?

Probably the best way to get playsets into the picture is to package them in with other 1/18th scale pieces as was mentioned earlier. For example, a pice of wall could have been packaged with the pak-40, and rubble or pieces of building with the tanks and other armored vehicles much like what is done with the 1/32nd pieces.

The idea of the mini bits of terrain like what you see with 32x sounds the best to me. As far as the old playsets---how many fountains does a battle scene need. I think I have two and I don't know what the hell to do with one of them. Now, the barns and haylofts, I have four houses for a village scene and four barns. I couldn't get enough of them. I think real buildings are cool. The long rumored bridge would have been sweet too.

I like the idea of the playsets and understand the economics of producing an item that would have limited appeal. I agree that in the future it would be great if they added sandbags, walls....etc with future armor kits. It would be nice to have some quality pieces at an affordable price.

The French Farmhouse was probably the best piece that they made in 1:18. It had a good number of walls that you could either build out of the box or if you were lucky to obtain more farmhouses, do more interesting things with. The statue and column was somewhat limited in use, but hey! They actually do have a lot of statues and columns in Europe....ever been to Paris or Rome? I have two.

Power Team Elite, Soldier Force and The Corps have produced some nice accessory pieces. Hopefully 21stCentury and BBI will follow suit.
I loved PTEs Hedgehogs....I'd love to get more!

When is Build-A-Rama going to put out some new items in 1:18 scale? I'd like a guard post and some barriers.

Cheers

When is Build-A-Rama going to put out some new items in 1:18 scale?

They are continually adding new items to their product line in all scales, you just have to keep an eye out at their website. The Build-A-Rama stuff is not the cheapest around, but the quality is outstanding IMO, I just wish they would expand their 1/72 line of diorama pieces and accessories.

I'd really like to see some playsets made available i would definately pic some up if they were brought out.

Probably most people who currently collect XD did not have a chance to get these when they were originally available (i.e. weren't collecting XD then). I remember I was only "sort of" collecting 1:18 scale military at the time and so I passed on these sets, but I would respond differently now.

If I were 21st Century, I would consider a limited reissue of a few of the sets to test the waters.

However, my guess is that they have many other prospects on their plate for '07 and this is the last thing they're worried about!

Build-A-Rama did come out with 1:18 scale build they came out with four type of building a corner ruin, one, two and a three stories(sp) build which went for about 40 to 250.. no one bought the stuff so Build-A-Rama quite that line.. the build look good too... just cost more then i can afford..