[Shin Densetsu]

The long wait for a 1/18 scale F-14 Tomcat may finally be over! Details are scarce at the moment, but this is the first Tomcat toy in this scale.

[Optimus Scourge]

Oh, you know what I am doing with that.

[Autobot_Goldbug]

That is going to be EXPENSIVE!

[Runamuck]

You know I want it.....but..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autobot_Goldbug

That is going to be EXPENSIVE!

...this.

Bad enough it's going to be true 1:18 scale...but limited to 1000 pieces?! Yup, expensive is the word for it.

[Optimus Scourge]

I missed the limited part... So much for another attempt at a Skystriker

[nakabishi]

So is there any info on who is going to carry this?

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

So is there any info on who is going to carry this?

I am still waiting for more information. The first release is limited to 1,000 pieces, I imagine future releases in different squadron schemes will see wider release.

[Optimus Scourge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Densetsu

I am still waiting for more information. The first release is limited to 1,000 pieces, I imagine future releases in different squadron schemes will see wider release.

I was wondering about that. Why would you limit sales?

I eagerly await more info on this, as I did my custom SkyStriker with an F/A-18 and I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on this for a more accurate take

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

I was wondering about that. Why would you limit sales?

Century Wings does the same thing for their 1/72 diecast models. Look at it this way, the mold for the 1/18 Tomcat must have been extremely expensive to tool, maybe just the CAG version of the Black Knights is limited to 1,000 pieces, while the low viz or other versions are produced in much higher numbers. What I am trying to get at, is since the mold was so expensive, I am sure Kawai will make even more versions of the Tomcat to make up for the expensive cost to make it. I think this will just be the first of many. The actual squadron scheme for the first release has not been confirmed as of yet.

This is going to be the biggest aircraft ever released in a 1/18 scale toy line. I think it will be a long time before anything bigger is released, as this is significantly larger than the current, largest 1/18 jet toy on the market(BBI's F/A-18C Hornet).

[Optimus Scourge]

Oh, I was totally agreeing with you there. I'm sure they will milk the crap out of it, I know plenty of guys who would by this at a decent pricepoint.

Heck, if it were $50 I would still get it, but would love to see it released at the $25-30 range.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Heck, if it were $50 I would still get it, but would love to see it released at the $25-30 range.

This thing is huge man, not even a small fighter like the F-16 would be sold at that price in that scale(actually Target sold one for $59.99 last year). For a better comparison, as big as that plane, and BBI's 1/18 scale F/A-18C Hornet is, the Tomcat makes those two look small. I don't even think this thing could fit on the FLAGG without getting in the way of the tower and other parts, or falling off the edge. If this were available domestically I think the cheapest price that this toy could be sold at is $150 optimistically and even then I really think it would at least be $200.

I want to know more things about it, like whether the landing gear is retractable or swappable, if it comes with 1/18 scale pilot figures, what other weapons it will come with, and more. I am completely shocked that this toy was announced, and at that, by a new company to the 1/18 scale military toy world. The company has made toys for other genres before, but for a first entry into the 1/18 scale military toy genre, this is a bold first step.

[birddog]

A forum member on Small Scale HQ is reporting this morning that the retailer he tried to put an order in with yesterday is saying they are already sold out and will be shipping this month.

That is great news in a way to me. It should show that there is a viable market out there for 1/18 jets outside a brick and mortar store and a $60-$80 price tag. Maybe we'll see more 1/18 jets to follow if this proves a success, which it sounds like it has.

Hope someone on one of the forums got an order in so that we can see what it looks like. I would hope it at least has landing gear options with everything else it has been advertised with.

[Optimus Scourge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Densetsu

This thing is huge man...I think the cheapest price that this toy could be sold at is $150 optimistically and even then I really think it would at least be $200.

Yeah, I was kind of wishing (dreaming, perhaps) out loud about price and availability about TRU jets' custom fodder that they are. Alas, this is not one of those.

[Shin Densetsu]

I've read comments at SSHQ about this toy perhaps being a BBI toy. I am still itching for more information, I don't think anyone was expecting to hear about a 1/18 F-14 Tomcat for at least a couple more years!

[birddog]

I talked to Military Toy Shop today and they have contacts that are looking into it. Hopefully there will be positive news for everyone who is interested.

[Optimus Scourge]

This thing really is huge, based on my 18th scale calculations using the F-14 Specifications

Length - 41.26 in/3.43 ft. long

Wingspan: 42.66 in/3.55 ft. wide

Height: 10.66 tall/.84 feet



So, roughly 3 1/2 ft long by 3 1/2 ft wide (with the wings expanded) and over 10 inches tall... WOW



I can see hanging this up as probably my only option if I get one.

Edit: The shipping is gonna be a bitch!

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

I talked to Military Toy Shop today and they have contacts that are looking into it. Hopefully there will be positive news for everyone who is interested.

Great scoop man, thanks! Keep us updated!

[birddog]

Well the only new news on the 1/18 F-14 so far is that everyone that has put in a Pre-Order for it has recieved a cancelation notice on their pre-order. One member of the SSHQ forum was told in his cancelation notice that the Pre-Order should have ended on November 3.

Another member found out through some correspondences back and forth with HWJapan that the F-14 is made by a company overseas (guessing somewhere in China) but they didn't know who. Many are betting it is bbi.

I'll keep you posted if more becomes known.

[Optimus Scourge]

Thanks for your help! Much appreciated!

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

I'll keep you posted if more becomes known.

Thanks man, all of us appreciate it!

Quote:

Another member found out through some correspondences back and forth with HWJapan that the F-14 is made by a company overseas (guessing somewhere in China) but they didn't know who. Many are betting it is bbi.

Oh heck yeah if this is from BBI we are in for a treat! I remember those days asking Mike from BBI years ago about a 1/18 F-14 Tomcat.

[Shin Densetsu]

I searched Kawai Toys' website and their 1/18 scale military toys are all imports of 21st Century Toys releases. Could this new Tomcat be from them? So far, it has been determined that the company making this toy is not from Japan, it is from overseas.

Though it might be unlikely that 21st is the producer of these toys. For those who don't know, the CEO of 21st, Roy Sutherland, is no longer with the company, he was very important as once he joined the level of accuracy jumped up significantly. It was rumored that 21st wouldn't be making much new toys in the near future, and if you go to Walmart you can pretty much tell this is the case, maybe you will find repaints of the FW-109A Butcher Birds and some P-51D repaints in 1/32 scale, but that is about it. Also, last year, 21st had announced 1/18 versions of the F-4 Phantom II, MIG-21 Fishbed, and B-25, the three of which never materialized. Now that Sutherland is no longer with the company, many fans don't think 21st will ever release those planes.

So perhaps the Tomcat is from BBI. Since Kawai Toys themselves don't know who the manufacturer is, only that they are overseas, it could be BBI.

BBI's 1/18 scale toys have a great level of detail, wonderful finish, and exceptionally high quality and durability. I have been a fan of their products for years and always wanted to see a Tomcat from them. They have made two cats from the Grumman Iron Works before, both being fighters too, the Wildcat & Hellcat. Like the saying goes , the third time is a charm, and the Tomcat is the most successful Grumman cat of the modern era(and the last fighter Grumman made before merging with Northrop).

[birddog]

A little bit of correction there...Roy Sutherland was in charge of project development at 21st Century Toys, he wasn't the CEO. He made sure everything looked and was designed right. I believe a man named Jim Allen is the CEO of 21st Century Toys. It is true that Roy no longer works for 21st and now has his own decal company.

With 21st having the financial problems that they have been rumored to have, I highly doubt this is a 21st product. I believe bbi would be a safer bet but I find it highly odd that with it being completed already or as close to finish as it is, they haven't dropped it with retailers in the US.

I guess time will only tell. I've put an e-mail in to Kawai Toys. I'll let you know what I find out.

[Shin Densetsu]

Current speculation is that this may actually be made by Tamiya.

[VMF115]

Well I think it could either be a Tamiya or a Bbi..but there could be a long shot that its an existing company that makes 1/32-1/72 die-cast aircraft.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Well I think it could either be a Tamiya or a Bbi..but there could be a long shot that its an existing company that makes 1/32-1/72 die-cast aircraft.

It would be surprising and unexpected if it is actually Unimax/FOV. If this toy is from BBI...oh man...I love their quality!