$100 is a stretch, I highly doubt a 32X Tomcat would go for that price. $60 is more reasonable, that's the price BBI's Phantom went for, and that one was an online exclusive that never went to the big 3(Walmart, TRU, Target). Not to mention both aircraft are similar in size, it's not like an F/A-18 compared to an F-14, where one is way smaller than the other.1/18 won't end anytime soon for JSI, and 32X products will not get in the way of their 1/18 products, it never did when 21st made both 1/18 XD and 32X products. 32X isn't something for release immediately.

Hell they were planning both 32X and 1/18 XD Phantoms when the Phantom was announced at Toy Fair 2007.
Fame Master's F-14 costs $150 because of the high amount of small parts. The higher the amount of small parts, the higher the tooling cost for the molds. I have that model and you guys would not believe how many pieces it comes with. Sure at 1/32 scale, the Tomcat is not a giant but the amount of parts is the most I have ever seen for a pre-painted 1/32 model. Tamiya's Tomcats go for high prices because the amount of parts as well.

JSI wouldn't do something like Tamiya and Fame Master because they know their market is different. We aren't guys who necessarily have the time to build and paint kits from scratch. I doubt JSI's Tomcat would have anywhere near the amount of parts that Fame Master's F-14A has. All I would expect from a 32X Tomcat are the following:

• retractable landing gear
• opening canopy
• swing wings
• swappable weaponry/fuel tanks

That's pretty much all the 32X models had(aside from the swing wings, a swing wing aircraft was never made for the 32X line). The 32X fans are used to those features; it's not broke so there's no need to fix it. Due to an exponentially smaller amount of parts compared to Fame Master's and Tamiya's 1/32 kits, a 32X Tomcat would cost exponentially less.It's comingIt's because the only other figures up to par would be BBI's F-16 and F/A-18 pilots, and unless you go on Ebay, there's no other way to obtain them without having to buy the Falcon and Hornet. No one wants to buy both of those planes just for the pilot.
Both planes appeal to fans as well, because they are unique, and because their supposed successors cannot do the job the same way that they can. For example, the F-35A will take on the A-10's role when it's retired but it can't do the job as well as the A-10. The F-16 was tested with a 30mm gunpod in order to see if it was a feasible replacement; it wasn't. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are good for today's wars but cannot match the range(with or without weapons mounted), speed, and interception/acquisition range of the F-14 Tomcat. Hell things might be different now, but a few years back during the last times that the Tomcat was used in combat, it's LANTIRN bombing system was unmatched by any other allied aircraft, even the F-15E Strike Eagle. The Bombcat was able to bomb and acquire targets from a higher altitude than the Super Hornets. Not to mention it was able to fly faster for FAC(Forward Air Controller) missions.Well that and most notably, after years of fans wanting to see a reissue of the most venerable and iconic G.I. Joe aircraft, Hasbro has yet to release the Skystriker.Oh believe me, they know. That's just the thing; as JSI and longtime XD fans remember, the competition is very quiet. JSI does not want overlap. 21st Century Toys was a big learning lesson for them. I don't think ANYONE is happy with what happened after Toy Fair 2007; a 1/18 Phantom announced by 2 entirely different companies and 2 years later STILL no Phantom. The Phantom was not the only time that both companies planned to release the same aircraft. The ME-262 and F-86 Sabre come to mind. Hell even the Mosquito, it wasn't a big secret that Roy Sutherland, CEO of 21st was a huge fan of the Mosquito. The WWII fans wanted it, and years later who announced plans for it when 21st was gone? Admiral Toys. Whether it was something initiated only last year or not is anyone's guess, but regardless, it's a plane that fans wanted, and by a different manufacturer than fans would have thought. I don't think they will. They strive to outdo themselves, chances are, as good as the Tomcat will turn out, the Flanker and Eagle will probably surpass it. They do not want to live in 21st Century's shadow, they know 21st Century Toys had suspect quality control.

One thing to consider to, is how much you guys would be willing to pay for an A-10. I think it's a worthy addition to the 1/18 line but like the Tomcat, it is a large aircraft, and has several weapons. Right off the bat I would say there are at least 4 releases we can speculate about:

• green European camo w/sharkmouth
• green European camo
• gray
• gray w/sharkmouth

Some of the gray ones with retooling can be released as OA-10A's. The sharkmouth is iconic, and the green camo is very popular; it's the camo most people saw the A-10 painted in when it entered service. I predict that an A-10 would be in the $150-200 range, depending on how many weapons are included.

I wouldn't sell a 1/32 scale jet like the F-14 Tomcat short on being more than a $60 price tag. It has complexity to it that the F-4 doesn't. bbi's SBD, which was an internet exclusive only item, sold for around $50 and it was half the size. It was rumored that if Admiral Toys had gone into the 1/32 scale market with their Kate, it would have been selling for least $45-$50.


The A-10 is planned to be retired until 2028. That will give it one of the longest service time records for any military aircraft. Who knows what will change in that time frame. They may increase its service life even further, but I doubt it will be shortened.

I'm glad to hear they know....everyone before them has said that and look what the fans/collectors have recieved.....JSI needs to do something with that knowledge and set themselves apart in the "we listen to the fans and care about what they want department"....make an A-10 in 1/18 scale for the fans/collectors.

Not trying to rant or come across in a bad way, but part of the main problems that has been created in the 1/18 scale hobby is fans/collectors being told they are being listened to and want to give them what they want, but then the products that are produced aren't what is being asked for by the majority. This has lead to alot of disinterests and loss of collectors/fans.

After following the 1/18 scale boards for years, I've assessed this. The whole thing with the F-4 was due to the non-communication between Admiral and 21st. Jason with Admiral Toys commented several times about their talks with bbi and how they both communicated to prevent mishaps of releasing the same subjects. Jason with Admiral Toys has also stated on one board that his people in China had communications with JSI before JSI was even known to collectors. This tells me that we should have players in the field now that are willing to work with eachother.

I hope they don't either, but just because they are producing an F-14 Tomcat in 1/18 scale doesn't mean they won't. I have renewed hope for modern jet in 1/18 scale, I just hope JSI listens to fans and produces the ones that fans want, not ones that aren't even on the radar.

It is definitely a worthy addition to the 1/18 scale line. The onley true CAS aircraft. It's a large aircraft, but not any larger than the F-14 or Su-27. It's also a simpler aircraft to make in relation to the F-14. Like I've read on many posts from other boards, it has no complex swing wing, simple landing gear, and one cockpit (which means one less figure to add to the cost). Yes it has alot of ordinance, but if JSI were to go for true accuracy, an A-10 wouldn't be loaded down like you see it most of the time with models. Two sidewinders, one or two AGM-65 Mavericks on each wing, and two 500lb. bombs would cover one of the normal load outs. That's what, 8 weapons and the F-14 they are producing has the same plus fuel tanks. Extra ordinance and the correct attachments and ordinance could be sold in a seperate package. I wouldn't even bother with external fuel tanks except to put them in a extra package.

The schemes you mentioned I agree would be the primary ones to make and the top sellers. However, you wouldn't have to re-tool anything to release an A-10A as on OA-10 version. They are the same exact platform in everyway except for odinance loadout.....again...seperate weapons packages could be sold to meet this. Even an A-10A model could be passed off as an A-10C model almost. Retooling of the cockpit interior, glass cockpit instead of gauges and dials, and the addition of one or two antennas is all that is needed to make the mold an A versus a C.

Kind of a mute point to wonder how much collectors/fans are willing to pay for a 1/18 scale A-10 in my opinion. With sale of the F-14 apparently doing very well from retailer comments, I think fans/collectors have made a statement that they are willing to purchase 1/18 scale jets they truly want that fall in this price range. With the F-14 selling for roughly $225, I don't think there is any reason why JSI could not produce an A-10 in 1/18 scale that would be at or under this price. I would like to think it could be sold under that price. An A-10 built to the same standards as JSI's F-14 would be a steal for that price range. Fans/Collectors I know would support it if JSI will listen to them and make it.

I hope we see great things from JSI....:)

man screw all that i want a 1/18 spruce goose, ...

Yes but the Kate and Corsair they were planning were going to have many more removable and moving parts than 21st's 32X releases. If you have just an opening canopy, swing wings, and retractable landing gear on the Tomcat, it's nowhere near as many pieces as Fame Master's 4D 1/32 Tomcat.Yes but my point was, like the Tomcat, it's successors don't actually "succeed" it. It's not like the F-14 and F-15 replacing the Phantom or F/A-18 replacing the Corsair, the 3 "teen" fighters outdid their predecessors in many ways, but the same c
annot be said with regards to the Tomcat and A-10 replacements.It was good news to hear that months back but things may have changed.
Oh believe me I know. I've been asking for a Tomcat since 2005 and before me there were other fans asking for it as well. At around the same time you saw guys beg for the Warthog and even one guy going on a hunger strike.

I personally think we are going to see a Warthog before a Phantom.
It isn't a mute point. If JSI wasn't wondering about that and the competition, don't you guys think they would have just gotten 21st's original prototype, prepped it for mass production and released it already? According to the boys at 21st, the last I heard, the prototype was still intact, and that was made years ago. Yet we are getting the Tomcat 1st. As you guys have pointed out, these aren't toys made by Mattel and Hasbro where production numbers are much higher. Production numbers for these are much lower and as all of you know, the models are much more expensive to tool and produce. It's not like lines here where if Hasbro has a Marvel license, and if Mattel has a DC license, both companies can only make products for the licenses they have. BBI, JSI, et al, can all have licenses for the same 1/18 aircraft.

One thing that has to be known as well, is that it can't just be modern stuff that is made. We all want modern models but JSI has to make profit to fund these releases as well. Once the F-14 and F-15 are released, we'll have all of the "teen" fighters, well most of the regular ones that is. WWII stuff has always sold and been popular, this isn't just limited to models but is also seen in games. The F-86 and MIG-15 releases were good because the main rivals of the Korean Air War were knocked out within 1 year. Amongst releases that fans want, what is left? From what I've observed through the years:

• A-4 Skyhawk
• F-5 Tiger
• A-10 Warthog
• F-4 Phantom II
• P-51B Mustang
• MIG-29 Fulcrum
• AH-1 Cobra, reissue or more modernized variant
• MI-24 HIND
• F-22 Raptor
• F-105 Thunderchief

Sure there are more aircraft that can be listed here but the above are the ones that I've noticed demand for. The Phantom and Warthog were some of the 1st planes I brought up to JSI, and they have taken into account the demand for them.

don't forget the f-111 Aardvark and i would love to see a desert camo a-10 or grey camo a-10.

I like the F-111 and would love to see a D model in 1/18 but there hasn't been much demand for it. There's been more demand for an A-6 from what I've observed.

About the european figthers, what about the french Rafale?
Ciao da Roma!

Actually Admiral Toy's Kate and Corsair had the same detail level as 21st's 32X releases. I know because I actually held and studied them at a show...:)

I got your point, just adding mine....;):)

And we are getting an F-15 and an Su-27....don't get me wrong, I like the F-15 and Su-27, will buy one of each, and I'm happy to see that JSI is looking at producing them, but I don't recall alot of fan/collectors asking for these two like they did the A-10 or even the F-4 over the years. I know JSI is new to the 1/18 scale market and it can be argued that they didn't really know what 1/18 scale fans/collectors wanted, but now they do. If neither bbi, Admiral Toys, or some new manufacturer of 1/18 scale aircraft shows up within the next year with official plans to produce a 1/18 scale A-10 or F-4 and JSI chooses to produce another jet in front of these two, JSI is probably going to have a hard time getting fans to believe they are here to listen to them and produce the subjects they need and want in the 1/18 scale jet market.

That would be great in my book but I want the F-4 fans to get their beloved aircraft too. They've been tossed around as much as collectors/fans wanting an A-10 have. From what I've seen, they are pretty much one in the same.


The problem here is that the prototype 21st Century has/had was way out dated and needed more work according to 21st Century. Also, that prototype is in the US, not in China. I doubt 21st would have just handed it over or even let on that it still existed to a company that was going to replace them. Especially if there is truth to what I heard about 21st's parting relationship with the factories in China. 21st Century had alot of ego that was well deserved in many ways, but it is also what I think led to their demise. Looking back now it seems funny to me that the A-10 was chosen to be protoyped by 21st way back when 1/18 scale was really just starting out. Before the F-16 and F-18 even appeared from bbi. To me that signals it's popularity and that it is viable for production. At that time manufacturers seemed to be a bit afraid of producing a subject in 1/18 scale that carried a price tag that approached $100 because they didn't believe there was a market out there at that price. They also had other roadblocks like brick and mortar store requirements. Next to where Admiral Toys seemed to be headed, JSI seems to be the new shining light in proving alot of those old theories and ways of thinking wrong...:)

The nice thing here is that on another forum, a member has already had corresponance with a JSI rep and was told that their focus will be mainly on modern since there has been an abundance of WWII produced. Especially in the aircraft section. The F4F Wildcat and the P-39 Airacobra are the only two left that are fairly well known by many before you get into large twin engine aircraft. Those large twin engine aircraft I'm sure will cost way more to develope and produce than most modern jets that fans want. Just think about all the interior details that will that collectors will expect to be included.

My comments on each are from my observations and participation in polls over the last 5 to 6 years.



It would be nice to know where they are looking and who they are listening too at this point. If they truely are looking and listening to the fans/collectors, then the A-10 and F-4 should be the next two subjects they produce for 1/18 scale jets. (After the F-15 and Su-27 if they don't shift what appear to be current release plans.) That is also unless another competitor actually makes an official announcement that they are making them. I guess we'll have to see how JSI is going to play the cards. Hopefully they will be in the collectors/fans favor.

Looking at the length of my last two posts, I think I may be enjoying this discussion a bit much.....:)

Now THAT would be something to see in 1/18 scale.....:eek::)

Those are two cool paint schemes that were and are applied to the A-10.

The desert camo or "Peanut Camo" carried by some of the 47th FS's A-10s for a short time was cool, but an A-10 from that squadron in the current low vis gray over gray scheme would be even cooler to me. I like the look of the nose art and the gray shows it off very well:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...76/3_13_b1.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...76/1415709.jpg

hell yeah why not a spruce goose with a little leonardo dicrapio figure so we can all burn his face off with a magnifying glass in the sun for screwing up what could have been a good movie (the aviator), he should have drowned in the making of titanic.

yeah i think if jsi is listening to thier fans an a-10 will be in the mix of things soon. i want one for sure.

I was looking through some pictures of the A-10 on the web and here is one I found of an A-10 in a winter camo scheme. I believe this was back when they were running the JAWS program and experimenting with different camo patterns and colors for different environments. Although it isn't a well known or very documented scheme, it's cool none the less.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r.../a10winter.jpg

The heck with that! We need an aircraft carrier for our F-14s! :D

If JSI ends up making both, it's going to be one before the other, I highly doubt it will be a simultaneous release, because both might be brand new molds, developed and completed at different times. Demand for the Phantom skyrocketed after Toy Fair 2007, it was in demand before them, but once 21st and Admiral announced their prospective F-4's, more people became more vocal.I remember it being welcomed, just no one knew where the hell the prototype went. The F-5 is an easy money maker.To avoid getting anyone's hopes up, the HIND most likely isn't happening.It's the latest and best fighter the US has right now.The demand for it has driven up it's price on Ebay. It's the most detailed 1/18 helicopter out there, I can see why fans want it back.Not from what I've seen/read. When taking part in polls for 1/18 aircraft from the Vietnam war, the F-105 was near the top with the F-4.

I also have to add, JSI is based on China, they may be working on intel that we have no clue about. The F-4 and A-10 are definitely on their minds, they are some of the 1st aircraft I mentioned to them. The F-4 and A-10 aren't planes they are just pushing aside because of sales data from some styrene kits, they are releases that if made, they want to time right. Would release dates after the Flanker and Eagle releases be good? Of course, well to us because we only know of what we see and right now we see a market where JSI is the only 1/18 scale company actively working on releases.

Yet JSI knows that they might not be the only ones, and if anyone would know, it's them, not us. JSI themselves came out of the blue so to speak, so they know other companies may do the same, you never know. If Admiral is still talking with the other companies to prevent overlap, well GOOD. I hope nothing gets in the way of a JSI Phantom and Warthog.

That goes without question. Both could be developed at the same time as prototypes. The tooling and production phases would be the seperate events. Prototypes are the cheapest parts of the entire process as I've read before.

It may be small and cheaper to make, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be an easy money maker.

Latest and best fighter in the US still hasn't made it appear high on the want list with collectors.

I don't disagree if your are talking about a poll that is just for Vietnam Era jets. You take the Vietnam Era restriction out and it falls off the charts in comparison.

The point is, of those three aircraft, none of them are in demand like the A-10 or F-4 are by fans/collectors. If JSI is proposing that they are going to be different and open to what collectors/fans want and they want to set themselves apart from the previous manufacturers, they have two golden opportunities with which they can accompolish this.

At this point, I think JSI is the only one that will stand in their way. I really don't think you are going to see Admiral or bbi putting up any roadblocks.

From what we see. We are here, JSI is in China where all the factories are. If BBI, Admiral, some other up and comers that we don't know about yet, and JSI are in talks to avoid overlap then great. However as said before, JSI might have some intel that we don't.Much more repaints than the F-104 and other previous 1/18 releases. The F-5 IMHO would have been a much hotter seller than the F-104. This isn't to say the F-104 is bad, it's good actually, but the F-5 is still in use today, has BEEN in use for decades, showed up in movies. Hell the Aggressor schemes alone provide plenty of repaint potential, and that's just the Aggressor schemes from the past, not counting the recent Sundowners schemes and more.

I wouldn't count the number of repaints a subjects has as a leading reason to produce it. Sure the F-5 is a samller jet, but just because it has a million paint schemes doesn't mean you are going to sell a big number of them. Why spend the resources and time on a subject like the F-5 when you have other subjects that fans want more?

Better to put the time, money, and resources into subjects that are not only going to sell, but will also build your company image with it's customers.

The F-5 is a popular aircraft too. If JSI produces the A-10 and F-4 they are going to look into producing other aircraft too. That's part of the reason why they've been asking the fans what we want to see, they already know everyone wants the F-4 and A-10 but what else?

Also to kill more birds with one stone, for the F-4 and A-10 fans, list which specific versions/variants you'd like to see. Hell whatever plane you want, list the versions you want to see and want me to ask JSI about.

For me a USN F-4J is a must, as well as an F-4E w/SEA camo and sharkmouth. F-4J would look good in VF-96 CAG colors(Showtime 100 AKA the bird Duke Cunningham used when he became an ace), as well as Sundowners. A VF-84 F-4 would be good to accompany the VF-84 Tomcat.

For the A-10:

Gray over Gray Scheme
1st Choice
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...76/1522243.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...og_76/3_18.jpg

2nd Choice
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...76/1415709.jpg


Lizard Camo Scheme
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...A-10Tiger2.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...dog_76/3_1.jpg

Other notable schemes:
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...og_76/3_23.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...og_76/3_10.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...76/3_13_b1.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...og_76/3_16.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r..._76/a10_15.jpg

Dear blank:

I can't tell the final answer since I am not the boss but I'm sure that A-10 is always in our mind and we really hope to release.


Take care & all the best~

All the best,
Sam
Welcome to JS International Limited

I think sam is hinting to a future a-10 project, you tell me?

The Phantom and Warthog are definitely on their minds.

bryce armstrong, $50 for shipping

REALLY!!! Only $50 from China? Are you sure? If it is that might change everything.

thats what he told me, and thats with dhl i believe, talk to'em see what they say, they gave me a discount for having been in the military though. but talking to'em can't hurt. what squadron are you wanting if i may ask?