Integration

Shin Densetsu · 12-10-2008, 10:08 AM

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).

12-10-2008, 10:08 AM	#21
Shin Densetsu OPTIMUS GUINNESS Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 8,542	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). Last edited by Shin Densetsu; 12-10-2008 at 10:43 AM..