Small Scale Military Headquarters

I don't need pilots. I've sold every pilot that came with all of the planes so far.

The possible $230 price plus the cost of optional pilots is giving me second thoughts about the JSI F-14---I'm still very interested in Admiral's Mosquito and Sopwith Camel---whenever release/price info on them is released.

dragon53 wrote:The possible $230 price plus the cost of optional pilots is giving me second thoughts about the JSI F-14---

Precisely what I was thinking Dragon.

The highest priced NEW 1/18 aircraft to come along and they can't even confirm that it'll include pilots. Are you friggin' kidding me JSI? Included as an optional second package? Seriously?

You guys want to be nickeled and dimed for something that should already be included? Who's the genious that's making this decision?
I for one CARE A LOT if they include pilots. And yes, it may be a deal breaker for me.

NWARTY:

Price escalation is important to me because last month I fractured a tooth. It's already cost me $3,000 after seeing one dentist and two more specialists and I have two more appointments to determine if I need a tooth implant which is another $2,500----and I don't have dental insurance.
Also, I'm also "self-emplyed"---i.e. I lost my newspaper job a long time ago and depend on my savings and free-lance to live on. The bad economy has killed my free-lance.

I want to buy the Admiral Mosquito and Sopwith Camel---if they're affordable. I already have three Century Wings F-14s---but I don't have a Mosquito or a Camel.

Unfortunately, the price escalation of the JSI F-14 and its option packages has removed it from my "must buy" list. With the global economy in dire straits, I'm surprised and disappointed that JSI thinks there's an endless line of customers who could end up paying maybe $300 plus for their F-14. I won't be one of them if the price is too steep.

This is a really big bird and will be the largest in 1:18th so far. Its box is going to be huge and the fact that it’s even being produced is a small miracle. Yes it’s pricey but some older bbi planes have sold for quite a bit more. The price fluctuations are due to JSI being new to this part of the game. I never expected it to be under $250 so seeing it go up is no surprise. Unfortunately we all have to ask ourselves if it’s an affordable purchase before we do it. Some will say it’s too much for their budgets while others will knock over a bank to get 5 of them. I’m up for one but that may change when the time finally comes around. I don’t think this bird is overpriced. It’s just a lot to swallow especially after buying planes at $40-$60 in retail stores.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the only place I have ever heard of "optional extras" or "optional pilots" has been Bad Cat. This seems to be a "Bad Cat fantasy" and has never been officially connected with JSI or Merit.

I think the fact that they showed a (spare bbi) pilot figure at the trade show is promising!

mountian-man wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, but the only place I have ever heard of "optional extras" or "optional pilots" has been Bad Cat. This seems to be a "Bad Cat fantasy" and has never been officially connected with JSI or Merit.

I think the fact that they showed a (spare bbi) pilot figure at the trade show is promising!

http://www.js-int.net/airscraft_f14.html

Its right here

VMF,
The link shows nothing about optional stuff. Maybe they revised it?

I would actually like to hear from someone from either Merit or JSI to dispell this rumuor and confirm the darned thing.

NWarty wrote:VMF,
The link shows nothing about optional stuff. Maybe they revised it?

I would actually like to hear from someone from either Merit or JSI to dispell this rumuor and confirm the darned thing.

6. Authentic detachable ordnance loads.
7. Equipped armament and missiles.

VMF,
Thanks for the clarification.

This whole Tomcat pricing/accessories fiasco has me relating this to the Flight Sim payware add-on market. The reasoning has been, the more you charge for the product, it better have more "value", i.e. fully functioning FMC, weather radar, systems modeling, etc. Lite packages tend to run around $20-30 while your more complex add-on's run upwards of $75-90. Again, in most cases as you approach the upper echelons of payware, the more bang for the buck you get.

Now, with that comparison made, I haven't a clue why JSI would even consider not including pilots with this model. To me it's "value added" and something that SHOULD BE a no-brainer. Why on earth, after all this time with the 1/18 products containing pilots, which ran from $50-100, would you not do this and then turn around and charge $200-250 for the model?

I can see the arguement in charging extra for ordinance accessory packs. That makes sense to me if you want something like a Bombcat. But the pilot and RIO should absolutely be included as part of the BASE package. If they want to do repaints of the Tomcast, I can see them making accessory pilots, which could have different HGU helmets, flight suit patches, etc.

The only way you will get a bomb cat is if JSI makes an F-14D. the F-14D has no glove veins while A-C does. I do want an B-C and D version

I was the one who originally posted about the possibility of optional pilots, and that they should be included in a $200 model. Most of the posters disagreed with me saying that $200 is a bargain for a 1/18 F-14 and they would gladly pay for optional pilots. Now that the JSI F-14 price is up to $230-$250, I'm glad to see a few posters start to agree with me.
Hobby Master used to exclude pilots in many of its 1/72 models, but thankfully, HM has seen the light and now includes pilots. If Hobby Master can include pilots with its $40+ models and make a profit, then JSI can include pilots with its $200+ models and make a profit.

For 200+ I think pilots should come with it and I think moving ailerons, flaps and rudder as well as adjustable trailing and leading edge flap should too. I will still buy one.

Look, how long did it take you to amass $250 worth of XD...? This plane, provided it continues on the path of excellence, is worth every penny in my opinion.

Pa Deuce wrote:Look, how long did it take you to amass $250 worth of XD...? This plane, provided it continues on the path of excellence, is worth every penny in my opinion.

I agree it's worth the price to me too.

I don't think many here understand how much of an added cost manufacturing articulated figures can add to the overall price. It could require an entirely new production line in the facility. Especially to create a figure that most will be happy with and not complain about how it looks.

Options like ailerons, flaps etc, are items I've never used on any aircraft I've bought and in most cases they rarely work properly. If it keeps cost down by not having them great.

Jericoeagle1 wrote:Options like ailerons, flaps etc, are items I've never used on any aircraft I've bought and in most cases they rarely work properly. If it keeps cost down by not having them great.

Or at least allows them to make the subject in 1/18 scale period. I agree with you.

JSI's F-14 sounds like it is going to have the same level of detail in the moving parts area that bbi's F-18 and F-16 have. Plus it sounds like there will be even better detail level in other areas that many have talked about wanting in bbi's F-18 and F-16. I could still live with plug in gear options if they had gone or ever go that route.

it sounds like the rear elevators and speed break will work