Source: https://www.facebook.com/Aviatornutcom
Quote:
Well fellow collectors, I am excited to tell you about my interview with the owner of Merit. Tony has been the man behind such releases as the bbi Shark mouth Hellcat, the F-14 and now the infamous SBD Dauntless. That is quite the legacy if you ask me and I am sure I missed others.
Aviatornut….What do you think the future of 1/18 scale looks like?
(Tony) I am little concerned when you look at the total volume of sales and now the production cost to make an aircraft in this scale. I am not sure the customer will continue to buy one of each paint scheme or even a new airplane. Somehow we need to get to the new collector.
Aviatornut….How do you reach new collectors?
(Tony) Not sure, also not if we can reach that many with the cost of these planes.
Aviatornut….What do you see coming out in the 1/18 scale market?
(Tony) I let you be the first to announce that we will have a Huey out soon. (Picture will be posted soon)
Also there will be another plane released, hopefully before Chinese New Year.
Aviatornut….Any hints to what it may be?
(Tony) Something WWII
Aviatornut….Will it be the wildcat?
(Tony) No
Aviatornut….Anything you want to say to the 1/18 collector?
(Tony) We need your support and we need people to buy the product to keep them produced. We all work like a wheel. That is all of us a part of one wheel. You have the customer and then the retailer and the distributer and finally the manufacturer and we all work together to keep this rolling out new items. People need to recognize that we cannot produce items at the old prices and with fewer people purchasing them it makes it even harder to hold a fair price. Look at what gas cost just four years ago ($1.75) and what it cost today ($4.00) and these items are made of petroleum. Please understand.
Aviatornut…. Any final info or inside scoop you can share? Oh how about the F-14 is it done or will we see another release? Also I heard that the mold is lost.
(Tony) No, we know where the mold is for the F-14 and we plan on another paint scheme. Most likely the Sundowner Squadron and not sure gloss or mutes scheme. The Black Knight is our nicest F-14 and sales are slow on it and we are a little hesitant to do another release soon.
Aviatornut…. Keep up the good work and thank you for all you do to keep the collector happy. I think it has morphed into a purely collector market only and no longer a toy item for kids and you have done a great job making product to the new higher standards.
