Gentleman,
I've recently revived an interest in WWI aviation which started as a boy in the mid 1960's. I have been modeling as an adult off an on for the last 20 years, primarily building and collecting 1/35 scale armor. I have dramatically thinned my armor collection and have begun to explore my new interest. I looked around the web to find a spot where I could learn more about my rekindled passion and found that this was a good place where I could interact with modelers to learn more from their perspective. I've already signed up for membership on JackFlash's website, it looks like a good place to pick up some needed skills. What I wanted to ask you folks was, how does the future look as far as new releases? I seem to be buying mostly 1/48 scale kits because the eyes aren't what they used to be and I have picked up a few 1/32 scale items as well. It doesn't seem that 1/32 scale is where I will find a great vareity though. I am finding that alot of what was once available from Eduard is now OOP. Did I get in on the downward slope and should I try to grab whats around now for the future or are new things continuing to be released? Is there hope that some of the earlier catalog will be updated? Some of those early subjects would look great done with more modern production techniques.
Thanks for your time and any input.
Dwayne
P.S. I'm looking forward to being able to post sonmething I will feel comfortable sharing with you folks.

Greetings Dwaynewilly;

First for a little catch-up check out the following threads. Just click on the titles here.

Welcome to our day in the sun...

Modeling Spruce & Linen...

As for what to expect in the area of Early Aviation topics;

Eduard promises some fine molds for 2007. Not the least of which will be the Fokker Dr.I in 1/48. In I/72 the new mold Nieuport 17 will be released in accurate WWI French markings. You may recall that it was first release in the fictional "Flyboys" movie markings. There is also an early Spad XIII in 1/72. There is at least one surprise on the horizon that I can't say much about right now. But you will be pleased if you like WWI.

Roden (1/72 and 1/48) and Special Hobby ( 1/48) have several projects pending. 1/32 may forge ahead as it did in 2006 but the kits that are out will be there for 2007. The new selling stratagey for many companies is to try an imitate Eduard's sucess in recent years.

Dragon has not moved beyond the sending out feelers stage to see if anyone is interested in their old knights of the sky series. Early Aviation aviation is still a small caregory compared to world wide sales. Though I have heard that Classic Models are considering another between the wars mold.

Resin / multimedia cottage industries are alive and well but struggle to do what will bring the most in sales. Planet Models is also considering two possible WWI subject or at least has them in the early knock up stage. They will really have to push hard to meet a 2007 deadline. So don't lean to heavily on an expectation. Karaya is another up and comer. But I haven't had anything in hand to comment about one way or another. Hi-Tech is still trying to put out a 1/32 resin kit that they have been developing since 2003.

Figures may explode in 2007 or 08 depending on one small company. The owner is trying to round up someone that is willing to contract for production. (CAD or CNC ) He has a couple of leads and is progressing.

In the brass/ silver nickel etched metal arena There are large amounts of PE frets available even as I write this. Again Eduard dominates, Part of Poland and a small concern /business that is based in Hawaii is throwing their hat into the ring again.

Thanks, Stephen, for your state of the hobby and for the shortcuts you provided to the other threads in this forum, most helpful. It looks like a bright future indeed. I must say though that it probably would not have deterred me from further exploring this genre. I think that the more limited number of kits available in WW I modeling is more than made up by the almost limltless number of color schemes found on these aircraft. I think this is the beginning to a long and wonderful relationship.
Dwayne

Here is a bit of fun. The Release is supposedly very close.

http://www.modelimex.com/inshop/scripts/shop_NF.asp

And in 1/72 with a Bentley rotary...
http://www.modelimex.com/inshop/scripts/shop_NF.asp

Cyber Modeler has some comments from Eduard.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/news/news061221.shtml

"....Except these main releases, we have many others, smaller projects, like WW I 1/48th scale SPAD XIII, Fokker E.III and Fokker Dr.I, there will be also many LIMITED EDITION and WEEKEND kits...There is the 1/72nd scale SPAD XIII early version in the LIMITED EDITION for the February. This kit will be in the DUAL COMBO packing, with four marking option and the sheet of PE details on the former Profipack level. The February list will be completed with two WEEKEND kits, 1/48th scale Roland C.II and Nieuport 16...1/72nd scale Nieuport 17, originally expected in February, is moved to April, when it will be released together with 1/48th scale I-16 type 10 in Spanish service. Both kits will be in DUAL COMBO boxing too..."

Eduard tells us for Jan. 2007
". . .we have several smaller projects planned, such as WWI, 1/48th scale SPAD XIII, Fokker E.III and Fokker Dr.I, as well as many LIMITED EDITION and WEEKEND kits. The SPAD XIII and Fokker E.III are momentarily delayed , for various reasons, but I expect the SPAD XIII to be released late this year at the very least. The Fokker E.III is looking like a 2008 release. My apologies for any inconvenience, but bare in mind, the wait will be well worth it!

Concerning the Fokker Dr.I, it is, sincerely, one of the most important projects that we have on the go. It is the cream of our WWI release plan, and incorporates all the engineering and production subtleties that we have developed over the years. It is also the reason why this one has priority over all other WW I projects . . .

The WEEKEND line will continue with some fine releases immediately after the new year. . . Other WEEKEND releases are planned for the Roland C.II, Nieuport 16, Fokker D.VII and Albatros D.V. . .

. . . The Caproni Ca-3 1/48th scale is to be something really crazy. This is a project for WW I fans, who want to have something exceptional in their collection. It is possible that the Caproni will be released in the ROYAL CLASS line only, but at this stage of the game we have enough time to decide. This monster needs a lot of time to finish, let alone plan properly. . .

. . . There is the 1/72nd scale SPAD XIII early version in the LIMITED EDITION for February. This kit will be in the DUAL COMBO packing, with four marking options, and a sheet of PE details along the lines of the former ProfiPACK idea. The February listing will be finished off with two WEEKEND kits, the 1/48th scale Roland C.II and Nieuport 16.

. . . The 1/72nd scale Nieuport 17, originally expected in February, is bumped up to April, when it will be released together with the 1/48th scale I-16 type 10 in Spanish service. Both kits will be in DUAL COMBO boxings as well. . .

here I was, wondering why the hell I have been unable to post on this forum for the last 6 weeks and it turns out I had quoted the wrong email address

Anyway, Eduards' statement that

. . . The Caproni Ca-3 1/48th scale is to be something really crazy. This is a project for WW I fans, who want to have something exceptional in their collection. It is possible that the Caproni will be released in the ROYAL CLASS line only, but at this stage of the game we have enough time to decide. This monster needs a lot of time to finish, let alone plan properly. . .

Is putting it mildly.

That would be like Roden suddenly coming out with a Felixtowe in 1/32...
Now wouldn't that be cool! :-)

Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing what else the Eduards and the Rodens have in store for us this year.

Cheers,

Hugh

MPM , Special Hobby has released their catalog for 2007.
Looks like some re-releases and new boxes.

Italeri also announced a 1/48 Ca.3 for 2007

maybe some kind of joint venture, as Eduard announced a Royal Class only (probably)

cheers

Steffen

Dwayne!

I think the flow of new ww1 a/c kit releases to the market is generally slowing down. But then again, it has been quite incredible during the last 5-7 years! At least I have my storages full of kits and I'll have plenty to build for years, even if they stop manufacturing them right now!

They won't, of course! Don't take Eduard's 'Limited Edition' marketing startegy too seriously. Most of their kits now oop will appear on the market again in a different box. Their lovable Nieuport 17 kit in 1/48 has been released so far in no less than 11 different boxes! Only some of the very first Eduard kits, those with limited run low pressure plastic parts and lot of PE, might be permanently oop. And I wouldn't bet too much on even that.

I think 1/32 is the scale of the future in ww1 modeling. There are few kits on the market now, but most of them are quite new. I'm sure that Roden and Special hobby will find the scale profitable and release more kits in the future. I wonder when Eduard is going to try their luck in 1/32 kits.

Mikko

Hi Mikko

I agree - it surely can't be too long before Eduard go for 1/32 scale WW1 kits (the design stage of their first foray into this scale - the Bf 109E is due to be finished this year). But some of their earliest 1/48 scale kits could certainly benefit from a revisit encorporating their latest technology - and there's still plenty of great new subjects they could cover...

In the end it's all down to sales - since their latest WW2 releases have sold out so quickly, I imagine Eduard have re-evaluated their priorities somewhat. Which just means, of course, we must all do our best to prove WW1 kites can be just as big sellers!

All the best

Rowan

Hi Mikko,
Well I'll certainly do my best to support whatever scale, be it 1/32 or 1/48. It seems I've developed quite a little pile of kits in the few months since I've started. I see what you mean concerning Eduard and their repackaging of kits, especially their weekend editions. I'd really like to see the Sopwith Triplane and Pup released in this format. I've been picking up a few of the Limited edition kits and buying some of the Weekend kits to use the extra decals that come with the LTD kits. The only trouble I've run into is tracking down some accurate lozenge decals to finish up the Weekend kits, especially the 5 color ones. Wouldn't you know it that Eagle Strike goes out of business just when I could use their product! Jackflash gave some solutions in his Lozenge thread so I'll be getting real friendly with my airbrushes. Still in all, even if this is a lull, there sure are alot of good kits out there and I'm guessing that I'll never have to deal with an empty wookbench.
Dwayne

It looks like a premier publishing concern is doing a series of books on aircraft specific encounters. The first will be the Sopwith F.1 Camel against the Fokker Dr.I . The author of this one is focusing on aviator accounts and combat logs of the day.

I want one!

Post moved to "Rodens New Big SE5a"...

My Apologies

Greetings all;

The 1/72 Spad XIII Combo has arrived on their Eduard website foir sale.
http://www.eduard.cz/info/photos/2105/index.php

Greetings all;

Checking out the news at Roden. Click there. It looks like they have decided to press on in the 1/32 scale venue. SE 5a with Hisso, Alb. D.III (OAW), Spad VII and a Pfalz D.III are being planned. Roden is going for the BIG time! I have to say this is a bold move on their part.

Summing up for 1/48 scale in 2007 - 2008.

Eduard
Fokker D.VII Eduard 48 Weekend Edition unknown date.
Fokker Dr.I Eduard 48 New Kit Aug-07.
Fokker E.II Eduard 48 New Kit 1 Qtr 2008.
Fokker E.III Eduard 48 New Kit 1 Qtr 2008.
Albatros D.V Eduard 48 Weekend Edition 2008.
Nieuport 16 Eduard 48 Weekend edition Mar-07 .
Roland C.II Eduard 48 8446 Weekend Edition Out Now .
SPAD XIII Early version Eduard 48 New Kit 4 Qtr 2007.
SPAD XIII Late version Eduard 48 New Kit 4 Qtr 2007 ?

No WWI in 1/32 scale.

In 1/72 scale,
SPAD XIII Early Version Eduard 72 2105 Limited Edition Out Now.
Nieuport 17 Eduard 72 Dual Combo Apr-07.

Summing up for 1/32 scale in 2007 - 2008.

Roden

Albatros D.III (OAW) Roden 32 608 Revised Dec-07.
Pfalz D.III Roden 32 613 New Kit Apr-07.
SE.5a w/Hispano-Suiza Roden 32 602 New Kit Oct-07.
SE.5a w/Viper Engine Roden 32 607.
SPAD VII C1 Roden 32 604 New Kit Oct-07.


In 1/48 scale,

BE.2c Roden 48 426 New Kit Feb-07 .
BE.2e Roden 48 427 New Kit .
DH.4 'Eagle' Roden 48 422 New Kit Jun-07 .
DH.9 Roden 48 423 New Kit .
F.2b Mk.IV Roden 48 428 Revised Dec-07.
Junkers D.I 'Early' Roden 48 433 Revised Aug-07.

In 1/72 scale,
Camel 'Comic Fighter' Roden 72 72051 Jun-07.
Zeppelin Staaken R. VI (Aviatik 52/17) Roden 72 72050 New Kit Aug-07

Special Hobby

In 1/32 scale,
Albatros D.III Special Hobby 32 SH32008 New Kit.
Morane Saulnier N - RFC Service Special Hobby 32 SH32017 New Kit .
Nieuport 11 Bebe Special Hobby 32 SH32015 New Kit .


In 1/48 scale,
Berg D.I Special Hobby 48 SH48043 New Kit .
Fokker D.II Special Hobby 48 SH48038 New Kit.
Fokker D.III Special Hobby 48 SH48042 New Kit.
Pfalz D.XII 'Early Version Special Hobby 48 SH48026 New Kit.
Phonix D.I Special Hobby 48 SH48059 New Kit.
Phonix D.II Special Hobby 48 SH48036 New Kit .

Blue Max

In 1/48 of course,
DH.5 Blue Max 48 BM119 New Kit.
M.5 (Macchi) Blue Max 48 BM208 New Kit .
SVA.5 Blue Max 48 BM120 New Kit.

Hippo Models
In 1/72 scale,
Drachen Observation Balloon WWI Hippo Models 72 701 Resin Kit .

Karaya
In 1/72 scale,
Nieuport 24 Karaya 72 Multiple Resin Kit .

Mirage Hobby
In 1/48 scale,
German WWI + Polish WWII Bombs Mirage Hobby 48 401 Detail Set.
Halberstadt Cl 2 'Schlasta 26b' Mirage Hobby 48 1021 New Kit Dec-07.

Olimp
In 1/72 scale,
JN-4D 'Late Version' Olimp 72 72003 New Kit .
Thomas-Morse S-4C Olimp 72 72007 New Kit.

Omega Models
In 1/48 scale,
Aviatik D.II 'Austro-Hungarian' Omega Models 48 48022 New Kit

Are you ready for this?
Revell
In 1/72 scale,
Albatros D.III Revell 72 4328 New Kit Jul-07 .
S.E.5a Revell 72 4323 Reissue Aug-07.

Are you sure the DIII is a new mould? I saw pictures of it taken at the Neurenberg toyfair and to me it appeared as the old mould.

The DH 2 is listed as 1/144 scale on the boxtop!