HISTORICAL MINIATURES JOURNAL ISSUE NUMBER 4

PUBLISHED BY GEORGE GRASSE

EDITORIAL

By George Grasse

It has been three months since the last publication of this journal in February 1009 at a time when our economy seemed to be in great peril.  Well, things are looking up but the military miniature and 1:48 scale WW1 modeling sectors have not produced much of note.  I am disappointed in military miniature manufacturers whose output has fallen off.  Worse, some have turned to "fantasy" subjects in an effort to maintain sales.  Also, they have, over the years, included superfluous "ground work" castings which had added to the cost.  Most of these items could have been offered separately or just left to the figure painter's imagination.  I remember when kits were less than $10.00.  Now they are approaching $40.00 on average.  Price is a problem here but only because the kits seem over-priced.

As to 1:48 scale WW1 subjects, manufacturers are recycling old kits by updating their decal sheets or adding a PE sheet.  It's not so much price here as in military miniatures.  Subjects are the problem in 1:48 scale.  As with "Fantasy" figures plaguing the market, the WW1 modeler is inundated with yet another round of fighters dressed up in "Aces" decals.  The serious two-seater companies are few and far between.  Jager Miniatures produced a small, nicely done line of resin two-seaters but they are gone.  Copper State is one of the only innovative resin producers remaining and they seem to be doing well.  Harping back on the other producers, Eduard is a good example, there seems to be no end to their marketing and re-packaging combinations.   Pricing is not the problem here because two-seater subjects are in great demand and I would pay the price to have, for example, an LVG C.II or an Albatros B.II or a Hannover CL.III.  My list goes on.  Maybe I should develop my scratch-building skills because that's probably the only way I will ever see these aircraft in 1:48 scale.

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© Copyright by George Grasse