The 2021 Big 400 Scale Survey Results
Pt2.2: What You Want
INTRODUCTION
|
Welcome to part 2.2 of the results of the Big 400 Scale Survey. Following on from part 2.1 the last chunk of the survey focused on what matters most to you in a model and what the next moulds you'd like to see in 400 scale are.
For the previous parts of the survey see:
Since this is a continuance of part 2.1 it uses the same 470 respondents for its stats.
|
Results & Analysis
Q10-14: HOW IMPORTANT ARE VARIOUS FACTORS TO YOU WHEN BUYING?
|
These five questions covered scoring the following key areas out of 5 in terms of their importance to you when collecting:
|
Although some people questioned why everyone wouldn't put 5 for every one that isn't what the results showed, although 5 was the most important category for each. By taking the average we can see the order of importance of these 5 across the respondents:
The results group well together and looking at which got the most 5s gives the same order of results when looking at the average for each factor. Quality Control is clearly the most important aspect to most collectors, followed by livery accuracy. Mould quality and colour accuracy are almost neck and neck with Printing detail coming in last place.
Q15: HOW MUCH DO YOU CARE ABOUT BOX ART?
Some brands put a lot of effort into their box art (mainly Aviation400, JC Wings, NG Models and Phoenix), some use a standard but individualised style (Gemini Jets) and some put minimal effort into box artwork (Aeroclassics and Panda). On the plus side for me at least Aeroclassics uses boxes that appropriately fit the aircraft type, which becomes important when you have to store thousands of boxes.
Anyway the results show an ambivalence towards box art. About a third of collectors don't care much, a third care quite a bit and a third don't have a strong opinion either way.
Anyway the results show an ambivalence towards box art. About a third of collectors don't care much, a third care quite a bit and a third don't have a strong opinion either way.
Q16: DO YOU CARE ABOUT WHETHER MODELS ARE LICENSED?
Given the ongoing debate and legal shenanigans in this space it is worthwhile asking collectors whether they care about model licensing. The answer is a comprehensive no, with only 44 people saying it mattered to them and another 87 not being certain. 339 answers said it didn't matter - that's 72% of votes.
|
|
Q17: WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT MODERN (1980+) NARROWBODY MOULD MADE?
The last three questions are probably those people are most interested in as they concern what people want to see made next in 400 scale. I tried to give a decent number of options but obviously there are a lot of people who had opinions on these questions.
|
|
I was very pleased to see the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 triumph here while there is clearly strong demand for 737 classics that is not being met by the excellent, but poorly used, Panda moulds or the decent JC Wings / Gemini versions. Larger regionals also did well while there are still quite a few people who want an A320 (mainly from NG). I would argue there are plenty of A320 moulds out there but the best ones don't get used as much as they ought to.
The 'other' category consisted of people who don't know what a narrowbody is (1 vote for DC-10 and 767-400), someone who is happy with everything Gemini does and so doesn't need anything new, someone who only collects widebodies and a few saner votes for Soviet and prop types.
Q18: WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT CLASSIC NARROWBODY MOULD MADE?
I was a little surprised at the winner of this question but in hindsight there does appear to be some annoyance with the existing 727 moulds and for many I suspect it isn't necessarily seen as a classic given its long service life, which opens it up to many schemes from the 2000s onwards. Both the DC-9-10 and 707 Turbojets have a strong showing and I'm glad to see there is demand for props as well, which I'm sure would be larger if the question didn't force a single choice on people (sorry Adrian).
It is also clear that less people care about classics with a substantial abstaining in the vote stats. The Other category again featured a wide range of aircraft from types like the Argosy and DHC-7 to types well covered by existing moulds (CV-880, 737-200, VC10), to Soviet types and yes also the lone voice who said "None Happy with Gemini' :)
It is also clear that less people care about classics with a substantial abstaining in the vote stats. The Other category again featured a wide range of aircraft from types like the Argosy and DHC-7 to types well covered by existing moulds (CV-880, 737-200, VC10), to Soviet types and yes also the lone voice who said "None Happy with Gemini' :)
|
|
Q19: WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT WIDEBODY MOULD MADE?
The last question is unsurprisingly a massive win for the 747 classic, however the 767-300/400 comes up second with a strong vote that I suspect would be stronger if there was a way of doing second votes. Several of the 'other' votes talked of how well covered widebodies are in the scale and the spread of other votes tells this story since there are excellent A300/310s, DC-10s and 777s out there already with a new 787-8 from AV400 on the horizon. The 'other' votes included 3 or 4 for the IL-86/96, 3 or 4 for the A340-600 and even a couple of the L-1011 from people who are clearly blind.
|
|
SUMMARY
I want to thank everyone who took part one again. Even if you don't consider these results meaningful this is still easily the biggest survey of 400 scale collectors that has been done and in my opinion has produced some excellent material, which I know several of the manufacturers have looked at.
What did we learn in this part? Collectors want there models to come properly built and looking like the real aircraft with teh fancier detailing important but less so than getting the basics right. Licensing is of no concern and box art is a nice to have. On the mould front the winners aren't major surprises and if I were a manufacturer I'd be looking at a focus on narrowbodies aside from the 747 and 767s. Hopefully some of the major brands have some of these in the pipeline already.
In the meantime don't forget to sign up to the new 400 Scale Facebook Group 400iD here:
What did we learn in this part? Collectors want there models to come properly built and looking like the real aircraft with teh fancier detailing important but less so than getting the basics right. Licensing is of no concern and box art is a nice to have. On the mould front the winners aren't major surprises and if I were a manufacturer I'd be looking at a focus on narrowbodies aside from the 747 and 767s. Hopefully some of the major brands have some of these in the pipeline already.
In the meantime don't forget to sign up to the new 400 Scale Facebook Group 400iD here:
