Goodbye GMP -- Thanks for the Airplanes!

This week The Ace has learned that GMP will no longer be producing its line of 1:35 scale diecast airplanes. Let's all have a moment of silence, shall we...


There.

With that off my chest I must say that I am really bummed by this news. GMP made what I consider to be one of the finest examples of a consumer level model that I've seen yet. I have several of its Mustangs and a couple P-40s and they are among the most-prized models in my collection. The fit/finish, metal content, working parts, packaging (some came with books) are first rate, and the models truly display well -- particularly if you have one of the diorama display bases (three different ones were made: European, Tuskegee, and Pacific -- along with a glass cover for each).

They were rumored to be working on a B-25, which I would have loved to see and likely would have bought ($300 MSRP?). And I had been hoping they would do a Corsair with folding wings, too.


Is GMP's decision to stop the line a surprise? Certainly not, I've seen it coming with the amount of dumping of GMP stock on Ebay and other auction sites for outrageously low prices. All carried an original MSRP of $140-160, but you can get several different models on Ebay and other sites for as little as $40-50!

I know, I scored a couple Mustangs -- Cripes A Mighty and Duchess Arlene for $60 each, delivered. GMP's first few waves of models were released in production runs of 1,000 or more, which I attributed to the need to dump stock. The scale is just not popular enough -- and the MSRP was pretty high, too (though I think worth it). Would they still be going if they chose 1:32? Who knows, Corgi is having trouble in this scale at lower price points.


The true sign of the line's demise was when the most recent wave of 500 run models started getting dumped just a few months after their release. I got the Marie P-51 and RAF P-40 for $150 delivered from a Dad's day sale this year, and BBD and the European diorama for $150 delivered, too. And these are now hitting the auction sites (haven't seen BBD yet) but are commanding higher prices as word of the line's dissolution gets out.

So grab 'em while you can, the upshot is that these models are likely to climb in value over time. So even if, like me, you paid full MSRP for some of yours you will likely see them regain their "equity".

So long GMP, thanks for the models!


--The Ace

When Collecting Diecast Airplanes S#@Ks

I started collecting diecast model airplanes in the mid-1990's, when I was a much younger, single man with a much higher level of "disposable income" (but that's another story). I've amassed a pretty sizeable collection of somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 models in just about all available scales, and in just about all available eras--but primarily WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Modern. The vast majority of these are in 1:72 scale, followed by 1:48, and then 1:35, 1:32, and some odd scales.

Only recently did I acquire the space to really showcase my collection. Earlier this year we converted our 1-car garage to an office (I work from home), and I purchased some nice cabinets (Ikea rocks!) with some lighting and glass doors to set up a display worthy of my... um... "investment".

So, I took a couple weeks unboxing my models and arranging them in my new office space to achieve my version of "diecast nirvana". These models are "pre-built" but many required some fairly painstaking asembly as well as some dabs of glue here and there (I didn't care--I was going to leave 'em displayed for years!). Here are a few sample pics:

Then, barely a week after I got everything set up the way I've been invisioning it for years, Mr. Murphy struck--a sudden job change came into play and meant we had to pick up and move...and quickly. Oiye!

So, 150 or so models had to be quickly disassembled, and each piece carefully returned to its proper home in the myriad boxes I had stored all over the house--in just about every dark nook and cranny. It took much longer to box 'em all up it did to display them, and for the first time I cursed my hobby!

This process, which includes boxing the models for transportation to the new digs (with a much smaller office, and much less display room), also fully exposed the exent of my "little hobby" for the wife, and myself really, to see for the first time. To say we were a bit shocked at the sheer mass of zinc and packaging was an understatement--I sold off quite a few models as a result (most of my Franklin Mint collection, in fact) but something tells me some more thinning out is going to be required on the back end of the move (those panicked looks from Mrs. Ace, perhaps?).

This has all forced me to reevaluate my hobby based on an important, and overlooked until now, criterion: moveability--how easy is the model to get in and out of its packaging, set it up, and take it down. Here's how I rank the major brands I collect, from best to worst:

1. Corgi

2. Gaincorp

3. Witty

4. Hobby Master

5. Gemini Aces

5b. Century Wings

6. Eagles International

7. Franklin Mint/Armour Collection (oh how I hate those clamps!)

8. Speccast

9. Marushin

10. GMP

11. Dragon (due to how many of these required glue to get them to display right, and how many little parts there are to keep track of)

When I, and my models, get to my new home and I tackle setting them up again, I'll share the results. In the meantime, you can few most of my collection here: http://www.diecastace.com/.

Until next time...

The Ace

"So many great models, so little display space."