21st Century not looking good! (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

Read on another board that 21st Century was letting go employees. From the general text of what I read, it don,t look good.
They went through this a few years ago, but with the economy the way it is now, and China is a mess, I predict they won,t survive. What a shame, excellent product at a great price.
Gary

 

[theBaron]

No news of this kind at 21st Century Toys' own website, but that's not surprising. If true, it's not the kind of thing a company announces, without some preparation.

Did a quick Google search for any related articles. A search just on "21st century toys" returns 125,000 pages, much of which is made up of dealer and forum pages that just mention the company. But after going 10 pages deep into the search results, I couldn't find anything either way, except some old news (2001) about the proposed buyout of TFCT by JAKKS, which fell through, and an employee's page at Searchwarp.com, last updated in March of this year.

A search using " "21st century toys" +layoffs " proved just as fruitless.

Upshot is, I couldn't find anything to confirm what anyone in the blogs might say, but nothing to disprove it, either.

Kind of like Bigfoot....

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

And actually, I must add that if the info turns out to be true, I'd be sorry to see TFCT have to close up shop. I love the large-scale aircraft, they're really impressive.

 

[uksubs]

And actually, I must add that if the info turns out to be true, I'd be sorry to see TFCT have to close up shop. I love the large-scale aircraft, they're really impressive.

I love 21st Century

 

[gk5717]

I love their 1-32 vehicles and I,m really into the 1-18th figures and vehicles.
I have about 8 of their WW2 planes.
I,ve been hoarding those 1-18th figures because I kinda suspected this.
Don,t pay any attention to their web site, it,s always been unpredictable and like you said they are not going to announce that they are going belly up.
Hey Baron, Big Foot called and asked if you had picked up your package yet!
Gary

 

[theBaron]

...Hey Baron, Big Foot called and asked if you had picked up your package yet!
Gary

Big Foot? You mean the tall guy with the pituitary problem, who used to be in Howard Stern's Wack Pack?

 

[Fubar]

I certainly hope that is not the case. They make lots of great vehicles and aircraft. I've foregone the 1/18 scale but I know where theres a horde.
I managed just today to find some 1/32 Firefly's.Got 3 to lead XXX Corps on the Highway of death.Next months wargames. Rather hard to find, maybe I better get some more.
Hopefully 21st wont disappear.
FUB

 

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

Re rumours about problems at 21st Century… I know about the same as you and I’m also a big fan of their 1/18 and 1/32 scale aircraft.

I did however go to their website and looked at their “Latest News” section…

Normally, they’ve got regular announcements on a monthly basis about new developments and products.

Interestingly, nothing has been posted since 26th of June… Problems??? Or is everyone just on their summer vacation? The plot thickens…

Best wishes and happy collecting!
Andy C.

 

[uksubs]

Who else make stuff like this ?
I think 21'st Century stuff is a lot better than FOV

 

[binder001]

Who else make stuff like this ?
I think 21'st Century stuff is a lot better than FOV

THAT is the problem. 21C isn't perfect but nobody else is waiting in the wings to take on the 1/32nd plastic market, and there are few working in 1/18th. Unimax (Forces of Valor) seems to be dropping the ball on us lately, too. Not much new coming out from them and they keep delaying/canceling new projects. Even some items in their current line are hard to find on occasion. Personally I prefer the plastic construction of 21C over the metal of FoV because I like to modify/detail my vehicles and I am far more able to rework the plastic than the metal.

1/32 scale/54mm size is a niche market but 21C has brought us some interesting stuff - often at an interesting price that allows customizing.

I hope they had straighten up or that somebody can pick up their 1/32nd scale vehicles line.

Gary

 

[uksubs]

THAT is the problem. 21C isn't perfect but nobody else is waiting in the wings to take on the 1/32nd plastic market, and there are few working in 1/18th. Unimax (Forces of Valor) seems to be dropping the ball on us lately, too. Not much new coming out from them and they keep delaying/canceling new projects. Even some items in their current line are hard to find on occasion. Personally I prefer the plastic construction of 21C over the metal of FoV because I like to modify/detail my vehicles and I am far more able to rework the plastic than the metal.

1/32 scale/54mm size is a niche market but 21C has brought us some interesting stuff - often at an interesting price that allows customizing.

I hope they had straighten up or that somebody can pick up their 1/32nd scale vehicles line.

Gary

I have to agree