My first model from Madagascar

A good-looking model in all respects ! It is really excellent to have more sources for our replicas.

Regarding manufacturing locations, I noticed a change by HobbyMaster, who makes diecast airplanes. I bought three 1/72 scale A4 Skyhawks. The models were made in Bangladesh. Interestingly, the company is based in Hong Kong.

China's standard of living is higher than it was a while back. With that higher standard of living comes higher wages. The former images of decrepit work conditions and next-to-nothing pay have been giving way to better working conditions and higher pay. Of course, that means labor costs are up, and so are prices. It is by no means ideal yet. But it's far better than it used to be. I imagine some makers are looking for inexpensive labor once again and are turning to countries where labor is still cheap, regardless of what working conditions are.

And I'm starting to see some models from Bangladesh now.  Some Greenlight items.

The day after Zambian independence in 1964 a Chinese delegation landed at Lusaka airport with a view to brokering new trade relations.  This cannot be an exception, so trade relations between China and the developing world are deep and of long standing.  It makes sense that as China seeks to outsource production, they should turn to countries where they have existing ties. When I first went to Guangzhou for work I was struck by how many Africans one saw on the streets compared to Caucasians. I estimated 10:1 and it marked a profound change in my view of the future.

@charles-rockett 

When was your trip to Guangzhou?

@ed-davis 2007/8  &  2011/12.  I have a client pitching in Bejing right now so I hope I might have the chance to go there before long.  It is unbelievable. In Guangzhou there's a wholesale fabric / trimmings district, (around Jiangtai Lu metro) with about four blocks (10 years ago) of five stories - about the size of a U.S. city block, stuffed with small wholesale units.  One can do a quick drawing of, say a brooch - stick a picture of Audrey Hepburn dressed as some Russian Empress on it, along with fabric swatches denoting colour.  And the next morning, waiting on one's desk first thing, is the amazing thing!  Here in Paris you feel as if you're going to die of old age before you're through discussing the thing!  Beautiful China ....

@ed-davis Why Skyhawks? Vietnam?

Nothing from Madagascar in my collection, but another Indian ocean nation,  Sri Lanka, did produce this interesting 43rd scale circa 1922 Prevost bus in Greyhound livery.  And amazingly it is produced in some sort of lithographed glossy cardboard or fiber material.   There are many others in the producer's range.

@rich-sufficool 

There are three reasons I like the A4 Skyhawk.

First, I have a 1/64 scale train layout with a small airport.  There are very few 1/64 scale airplanes available, but many in 1/72 scale, which is a popular diecast scale for military airplanes.  Even though a slightly smaller scale, they still look good.  Since the Skyhawk is a relatively small aircraft it works well for a train layout, which is not very large.  The layout is about 10' x 6.5'.

Second, the time frame for the layout is the 60's and 70's based on the diecast cars and diesel locomotives I have, and the Skyhawk was used by the US at that time.

Third, besides the US, the Skyhawk was used by several nations and diecast models are available in many color schemes.  The three I bought this year have the colors of the Blue Angels, which used the plane in late 70's to middle 80's.  Hobbymaster has been doing a range of 1/72 scale diecast planes with Blue Angels markings from the F6F Hellcat to the F-18 Tomcat.  I use two of the planes on my layout, and the other is a spare.  These two and two others in light gray and white can be seen in following picture.

@ed-davis A buddy of mine flew sorties from a carrier on A4s. I put that in plural because he was shot down 3 times south of Hainan Island. I  think they got tired of pulling him out of the water so on the 3rd ditch, they sent him stateside. LOL

@rich-sufficool Glad he survived, but it sounds like an expensive business. I'm guessing the aircraft did not.

Posted by: @rich-sufficool

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@ed-davis A buddy of mine flew sorties from a carrier on A4s. I put that in plural because he was shot down 3 times south of Hainan Island. I  think they got tired of pulling him out of the water so on the 3rd ditch, they sent him stateside. LOL

@ed-davis  And my diversion to 64th scale is an updated and reconstructed American Flyer model railroad  that is now in operation after 50 years of dormancy.