Aeroclassics

[NeilD]

anyone know what these are like in the flesh?? The TCA Connie looks good...

http://www.bigbirdaviationmodels.com/bigbirdaviationmodelsscales1400and1500/id12.html

never considered the small scale stuff before, but more interesting than what the chaps in leicester are producing..

and Dragon have a couple of goodies comming out... Boeing 'dash 80' :D
http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodmidh.asp?tlcode=DRW&wingtype=55

Neil.

[Albert Ross]

The Aeroclassics are absolutely stunning and extremely accurate for 1/400th scale I have ordered the TCA Super Connie and BEA DC-3 from the States, where they are much cheaper there. Do a search on e.bay?

[NeilD]

oh dear, I've just won a Canadian AF B707!! :D full report when it arrives!
Neil.

[goonybird]

Just downloaded the Aeroclassics Model Checklist. These are nice models, limited runs between 100-600 per item. Trouble is try finding the early VC10's Vanguards and Viscounts from 1999. Nice match for G/J's and Dragons though. Still no Trident but just about everything else covered, even Caravelles.
But still not convinced of 400th. just a wee bit small.

[NeilD]

Just downloaded the Aeroclassics Model Checklist. These are nice models, limited runs between 100-600 per item. Trouble is try finding the early VC10's Vanguards and Viscounts from 1999. Nice match for G/J's and Dragons though. Still no Trident but just about everything else covered, even Caravelles.
But still not convinced of 400th. just a wee bit small.

yeah I'm not convinced yet.. the good thing is that you can get loads of them on one shelf, and you can buy complete airport scenery and..well we shall see... had a look at a CourtLine TriStar today, thats not a bad size...
Neil.

[diecaster]

These Aerocalssics are very good but as has been said they have low production runs which I understand avoids royalty payments (anyone confirm this) Albert did Corgi have to pay exisiting airlines for what they have done (when Corgi used to produce a civil range :mad: ) in turn this means that the prices are invariably higher than the Gemini range. Another good range is Phoenix who fall into the same category as Aeroclassics, acquired their EVA MD-11F in new colours which looks very nice.

I understand that Bigbird is quite good on prices, he did me a nice BAW 747-200 in the original Sweden colours, I expect the guy that sits next to me at work wants to buy it , well he's already got 300+ 1/400 scalers so maybe he won't be disappointed if I don't sell it to him.

Hopefully the interesting Dreamliner/China Airlines 1/400 will be winging its way into LHR for me in the next day or so.

In an Ideal world I would have collected just one set of diecasts rather than dabling in various ranges but its FAR too late to change now !!!


Enjoy 1/400s..


Regards

Diecaster

[Albert Ross]

These Aerocalssics are very good but as has been said they have low production runs which I understand avoids royalty payments (anyone confirm this) Albert did Corgi have to pay exisiting airlines for what they have done (when Corgi used to produce a civil range :mad: )

Regards

Diecaster

Yes indeed, we ran into problems with some of the existing airlines wanting 'big bucks', which is absolutely ridiculous, as this is all free publicity for them. Cathay Pacific stopped the Boeing 707 before it was released and we can no longer produce models in the liveries of American Airlines, United Airlines(a Stratocruiser had to be stopped at the last minute!) and even defunct airlines such as Pan Am and TWA where the copyright for the airlines' names and logos have been bought!

[Albert Ross]

Just downloaded the Aeroclassics Model Checklist. These are nice models, limited runs between 100-600 per item. Trouble is try finding the early VC10's Vanguards and Viscounts from 1999. Nice match for G/J's and Dragons though. Still no Trident but just about everything else covered, even Caravelles.
But still not convinced of 400th. just a wee bit small.

Actually,I met the guy that produces these, who is Canadian and was selling his first Vanguards and BAC One-Elevens at a Gatwick enthusiasts fair a few years ago. Don't think he sold many as they were just toooo expensive! Also I had to take him to task over the accuracy of some of his liveries! His TCA Vanguard had silver wings(should be grey), his BEA Vanguard only had red wings on the TOP (silver underneath) and his American Airlines BAC One-Eleven had grey wings (should be natual metal overall) so they weren't value for money in my eyes. Havings said that, I would love to have a model of Heathrow Airport in that scale, as I'm not ready to convert the garage to take it in 1/144th just yet (where do you keep your airport model?)

[goonybird]

Yes indeed, we ran into problems with some of the existing airlines wanting 'big bucks', which is absolutely ridiculous, as this is all free publicity for them. Cathay Pacific stopped the Boeing 707 before it was released and we can no longer produce models in the liveries of American Airlines, United Airlines(a Stratocruiser had to be stopped at the last minute!) and even defunct airlines such as Pan Am and TWA where the copyright for the airlines' names and logos have been bought!

Yeah, crying shame about the Cathay 707. Even Prepro at LHR looked gorgeous. Save a Connie werent allowed to paint their connie with TWA logo hence twa colors with 'SAC' titles. Didn't know about the United Strat. Obvious why it hasnt been done yet. It was eagerly awaited. :(
This really doesn't bode well in the long term. Will affect all makers diecast and placky. End up with 'deals' like Dragon exclusive with Pan Am and Mattel with Ferrari.
Very negative advertising for these companies long term. Would you fly Cathay Pacific?? or BA??

[PH-LKK]

... United Airlines (a Stratocruiser had to be stopped at the last minute!) ...I have long wondered whether something like this was the reason we had not yet seen the UAL Stratocruiser. :mad: Dragon Wings is about to release their Stratocruiser wearing the UAL colors in 1/400 scale. Perhaps UAL would be willing to reconsider its position, or Corgi will be able to make this work. It would be a crying shame to never see Corgi's Stratocruiser in the colors it was made to wear (in my humble opinion).

[NeilD]

this arrived today.. quite 'sweet'.. I suppose you can get a lot of 'em on a shelf but the small scale stuff still doesnt have the impact of the 1/144 version.. hmm not sure if i'm gonna 'collect' them or not yet, however am tempted by the Boeing 'dash 80' prototype from Dragon.. :eek:

[diecaster]

Dragon also do a very nice Seaboard World 747, it may have to be purchased pretty soon me thinks, have this week acquired a China Airlines 747-400 which was brought in by a guy from Hong Kong who is working for us, it's the hybrid new Boeing Blue scheme with the CAL tail, very nice and at 18 notes not too expensive by Phoenix standards.

It's very easy to go off tack here on the 1/400s, Gemini prices have dropped back a bit but because Phoenix are low runs I think it unlikely that they will do the same. How much did you get the RCAF B707 for as I know Bigbird was punting them out between 10 and 12 pounds.

Diecaster

[Albert Ross]

this arrived today.. quite 'sweet'.. I suppose you can get a lot of 'em on a shelf but the small scale stuff still doesnt have the impact of the 1/144 version.. hmm not sure if i'm gonna 'collect' them or not yet, however am tempted by the Boeing 'dash 80' prototype from Dragon.. :eek:

......a little bird tells me you're also tempted by a QANTAS Boeing 707 in this scale! :rolleyes:

[Albert Ross]

My Trans-Canada Air Lines Super Connie & BEA DC-3 arrived today from Canada (£10 cheaper than in UK!) and I must say they are gorgeous, even in 1/400th and may be tempted by others!

[diecaster]

The words Slippery and Slope spring to mind Albert ...

Diecaster

[NeilD]

Dragon also do a very nice Seaboard World 747, it may have to be purchased pretty soon me thinks, have this week acquired a China Airlines 747-400 which was brought in by a guy from Hong Kong who is working for us, it's the hybrid new Boeing Blue scheme with the CAL tail, very nice and at 18 notes not too expensive by Phoenix standards.

It's very easy to go off tack here on the 1/400s, Gemini prices have dropped back a bit but because Phoenix are low runs I think it unlikely that they will do the same. How much did you get the RCAF B707 for as I know Bigbird was punting them out between 10 and 12 pounds.

Diecaster

it was about £11 inc P&P from the above supplier via evil-bay :D I've not seen any cheap enough in USA yet as P&P seems quite high??

Yes Albert I thourght the 1/400 QA 707 would look good next to the 1/144 one!
Neil.

[Albert Ross]

it was about £11 inc P&P from the above supplier via evil-bay :D I've not seen any cheap enough in USA yet as P&P seems quite high??

Yes Albert I thourght the 1/400 QA 707 would look good next to the 1/144 one!
Neil.

I know the guy whose selling this - look at the link to his website. He is aways at the Heathrow Enthusiasts Fair and undercuts the other traders there. Bought a Cathay Pacific 707 from him at only £10.50 to console myself over the non-appearance of the Corgi version.

[goonybird]

I can see i'm going to have to start selling 'special' magnifying spectacles for 1/400th collectors! Nice but tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo small :) :)

[NeilD]

I can see i'm going to have to start selling 'special' magnifying spectacles for 1/400th collectors! Nice but tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo small :) :)

funnily enough I had to buy a new pair of 'specs' this week, which is why I can now only afford minature-models!! :D

[goonybird]

seriously, have given long thought and consideration on where to go with models and decided still not to go 400th. Nice though they are. I'm hoping gemini 250 start moving soon. This is as small as I am prepared to go. Could do with someone like dragon moving in on 200th/250th. That'd stir it up a bit!
Have to get that Herpa Lufty 727 now.


New spex eh. Not rose tinted perchance! :D

[NeilD]

I think 1/400 is a bit small too, which is a shame as theres a really good range of types and liveries covered.. I may just pick up odd ones.. having said that, I've not been overimpressed with the 1/250 Geminijets, but thats another thread! :D

rose tinted specs? should've been gold-plated the cost of 'em! :p I've given in and ordered some vari-focals as my arms are now too short to enable me to read the newspaper comfortably! :D

Neil.

[Albert Ross]

I can see i'm going to have to start selling 'special' magnifying spectacles for 1/400th collectors! Nice but tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo small :) :)


Size isn't everything.......or so I'm told!! :eek: The detail is fantastic!
How can you resist these and you can fill a whole small glass case with them...unless you prefer to get a hernia lifting the 1/32nd Mossie and trying to find somewhere to put it?? Think even 'Agent' and 'raff' would be impressed!

[BSteinIPMS]

I think these look very good, and they look even better under this:

http://www.doneganoptical.com/catalog/opti/ ;)

[58warren]

Don't look at a 1:32 Mozzie through those, It'll scare the c**p out of you if it starts to roll off the display shelf towards you!!! :D :D :D

[goonybird]

I think these look very good, and they look even better under this:

http://www.doneganoptical.com/catalog/opti/ ;)

Used to sell something very similar to these years ago. Good for modelling and detail work.

[Agent X20]

Or just to look like the proverbial pervert....

Trouble is yer take the pis* out of those things then tempus fugit catches up with yer... need a set to navigate round me sub..!!

[psalover]

Hello everybody!I am new to this forum (On others) Corgi can make it work if they really wanted to.I have been collecting 1/400 for about 2 years now,and one thing I have noticed if an Airlines is difficult to deal with.Companies like Aeroclassics will just realease in a plain green box.No names,and no proof that the were responsible.Call it underhanded,but I have my planes.Also the low production does 2 things.It keeps sought after planes collectables worth more,and in China a production on 499 or less considers in a toy,and does not need the promission of the airlines to actually be manufactured.

[goonybird]

Hi! thought I would attempt to photo ( :eek: ) this recently acquired set by Aeroclassics. :) (Still can't get used to my flash)
http://www.diecast-aviation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4123&stc=1
http://www.diecast-aviation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4124&stc=1
http://www.diecast-aviation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4125&stc=1

[BSteinIPMS]

These look very smart, Goony, thanks for the photos.
Just for fun, try photographing them without your flash. You may need to adjust your digital camera for incandescent lighting in the "White Balance" setting mode to keep them from looking too orange. You might get a more even exposure without harsh shadows. ;)

[Albert Ross]

Hello everybody!I am new to this forum (On others) Corgi can make it work if they really wanted to.I have been collecting 1/400 for about 2 years now,and one thing I have noticed if an Airlines is difficult to deal with.Companies like Aeroclassics will just realease in a plain green box.No names,and no proof that the were responsible.Call it underhanded,but I have my planes.Also the low production does 2 things.It keeps sought after planes collectables worth more,and in China a production on 499 or less considers in a toy,and does not need the promission of the airlines to actually be manufactured.

Thanks for that, which as Corgi's AA researcher AND a 1/400th collector, am very well aware of! All of Cathay Pacific's types have been released under the 'green box' label with no address or contact name on the box, so there can be no come-back from the airline and they would have a hard job tracing them! That's the only way to do it if the airline wants to be difficult, but Corgi cannot be seen to be underhand and release models in plain boxes when they have been producing diecast models for so many years and everything should be 'above board'.

[Albert Ross]

These look very smart, Goony, thanks for the photos.
Just for fun, try photographing them without your flash. You may need to adjust your digital camera for incandescent lighting in the "White Balance" setting mode to keep them from looking too orange. You might get a more even exposure without harsh shadows. ;)

Don't think these were taken by flash Bob? :confused: Looks like daylight to me. Incidently I'm collecting my set of these next week! For 1/144th collectors, we (Corgi) will be doing G-AMRA in this livery.

[goonybird]

AR I have used flash. Have a Minolta 3600HSD. (That's a GN of 36) thought I could improve on the model piccies. Not so. Never could understand flash, but getting there with the help of Tri and a few books. The flash can be operated of camera without cables. used a white reflector opposite to try to reduce shadows.
I am not so sure about this 400th set though as the dak is barely 2" long(short?) It is totally lost on display.
I think I may sell along with other 400ths. If only............... :D