BSteinIPMS
15th February 2005, 20:26
CONSTELLATIONS AT CORGI FIELD – PART 5
The fifth of five Lockheed Constellations flew into Stillwater International Airport (Corgi Field) today and became a star attraction. In fact, “star” was part of the name we observed painted under the cockpit windows: Star of Ireland in English and Realt Nah Eireann in Gaelic.
The aircraft is a Lockheed L-049-51-25, construction number 2043, in Trans World Airlines markings, is registered as N86516, and carries fleet number 508. It was delivered to TWA on 19 February 1946. After a decade in airline service the records show it to have been scrapped at Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1964.
This is Corgi’s 13th – and latest – Constellation (AA30404) and it’s very much the classic iconic short-body TWA Connie. It’s interesting that this latest Connie from Corgi represents the earliest model with the lowest construction of the entire series of 13 they have produced. This is easily the highest quality model of the five Constellations reviewed here. This one was released by Corgi in February 2003 and shows the degree of sophistication and quality improvement Corgi has made in the intervening five years since the first Connies were released in 1998.
The model carries overhead cockpit eyebrow windows, correct for the early L-049s, although photos of this particular airplane show them to have been removed sometime later in its life. These windows are unfortunately printed too far to the rear on the model: their aft edges should line up with the aft edges of the rearmost windscreen panel. All of the windows are printed in a darker blue-gray color much more realistic to my eye than the earlier light blue of the previous models. (Thanks, Albert) The cabin windows are correct in number and placement according to photos, and the model correctly carries a navigator’s astrodome which is painted, unlike the previous four models reviewed.
The joint of the lower fuselage section just aft of the nose with the upper section is excellent and is the best of the five Connies reviewed here.
Much of what I wrote in Chapter 1 applies here. This includes notes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
This model carries Corgi’s “Polished Metal” electrostatic chrome plating meant to represent a natural metal finish. The jury is still out regarding whether this realistically reproduces a NMF, this being very much a personal preference on the part of the collector, but I like it very much. I am less enamored of the quality of the plating, however, and note swirls, spots, and a general unevenness of the finish which spoils the effect somewhat.
Unlike the previous four, this model has tampo-printing overall, including the horizontal stripes across the vertical fins and rudders. No flaking decals on this bird. All of the pad printing is well done: even, uniform, consistent color, and with no overruns.
The black deicing boots were painted with precision on this model and follow their engraved borders with no over or under runs, unlike the previous four models.
In summation, a very nice addition to the lineup of Constellations, a leap in the quality of the finishing on the part of Corgi, and I’m pleased to have it in the collection.
The next – and final (I can hear the cheers now...) – part will deal with group photos at Corgi Field and some formation aerobatics.
The fifth of five Lockheed Constellations flew into Stillwater International Airport (Corgi Field) today and became a star attraction. In fact, “star” was part of the name we observed painted under the cockpit windows: Star of Ireland in English and Realt Nah Eireann in Gaelic.
The aircraft is a Lockheed L-049-51-25, construction number 2043, in Trans World Airlines markings, is registered as N86516, and carries fleet number 508. It was delivered to TWA on 19 February 1946. After a decade in airline service the records show it to have been scrapped at Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1964.
This is Corgi’s 13th – and latest – Constellation (AA30404) and it’s very much the classic iconic short-body TWA Connie. It’s interesting that this latest Connie from Corgi represents the earliest model with the lowest construction of the entire series of 13 they have produced. This is easily the highest quality model of the five Constellations reviewed here. This one was released by Corgi in February 2003 and shows the degree of sophistication and quality improvement Corgi has made in the intervening five years since the first Connies were released in 1998.
The model carries overhead cockpit eyebrow windows, correct for the early L-049s, although photos of this particular airplane show them to have been removed sometime later in its life. These windows are unfortunately printed too far to the rear on the model: their aft edges should line up with the aft edges of the rearmost windscreen panel. All of the windows are printed in a darker blue-gray color much more realistic to my eye than the earlier light blue of the previous models. (Thanks, Albert) The cabin windows are correct in number and placement according to photos, and the model correctly carries a navigator’s astrodome which is painted, unlike the previous four models reviewed.
The joint of the lower fuselage section just aft of the nose with the upper section is excellent and is the best of the five Connies reviewed here.
Much of what I wrote in Chapter 1 applies here. This includes notes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
This model carries Corgi’s “Polished Metal” electrostatic chrome plating meant to represent a natural metal finish. The jury is still out regarding whether this realistically reproduces a NMF, this being very much a personal preference on the part of the collector, but I like it very much. I am less enamored of the quality of the plating, however, and note swirls, spots, and a general unevenness of the finish which spoils the effect somewhat.
Unlike the previous four, this model has tampo-printing overall, including the horizontal stripes across the vertical fins and rudders. No flaking decals on this bird. All of the pad printing is well done: even, uniform, consistent color, and with no overruns.
The black deicing boots were painted with precision on this model and follow their engraved borders with no over or under runs, unlike the previous four models.
In summation, a very nice addition to the lineup of Constellations, a leap in the quality of the finishing on the part of Corgi, and I’m pleased to have it in the collection.
The next – and final (I can hear the cheers now...) – part will deal with group photos at Corgi Field and some formation aerobatics.