NEW RELEASE: 1:200 Herpa Air France L-1649A-98-11 Starliner

Faucett Peru · 03-26-2011, 02:21 AM

L-1649A-98-11 Starliner

1:200

Country:France

Europe

554190

28079

2011

NA

Units Produced Unlimited

"1950s" Colors.

W2

Box Code: NA

F-BHBO

4 PW R3350-988TC18EA-2

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AIR FRANCE 340 · 03-26-2011, 09:47 AM

How can I buy this model with this horrible and badly positioned seam between the fuselage and the wings ?

This plane was synonymous with elegance.

Herpa is doing mass production models, they don't care about what the model should look like.

As far as the Air France model is concerned, the French flag is inversed and the AF logo on the fuselage looks a bit too low.
I know, these are generated computer images, but the only thing we can trust in, is a photo of a pre production model.
The front landing gear could have received a better treatment.
This model has its origin in an Hogan model... We can't forget it ...

HM , please help ! !
We need an accurate Constellation, a Super Constellation can be considered ... and we are ready to cooperate.

All this is very sad because in some occasions, Herpa did a very good job, F 50, AN 2, Viscount, CV 340 to name just a few.

Jean Pierre.

Prop-Jet Electra · 03-26-2011, 11:34 AM

Je sais Jean Pierre... c'est atroce!

I'm not sure which wing/fuselage joint is worse, Herpa's or Western's. The Western joint is smaller and less obvious but the components don't fit together well. Western's nose gear is better but it's hard to ignore the amorphous nacelles.

Herpa your Viscounts and Convair-Liners are so nice -- Constellation/Starliner fans will accept nothing less.

Mystère · 03-26-2011, 01:46 PM

Yuck ! Where did they got that blue from ? How many models are still to be wasted due to poor mould and/or wrong colors and printing ? I won't buy this thing, that's for sure, and I hope everybody will do the same !

Graham Bridges · 03-26-2011, 07:10 PM

Why oh why, do they bother with computer images ? It tells buyers nothing, in fact they probably look worse than the real thing, end result being negative publicity. If this cr*p is the best their PR machine can turn out, it would be better to just issue a press release with a pic saying when its expected in the stores.

Anybody seen the TWA starliner yet ?

jcochr · 03-26-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Bridges

Why oh why, do they bother with computer images ? It tells buyers nothing, in fact they probably look worse than the real thing, end result being negative publicity. If this cr*p is the best their PR machine can turn out, it would be better to just issue a press release with a pic saying when its expected in the stores.

Anybody seen the TWA starliner yet ?

Haven't seen the TWA L-1649A yet, but I have it on pre-order for June I believe? I hope it looks better than the comments above suggest, but I will remain cautiously optimistic until I get it. I would like to someday have a collection of a 1/200 TWA L-749A, L-1049G and L-1649A.

European Collector · 03-27-2011, 04:52 AM

http://www.westmaintoys.com/Images/2017z.jpg

looks good enough for me...

Graham Bridges · 03-27-2011, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by European Collector

http://www.westmaintoys.com/Images/2017z.jpg

looks good enough for me...

Yep, I can see some merit in that. But want to see it in the flesh first. Looks more accurate (from the pic) than their DC-6.

HTF200 · 03-27-2011, 09:00 AM

I just can't understand why mankind can put a man in space and yet make a scale 200 model with a huge belly seam.
And it's not just Herpa.

vertigo · 03-27-2011, 09:42 AM

Of course it is possible. Just find enough collectors to pay the bill for a new mould. Otherwise you are a part of a minority, as these starliners seem to sell well enough for Herpa, to still rely on them.

AIR FRANCE 340 · 03-27-2011, 10:39 AM

Yes, all is a matter of money and benefit.
But I would like to point out that when Old Western Models, more than ten years ago, released their Starliner, they made a new mould that had nothing to do with the 1049.
The model was quite accurate and very affordable.

Jean Pierre

fazeman · 03-27-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTF200

I just can't understand why mankind can put a man in space and yet make a scale 200 model with a huge belly seam.
And it's not just Herpa.

The space program is funded by tax dollars. And like Vertigo was alluding to, it would be impossible for these tiny model companies to raise funds on continually trying to perfect moulds. Of course, we're in the computer age but that doesn't mean jack squat when companies cannot afford to use computerized machinery for producing models.