ralph morton

There are two Aerominis that "never were" that I would like to see made.

The first is a 707 in BOAC colours to go with the VC10 and 747.

Secondly, Aeromini planned to make the US SST (the fixed wing Boeing) before it was cancelled in 71. This aircraft cries out to made in diecast, not least because of various cool colour schemes that manufacturer and airlines showed the planes wearing. Crazy I know, but less so than Jet X Braniff 380s. At least there are drawings of the SST in these colours and it could easily have been.

Mike Bartel

Take it from a guy who produces kits of warships that were never built (the so-called 'Cherrytree' classes of battle ships and battle cruisers cancelled by the Washington Treaty of 1921):

Models of machines that never made it to production aren't always great sellers. They are popular within a certain small group of enthusiasts, but try to mass market them and you'll find more bewilderment than buying. ('Why make a ship that never existed?' or' What the heck is this ship?' they ask.) That's why my 'never-were' ship kits are all produced in resin and in small quantities and sold for higher prices.

The Boeing SST is a subject that few people will remember...hell, no one even remembers that the only other contemporary SST that did fly (the TU-144) beat Concorde into service and was a slightly larger and faster machine, even though it wasn't nearly as successful as Concorde was.

Manufacturers take these things into account when choosing a product. Also, they determine whether or not their sales can be amortised by marketing it in different paint schemes. Who conceivably would have flown the Boeing SST? The Airbus 380 is a good model choice because, though it's not even in full production yet, it's a good bet that many airlines will likely purchase it.

I don't even recall seeing a plastic kit of the Boeing SST. In contrast, the Concorde prototype and production models are available from Airfix and Doyusha and others, and the Corgi diecast Concorde was of the prototype Concorde. Those early models were made with input from the builders. Boeing could never finalize their design and thus it wasn't worth it to make any kind of model.

But, didn't Matchbox or someone produce a small diecast Boeing SST? I got one in a lot of junker (read: played with) diecast planes on eBay a couple of years ago (the centerpiece of the lot was an Aero Mini Air Canada DC-8, which was only missing a landing gear- easily replaced), but the rest were dimestore models and easily resold or thrown/given away). I actually was able to resell the Boeing SST model, even though it was damaged and missing parts, it still got some bids on eBay. So, there are a few folks interested in the Boeing SST, but how many to justify a production run and new expensive tooling?

Mike Bartel

AirDar

Well, there may not be a WIDE market of people interested in the Boeing SST, but there IS a market nonetheless. Put anything with the name "Boeing 2707 SST" up on Ebay and just name your price... it WILL go.

I've gotten 2 different scale plastic kits of the -200 design on EBay in the last year. There is also some fellow selling model after model of some mohagony -200 replicas which look to be about 1:72 scale. As for the Airlines, I believe it was backed by a number of US airlines by necessity... United, Pan American for SURE as well as American, Delta, TWA and Eastern I believe. I'm sure there were others as well...

There is a local DAC contingent (my self included) who continually plug the companies for a 1:400 release of at least ONE version of this elusive mythical bird... So don't be SO sure that no one remembers it or would pay for a model of it!

__________________
Dar~

Yours is not to question why,
Yours is but to BUY or DIE!

Boeing SST

Dar is absolutely correct on this one...Ive been wanting a roomful of SST's since I got my first Boeing Prototype Kits in the seventies.

BTW:The Mahoghany SSTs on Ebay are 1/144.. He can make a 1/72 Boeing ship....I was quoted in the 400.00 range. Im not sure about a wooden airplane that large. Nothing worse than getting a slender airplane like the B2707-399 warping. Theres also the complex curves too...I would have to see one of the 1/144 airplanes very closely. Anyone out there have one?

Meanwhile, Im happy with my Entex Tu-144/Revell Boeing & PAA -200's/Mongram canard -200....but would love to have more than just 2 1;400 SSTs in my collection

B2

__________________
......"well, you've been bragging about your scrambled eggs; it's time I found out just how good they really are."

flieger

I totally agree on Mike's stance. I don't like it as well, but it's a fact, that all those model makers do not make their money with enthusiasts, they need to match the major interest especially of non-experts. Ebay is not a good example. It just needs two of the enthusiasts who are fighting each other and Ebay price will grow.... But selling models in high volumes is a totally different thing. Otherwise, how can you explain all this mass of Spitfires, ME-109, etc. in the market?? I am not defending the model makers, but I can understand them.
Would love to have a Boeing SST, AR-234, etc. available as die-cast, but who else apart from you and me? Not much...