Corgi sample photos

newsnerd99 · 08-27-2003, 09:34 AM

Anyone here have a problem with the sometimes drastic differences between the Corgi models and the box photos? Here's 2 specific examples:

- 1:144 USAF B-29 "Enola Gay"...the box art photo shows a beatiful B-29 with smooth lines...but the model has that awful seam behind the cockpit.

- 1:114 USAF Connie "Columbine"...the box photo shows the nose art reversed from the model...and the fuselage looks like it has filing marks on it...like someone used a metal file to smooth off metal pieces.

Sometimes the box photo has a better model, sometimes it shows a worse model. It's wierd...and makes it hard to buy some models over the internet when all you get to see is the box art.

08-27-2003, 11:16 AM

The main reason you are seeing these differences is that Corgi typically prototype each of their models in resin before going ahead with production. The resin models are all hand-painted (sometimes with the nasty cockpit seams you mentioned) to finalize the paint scheme(s) to be used. These same prototypes are then photographed and used for promotional materials and box art, rather than waiting for the first production models to roll off the line. The result is that the finished models often look better than those in the photographs. I've often thought this to be a strange marketing tactic but I guess the deadlines take priority sometimes.

As for buying online, the trick is to find an online store that goes to the trouble of taking their own photographs of the models they sell. It's far easier to scan or copy the promotional photos and box art, so there aren't too many of us that do it; but if you dig around a little, you should find what you're looking for!

Cheers,
Martin.

David Hingtgen · 08-30-2003, 08:00 PM

Yup--every Corgi I have is better than the box shows. Tristar Airplane World usually takes lots of pics of each new mold, they're a good place for reference. http://www.onmarkint.com/ also sometimes has good pics.

Garindan · 09-01-2003, 06:13 PM

It's all true, the resins are typically made about 8 months or so before the first metal test shots are completed and are used for designing the tooling as well as promotional work to save trade buyers having to use their imaginations about what a finished model may look like!
Sometimes the finished models look better sometimes not. The B-29 for example I wanted to do as per the resin with no actual glazing to preserve its smooth lines, after all I figured it didn't do its close relative the Stratocruiser any harm, but somewhere that horrid seamed glazing got added.Also, and you can see this on the first issue of the model, some chump decided that neither Boeing nor me knew were a B-29's wings go and changed it to a low wing plane like a B-17! That little error didn't stay around in production for long.
Some you win some you lose, generally production decoration is far better than the resins decoration but just occasionally production models lose accuracy of shape in areas.
Oh and as for the Columbine Connie, erm, that'll be me then, at 1AM with a deadline a blunt file and bad lighting, and thats all I'll admit to!

Richard.

newsnerd99 · 09-02-2003, 09:18 AM

Thanks so much for everyone's answers...it makes much more sense now.

- Jim

08-27-2003, 09:34 AM	#1
newsnerd99 Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MDT Posts: 1,260	Corgi sample photos Anyone here have a problem with the sometimes drastic differences between the Corgi models and the box photos? Here's 2 specific examples: - 1:144 USAF B-29 "Enola Gay"...the box art photo shows a beatiful B-29 with smooth lines...but the model has that awful seam behind the cockpit. - 1:114 USAF Connie "Columbine"...the box photo shows the nose art reversed from the model...and the fuselage looks like it has filing marks on it...like someone used a metal file to smooth off metal pieces. Sometimes the box photo has a better model, sometimes it shows a worse model. It's wierd...and makes it hard to buy some models over the internet when all you get to see is the box art. __________________ Why pay retail? FOR SALE: 900+ MODELS! Tons of 1:500, some 1:400 CHEAP! Afforable shipping costs - just click here and make me an offer. No reasonable offer refused!

08-30-2003, 08:00 PM	#3
David Hingtgen Complete Wacko! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,989	Yup--every Corgi I have is better than the box shows. Tristar Airplane World usually takes lots of pics of each new mold, they're a good place for reference. http://www.onmarkint.com/ also sometimes has good pics. __________________ *We need more TWA twin-stripes!*

09-01-2003, 06:13 PM	#4
Garindan Collector Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: England Age: 34 Posts: 116	It's all true, the resins are typically made about 8 months or so before the first metal test shots are completed and are used for designing the tooling as well as promotional work to save trade buyers having to use their imaginations about what a finished model may look like! Sometimes the finished models look better sometimes not. The B-29 for example I wanted to do as per the resin with no actual glazing to preserve its smooth lines, after all I figured it didn't do its close relative the Stratocruiser any harm, but somewhere that horrid seamed glazing got added.Also, and you can see this on the first issue of the model, some chump decided that neither Boeing nor me knew were a B-29's wings go and changed it to a low wing plane like a B-17! That little error didn't stay around in production for long. Some you win some you lose, generally production decoration is far better than the resins decoration but just occasionally production models lose accuracy of shape in areas. Oh and as for the Columbine Connie, erm, that'll be me then, at 1AM with a deadline a blunt file and bad lighting, and thats all I'll admit to! Richard. Last edited by Garindan; 09-01-2003 at 06:15 PM.

09-02-2003, 09:18 AM	#5
newsnerd99 Insane Collector Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MDT Posts: 1,260	Corgi sample photos Thanks so much for everyone's answers...it makes much more sense now. - Jim __________________ Why pay retail? FOR SALE: 900+ MODELS! Tons of 1:500, some 1:400 CHEAP! Afforable shipping costs - just click here and make me an offer. No reasonable offer refused!

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08-27-2003, 11:16 AM	#2
FlyingMule Guest Posts: n/a	The main reason you are seeing these differences is that Corgi typically prototype each of their models in resin before going ahead with production. The resin models are all hand-painted (sometimes with the nasty cockpit seams you mentioned) to finalize the paint scheme(s) to be used. These same prototypes are then photographed and used for promotional materials and box art, rather than waiting for the first production models to roll off the line. The result is that the finished models often look better than those in the photographs. I've often thought this to be a strange marketing tactic but I guess the deadlines take priority sometimes. As for buying online, the trick is to find an online store that goes to the trouble of taking their own photographs of the models they sell. It's far easier to scan or copy the promotional photos and box art, so there aren't too many of us that do it; but if you dig around a little, you should find what you're looking for! Cheers, Martin.