Seb

Hi Corgi Collectors - some info:

There is an article in this months 'Aeroplane Monthly' on Corgi. It states next years' releases will include, yep, you guessed it...

a 1/144 B52 and

a 1/32 range.

Better make some room on the shelf guys!

samu990

CAMC newsletter also anticipates a VC-10 and a Concorde.

justin

Here's hoping that the VC10 is on the way, that would be like a dream come true for me .

Ozz

You know, it they got rid of the powder blue windows they wouldn't look like cheap tin toys. Still if the VC10 comes out I will be all over it/them.
A 1:72 B52 would be quite a sight, cammo, olive drab or SAC silver and white, I would buy it.
I just don't know what I'd do with it!

justin

I've been wondering if the 1/72 and 1/144 ranges are basically seperate companies within Corgi?? If you look at the two, apart from the infamous Mosquito B IV their 1/72 range has achieved much greater detail and accuracy, part of this is due to the greater scale of course, but it seems to me they're making a better effort in 1/72 scale.

Ozz

There is definitely a difference between the two scales, I have looked carefully at the 1:144's and aside from the uniqueness of the airframes/liveries available they have not impressed me. So I have yet to buy one.
The 1:72's on the other hand are as you say superb in their detail and accuracy and I will not hesitate to add them to my collection.

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Ozz

ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL
GO WESTJET!!!
We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

justin

Even in 1/144 scale their military models seem to have more care and attention to detail invested in their development. The Victor and Vulcan are lovely little models (not so little really The C130 is quite nice and the Sunderland is pretty good. As Ozz says one of the problems is the blue window colour, this isn't so important or obvious on the warplanes.

Justin

ANTHONY F DUVA JR

They may have been cheap when they were first made, but NOT ANY MORE! And some of them have amazing detail as well.

I have a tin 747 that has black cabin windows to contrast with the blue Pan Am cheat line. However, the three upper deck windows are light blue! Go figure ...

Those manufacturers that do use blue windows probably assume that they look like the sky reflected - but, as somebody pointed out, and it may have been you, I can't remember, the windows really appear to be dark grey.

I would love a VC-10 also! Corgi models lack the superb refinement of Gemini Jets but are nevertheless attractive. Preferably one in colors other than BOAC, not because I don't love BOAC, I do! Rather, I would like something different for a change on a VC-10: BUA, MEA or East African, for instance. I currently have one tin/plastic VC-10 and about ten diecast versions, some beautiful (Aero Mini, Play Art) and others quite weird and ghastly (M Toy, Mandarin).

BTW deja vu : Corgi sold Lintoy's British Airways VC-10 back in the 1970s, a nice model with retractable gear but decorated with stickers as well as painted detail.

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justin

My own favourite VC10 liveries would be the RAF ones. The RAF have been the most important VC10 operator by far, and even today fly these stalwart machines. They've carried quite a few liveries in RAF service, even including full camouflage, given that Corgi seem very big on RAF schemes ( like on the Comet, Brittania etc.) I'd say RAF will be amongst the first batch of releases when/if they make a VC10. For airlines, I think they were all nice .

Ozz

I like it! Bring on the RAF heavies. A series of VC10's in military garb would be as you say, "brilliant"!
I have the Vulcan on order and I'll probably bite on the Victor in cammo as well. The British make some of the funniest looking and coolest aircraft in the world.
And you're right the blue windscreens don't look as bad on the military stuff.

samu990

A little more detail on my earlier post: The spring Collectors' Club magazine says "New types (Corgi 1:144) reportedly under consideration for future release include the Boeing 737-200, 737-300, Bae Concorde, Vickers VC-10, and DH Comet 1 and 2." The summer issue says 2002 releases "apparently include the VC-10 with initial colourschemes including BOAC, and the Bae Concorde."

No idea how authoratative this might be. Nothing on a B-52, or RAF VC-10, but those would also be really nice.

justin

Hi, those Concorde's are from the Corgi toy range, I don't know what scaleit is, it's one of those models where scale is whatever is the right size for the box I think, I think it's about 12cm. or so. These have been around for 20 or 30 years in various versions, and virtually every toy shop in the UK sells them, last time I looked they were about 5pounds, although I haven't looked for a long time. I had loads of these over the years, they are very basic, and are not really truly scaled models, but for Concorde fanatics and completists I guess they are a nice part of a collection.

ANTHONY F DUVA JR

CORGI TOYS CONCORDE

Span 7" - Length of real plane 203 ft 9 ins.

The scale is therefore approximately 1:350.

Features: working plastic droop snoot, black metal display stand, decorated with painted labels

Variants: Prototype colors; British airways 70s colors; Air France blue stripe scheme; Air France euro-white scheme; Japan Air Lines (!); Air Canada (!); British Airways "Landor" scheme.

Introduced in 1969 and still being made in the 1990s.

Also made in India by Milton Mini Toy in Air France colors.

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ANTHONY F DUVA JR

Ooooh, Netcrawer, I wish I could see your Corgi (Lintoy) Air Canada DC-8! Is it a realistic-looking DC-8? I ask for two reasons. I am not certain if they ever had a true DC-8 mold. I have a Lintoy United "DC-8" that is really a 707. The "Flyers" Air Canada "DC-8" made in China in 1986 from the former Lintoy dies is also a 707, as is the Delta. So what's the deal?

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Garindan

Ok I've read a lot of this thread and feel the I can address some points raised by various people. First up yes the B-52 is on its way it's big obviously and comes in two liveries, I'll leave these for you to guess! The announcement in Aeroplane was by the way not official but rather an ill judged reveal by a non employee trusted with the information.
There are no plans at the moment to make a VC-10, it has been discussed but with a limited budget for tooling and the 1/72 range selling so well it's been put on the back burner with Concorde.
No the 1/72 and 1/144 ranges are not divided from each other at any stage in pre-production the same people handle the planes from idea through to production.
The 737 has made it to pattern stage twice now but is shelved again, stalled by the lack of sales of commercials against milliatary.
The Comet 1 and 2 are way off of the mark!
Oh yeh and the Mosquito BIV is supposed to have the nose pespex painted out in black! This aircraft was a pathfinder plane carrying very secret radar equipment, the black paint being to prevent ground personnel without the required security clearance from seeing this secret gear stuffed into the nose! So now you know.
I'm glad the weathered Sunderland was appreciated, my local shop fielded one irate customers complaints that the paint was "flaking off!". I don't know you try your best.......

justin

Hi! Thanks for the heads up on "Grim Reaper", it would help if Corgi would explain that they decided to model a non standard one, especially when the box shows a mossie with clear nose. I am a little surprised that the same people oversee all aviation models, as there is no doubt the 1/72 models have a lot more care and attention to detail than the 1/144 models, and in 1/144 scale the military models tend to be much better than the civil ones. The 707 is a case in point, this could have been a great model, but the missing tail antenna is a terrible ommission as that is one of the most characteristic features of the 707, and printed detail is inadequate. If Dragon, Gemini, Starjets, Herpa can include cargo doors, wing details, etc in 1/500 & 1/400 scale then it should be possible in 1/144 scale, especially as the Victors and Vulcans are very nicely printed. Take care,

Justin

Garindan

Well the clear nose on the model on the box is I can reveal my fault! You see I'm the modelmaker responsible for all the prototyping of the range!I left the nose clear on the resins cos I goofed up, I'm only human,good job some one picked up on before it got to production.And yes some explanation would have been good, oh boy the complaints Corgi got! The 707 tail antenna proved to be too hard to do in production I guess, I never asked but then I've never liked that plane anyway, If it had been plastic it would have broken and if it was metal it would have to fitted in a drilled hole,and drilling a hole in that spot is just asking for trouble, especially if you're the factory worker doing three thousand of the damn things! As to the #1 engine pylon goofs I've read about just now on the board I'll see what I can do about future releases, no promises though my influence is small. I've never really noticed how the finish varies between the ranges myself but the increse in quality of the casting detail etc is down to a new toolmaker being employed on the planes now and the majority of new planes are in 1/72nd so the change in quality is a bit more obvious I suppose. Corgi are still a bit new to this aeroplane thing but I reckon the planes get better with every release and the 1/32nd range will be very very cool!

justin

Hi, thanks for the story behind these models! I think that Corgi have certainly improved hugely, I think all of us here agree the 1/72 Lancaster is one of the best diecast aircraft models ever, and I've been VERY impressed with the F4U, Zero, Mosquito and other 1/72 models, top hole stuff
If you read the posts here, you'll see we can ask for a lot, I think because now we are all a little spoiled by the high standards in the diecast aircraft model world. As standards get higher I guess we take it for granted and ask for more. Anyway, I hope Corgi have plenty of surprises in store for us, can't wait to see the B52,

Justin

Garindan

I'm glad that the 1/72nd Lancaster has been so well received it certainly impressed me and thats quite hard to do these days! I'm glad I've discovered this board it could be usefull in the future, and you can feel free to ask me any questions about the Corgi planes, although I can't give secrets away obviously! Though if anyone has any good reference for "The High and Mighty One" the B-52 NASA used for the X-15 drops I'd like to here from you! Not that that is giving a secret away of course.
As to surprises Corgi has in store for the future well I'd like to know myself the list changes day to day, my own list of wants would see them release a 1/144 Valiant, XB-70 and Shackleton MR2 and in 1/72nd a Sea Fury, TSR-2 and Westland Wyvern, but then they'd go bankrupt and I'd be out of a job!

egonzinc

Hey!
I had missed these posts by a Corgi insider.
Boy Am I glad I got the Mossie now, special variant. Thoight for a second that might be the case but the picture of the plane with clear nose on the box convinced me otherwise.
I agree with Justin that the details of the mmilitary types is a bit sharper than the civilian types.
I'm moving away from the 1/144 commercial types although I'l keep the few I have...
I second the kudos for the Lanc, great model.
Keep up the good work and its great to get some first hand info on this forum.
Eduardo

samu990

Hi Garindan. It's good to have you aboard, as an authoratative source on things Corgi. Good news on the B-52 (I guess its too much to hope that its a YB-52 with B-47 type cockpit, but at least I hope there will be a camo/black version), and disappointing that the VC-10 is not imminent. XB-70 and Valiant follow-ups would be great.

Ozz

Hey Garindan,
Thanks for the heads up on the Grim Reaper. I have it on order so now I feel good about purchasing it. I also agree that the 1:72 Lanc is the best diecast model of the lot, thank you for a job well done! Please keep it up.
I will definitely buy one of the B 52's that you plan on releasing, I guess I'll have to hang it from the ceiling as I don't have a shelf big enough for this monster (I doubt anyone does!), but I'm looking forward to it's arrival.
You'll never get a complaint from me about the weathering, it's actually a selling feature as long as it's not over done. A battle weary aircraft is desirable a clapped out hangar Queen is not.
The quality and pricing of your product has made this hobby very enjoyable at least for me, I can't wait to see what's next!

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Ozz

ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL
GO WESTJET!!!
We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

justin

Well, I guess I should apologise to Corgi and Garindan and eat humble pie, as I was one of the ones who threw a tantrum over the Mosquito B IV, oh dear...... Sorry!!! If it's any consolation I'm going to buy one today. I think the confusion over the nose is why there are still plenty of B IV's in shops whereas the B VI sold like hot cakes. I agree with those thanking Corgi for making the collecting of nice models in these scales a hobby we can all afford and take part in. Thanks!

Justin

egonzinc

Well I guess this question needs to be asked to our new friend...

Garindan,
Will Corgi release a Mossie with the clear nose in the future?

Eduardo

Garindan

I don't actually know for sure the colour schemes of the next batch of Mosquitos as I passed the hard job of painting the pre production items onto some one else,I used to do them in the evenings and at weekends,then I decided I needed a social life too! But I'm pretty certain we'll see lots more of the Wooden Wonder in future,in all it's guises.Though probably not the FAA target tug ones with the worlds ugliest nose modification, how to turn a swan into an ugly duckling in easy stages!
As for the 707 tail antenna well moulding it integrally would have made it very fragile as the metal used in the castings is quite brittle in thin section so I guess that is why they didn't do it that way, I say guess because those sort of decisions are out of my remit really. I imagine the end result was, as usual with toy/collectable design, down to juggling cost, ease of manufacture, and durability. I'll try to get official opinion for you on that one soon.
Oh yeh and I'm not actually a Corgi employee I'm a freelancer and do models for anyone, well anyone who pays me. But keep buying those Corgis I have an expensive toy collecting habit of my own to pay for!

justin

Hi Garindan,

Is it possible for you to suggest to Corgi that their aviation archive product team sets up some sort of message board where they can recieve feed back, talk about what's in the pipeline, take suggestions for the future and act as a focal point for people interested in their models? I don't know if you know of a 1/400 company called Jet-X but they have a very good forum for monitoring feedback and idea's and as a meeting place for their enthusiasts, as does Herpa. Gemini and Starjets have a club that does a similar thing. I'm not really into clubs and would prefer a public access web site like Jet-X, but I think Corgi might be surprised at the response such a move would bring. Just an idea. Take care,

Justin

Garindan

Justin,

I've looked for something like this board for ages now and always thought it was a good idea for Corgi to have one themselves.Infact when I mentioned this forum to one of the team today he was keen to look at it himself, pity I couldn't remember the address at the time!But I'm sure he'll be visiting soon.

Garindan.