I can't se many of these getting shifted - very niche...I guess Pan Am die hard Patrick (wu6fiend) will get one. I suspect these will be floating around on ebay on the cheap within the next year.
Never really understood the whole 'flood the market with the same livery' approach thats been adopted in the last couple of years. It can't be good for business as you just won't sell that many.
I know they are releasing some nice new release models, UTA and Iberia spring to mind, they should stick to this formula...just slow it down a little...most of us mortals can't keep up!
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Regards, Andy
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I'm really curious to see how the nose probe attaches. Is it via magnet? Or is there a hole in the nose of the model, and the probe fits into that hole? I'm (obviously) tempted to buy this model (like I need yet another Pan Am 747, and I don't have any room to display it anyway). They can't expect to sell many of these, as it is such an odd choice for a model.
As Andy said, the whole "flood the market" approach of the last few years has been really strange. The majority of new releases are "here's the same model, yet again, and again". I was just having a look at eBay, and its amazing how values have simply tanked for formerly rare models. Models that, a few years ago would command close to $1000 can now be purchased for $200, thanks to market saturation.
I think the 'flood the market' approach is great for collectors, unless you are collecting to make a profit (always a mistake IMHO). There are many formerly 'rare' models in my collection that I wouldn't buy at $600-800, but now have because they were $150-200. Personally, the lower prices are great for filling out my collection. Unless you collect to have most of your collection comprised of models that no one else has, the lower prices are probably a good thing for you too.
I share your concern for the manufacturers though. The mass flooding of the market with similar releases can't be good for their bottom lines.
Last edited by Charlie Alpha; 11-19-2016 at 11:02 AM.
Does anyone have any information on the actual aircraft? I would have assumed any flight trials of the 747 would have been done on a house-livery 747, not a Pan am one. What was it used for? I tried doing some research but all I could find was about this model
Does anyone have any information on the actual aircraft? I would have assumed any flight trials of the 747 would have been done on a house-livery 747, not a Pan am one. What was it used for? I tried doing some research but all I could find was about this model
The actual aircraft only wore that huge nose mast during flight trials/testing. It was delivered to Pan Am after that. It was the fifth 747 built, IIRC.
She was in service until 1986, and was also called Clipper Ocean Telegraph.
Thanks for the links, Robert. I have purchased from Bundys before, and although there was an extended dispute with CBSA over the declared value of the model, it arrived safe and sound in the end.
I'd love to see how the nose probe attaches, via magnet, or is there a hole in the nose of the model?
Interesting how both retailers are using the same stock images of the model.
Thanks for the links, Robert. I have purchased from Bundys before, and although there was an extended dispute with CBSA over the declared value of the model, it arrived safe and sound in the end.
I'd love to see how the nose probe attaches, via magnet, or is there a hole in the nose of the model?
Interesting how both retailers are using the same stock images of the model.
no idea!! best to email and ask! and let us know too.
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I BUY WHAT I LIKE. AND LIKE WHAT I BUY!!!
2 retailers in Japan received 4 model each. Another Japanese retailer ordered 3 models. Total: 11 models.
PROBLEM: Nose probe attached to the fuselage with adhesive/glue only. 9 out 11 had the nose probe already broken off, when the model arrived to the store from the distributer.
Out of the 9 broken models: 7 had paint splintering around the nose/fusleage, bare metal exposed on the fuselage and the models returned to the distributer. 2 models were still salvageable, as the nose separated with a clean break, the old adhesive residue removed and surface area prep'd/cleaned and reattached with a water soluble high strength flex-adhesive (in the event that if it breaks off again, paint splintering damage will not reoccur and there will be no permanent adhesive residue), but sold to the customer at a sizable discount (full disclosure to the customers regarding reattachment of the probe).
Nose probe also has a very noticeable mold casting seam line running down the middle.
Two of the Japanese retailers are now restricting purchase of the model to in-store purchase and pickup only, as the high probability that nose probe will break off during shipping and causing paint splintering around the nose of the fuselage.
When receiving this model, I would carefully check to see if any repairs were done prior to shipping to the customer. Check around the nose area for paint splintering and/or the nose probe "floating" where the distributer/retailer did not remove the old adhesive and cleaned the area, and simply re-attached the nose probe by simply adding more adhesive and gluing it back on.
Additionally, If you're interested in purchasing this model, I would contact your retailer to see what the condition is prior to purchase, if they repaired it and see what their return policy is, should your model come with the nose probe broken off and considered non-salvagable.
Mach25, very interesting information, thanks for posting. I never considered that IF would attempt to attach such a long probe to the nose via glue. Using that method, it is inevitable that the probe would break off in shipping, and likely damage the model as well as a result. Ideally, IF should have used a magnet, so the probe could be shipped safely detached, and then attached to the model (or not) depending on the purchaser's preference. If virtually all of these models are showing up damaged, I think IF will inevitably cancel this release (or spend more time working on it, as they did with the current livery SAA 747-400 from years ago). Anyway, I was tempted to order this one, but you've made my decision decidedly easy.
no idea!! best to email and ask! and let us know too.
I did hear back from Bundy's, and they confirm the probe is glued on, and shipped attached to the model in specially cut out packaging. Given that many IF200's arrive with their front landing gear broken off, I would say the likelihood of such a long mast surviving shipping unscathed is just about zero. I'll take a pass on this model.
I found one of these at a reasonable price, so ordered it today. The striped nose probe pushed me over the edge. It's definitely an eye catching model, and I like the story associated to the plane itself (wind trials, followed by the crash landing at Renton, followed by its long and faithful service with Pan Am and several airlines afterward). RIP Clipper Storm King/Ocean Telegraph.
I recently pick this model up and manage to remove the nose prob with very little glue marks left over so I cover the area with a black spot just like most of their 747-100's.
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She arrived, safe and sound from her transatlantic journey. I was a little worried, given that some collectors had reported the wind trials mast was broken off their models upon arrival, but mine is unscathed. Interesting model indeed, and will be a conversation piece, when displayed with her Pan Am fleet mates.
IF Pan Am 741 wind trials nose N732PA
and let us know too.
