Almost had this model twice, the third time was indeed the charmer. What a wonderful model, with crazy sexy lines! If you want something bad enough, just keep looking for it. Many thanks to a great friend who was instrumental in making the deal.
That’s beautiful. Whatever the livery, the real Queen of the Skies always looks the part. During my 45 years of collecting these things, I’ve become a believer in that if you keep looking for that elusive and most wanted model long enough, you will find it, sometimes with the help of fellow collectors. It was only in the last couple of years or so that I acquired my ‘holy grail’ an original 1/72 Handley Page Herald in house colours. Enjoy that Connie!
Yes I know that model. Pretty much the most insanely mega over-priced listing I have ever laid eyes on, and I've seen a lot of wild prices! There are four of these known to exist. I don't know if the other two collectors want to disclose theirs, so I will respect their privacy. One has 114 engraved in her belly, which would lead me to believe there were many made. How many are still out there (if any) God only knows. I'm just glad I finally located one. They were made in 1954 so they've been around the block and back again, so to speak.
Yes I know that model. Pretty much the most insanely mega over-priced listing I have ever laid eyes on, and I've seen a lot of wild prices! There are four of these known to exist. I don't know if the other two collectors want to disclose theirs, so I will respect their privacy. One has 114 engraved in her belly, which would lead me to believe there were many made. How many are still out there (if any) God only knows. I'm just glad I finally located one. They were made in 1954 so they've been around the block and back again, so to speak.
These are pretty cool models for sure. The one on eBay was offered to me via my Kijiji wanted ad. I had zero idea what that model was worth but I knew it was too much of a risk for me. With with your experience buying this model, what are these worth?
These are pretty cool models for sure. The one on eBay was offered to me via my Kijiji wanted ad. I had zero idea what that model was worth but I knew it was too much of a risk for me. With with your experience buying this model, what are these worth?
I relied on the expertise of three other master collectors, all in Canada. You would know their names. I'm drawing on about 100 years of collection experience between these gentlemen, so I'm standing on the shoulders of giants in other words, lol. "Rough" these are worth about $800-$1200 in liveries that are not terribly exciting (perhaps missing the stand etc.). "Good" condition elevates them to $1200-$1600. "Restored" gets a little better: A nice TWA restoration was sitting on Ebay for months at about $1700 Canadian, it might even still be there. This is where things get a little dicey: At the highest price bracket, we are talking about very subjective things, like what livery really turns your crank (TCA); do they ever come up for sale (no); and the condition (67 year old models tend not to be so great). This one rings all the bells, so $2000-$3000 Canadian at the very highest tide mark, but obviously only the hardcore collector will go that high.
This is interesting. It appears this model sold on eBay for $3375USD or $4220CDN.
I had mentioned this model to another fellow who had already put in an unsuccessful offer before I knew it was even on eBay. He just sent me this screenshot of the notice eBay sent him this evening.
I feel kinda silly as I was offered this model privately for considerably less than the seller achieved on eBay and not being comfortable with the amount I passed on it. Now I know what a dumb *** I am. Just goes to show in this model collecting hobby even the masters or experts are often just mortals with opinions. Just like the rest of us.
At these prices Air Canada Collector you should be able to triple your investment if you ever decided to sell yours
I made an offer of $2700 2 days ago, the seller responded with $3500 but said he was willing to continue negotiating a final price and then, bam, sold it to someone else. I was glad he did as I was feeling really queezy about offering the $2700...I really wanted that bird but as mentioned, with all of the imperfections I was not going to invest any additional...congratulations tho to whomever added this beauty to their collection!
Hey Noel, that is interesting! Never underestimate what a unique model can fetch. Having said that, someone paid FAR too much, and they will lose a very significant portion of their investment whenever that model is sold. It has significant damage on one side and chunks of paint missing in other spots. I think that as a collector, you have to be smart with your money. To wit: You should never pay 3 to 4x what a model is worth, because it just doesn't make any sense! There is also a school of thought that overcharging for a model is really just plain greediness, and not good for our hobby in general, because all the best pieces are out of reach for most. Hopefully the model stayed in Canada, but it likely went to Europe. Perhaps our "popcorn watcher" above can enlighten us on that point, as Riley is the seller. Hindsight is always 20/20, so don't feel bad for not taking the offer you were given. It was a remarkably extreme price, and very instructive to me... Since mine is in slightly better shape, it does bode very well for the price I paid!
Lorne I don't agree with you at all. We live in a free marketplace where we are all free to charge whatever we want for our stuff. Your negative comments and somewhat condescending advice on how one should buy and sell are nothing more than your opinions. Do I really need you telling me I should never pay 3 to 4 times somethings value. What is this Capt Obvious day? You seemed to attack every aspect of the others model, it’s seller and now the successful buyer when I mentioned it was on eBay and it’s pretty damned obvious it’s personal for you. Especially when you compared the two models claiming yours is better. I have news for you- both models have obvious imperfections. Both are pretty amazing in the fact they are still around and they don’t have droopy wings. To me the marketplace spoke loudly and clearly with the eBay sale proving me, you and all the friendly giants opinions wrong. Personally I get proven wrong every day, but the one thing I never do is profess to be a know it all master wizard at anything. I appreciated your opinions on the values of this model, but I at no time ever considered your thoughts as anything more than one mans opinions which I added to my life’s repertoire in-order to form my own opinions. I’m only kicking myself that I didn’t buy that model for the $2000CDN when I had the chance so that I could have been the one to have listed it on eBay and enjoyed the profits. Or maybe I shouldn’t be so greedy and offer it for $200 so some newbie under privileged model collector could afford it. Problem is that a newbie would have been crushed by the stampeding rush of master collectors burdened by you clamouring off their shoulders trying to scoop it up for $200. Give me a break.
Congratulations to both of you for achieving your successes.
That’s very true skythings, I 100% agree but so many collectors get so triggered over something as silly as a model airplane, it’s entertaining but can really show people’s inability to be happy with what they got and focus on the bigger things in life. Anyways, happy new year to you. Here’s to less droopy winged models and happy finds.
Jesus Christ, only this morning I sent you an email offering to help you buy THIS VERY MODEL from a collector in Ontario, which is a 9.5 out of 10!
Lorne can you resend that email to me as I never received it. I am dumbfounded as I was pretty sure I had never sent you my new email address after I closed my website. It was likely returned as un-deliverable to you. Maybe you can just post the information on that cherry 9.5 out of 10 TCA model right here for everyone else to see as a wonderful gesture from you. I wouldn't be interested in it, but I'm sure there are others who can benefit from your generosity.
Interesting debate driven by two people that I know and respect. I have to applaud the folks who commented about this being a hobby. A lot of folks seem to have lost the fun part of this great pastime. Henry Tenby in his book limits the value of all Peter Nelson 1/72 Propliners to $1,000.00. At the end of the day I don’t like either of the Connie examples that recently sold. For the life of me I don’t understand why Peter Nelson did not go with the TCA Connie with tip tanks. Ultimately the 1049 Constellation and the 1649 Starliner with tip tanks were the most handsome versions of this great aircraft.
What I find particularly galling is the how the person Boeing767300 refers to had the nerve to write such an incendiary and insulting PUBLIC post to me, for no particular reason. This is the same individual I have helped in the past with incredibly lucrative referrals, advice, information, and even my own business. Just goes to show you, no good deeds go unpunished. Ungrateful, unbalanced, and unwelcome. There seems to be a lot of that here. I joined in spite of being warned about it by master collectors whom I respect very much. This is the second collector here to act like a child in response to an ordinary post about a simple model post of mine. It may be time to go... I've been thinking about it quite a bit.
5Likes
Peter V. Nelson TCA Connie!
