[Celtic]

I've really been impressed with Corgi's quality improvements in the last two or three months. The improvements are exemplified by the first two Typhoon releases. I received both yesterday, and went digging through the boxes last night. After close inspection, I couldn't find ANY flaws, including poor fit, scratched paint, or misalignments, which were bugaboos throughout 2006, and probably before. Hopefully, this year's company reorganization won't cause a quality relapse. I'm just getting used to not having to dread the arrival of another Corgi shipment containing poorly manufactured models. Thank you Corgi for the improvements!

(By the way, I've got two of the P-38's, and both are excellent. I had expected some teething problems with that new mould, as well as with the new Typhoon mould, above.)

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Celtic

I've really been impressed with Corgi's quality improvements in the last two or three months.

Hopefully, this year's company reorganization won't cause a quality relapse.


Thank you Corgi for the improvements!

Your new thread has co-incided neatly (time-wise) with an interesting Post/response (#60) by no-less than the Director (EVP?) of Corgi International, on the Brit' die-cast aviation forum, (Release dates/Official Statement - thread).

Looks like those NEW guys at the helm, from on high (at Corgi), will be listening from now-on.

My guess is, keep it flowing in the Swordfish/Catalina direction - coupled with sensible decisions (management & release-wise), then things will be better all-round !!!!

[timbo]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Your new thread has co-incided neatly (time-wise) with an interesting Post/response (#60) by no-less than the Director (EVP?) of Corgi International, on the Brit' die-cast aviation forum, (Release dates/Official Statement - thread).

Looks like those NEW guys at the helm, from on high (at Corgi), will be listening from now-on.

My guess is, keep it flowing in the Swordfish/Catalina direction - coupled with sensible decisions (management & release-wise), then things will be better all-round !!!!

Just popped over there to read it. He doesn't really say a lot, but it's the action of his appearance that says more. A very positive step, and long overdue.

[LzyBns]

Your right Timbo he doesn't say much but it's nice to know that there is a person at the helm that is listening. And with a very positive attitude, now I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas day to open presents.

[Horrido!]

He must be genuinely from Corgi, only they could employ a director of a company that can't spell even everyday words, probably be doing the text in the boxlids - just to keep up the standards achieved so far.............

Nearly forgot, anyone noticed the 10 new ones from Altaya in France?

Horrido!

[ZS-VAN]

Originally Posted by Celtic

I've really been impressed with Corgi's quality improvements in the last two or three months. The improvements are exemplified by the first two Typhoon releases. I received both yesterday, and went digging through the boxes last night. After close inspection, I couldn't find ANY flaws, including poor fit, scratched paint, or misalignments, which were bugaboos throughout 2006, and probably before. Hopefully, this year's company reorganization won't cause a quality relapse. I'm just getting used to not having to dread the arrival of another Corgi shipment containing poorly manufactured models. Thank you Corgi for the improvements!

(By the way, I've got two of the P-38's, and both are excellent. I had expected some teething problems with that new mould, as well as with the new Typhoon mould, above.)

So Celtic, you're very positive about your Tiffies then. I just recently posted a question to Tim regarding the seam on the chin. What are your thoughts? I'm still waiting for mine. It seems TFM don't have them yet.

[Celtic]

Originally Posted by ZS-VAN

So Celtic, you're very positive about your Tiffies then. I just recently posted a question to Tim regarding the seam on the chin. What are your thoughts? I'm still waiting for mine. It seems TFM don't have them yet.

Yes, I noticed too. On the box cover for the Egypt copy, the whirling prop and the still prop both cover the seam. On the box for the No. 609 copy (green/yellow), the seam on the cover has been Photoshopped out. However, on the actual model the seam fits fairly tightly (closer on the Egypt than on the No. 609).

You do notice the seam, but you also notice the seam on the wingroot, the seam on the tailplane, and the seam on the canopy. I overlook all these as parts of the diecast design/manufacturing process. In this case, I think Corgi wanted to make a large part of the nose out of metal, move the seam down on the cowling to as low as possible (so it wouldn't be in the obvious place just above the bulge in the radiator housing), and keep from putting a seam down the middle of the top of the model.

However, I also understand the desire to have a smooth side to that elegant nose, and if that is really important to anyone, Corgi's version of the Typhoon may not be the one to get. For me those thick bent wings trump the cowl seam. By the way, anyone getting this model should compare the prop on this model with the prop on one of their 1/72 Mk I Spits. The difference in engine power must have been amazing!!

[ZS-VAN]

Thanks for your insights mate. I'd have gotten them anyway. I've ordered both but still waiting for them to be dispatched.

[djjeffhall]

Hey folks,
I just picked up my copy of the Egyptian Typhoon and while I really happy to have a Typhoon in the fleet, the fit on mine is poor.

The paint is smudge free and the canopy is clear as a summer day. The Propeller turns decently and the gear fits great. (Though I did have to use a little more force on the main gear than I'm comfortable with to get that flush with the wing. If I slip up I might break something kind of force, if you now what I mean?)

Another nice point is that Corgi is using little plastic pieces for the taxing lights just outside of the cannon. The piece on the left wing of mine was badly miss alined but a firm shove with my thumb got it back into place. (Or at least close enough that I'm not going to complain.)

Now to the problems.

Unfortunately the canopy fit is off and the seem between top and bottom of the plane is GLARING.

The canopy fit is the lesser of the two. I'm not usually a rivet counter, nor particularly picky, the canopy on my bird really looks larger than it should for the fuselage. The entire left side, where the canopy meets the fuselage is off. Enough that I could easily slide a typical kitchen knife in there, should I chose to do so.

The really glaring issue for me is the lousy fit between the upper portion of the plane and the lower portion. The seem on the right side of the plane is extrememly pronounced from the chin to just before the rear landing gear. Also, there is a really pronouced gap where elevator meets the rudder. It's the kind of gap I used to leave on the plastic models I built as a kid. (If that reference helps any?)

Is it enough for me to raise a ruckus about and send the plane back? No. Nothing is missing or broken so it really would pass the, "Is it defective" test.

The reason it STANDS out so is that sitting on my desk next to the Typhoon are several Hobby Master, Gemini, Corgi and FOV birds. Not a one of them has a gap as pronounced. (In fact, with the exception of the two IXO birds I have here, I'm hard pressed to find gaps on any of them. Are they visible on some of them? Sure. As PRONOUNCED as the seam on the Typhoon? No way.)

If you are really picky about such things, be wary of this bird. Mine has the look of a tired and worn out mould. (This despite the fact that this is the first release.)

Did I get a "Friday at 5" job? Maybe? It doesn't really have that feel to it. It just feels like this is how the mould is and any future Typhoons are going to come the same way.

Is it enough that I will never purchase another Typhoon? No. However, if that perfect fit and feel is what you need from your planes than mail order might not be the bext way to get one of these birds.

[Celtic]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Now to the problems.

Sounds like my optimism may be premature. Your problems sound like the ones I experienced all last year (in fact, it sounds like my review of the Debden Spitfire). You don't feel justified sending it back, but at the same time you're sorely disappointed. Both of my copies have low issue numbers, though that doesn't mean they were the first down the line. However, if they were, could later models have had more problems (on the familiarity breeds contempt theory)?

I once sent my first copy of the Finucane Spitfire (there were three) to Corgi Chicago with a cover letter describing all of it's problems. They called me back (rather nasty, they were) and wanted to know what they were supposed to do with it. (Sometimes you just have to bite your tongue.) I asked them to show it to someone who cared...it probably ended up in the dumpster.

Toward the end of last year I started the new tactic of sending the badies back, taking the restocking loss, and ordering from a different vendor (just so I wouldn't get the same model back!). Your copy might be a good candidate for the same treatment.