[Biggie]

So today I get on my step a box of models I have been kinda looking forward to and kinda not sure on. Won some money at lunch ( Vegas) about a week ago and decided not to pay a bill with it but to treat myself to some oddballs I was not sure on getting.

Corgi SE5a RAF AA37702 This plane looks so much better in hand than any pics , not sure why that is, but it is not as glossy and any gaps looks minimal as well as the pilot looks good and correct size. Paid $35.00 Neat Plane.

Corgi Mig-29 AA37501, wow, so much heavier than the Witty Version and the East German Markings and Colors are great, not super sure on accuracy but the panel lines and cockpit and detail all look great. Plus this one was only $40.00 thougt these were going to be in the $50.00 range ?

Last but not least the 2nd Westland Wessex HAS.3 - XP142 ‘Humphrey’, Royal Navy, HMS Antrim, South Atlantic May 1982. AA37602, what a neat little heli, Got the yellow one liked it, got this one from the Falklands War and it is even nicer. The price on Corgi seems to have come down to me, I paid $44.00 for the 1st Wessex but I got the 2nd one for $39.00, same seller on Ebay?

I was going to not collect Helis but these are so nice I am getting the bug to order some Sea Kings???

A really happy Biggie

[ZS-VAN]

Good for you Biggie. Some cool models you got there. I know the Mig should have the extensions ahead of the fins for the chaff dispensers. I like it though, nice scheme. You say Humphrey is better than the yellow one?!

[Captain Eddie]

Way to go, Biggie....I'm looking forward to my Se5a

[flyXwire]

Too Cool for School, Biggie! Looking forward to your review of Corgi Mig-29 AA37501 w/pictures.

[Biggie]

Someone on here posted some not so nice things based on the pre pro pics, then the member that has the waterline ships and diecast site with pics and reviews did a review of it already and thats what made me want one,. Here is some of it.

MiG-29 Fulcrum-A, East German Air Force,JG3, Vladimir Komarow, Preschen Air Base, 1990

Aviation Archive. The Cold War. I really like this model because it is so DIECAST. It is made mostly of metal, which gives it the heft I love. Of course, because it is mostly metal, it has the faults of most older diecast from Corgi, namely gaps and ill-fitting joints. In these last few months, with the introduction of more and more plastic, model makers started turning out smoother-fitting models, and that is the look now expected by most collectors. However, after handling this model and comparing it to the Witty version, I think a return to more metal-content might be a good thing, gaps or no gaps. The highlight of this model is the finish. The paint scheme is not only colorful, but superbly applied, especially that flat-gray nose cone. Yum-yum. The finish on mine was a bit scuffed from rough handling; Corgi seems to have more problems in this area than other makers. biggie

Originally Posted by flyXwire

Too Cool for School, Biggie! Looking forward to your review of Corgi Mig-29 AA37501 w/pictures.

[b-huj]

Originally Posted by Biggie

Someone on here posted some not so nice things based on the pre pro pics, then the member that has the waterline ships and diecast site with pics and reviews did a review of it already and thats what made me want one,. Here is some of it.

That would probably be me, but that was NOT anything prepro...it was exactly what you have photographed there.

Only because I saw it before it reached North America or Europe it does not mean it wasn't a production model...and I still insist this is a fiasco, not that the Witty one is perfect or anything like that.
below are some pictures I took some time ago in Hong Kong (where things tend to show up earlier than in the US or Europe)...I circled the issues I find more dissappointing: joint lines that jump out, a cockpit curve that does not fit the rest of the dorsal, shallow molding on the engine intake (just a flat plastic insert and no depth much less fan detail), not very aerodynamicly shaped tailfins (the profile was like hastily cut to get rid of the flare dispensers), protruding overwing auxiliary air intake, that is not "perforated" like the Witty attempt, gear doors with tabs to facilitate opening, and waaaay too big, quite festive colors...wonder if there are pictures of the real plane out there looking so bright and happy. I agree it feels much heavier in my hands than that Witty MiG-29UB (which also comes in a funny looking livery IMO), but metal heft doesn't do much for realism or "true-to-scale" panel lines...really, it still reminds me of a Transformers Starscream toy.

But, hey! at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! It may be just me...but I pass.

[Biggie]

Too picky, plus my model which I just dug out of its box does not have the gaps or bottom issues the one you show does??? The colors are pretty accurate based on what I could find on the net, if a replica is slghtly off, I can live with it unless of course its a $60.00 CW , for that much money for a 1/72 scale, they should be almost perfect.

I love the way it looks and I love its heft/weight worth every penny too me. :-)

Biggie

Originally Posted by b-huj

That would probably be me, but that was NOT anything prepro...it was exactly what you have photographed there.

Only because I saw it before it reached North America or Europe it does not mean it wasn't a production model...and I still insist this is a fiasco, not that the Witty one is perfect or anything like that.
below are some pictures I took some time ago in Hong Kong (where things tend to show up earlier than in the US or Europe)...I circled the issues I find more dissappointing: joint lines that jump out, a cockpit curve that does not fit the rest of the dorsal, shallow molding on the engine intake (just a flat plastic insert and no depth much less fan detail), not very aerodynamicly shaped tailfins (the profile was like hastily cut to get rid of the flare dispensers), protruding overwing auxiliary air intake, that is not "perforated" like the Witty attempt, gear doors with tabs to facilitate opening, and waaaay too big, quite festive colors...wonder if there are pictures of the real plane out there looking so bright and happy. I agree it feels much heavier in my hands than that Witty MiG-29UB (which also comes in a funny looking livery IMO), but metal heft doesn't do much for realism or "true-to-scale" panel lines...really, it still reminds me of a Transformers Starscream toy.

But, hey! at the end of the day, beauty is in the eye of the beholder! It may be just me...but I pass.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Biggie

Last but not least the 2nd Westland Wessex HAS.3 - XP142 ‘Humphrey’, Royal Navy, HMS Antrim, South Atlantic May 1982. AA37602, what a neat little heli, Got the yellow one liked it, got this one from the Falklands War and it is even nicer.

I was going to not collect Helis but these are so nice I am getting the bug to order some Sea Kings???

A really happy Biggie

Glad to hear you're happy = I'm WAY jealous on those Wessex Helicopters !!!!!!!!!

I've seen 'em in my local-stockists display cabinet & they look great......

Maybe a little expensive (?) but I'll definately pick them up = EVENTUALLY...........

Trouble is, there's SO MUCH AROUND at the moment, that's either "on offer", or other stuff that I really want - I'm spoilt for choice.

I (stupidly) missed out on the Sea-Kings 1st time around - if ONLY there weren't other things I wanted, I'd also choose the same two Wessex that you did - they look smart - & SO different from anything else !!!!!!!

[11SQNLDR]

Good stuff Biggie - i've got both of those two Wessex's and rate the Humphrey slightly higher mainly because of the aircraft's great history.

Strongly advise you buy a Sea King and i'll make a bet with you when you get one you'll want more!! I rate these as some of Corgi's finest molds

[b-huj]

I didn't mean to spoil biggie's excitement for the catch, and I do agree those big helicopters are great...but since I've been crossing my fingers for Corgi to do a better job than Witty on the "Fulcrum", i guess I am just venting my anger. I don't think I am too picky though, with joint lines like these, anything could pose as a diecast model with "realistic panel lines"!
I remember those old FOV Tomcats that looked like...well, you get the idea. I expected things to get better as technical improvements are made, but being cheaper than CW is no excuse for a failed mold. There's the A-4 and the A-10 from Corgi taking forever to come out, and I was also looking forward to a better A-10 from the welsh puppy...hope I don't get the Fulcrum Surprise with that one.