1/144 "Big Bird" Vol. 4 Algernon
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Hopefully these should appear on the web soon, and on our desk not long after?
It shouldnt be too long before we fing out the bonus/special items!?
new link:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/zimba_heavy/
Avialable: 27/10/2009
http://www.algernonproduct.co.jp/store.htm
Further He-177 pack details (**please read**, there is an error with the in box instructions!)
http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?
According to ebay item# 260497171943, it's a Ki-48 Type 99 (Lily) and a truck. What a let down.
ReplyDeleteAt least its not just another Emily with a differnt Squadron marking!
ReplyDeleteIf your into IJN/IJA aircraft I could see how it might appeal, but it appears the days of a "radical" big bird special are now gone!
The paint on one of the he-177 looks a bit yuk!
I HAVE SEEN THE CORRECTED INSTRUCTIONS. I DISAGREE WITH THE CORRECTED ONE. ACCORDING TO MY LUFTWAFFE SQUADRON CODES 6N+EK WHICH THE CORRECTED FORM SAYS IS GOTENHAVEN IS ACTUALLY 2./KG100. I CANNOT FIND SQUADRON CODES FOR TM+IF OR KM+TB. BUT I DO BELEIVE THAT THESE MAYBE HEINKEL FACTORY CODES. BUT I CANNOT CONFIRM THIS.
ReplyDeletePGWHEEL
ReplyDeleteit would be intereting to be updated on your ongoing investigations into this matter!
obviosuly, people will wnat to know this so the decals can be applied to the correct aircraft.
your help is most appreciated
regards
bd99
PGWHEEL
ReplyDeleteI think you may have something?
there is a 6N+?? and a KM+?? here:
http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/b/446/2
whilst not a 100% gold, it is indicative of
a) an issue
b) the problem of confirming colour schemes
TM+IF and KM+TB are not factory codes. The places listed on instructions are military airfields
ReplyDeleteTM+IF is Gotenhaven which is in Poland (now called Gdynia) and KM+TB Prague/Kbely which is in Czechoslovakia
KM+TB Prague/Kbely
ReplyDeletewasnt there a big testing/research centre there?
The Luftwaffe had a test facility at Rechlin in Northwest Germany.
ReplyDeleteI have found new info on He-177
ReplyDeletemarked TM+IF. The markings are for a one of 35 pre-production aircraft used for testing.
It was used to test torpedoes at the Torpedowaffenplatz at Gotenhaven Hexgrund which was located in Poland. Aircraft production He-177V31
(wrk No. 550202)
StarJet had most of this series up for grabs on evilBay a couple of days ago. What amazed me is why on earth some eBayers forced the bidding past $US20 for the same items selling around $US10 as "Buy It Now" through another trader. And postage was comparable, so no gains for bidders there. Chikara must be laughing all the way to the bank.
ReplyDeleteInteresting is the "secret" scheme for the C-47 - an IJN bird. This is NOT a captured Dakota but rather a DC-3 licence-built by Showa prior to the commencement of hostilities between Japan and the US. Some 400 of these aircraft - the Showa L2D2 Type Zero Transport Model 11, Allied codename Tabby - operated with the IJN.
The Lily/truck combo almost sounds like the old Hasegawa kit. Not quite sure how the Lily qualifies as a "Big Bird" though. But Badger, it could have been worse. The "secret" could have been yet another Nell or Betty. Or a set of Zeros!
PGwheel
ReplyDeletethanks for the info on the He-177
Smeg
I never understand the star0jet bidding frenzy, and yes - he must laugh all teh way to the bank!
I suppose its the old het of the moment thing???
Ok, I have to admit I'm one of the folks who bought some rare stuff from Chikara, but each of them are under $20. I have to say though that the amount the Apollo 11 Seaking went for is friggin' crazy!
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's one guy that bids on every F-Toys helicopter. He paid $700USD for the Marine One Seaking last year, and $350 for the Apollo 11 recovery. He bid on this again this last time for $270! And he's already up to $100 for the regular non-special releases of the Japanese Seaking. What a nut!
ReplyDeleteSomeone should tell him that he can these kits, unpainted of course, for 1000yen from sweet.
One of my Aussie colleagues was the seller of the $US700 Seaking and he told me that the guy paid up barely a day after the auction. Of course, we wouldn't have known he had bid so high if someone hadn't bidding against him!
ReplyDeleteWhy not contract Roberto to make up and detail a Sweet Seaking? He would do a much better job than anything F-Toys could do and the guy would end up with a really rare collectable - a true one-off. And I'm sure Roberto wouldn't say no to 700 bucks! ;-)
Marvin, I think you're like many of us when it comes to Starjet's auctions, looking for those resin items you can only get at Japanese model conventions. $US20 is my bidding limit, too, so a fair proportion of his last lot of Fairy castings went way beyond my budget. Still I live in hope!
Has anyone had trouble with missing parts? I bought a sealed He 177 and only have three legs of the undercarriage. Is there a way to contact the factory for the missing leg?
ReplyDeleteOrphy
ReplyDeleteyou could try the email below:
algernon issued BigBird Vol.4
storemaster@algernonproduct.co.jp