Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Apr 12, 2016 15:48:06 GMT 12
I purchased one of the 1:72 models of Short Sunderland Mk.III, EJ134, 461 Squadron, RAAF (1943) directly from Corgi back in mid-January and it was delivered to me in NZ by courier seven days after I ordered it.
It is a very impressively detailed (and rather heavy) die-cast model from Corgi's Aviation Heritage range, one of a limited edition of 3,000. I've got no.1666, so they had already sold more than half of them when I ordered one (they were released in October 2015), but they have sinced sold out, so I guess now they become collectors' items. Further information HERE.
As a matter of interest, EJ134 was the Sunderland which tangled with eight Ju.88s out in the Bay of Biscay, shooting three of them down and claiming two probables and a possible, before being ditched in the surf off a Cornwall beach and destroyed by the incoming tide.
The shipping charge for the package was £25.00, which added to the £116.66 cost of the model brought it up to £141.66 all-up, or NZ$327.44 (that's the sum which showed on my bank statement).
Not exactly cheap, but reasonable for the size and quality of the model.
I was rather blown away by the size of the carton which was handed to me by the courier though. A 1:72 scale Sunderland is a rather large beast and the box it came in was also a big beast, but the outer carton they packed it in (surrounded by air-bag packaging to cushion it) was huge. However, it arrived in perfect condition.
Now if only Corgi could bring out a same-scale diecast model of an Empire 'Boat. I'd be in like a shot, no matter which aircraft it was, although I'd prefer it to be either S.795 G-ADHL “Canopus” or S.886 ZK-AMA “Aotearoa”. Even better would be a set of both of those 'boats....the first Empire 'Boat to exist and the last to be cut-up.
