Corgi Fit The Box

[Striker1]

Don't know wether I have the correct forum but got a small query regarding Corgi Fit The Box (ex-Collection or Showcase).

I have a small collection of the above range - it's the only thing in that line I can afford these days - but I've got one small problem, they don't have any undercarriage and I would love to make up an Airbase style Flightline with them all parked up. Does anyone have any ideas how or what I can use or do to make undercarriage for these models.

P.S. Are Corgi still manufacturing these small Aircraft as I've never seen them mentioned for ages. I would still love to know wether Matchbox Skybusters or Corgi Fit The Box etc have any plans what so ever to produce a Nimrod MR.2?

[MichaelB]

I too like the Showcase Corgi pieces, and if you are having a hard time finding them in the UK, they are close to impossible to find over here!
Gonna be tough with the under carriage thing...I often bought trash small scale plastic kits and would steal their undercarriage, but this Corgi series is too small for even that!
However...because they are SO small...you might be inventive with wire and very small grommets or washers. A suitable diameter of plastic, metal or wood rod can be quickly sliced into wheel sizes, and then attached.
I don't know of a Nimrod, but am surprised that one didn't come out in the series, as it mostly mimicked their 1/144 line.
Good luck!

[grwebster]

Never knew of that series. rather nice and not expensive

[grwebster]

I found a site in the US that has them
http://www.aikensairplanes.com/corgi_showcase.htm

[MichaelB]

At one time The Airplane Shop carried them...perhaps they still do.
Better yet, during the Christmas season of 2003 WalMart was selling Corgi Showcase as 2 and 3 packs! At about that time, or a year or two later, even Tuesday Morning had lots and lots of Corgi remnants. I betcha there was a change is ownership, distribution or US franchise efforts at that time. Whatever - stock was being dumped!
I just don't have much desire for the larger scales, or heavily promoted lines like the Corgi 1/144 and 1/72, or the Armour/Franklin Mint planes or even the bigger Postage Stamp Models. I do have samples from most, but am content to let them slide by....
Naturally, the Corgi Showcase DC-3 is a little jewel and I like it more than their 1/144 issues!
The Showcase NASA AV-8A was first issued in December of 2005. In an earlier post on Boeing 314 issues, I had neglected to mention the Showcase issue - aren't all B314s beautiful? ...this one certainly was.
I'm surprised you weren't hip to these issues, GR. Did you not see their "Fighting Machines" box set on Vietnam...with the UH-1C? They date from 2003-04. Galloway and I traded a lot of electrons over their availability. ...oh...that's right...you were getting married at about this time...distractions...glad to see you back in the fold!
Michael

[MichaelB]

Update...looks like the Airplane Shop only has a few remnant pieces from this line: the Concorde and Bleriot. I'll continue to look around, but the line may be closed. I see the peak at about 2003-4 with their One Hundred Years Of Flight series as a promotion.

[grwebster]

I did see the Corgi Showcase Hueys at the time and got one but they are just awful. I flew them a lot in the Army and I guess I know them too well so I am very picky about those I buy. The ERTL Huey {large Force One one not the little NASA} was awful too, tail boom angle way off and to me it looked ridiculous.
Plus I hate those enormous rivets in any model.
As you know I {fortunately} decided a long time time ago to focus on the pre 1970 toys ending with the Aero Mini line and the 'Big Plane series by Dinky Toy which ended in 1979.
I do stretch this a bit, like those very nice Corgi Showcase 314s, - good seaplanes in any scale are always an exception, but not often. I liked those Red Bull planes, though {I flew the early version of the CAP-20l and they look similar}
My most recent exception was some of the 1/200 Hogan aircraft {beautiful- well made no rivets or panel lines and the ones with polished metal are spectacular IMHO} but they were expensive and I was selective. These were mainly to go with the many UK 1/200 cottage industry models {Helmet, etc..} I will get the 380 and the Dreamliner when they are ready, but that will be it.

[MichaelB]

I understand completely...the Corgi and ERTL issues were toys, of course, never intended to be exacting models. Nowadays, and especially for the ERTL (long since off the market) there are fewer and fewer "toys" that are also nice "models". The efforts have separated and are usually quite distinct. If you told me that the 1/48 Franklin diecast UH-1C, or the 1/18 version, were poor representations I would be surprised.
But to consider the DynaFlite UH-1 for scale and detail quality? ...not likely.
...sure, who can resist a B314 of any stripe? I hear you on that...
Have many from one line, and then one from many lines...unless you like seaplanes, Blue Angels, DC-3s, NASA et al...you see where it goes!
As long as it's fun!

[soslipstream]

This is an interesting need. Well, I'll let the "Mother of Invention" run its course here. First, a couple of observations and assumptions....
I assume that the airplanes cannot be modified for display... This may mean they are all tail heavy...
1) A .032 music wire "chassis can be formed, soldered, epoxied to mimic the scale landing gear. Not a tough issue but it will be time consuming with liberal use of patience. Plastruct plastics can be cut and sized to scale size and dimensions for gear doors, etc.

2) Wheels can be fabricated using small aluminum tubes with rubber o-rings for tires. For very small wheels, there's a load of useful bits that can be gleened from a "spent" Bic lighter!! Disect one sometime and you will be shocked with all the small brass valves and tiny o-rings.

3) Here's the dilema- the CG will most likely be aft so how can a "chassis" stay attached to the belly of the airplane?
a) Yes, glue could be used but stick with a high tackifier style like "GOOP" which adheres well but can, in theory be removed without damaging the model.
b) Chances are that the undercart will need to be affixed to the display again, because of the tail heavy scenario. So the placement of the airplanes in the line-up has to be well planned. Leave spaces for the missing models to allow an organized display.
c) As a follow-on to the previous comment, I would suggest setting these models in place as if at the annual EAA "Air Venture" where various types of airplanes are grouped according to size, vintage, usage, etc.

Finally, if the model can be modified, that brings some simplicity but overcoming the natural tail heavy issue will need to be addressed in a like manner.

If I missed anything, let me know. I will be happy to offer solutions.

Regards, Tom Sanders

[richardstarr]

I like CORGI SHOWCASE airplanes very much.
I have approximately 110 of them. EBAY is the reason.
I am very fortunate to have the CORGI airplanes.
Without EBAY, I wouldn't have very many diecast airplanes.

I like the BOEING CLIPPER 314. I think my best flying boat is the
CONVAIR TRADEWIND TURBOPROP. The next best one is the
CORGI 144TH BRITISH SUNDERLAND.
I can't believe GR WEBSTER magnificent factory aluminum flying boats.
They are indeed awesome.
Richard Starr