Wonder what caused the sudden influx of 747 classics….
I'm just a mortal collector, but from what I have been able to gather this is how it goes:
JC, who owns the BigBird mold that Aeroclassics has always used for their 747s, has recognized for some time now that long-sold-out classics can be cash cows. GJ, who has gotten JC grabbed by the balls, is not a huge fan of re-releasing rare models to keep them rare and valuable. Apparently, the GJ boys actually get a hard-on when they see their old models go for hundreds of dollars on eBay.
In the meantime, Phoenix showed no qualms and shamelessly started to pump out those very contemporary classics that GJ didn't let JC release. Including, but not limited to, many 747s. Phoenix knows that those hot liveries will sell even on their mold... Then, NG also responded by showing the intent to release 747 classic molds.
Refusing to sit with his hands crossed JC said: well screw you GJ, if you don't want to do it, and don't want to let me do it, I have no option but to call AC and provide them with some BigBird blank 742 molds to curb Phoenix's money grab and to steal the NG's thunder.
This is not the first time in recent times that JC has sold blank 747s to AC. Of Course way back when those molds were actually located in the same factory where Aerocclassics were produced and that's when all those 747s that you see on eBay going for 100$$$ were made, or something like that.