How does the Aeroclassics 747 Big Bird mold hold up today?

[MIAv8Diecast]

How do you all feel about the 747 Big Bird Mold by today's standards? Is it worth purchasing? Is the mold still accurate across all 747 variants?

 

[Mark22]

The original Bigbird/AC 747 are still pretty good, but in my opinion not worth the high prices anymore that you often see on eBay. I would wait for HX/Patriot as they seem to be making quite a few popular liveries with the best detailling. JCs 747s on the (cloned?) Bigbird mould are still pretty good aswell and I would avoid any of the recent AC models.

 

[Phantom]

How do you all feel about the 747 Big Bird Mold by today's standards? Is it worth purchasing? Is the mold still accurate across all 747 variants?

I never was a fan of them as their design/engineering was already crude by the then standards - two decades ago - and their general shapes were off. Yes, they had great gears and printing which set them ahead of Dragon's, still DW's were much better replics of the real thing.

That said, I'm still waiting for the definite 747 mould. HX certainly isn't it and my hopes for NG are little these days.

 

[LeoMuse747]

I think it's quite overrated, specially by those diehard fans of old Aeroclassics and BB models, which always buy/sell for more than 100 USD.
The overall shape is good but sometimes the nose section is too round, the engines lack details and the gears are OK but nothing to write home about.

I mean, they're decent models, I don't mind, but they shouldn't be that expensive at all.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

The original Bigbird/AC 747 are still pretty good, but in my opinion not worth the high prices anymore that you often see on eBay. I would wait for HX/Patriot as they seem to be making quite a few popular liveries with the best detailling. JCs 747s on the (cloned?) Bigbird mould are still pretty good aswell and I would avoid any of the recent AC models.

Yeah, I have noticed a few AC Big birds as of late botched with the livery printing and coloration... I'm looking for 747's from the 1990's-2010 that no other manufacturer has made and AC seems to be the only place to look. I do not want to pay $150 for a model that was released when I was 4 years old however LOL. I have doubts that HX Will be touching UAL, NWA subjects for a long time.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

I think it's quite overrated, specially by those diehard fans of old Aeroclassics and BB models, which always buy/sell for more than 100 USD.
The overall shape is good but sometimes the nose section is too round, the engines lack details and the gears are OK but nothing to write home about.

I mean, they're decent models, I don't mind, but they shouldn't be that expensive at all.

Does the production run numbers make them so expensive?

 

[Jazajia]

Like many have said here, the mold itself, while very good, is overrated.

Some things worth pointing out about the "prices" of those AC/BB 747s:

- The demand for 747s wearing popular liveries has always been high.
- Aeroclassics/BigBird has produced more 747s than anybody else in 1:400 scale.
- Their mold has always had some advantages over most competitors, but it is worth noting that the GeminiJets 747-100/200 mold is almost identical, with some advantages, you just don't see that many of them going around for $100+ because there aren't that many releases (I whish they used that mold more).

Because of everything I said above, the demand for AC/BB 747s has been high, which has led to many of them selling for several hundred Dollars/Euros/Pounds many times over the years, this is good-faith eBay auctions (low starting price, honest bidding, etc...). Unfortunately, a side effect of this is greed. Sellers see what some collectors have been willing to pay for those 747s, so you start to see speculative listing prices, and the entire second-hand prices inflate in response.

You have to hunt them down to find them at reasonable prices, but that's becoming harder to do, especially now with the collection sale market particularly hot.

FWIW, HX has a bunch of PanAm examples in the pipeline.

 

[Jazajia]

Yeah, I have noticed a few AC Big birds as of late botched with the livery printing and coloration... I'm looking for 747's from the 1990's-2010 that no other manufacturer has made and AC seems to be the only place to look. I do not want to pay $150 for a model that was released when I was 4 years old however LOL. I have doubts that HX Will be touching UAL, NWA subjects for a long time.

Unfortunately, you don't have many options for those.

You will have to get creative to increase your chances of finding them for more reasonable prices. As a starting point, I would stay away from most so-called collection sales, you already know those guys won't let them go for less than $100. The same goes for eBay listings that have a high "Buy it Now" price. Believe it or not, I have gotten lucky on eBay auctions with low starting prices a handful of times. People forget to bid, etc. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Start looking in random places, private communication, and network behind the scenes. It is harder nowadays since collection hunting is in style among retailers, but at least it will increase your chances.

Does the production run numbers make them so expensive?

IIRC production run of those early BB747s was actually normal-high 500-1000 pieces. They are just coveted.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Is it wrong to assume some manufacturers want their models going for these high prices on the secondhand market? If they do small production runs and then they in turn end up being sold for $150, doesn't that to them add perceived value to their respective brands? I get the impression they intentionally create a drought for sought after models to keep the collector hanging off the edge for more.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Unfortunately, you don't have many options for those.

You will have to get creative to increase your chances of finding them for more reasonable prices. As a starting point, I would stay away from most so-called collection sales, you already know those guys won't let them go for less than $100. The same goes for eBay listings that have a high "Buy it Now" price. Believe it or not, I have gotten lucky on eBay auctions with low starting prices a handful of times. People forget to bid, etc. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. Start looking in random places, private communication, and network behind the scenes. It is harder nowadays since collection hunting is in style among retailers, but at least it will increase your chances.



IIRC production run of those early BB747s was actually normal-high 500-1000 pieces. They are just coveted.

I noticed Waffle has some at reasonable prices, but I've never gone through them before and have had mixed reviews.

 

[abdulmohiuddin]

Is it wrong to assume some manufacturers want their models going for these high prices on the secondhand market? If they do small production runs and then they in turn end up being sold for $150, doesn't that to them add perceived value to their respective brands? I get the impression they intentionally create a drought for sought after models to keep the collector hanging off the edge for more.

Gemini Jets once had a phase where they would post about how their models kept value so yeah, some definitely do intentionally keep models rare to drive second hand demand.

 

[Jazajia]

Is it wrong to assume some manufacturers want their models going for these high prices on the secondhand market? If they do small production runs and then they in turn end up being sold for $150, doesn't that to them add perceived value to their respective brands? I get the impression they intentionally create a drought for sought after models to keep the collector hanging off the edge for more.

No and yes.

I noticed Waffle has some at reasonable prices, but I've never gone through them before and have had mixed reviews.

You will be fine with Waffle if you know what you are getting into. I have never had any issues with him, even when something goes wrong.

You have to know that the condition of his collection sale items is all over the place. If you are lucky, you can get a well-preserved gem, but you could also get a model that shows clear signs of age and mishandling by its previous owners.

Also, you need to be okay with having to re-glue a loose landing gear or wing.

If the model is in really bad shape (paint chips, broken, missing pieces), send him a message stating the issue, and attach some photos. He will accept the model for a full refund. I think his current standard practice is to pay for the return label.

The issue with Waffle is that if you want to return a model for something minor, like a loose landing gear, or if you want a replacement instead of a refund, or if you over-communicate, etc. He will quickly consider you a problematic customer and won't have any issues making sure that you never buy again from him.

But even then, I don't think he will leave you hanging with a broken model.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Gemini Jets once had a phase where they would post about how their models kept value so yeah, some definitely do intentionally keep models rare to drive second hand demand.

I have seen Gemini brag about this exact thing before..

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

No and yes.




You will be fine with Waffle if you know what you are getting into. I have never had any issues with him, even when something goes wrong.

You have to know that the condition of his collection sale items is all over the place. If you are lucky, you can get a well-preserved gem, but you could also get a model that shows clear signs of age and mishandling by its previous owners.

Also, you need to be okay with having to re-glue a loose landing gear or wing.

If the model is in really bad shape (paint chips, broken, missing pieces), send him a message stating the issue, and attach some photos. He will accept the model for a full refund. I think his current standard practice is to pay for the return label.

The issue with Waffle is that if you want to return a model for something minor, like a loose landing gear, or if you want a replacement instead of a refund, or if you over-communicate, etc. He will quickly consider you a problematic customer and won't have any issues making sure that you never buy again from him.

But even then, I don't think he will leave you hanging with a broken model.

I don't see that he published the condition of the models on his website. Do you just cross your fingers and hope for the best?

 

[Jazajia]

I don't see that he published the condition of the models on his website. Do you just cross your fingers and hope for the best?

Yes. He just listed a bunch, you are right, he’s pricing them well. I missed out on something I wanted, but is good to get a whiff of the good old days.

 

[MIAv8Diecast]

Yes. He just listed a bunch, you are right, he’s pricing them well. I missed out on something I wanted, but is good to get a whiff of the good old days.

Yes, they're priced well...