A new range of 1/144 scale WW2 Aircraft?

[Guntruck]

I've come across a range of pre-painted 1/144 scale WW2 aircraft that I was not aware of before. The company is Ixo Models, (www.ixomodels.com) who seem to specialise in sports and racing car models, and I cannot find any mention on their website of the aircraft.

Anyways in the Holborn (London) branch of Modelzone today, I had a look at these and was very impressed at the finish, especially the Italian camo on the Cant (see below). They are a bit expensive (£25 normal price) but Modelzone have them on sale for either £14.99 or £19.99 for the larger aircraft. Have to say if I was really in to DoW I would be a lot poorer by now.

The range available today includes a number of interesting aircraft, and comprised:

Petlyakov Pe8
Kawanishi 'Emily' Flying Boat (Fantastic model)
Ju 52
Halifax GR Mk III (Coastal Command by the look of the white fuselage)
Mitsubishi G4M1
Ju88A4 (Desert Camo)
Avro Lancaster
Blohm & Voss Bv222 (a must have, even fabulouser model (sorry about the grammar))
Cant Z1007

One of my buddies at my club says that there is another Italian torpedo bomber out, but I think he might be thinking of the Cant above. If anyone can find any more info on this range, I'd be obliged if they can tell us. Meanwhile, I'll just sit here fondling my Bv222.....:D

[Dom S]

They've been knocking around for a while now, but are typically rather dear in the UK. They're also sold under various brands - Atlas / IXO / Altaya all seem to come out of the same factory (I think....) sometimes on the front of magazines apparently. (Altaya appears to be France's equivalent of De Agostini over here.)

The range is pretty big - can't find a listing offhand, but they were at 40-odd models last time I looked - don't know about another Italian torpedo bomber, but there's certainly a BR20 in there amongst many others. (They do a decent range of RAF bombers too - Stirling, Hampden, Whitley, Hudson, as well as Lanc and Halifax.) Availability seems very erratic though - I'm guessing they may only run a few moulds at once as it were.

<Edit> Looks like De Agostini had them too a couple of years ago, but only released in Italy. List here; 1 to 5 show at the bottom of the page, it scrolls down to, umm, 70 models....

http://www.deagostiniedicola.it/frontend/faq_prodotto.asp?ProdID=236

Your mate's right too - two different SM.79s in that lot as well as the Cant and Cicogna....

<Further Edit> Just spotted the Piaggio P.108 in there too - I don't even do WW2 in 1/144, but I'm still tempted....

Dom.

[richard m schwab]

Steve!

I have seen that line and they are pricey!:mad:

Rich

[Oberst Hajj]

The De Agostini line came up a few months back here on the site and was discussed for a bit. From one of them members they appear that they are part die cast and might be a bit heavy for gaming... but a little pricey to find out for sure!

[Guntruck]

Thanks for that Dom, that's a fair old list they have there. Given the price you wouldn't want a squadron of them to be sure, but there are one or two temptations in the list.

De Agostini makes sense as they seem to provive a range of stuff from the front covers of magazines.

[Dom S]

Just been browsing modelzone's website, and they have the BR20 at a not-too-painful-really £9.99....

[Naharaht]

I have just bought a Blohm und Voss Bv222 Wiking in 1:200 scale through eBay from a place in Poland. I do not know whether it is the same model as mentioned above. It is a good looking model. It is labelled Amer collection. I have measured it and it seems to be about the right size for 1:200 scale. It cost £12-£13 including postage. What I need now are the plane and crew cards and a movement deck.
62385

[BobP]

Haven't heard of them before. Have to look and see and also what price they are if I can find them. Thanks for getting this out.

[clipper1801]

OOOOO! My elves are interested in anything 1/200 you turn up! or is that turnip? Clipper digging into WWII!?!