King & Country vintage warbirds question (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi guys,

Here at the show an old friend of K&C, Mr. Bob Fisher, formerly the owner of the Old Toysoldier Home, has just uncovered three very rare wooden K&C warbirds. They are as follows...

1. Spitfire Mk. V (code: JHJ) -- missing stand
2. Winter white Stuka Ju87 (Russian front) -- missing radio antenna.
3. Grumman Hellcat USMC

Bob is seeking information on past sales of similar aircrafts.
Any info would be gratefully received.

Please post on the forum if you can help within the next 24 hours.

Many thanks and best wishes...
Patrick of K&C

 

[Steven Chong]

In addition, one of the bombs of the Hellcat is missing part of the fuse propeller.

 

[jazzeum]

Patrick,

Sales figures are generally hard to come by but as Bob may want to sell to people who look at this forum, please send me an email.

One thing to keep in mind is that the old warbirds market sharply decreased because of the new ones and that was when things were good in the economy. Then you have the economy so you're not going to get what you did in the past.

Pictures would be helpful too (just for condition).

I know someone who might be interested in the Stuka. Perhaps Andy could bring it with him.

Regards,

 

[Steven Chong]

I'll ask Carlos to take some pictures, but except for the missing pieces already mentioned, the planes are in very good condition with no dings. Bob wants $625 for Spitfire, $750 for Hellcat and $895 for Stuka.

 

[jazzeum]

I think those price are incredibly unrealistic. As mentioned, the old ones aren't as popular anymore and they're somewhat damaged as noted.

I bought a Spitfire a couple of years ago for $500 and that was then. They are what could be described as common and with today's economy, I wouldn't pay more than $300.

Regarding the Hellcat, a common friend of ours bought one for about $500 (in perfect condition) so I wouldn't pay more than that, if that.

Now the Stuka is obviously rarer but K & C just issued some Stukas that are beautiful so right of the bat your market has shrunk for Stukas. Again, with the economy, $895 is pie in the sky in my view. You'd be lucky to get $500.

You don't need to send me photos.

Good luck to him. The best bet might be ebay.

 

[nmrocks]

I'd still like to see you post some pictures Steve, it's part of the whole wonderful mystique of what you find at these big shows!
Ray

 

[nmrocks]

I think those price are incredibly unrealistic. As mentioned, the old ones aren't as popular anymore and they're somewhat damaged as noted.

I bought a Spitfire a couple of years ago for $500 and that was then. They are what could be described as common and with today's economy, I wouldn't pay more than $300.

Regarding the Hellcat, a common friend of ours bought one for about $500 (in perfect condition) so I wouldn't pay more than that, if that.

Now the Stuka is obviously rarer but K & C just issued some Stukas that are beautiful so right of the bat your market has shrunk for Stukas. Again, with the economy, $895 is pie in the sky in my view. You'd be lucky to get $500.

You don't need to send me photos.

Good luck to him. The best bet might be ebay.

Brad,
If you think your going to pick-up an original Warbird for $300, even in this economy your talkin Pie in the sky. Someone just paid $2500 for that small diorama with pieces that will be readily available soon. I'll not be suprised if there will be some negotiation, but with new warbirds starting at $895.00 I think he'll get close to what he's looking for.
Ray

 

[jazzeum]

Ray,

An auction ended on ebay a few weeks ago with a First of the Few and a Spitfire for about $660. Since the First of the Few tends to go around a couple of hundred, that makes the Spitfire under $500, which is why I suggested ebay.

In addition, last year Bill Moore was trying to sell a really neat old P 51 and had to lower his price to get buyers. The market for the old birds is just not what it used to be because of the new ones.

Moreover, the people who buy these dios are not necessarily the same buyer of these warbirds. You can't assume that they are.

Maybe in the old days, before the new birds and in better times, you would have gotten these prices. Today I doubt it.

I know whereof I speak.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I have to agree with Brad on this one. The advent of the new K&C wood warbirds, with the clear canopies and interior cockpit detail, ended my interest in purchasing more of the classic ones. Several of the other collectors I know who were after the older warbirds also stopped chasing them when the new warbirds became available. These 3 warbirds were all offered to me by Craig McClean (Bob Fisher's friend and successor at the Old Toy Soldier Home) a few weeks ago, and I politely declined. As I explained to Craig, I had no interest in chasing down more old warbirds when I couldn't afford to buy all of the new ones.

 

[damian]

Some pictures would be nice either way.