Knights of the Sky (4 Viewers)

ivanmoe said:
{eek3} My gosh, that Brisfit looks awful like that! {eek3}
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^&grin It sure does. The Albatros doesn't lend itself to the cockade markings, either. Just looks like an offense to nature.{sm3} -- Al
 
lancer said:
Got mine today, Pete, and you are quite right, I am very pleased with it. A very nice paint scheme. The dark camo is a great background to the red and yellow personal markings. The colors really snap. I like the darker camo look to this particular aircraft and also the subtle toning down of the personal markings evident on the underside of the aircraft. This is a very worthy addition to Jasta 11.^&cool -- Al
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Glad you like it. I'm very pleased with mine. The livery is quite striking.

Pete
 
No activity here for a while. Anyone got any educated guesses as to what might be next on the release list? I still think there is a Spad in the offing and I know John said there was another Jasta 11 tripe to be done. There are holes at ACE-13, 18, and 20. -- Al
 
lancer said:
No activity here for a while. Anyone got any educated guesses as to what might be next on the release list? I still think there is a Spad in the offing and I know John said there was another Jasta 11 tripe to be done. There are holes at ACE-13, 18, and 20. -- Al
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Hi Al,

To tell you the truth, I find your post sorta scary.{eek3} Apart from the JJD reps and perhaps a few dealers, I'd come to assume that you know as much about this stuff as anybody!:)

You cite some open slots in the ACE product numbers. Those may be significant. Then again, perhaps not. But, let me note some goings-on that some of our readers may be unaware of:

1) Two models have yet to see a corresponding pilot figure released, the Weiss and Steinhauser triplanes.

2) The Duelists set was released, but we've yet to see a model released that's period-appropriate for the two figures, early WWI.

3) All of a sudden, models are going SO before figures are. This shift in availability only became apparent with the last update to the product list on the JJD website.

Among the existing JJD molds, there are several replicas that would appear to warrant additional attention. In particular, I'd like to see either a Werner Voss Fokker DR.1 or Albatros. I'd also mention that I believe that the biggest challenge facing KotS is for JJ to do an entirely new model, a Fokker E.III or <gulp> a D.H.2, or perhaps a two-seater. Sorry, that I can't offer you anything more substantive than that. Darn crystal-ball never works when I need it!:redface2:

-Moe
 
I love this thread! It definitely seems there has been either a decision by JJD to limit production more to produce new models or an increase in popularity of the line. Many pieces seem to be getting scarce. I have been scrambling to catch up on my own personal list. John seems to have hit a home run, and I hope it continues for quite a while.
 
ivanmoe said:
Hi Al,

To tell you the truth, I find your post sorta scary.{eek3} Apart from the JJD reps and perhaps a few dealers, I'd come to assume that you know as much about this stuff as anybody!:)

You cite some open slots in the ACE product numbers. Those may be significant. Then again, perhaps not. But, let me note some goings-on that some of our readers may be unaware of:

1) Two models have yet to see a corresponding pilot figure released, the Weiss and Steinhauser triplanes.

2) The Duelists set was released, but we've yet to see a model released that's period-appropriate for the two figures, early WWI.

3) All of a sudden, models are going SO before figures are. This shift in availability only became apparent with the last update to the product list on the JJD website.

Among the existing JJD molds, there are several replicas that would appear to warrant additional attention. In particular, I'd like to see either a Werner Voss Fokker DR.1 or Albatros. I'd also mention that I believe that the biggest challenge facing KotS is for JJ to do an entirely new model, a Fokker E.III or <gulp> a D.H.2, or perhaps a two-seater. Sorry, that I can't offer you anything more substantive than that. Darn crystal-ball never works when I need it!:redface2:

-Moe
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Hi Moe. Yeah, my info is kinda slim at the moment. John is keeping advance info close to the vest for the time being. You know, I hadn't considered that The Duelists had been released with the specific idea of early war aircraft to go with them. I just thought that the figures were kind of a 'fun' alternative for the cockpits. The German pilot, in particular, I thought was done as a sort of caricature as he is wearing a pickelhaube. If John is going to add early war aircraft for them, they would have to be really early war, as in totally unarmed, like a Taube or a BE-2a, otherwise there would be no point to the pistol duel.
I campaigned for the Voss tripe for quite a while but haven't brought it up for months. I would think a DH-2 is a possibility as I know John likes that aircraft but I wouldn't think the Eindecker is going to be a priority since Tom Gunn has released a version with the intention of another version to follow. What I do know for sure is that John has been really busy with the various vehicles like the tanks and trucks and that they have kind of taken front rank for right now. I'm sure KotS will get appropriate attention when time and factory production capacity are available.
Sorry that my info is so scant and mostly just guess work. I'm just hanging on for the next Spad and tripe. -- Al
 
lancer said:
No activity here for a while. Anyone got any educated guesses as to what might be next on the release list? I still think there is a Spad in the offing and I know John said there was another Jasta 11 tripe to be done. There are holes at ACE-13, 18, and 20. -- Al
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Hi Al,
John has never released a set number 13 in any series'...its an unlucky number!


Pete
 
I see that the 'Blue Maus' is now showing as low in stock on the JJD web site.

Are the WW1 aircraft sales suddenly taking off (groan!), or are the numbers being produced being reduced?

Pete
 
chalklands said:
I see that the 'Blue Maus' is now showing as low in stock on the JJD web site.

Are the WW1 aircraft sales suddenly taking off (groan!), or are the numbers being produced being reduced?

Pete
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Hi Pete,

Per an email exchange with JJ, there's no set production number for any of the models. In the same exchange, John mentioned that the totals, per model, were "in the hundreds, not in the thousands." He also indicated that there's been greater demand for some models, and that led JJD to produce more of those. Specifically, he mentioned the MvR tripe and Brown Camel. BTW, that doesn't mean that other types didn't see additional production. Those are just two that he mentioned. Finally, he commented that not all KotS models are created equal. The production values on some models are higher than others, even within the same type, the triplane, for instance. That's essentially everything that I know about the subject.

-Moe
 
ivanmoe said:
Hi Pete,

Per an email exchange with JJ, there's no set production number for any of the models. In the same exchange, John mentioned that the totals, per model, were "in the hundreds, not in the thousands." He also indicated that there's been greater demand for some models, and that led JJD to produce more of those. Specifically, he mentioned the MvR tripe and Brown Camel. BTW, that doesn't mean that other types didn't see additional production. Those are just two that he mentioned. Finally, he commented that not all KotS models are created equal. The production values on some models are higher than others, even within the same type, the triplane, for instance. That's essentially everything that I know about the subject.

-Moe
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Thanks Moe,
That seems to indicate that the market is growing, which is good for John and us collectors.

Pete
 
ivanmoe said:
Hi Pete,

Per an email exchange with JJ, there's no set production number for any of the models. In the same exchange, John mentioned that the totals, per model, were "in the hundreds, not in the thousands." He also indicated that there's been greater demand for some models, and that led JJD to produce more of those. Specifically, he mentioned the MvR tripe and Brown Camel. BTW, that doesn't mean that other types didn't see additional production. Those are just two that he mentioned. Finally, he commented that not all KotS models are created equal. The production values on some models are higher than others, even within the same type, the triplane, for instance. That's essentially everything that I know about the subject.

-Moe
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Production values within the triplane series definitely differs in terms of the camo pattern that is applied to the 5 aircraft that have camo. The MvR red tripe and the Jacobs black tripe aren't camouflaged. Of the 5, I believe that the Kempf triplane was first into production. This aircraft has a noticeably more detailed camo pattern than the later 4 tripes (LvR's yellow, Udet's stripped, Steinhauser's red/yellow stripes, and the Weiss white tripe). All of the tripes are well done but I believe the Kempf is the superior in terms of detail in the camo and thus was harder to paint in terms of man hours than the later planes. JJD managed to simplify the later 4 aircraft's patterns while maintaining a generally similar appearance. It is an understandable adjustment in order to keep prices at a level where it pays to keep making them. This labor intense painting problem is also the reason that we haven't seen further Fokker D-7's or other late war German aircraft. The D-7's and other latter war aircraft were largely finished with a lozenge camo printed fabric, in 4 and 5 color combinations, which is an iconic camo, but has also eluded efforts to replicate for these 1/30 scale aircraft, to this point. Hand painting the lozenge patterns is simply not cost effective, nor would it be consistent. The complicated finishes on German planes make them more expensive to make than the very straightforward OD camo of the RFC. The same might be true of French aircraft where the earlier airplane finishes such as the all-silver schemes (Nungesser's Nieuport) or the all-tan finishes of the Spad 7's and early 13's are much easier to do than the later 5 color French camo scheme of the Rickenbacker Spad 13. I'm sure all of this figures into production numbers. It would have to. -- Al
 
Just checked the JJD website, I had no idea the KotS series was so low in available inventory. Of the aircraft, onlt the latest tripe, Steinhauser's, is not listed as SO or Low Inventory. It is just my opinion but if someone wants one of the LI aircraft, grab the Mannock SE-5. It is a superbly detailed and accurate model. I think it's John's best. Thing is, you can't go wrong with any of them.:wink2: -- Al
 
I've been playing around with backgrounds for my Billy display shelves. Some of these came out pretty nice.

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Outstanding results. The dogfight pictures look really good, making great use of two of JJD's finest planes and those transparent stands. The picture with the Camel is superb, as well, showing the plane to excellent advantage, along with the wounded flyer. Just great shots. -- Al
 
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