Me-262 Galland "white 3"

[MichaelB]

While this is ongoing, folks (and your patience is appreciated) always remember to post only SMALL pictures as your attachments. Reduce the size of the pic before you post it. Attachments to messages are supposed to be just for illustrative purposes - we have a Gallery for posterity.
I see that I am now able to attach my MM Me-262 shot, so find it below along with two MPC pieces.
All of these diminutive toys have better outlines than the recent Maisto Me262!
Thanks for your cooperation!
Michael

[MichaelB]

Found another Me-262, and this one isn't going to knock your sox off either! This is from the 2003 National Geographic 100 Years of Flight sets. I think there were 3 or 4 different sets, and while it wasn't high art, they were worth having - especially when they went on 1/2 price the year later!
Here's the Me-262, and you'll notice it's the 2 seat version! ...mayhaps the only "toy" issued of this variant.
Not much of a model, but there's no question about what it is! About a 3" wing span...

[Epap]

According to well informed sources on the British forum, DAF, the Atlas Editions models were provided by Oxford Diecast, which is selling the same items under its brand name, I don't have the ME-262, however I do have a number of other Atlas models --- the LA-7, KI-61, Mosquito, MC-205, FW-190, Swordfish, Gladiator, etc.---and these appear to be copies, with very slight changes, of older Corgi and IXO toolings.

[Aeronaut]

According to well informed sources on the British forum, DAF, the Atlas Editions models were provided by Oxford Diecast, which is selling the same items under its brand name, I don't have the ME-262, however I do have a number of other Atlas models --- the LA-7, KI-61, Mosquito, MC-205, FW-190, Swordfish, Gladiator, etc.---and these appear to be copies, with very slight changes, of older Corgi and IXO toolings.

I think it is the other way around. Just like it happened with Model Power when they got on Del Prado's bandwagon and marketed their "Aircraft of the Aces" series as the "Postage Stamp" series, later expanding it. Atlas began releasing models on their latest series well before Oxford Diecast even announced their releases.

As far as the Atlas castings being copies of Corgi or Altaya releases, the differences, as far as the way the individual parts of the models are engineered, are very significant.

Amercom seems to follow other manufacturers much closer. Even releasing the same color schemes (Me-262, Bf-109F, Zero, Spitfire, Hurricane, P-51, Corsair, Gladiator, Swordfish, Hellcat, Wildcat, A-4M, Vampire, Sea Harrier) sometimes changing the scale from 1/72nd to 1/100th (F-100, F-104, A-10, Mirage 2000, F-14, F-15, MiG-21, F-4, Me-110, MiG-29, F-18, F-16) and even making much better models than the originals as they have done with those made after the DeAgostini biplane line (Fokker Dr. I, SPAD S.VII, Bristol Bulldog, Sopwith 1.B1, Albatros D.V, SPAD S.XIII, Sopwith Camel, SE.5a). As their metal content is much lower than the originals they have to make new tooling. Amercom's stands have a different attachment than any of the originals so here is another reason to make new tooling. Amercom's Swordfish release is of particular interest in this respect. The model shows the wing folding hinges of the Corgi older sibling but the wings do not fold. \


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[Epap]

One of my sources regarding the Atlas-Oxford tie-in is a distributor for Hobby Master in the UK, who is, presumably, well informed on such matters. The fact that Atlas was releasing its models before Oxford, may merely be part of their deal. In any event, the copying that seems to be going on, including the Amercom line from Poland, is nothing new. As I understand it, new diecast "toolings" are often based on kits and it does not appear that the kit makers are compensated for this in many cases. From what I have heard, so long as you make a relatively small number of changes from the original work --- the so called "3% rule"----you can copy anyone's model and get away with it. When I first heard this I found it difficult to believe but now, I'm not so sure.

[Aeronaut]

Before this WW II 1/72nd scale series Oxford Diecast had a very timid, to say the least, presence on the diecast aircraft market. As far as I know their only releases were a helicopter (Eurocopter) and a very small Spitfire that they released in a three-color-scheme set. They were very well stablished on the diecast car/bus/truck market so it seems odd to me that they would need Atlas to go into the diecast airplane market. On the other hand, having a well stablished distribution network made it easy for them to add and rebrand somebody else's line. We have seen the same in Germany with Schuco (a very well respected toy company) adding and repackaging the Realtoy "Action Wings" series to their famous name.

[Epap]

Oxford Diecast seem to be expanding its aircraft line. It has announced a 1:72nd scale Dragon Rapide and Tiger Moth for later this year, plus a HE-162, P-51 and F6F. The first two are certainly new and are not on the Atlas menu, but I can't say whether the last three will also be new toolings.