29th August 2010,
As the world wide distributor for 'Proteus Models', we are a little upset at a recent review of the Convair 440 longnose version which was in a certain well known modelling site on the web. We have always been happy with the standard of the kits, and certainly would not stock anything that was grossly inaccurate and in any way sub-standard. We are aware that the original plans for this kit were drawn by a Mr.M Herril, and accurately modelled on these plans which were the ONLY plans available at the time of master patterns being made some 7 years ago.. I myself have looked at both the plans and have assembled four differing kits, and see no reason for the comments made on this web site. Since production we have sold in excess of 200 kits in the last 6 years and have had some excellent reviews and comments, some of those being from captains and engineers who worked directly on this type of aircraft. This is the only 1:72nd scale model of its type worldwide from a 'cottage' industry, and all things considered as a first attempt by Bob Crowe the patternmaker, it is a fantastic effort, way in excess of some products offered for sale by certain individuals who have started off offering products directly associated with the modelling and decal supply trade. Individuals are entitled to offer their opinions on what they think may be correct or incorrect, but the challenge is are they able to better job themselves with what information was at hand, and if they consider so, put their money where their mouth is, and lets see what they can produce. We have seen many attempts at pattern making over the years which is not always highly accurate, but still offers a starting base on which to build. The whole purpose of modelling is the enjoyment of either making directly from the kit and being satisfied with the end product, or as many have done - super detailing to the standard of their taste. Therefore don't critisize out of hand a whole kit for small details of inconsitancies if you are not prepared to do it for almost every kit on the market.
Proteus Kits have won major awards at modelling shows THROUGHOUT the world, we have an excellent example which has been previously shown on the front page of this site. This was reviewed by some of the worlds best judges, and wasn't given the gold medal for nothing!.... click on this link PM001 to view the said kit....
It may further interest people with these unfortunate comments that they were finally brought to heel so to say by an individual calling himself 'Metropolitan'...I guess that kind of puts him in the genre of people who like the 440 and its variants, but I have taken the liberty of copying his comments as they really do speak up for the truth in the matter, and whilst one individual has wreaked havoc with his own 'personal comments' who is to say who is right and who is wrong in the matter. Judge for yourselves with this comment.
"Being a Convair-liner fan - hence my username "Metropolitan" - the discussion above about the accuracy of the Proteus CV-440/-580 line has puzzled me a lot.
The drawings of Mike Herril on which the kit is believed to be based upon are cited as highly inaccurate. In what way? Which parts are out of proportion?
I have the drawing myself - and can't (at least by a glance) not find any faults with it.
I have built the Proteus CV-440 in SAS markings - and to me it resembles the real thing in every way. Rightly - the initial kit of the CV-440 radar-nosed Swissair version had an unfortunate shape of the windshield. Proteus corceted this when relasing the "short-nose" version. Both the shape of the nose as well as the windshield look absolutely right to me. Even the distinct and characteristic "cheese-cutter" divider between the front panes is very well reproduced.
I totally agree - the accuracy nose of a kit often is of vital importance to the credibility of a model. This revised edition of the Proteus CV-440 really gives it this credibility!
So, please enlighten me - WHAT is actually wrong with the kit???"........
We have a number of new releases this month, all in 1:144th scale, and in both civilian and military liveries and kits which should please all modellers alike.
1 - SL 224 P - Douglas DC-3S in Capitol Airlines livery.
2 - SL 225 P - De Havilland Comet 4B in BEA (Red Square) livery.
3 - PJW 73 P - Lockheed Hercules C130 C3 in RAF camoflage livery.
4 - PJW 74 P - Lockheed hercules C130 W2 in Meteorlogical-RAF guise.
We are due a very large batch of resin parts this week, so all back orders should be forwarded asap. We have a lot of kits ready for release in the next two months including the following.
1 - PJW 75 P - Lockheed Hercules C4. RAF
2 - PJW 76 P - Lockheed Hercules C5. RAF
3 - Conversion kit for Minicraft short fuelage Hercules to W2 RAF meterological version.
4 - 1:72nd scale EMB 145 XR in continental express.
5 - SL 189 P -1:144th scale EMB 145 LR or XR version (parts for either version included In same kit) Continental express.
6 - Bombardier Dash 7 in London City Express.
6 - Fairchild C-19 Boxcar - Belgian Air Force.
6 - Boeing KC135 R (Vac Resin kit) with CFM56 engines, USAF.
Previously released 1:144th scale kits.
SL 222P - Fokker F70 in KLM (Current) Livery
SL 223P - De Havilland Comet 3B in BEA (1950's) Livery.
PJW 68P BAe 146-CC2 RAF 'Queens Flight'
PJW 69P BAe 146 CC2 RAF 'VIP Statesman'
PJW 70P BAe 146 CC1 - RAF 240 OCU
PJW 71P Lockheed C130K Hercules C1 (Sand, brown and white livery).
SL 220P - Fokker 100 in American Airlines livery. (All of the above 5 have either screen or silk decal finish).
SL 143P - Handley Page Hermes 1V in Silver City livery.
SL 212P - Lockheed L1011 Tristar 500 in Pan Am livery.
SL 221P - De Havilland 106 Comet 4 in Aerolinas Argentinas livery.
On the 1:72nd front, Resin parts for the P8A Posidon are filtering through slowly due to the current weather temperatures, and soon we expect full deliveries for the EMB 135 Legacy in BAF and the 145 XR in Continental Express in due course..
We thank everyone for their patience, all kit deliveries will take place at some point, but remeber we do not take monies from your account until the kits are ready for dispatch, and the prices remain at the prices when ordered.
FIRSTLY - BE AWARE OF A VAT INCREASE SOON, VAt that dreaded tax on everything here in the UK and Europe is due to go back from 15% to 17.5% at the start of January 2010. It will mean a lopt of work for ourselves and our webmaster in order to re-enter every price on the site, which will be affected. If you wish to order kits to obtain them prior to the deadline, please benefit from a 2.5% saving here in the UK and Europe. The rest of the world is unaffected other than postage.
there are loads of updates to keep you modellers happy in the run up to Christmas.... firstly Kits which are back in stock and fully available for posting are MJA 72-08, the 1:72nd Airbus A320 in current Northwest livery, and SL 208 - the 1:144th scale Comet 4C in Mexicana livery.
We have made strides with the 1:72nd Electra which is now ready to mould along with the 1:144th scale Comet 4 fuselage.
Two interesting kits for future release are the 1:144th scale Lisunov Li - 2 (Dakota) in USSR Polar unit livery and Douglas DC-2, both of which have had their patterns completed and will also be ready for moulding soon.
CV 10 - Designed to convert Revells new L1049G super Constellation to either a USAF RC/121D, US Navy EC- 121K or a US Navy WC-121N. The conversion kit includes both ventral and dorsal radar units, together with a full silk screened decal sheet, 3 choices on each sheet. £9.99p + P&P.
CV 11 - Designed to convert Zvezda's new 1:144th scale TU154M kit to a TU154B B1/B2 or a straight TU154A. The conversion includes a Vac Form fuselage, plus early tail unit, resin set of Kutznetsov NK-8.2 engines, plus a screen printed decal sheet for Aeroflot (Offical Olympic Carrier), livery. £15.99p + P&P.
CV12 - Designed to convert Revells new 1:144th scale Super Constellation to a L749a Constellation, conversion includes a Vac form fuselage, clear astro dome, plus resin engines, metal props and tail fins. £15.99p + P&P
We also have a limited stock of 1:144th scale lazer printed decals from China for a Sud Caravelle 3 in Alitalia pinstripe livery, priced at £1.99p + P&P. PLEASE NOTE that Minimum orders with a credit card payment are now £15 not including shipping..... this applies for our entire range of items for sale.
We now have available decals to suit 1:144th scale TU154 and TU114 kits seperately at a reduced price for a limited period only. E-mail for details if you require a set of either.
We have almost completed the moulds for the following new kits to be added to the 1:144th scale range 1) Avro Tudor IV, (If you want to see some excellent period film of the Tudor, watch this video clip.... .http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HZk48bIkz4I (2) Handley Page Hermes IV (2)HS Nimrod MR1-2. (3) HP Herald 200 Series. If you click on each link you can view the master patterns, prior to being moulded.
Many thanks to Kim Armstrong, from Camden, NSW, Austrailia for sending us the first image of a completed Boeing 737 Wedgetail of the Royal Austrailian Air Force (MT72-01). This has proved to be a very popular kit and it will probably assist those who are also building the same.
PLEASE NOTE - we do not accept payment by PAYPAL® at present. All payments are accepted by either Visa, Mastercard, IMO or a cheque drawn on a British Bank. It is feasible in the future that we will open an account with Paypal, but whilst we run the current payment system, you the customer benefit financially . Until it becomes uneconomical to use this system through interest rates etc, we will continue so you the customer benefit.
