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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Italeri Higgins Kit Cancelled
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4940
An Italian friend and colleague just announced that Italeri has cancelled its proposed 1/35 scale kit of the Higgins. No further info was passed on other than he learned of it through their Italian distributor.
Posted By: alross2 | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 10:50am
Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm
Well in that case, I won't be holding my breath for a 77' Elco, GRRRRR!
Larry
62 Bel-Air
260 Eagle EXP
79 Cole TR-2
2016 Corvette Z51
Posted By: bubbletop409 | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 11:53am
Total Posts: 164 | Joined: Apr 22, 2013 - 11:48pm
Sucky sucky... I suppose we could just sharpen one end of the box their Elco kit comes in as a substitute. (thanks Ted!)
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 1:59pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
[:-laughing-:]'[:-laughing-:]đđ
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 3:13pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Well itâs not April 1st so this is terrible news! Are we sure it just wasnât postponed? I was really looking forward to this one since I found out my uncle was on PT 282. Guess I need to start thinking about plan B. At least we still have this forum to learn from, BIG THANKS to Dick and Jeff!
Thanks!
Jeff
Posted By: Jeff H | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 6:09pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: Jun 7, 2019 - 6:00am
Well, that was a kick in the gut! And yes, sadly no 77 footer!
Posted By: Stearman | Posted on: Jul 15, 2020 - 8:34pm
Total Posts: 150 | Joined: Nov 1, 2017 - 9:38pm
Thanks Jeff H, but this forum is all Dick. All I do is fix an occasional link or image, or remove a duplicate post. Much of what Dick does we don't even see like fighting the constant battle against spammers and hackers. And then he writes a check to the web host, domain name service, government archives for PT drawings... He also helps others preserving PT history like the PT 658 group out of Portland, the PT 305 group out of New Orleans, Battleship Cove, and PT Boats Inc.. What a guy! [:-cheers-:]
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jul 16, 2020 - 5:10am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Second that, Jeff. Dick is the man.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 16, 2020 - 7:10am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
Al;
In the wise words of CDR Ritchie "That Tears It"!
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 16, 2020 - 6:54pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Well it's 2020, everything is cancelled, what did you expect. Thank you China. This has to be the best concieved attack ever undertaken in the history of the planet and with plausible deniability to boot. That's All.
Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jul 17, 2020 - 3:58pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm
This has nothing to do with COVID and everything to do with Hobbico going out of business. They were Italeri's distributor in the US. Because Italeri couldn't get any kind of commitment they delayed the project. I have a message into my friend at Italeri to see if there has been any change.
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jul 17, 2020 - 9:37pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm
Dave;
Suggest Dragon Hobbies in Northern Virginia to your Italieri contact.
Dragon Hobbies, USA
111-M Carpenter Dr #100, Sterling, VA 20164
Phone: (703) 444-3988
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 17, 2020 - 10:28pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Thanks for the suggestion Ted. Hobbico was a big presence in the industry. They owned Revell USA, Revell Germany, and were a big part of Italeri distribution among others. When Hobbico dissolved, Revell USA was closed with no buyer, Revell Germany found a new owner, but Italeri and others were left with no representation and had to scramble to find new partners.
They do have a partner in the USA now which is VSA Inc., dba Model Rectifier Corporation, also known as MRC. They distribute for Academy as well so they do have some experience and committment to ship models.
So now that their distribution is hopefully settling down they may come back to this project. If you're interested in seeing this kit released (I sure am) I would suggest dropping MRC a friendly line with support for this kit. Their email address is mrcsupport@modelrectifier.com.
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jul 18, 2020 - 5:16am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm
Ted,
It's trivia, admittedly, but I think Ritchie (James Gregory, in "PT 109"?) was a Commander, not a Captain.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Jul 18, 2020 - 6:45am
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Yes, he was a Commander. On a side note, I have been watching reruns of Barney Miller, James Gregory was great as old Inspector Luger!
Posted By: Stearman | Posted on: Jul 18, 2020 - 9:15pm
Total Posts: 150 | Joined: Nov 1, 2017 - 9:38pm
David
Thanks for the direction! I did my best with my e mail to them and I tried to be accurate with my info but I was going from memory on this subject. I will include what I sent and hope it doesnât get too many rocks thrown at it.
âI have been waiting for this kit since it was announced over a year ago and have heard they are not going to produce it now. My uncle was on PT 282 and I was looking forward to building a model of his boat. The guys on the PT boat forum are also very disappointed that this is not going to happen now even though they supplied some info to Italeri to help get this project going. There are no good models of the Higgins PT boat in any scale much less one that would be up to the standard that Italeri has set with their 1:35 scale ELCO PT boats. I have purchased many of Italeriâs models in the past including one of the ELCO models. Is there any way you could help get this project back on track? I understand your company is going to distribute for them in the us now.
Please help us!â
Thanks!
Jeff
Posted By: Jeff H | Posted on: Jul 20, 2020 - 8:09pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: Jun 7, 2019 - 6:00am
Nice message Jeff, articulate and to the point. Let's follow his lead guys and girls! And hope David gets some good news...
The first thing that popped up in my little pea brain when I read it: Help me, MRC Kenobi. You're my only hope.
[image]https://media.giphy.com/media/DrL54YGfFb5Bu/giphy.gif[/image]
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jul 21, 2020 - 3:59am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
The Force is not with us Obi-Wan. I have not heard back from my contact at Italeri yet. He may be on vacation. However I wrote MRC. They wrote back after contacting Italeri (after my initial message) and Italeri advised that the project is cancelled. If I hear back from my friend I will let you know.
Dave
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Jul 21, 2020 - 6:17am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm