| Big Bird + Database |
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| #2002-01 Ansett Australia 'Sydney 2000' Boeing 747-400 March 2002 #2002-02 Ansett Australia 'Sydney 2000' Boeing 747-300 April 2002 #2002-03 ANA 'Pocket Monsters 1998' Boeing 747-400D April 2002 #2002-04 ANA Boeing 747-400D April 2002 #2002-05 JAL Dream Express 'Family' Boeing 747-400D May 2002 #2002-06 Thai 'Royal Barge' Boeing 747-400 April 2002 #2002-07 JAL Dream Express 'Sweet' Boeing 747-400D May 2002 #2002-08 JAL Dream Express 'Friends' Boeing 747-400D May 2002 #2002-09 JAL O/C Boeing 747-300 June 2002 #2002-10 Qantas 'Formula 1' Boeing 747-400 June 2002 #2002-11 ANA 'Snoopy' Boeing 747-400D July 2002 #2002-12 Varig Brasil O/C Boeing 747-400 July 2002 #2002-13 South African Airways O/C Boeing 747-400 July 2002 #2002-14 Eva Air Boeing 747-400 August 2002 #2002-15 Corsair 'Sex' Boeing 747-300 August 2002 #2002-16 Corsair 'Sun' Boeing 747-300 August 2002 #2002-17 Corsair 'Sea' Boeing 747-300 August 2002 #2002-18 ANA 'Pocket Monsters 1999' Boeing 747-400D September 2002 #2002-19 Virgin Atlantic N/C 'Jersey Girl' Boeing 747-400 September 2002 #2002-20 Virgin Atlantic O/C 'Tubular Belle' Boeing 747-400 September 2002 #2002-21 JAL Dream Express 'Sea' Boeing 747-400D August 2002 #2002-22 JAL Dream Express 'Sea' Boeing 747-400 September 2002 #2002-23 Air New Zealand O/C 'Mataatua' Boeing 747-400 October 2002 #2002-24 ANA 'Marine' Boeing 747-400D December 2002 #2002-25 Singapore Airlines '50th Anniversary' Boeing 747-400 October 2002 #2002-26 Singapore Airlines O/C 'Big Top' Boeing 747-300 December 2002 #2002-27 Qantas 'British Airways Wunala Dreaming' Boeing 747-400 December 2002 #2002-28 China Airlines O/C Boeing 747-400 December 2002 |
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| Arriving in early 2002 was the new name of Big Bird. These 1:500 diecast models are produced in Hong Kong, as yet only the mould for the 747 has been produced, possibly this is how it may stay, hense the name Big Bird, we will have to see. Comparing very well with Herpa new generation models and Star Jets , the printing, detailing and finish is of a very high standard. The rear tail assembly is the same as Herpa's new generation models, and not attached with a visible join in the same way as a StarJet model would be. From a collectors point of view, the models are being produced in limited runs of usually 1000, or 500 items, thus ensuring that they will become valuable over time. The initial price of the first releases is around the $40 mark, which is a bit expensive when compared with the competition, this may have something to do with their limited run, though. The way forward seems to be specialising in colourful livery's, the first batch of models with the Ansett Australia Sydney 2000, Pok�mon, and Amazing Thailand demonstrating this. As yet, there does not seem to be a manufacturers web site, but this will probably change soon. (However, Aviation Center Hong Kong is really Big Birds 'unofficial' web site.) Below is a database of every Big Bird model that has been released to date. WHO IS BIG BIRD? (I think is correct as this is what I have heard from a reliable source) Aviation Center Hong Kong (who are no longer part of the wings alliance) ask the factory who makes Aero Classic's to make them any model. And the factory does it. Aviation Center Hong Kong then distributes to other shops apart from the amount they sell themselves (approx 200 models). The story with the Thai Royal Barge is that a shop in Switzerland asked the factory through Aviation Center Hong Kong to make 1000 examples to distribute themselves, however the distribution of them by Tucano Line never worked out, and these found their way back into the shops. Big Bird will be around for some time yet! |
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