Airfix Craftmaster Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde Supersonic Airliner, Air France

Description

Airfix Craftmaster Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde Supersonic Airliner, Air France
Description
This auction is for the Airfix Craftmaster Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde Supersonic Airliner of Air France, kit # 1508-150, 1/144 scale.
This kit has been inventoried and is complete.
The Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde was a British–French turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner that was operated from 1976 until 2003. It had a maximum speed over twice the speed of sound, at Mach 2.04 (1,354 mph at cruise altitude), with seating for 92 to 128 passengers. First flown in 1969, Concorde entered service in 1976 and operated for 27 years. Concorde was jointly developed and manufactured by Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) under an Anglo-French treaty. Twenty aircraft were built, including six prototypes and development aircraft. Air France and British Airways were the only airlines to purchase and fly Concorde. Concorde is an ogival delta winged aircraft with four Olympus engines based on those employed in the RAF's Avro Vulcan strategic bomber. Rolls-Royce had an engine design proposal at the time of Concorde's initial design but, to develop a brand-new engine for Concorde would have been prohibitively expensive, so an existing engine, already flying in the supersonic TSR-2 prototype, the Olympus Mk 320 turbojet, was selected.  The aircraft used afterburners only at take-off and to pass through the upper transonic regime to supersonic speeds, between Mach 0.95 and 1.7.  Due to jet engines being highly inefficient at low speeds, Concorde burned over two tons of fuel taxiing to the runway. Concorde had livery restrictions; the majority of the surface had to be covered with a highly reflective white paint to avoid overheating the aluminum structure due to heating effects from supersonic flight at Mach 2. Concorde's drooping nose enabled the aircraft to switch between being streamlined to reduce drag and achieve optimal aerodynamic efficiency without obstructing the pilot's view during taxi, take-off, and landing operations. Due to the high angle of attack, the long, pointed nose obstructed the view and necessitated the capability to droop.  Concorde aircraft were retired in 2003, three years after the crash of Air France Flight 4590, in which all passengers and crew were killed.
Airfix, the iconic UK model company, sought ways to expand its market reach in the early 60’s.  The huge American market was an obvious target.  In 1963, Airfix established a company to import their kits into the US.  It was incorporated as the Airfix Corporation of America and operated until 1965.  At that point, MPC took over the import business and marketed kits under the Airfix Craftmaster label from 1965 to 1968.  The Craftmaster logo was dropped in 1968 and Airfix kits were then marketed under the MPC label, owned by General Mills.
Airfix provides markings for F-BZBH.  Alas, no such registration was ever given to any of the 20 Concordes.  The first Concorde did not fly until March 1969, after the demise of Craftmaster.  Their model was based on prototypes and engineering drawings, not an actual flying aircraft.
The kit has been inventoried and is complete.  Considering the size of the actual aircraft, there are a limited number of parts in this kits.  The box is structurally sound with a flat, tight boxtop.  The boxart color is bright and vibrant and is surely one of the best of any Concorde kit.  There are no tape pulls and no tape residue of any type.  There are no tears or gouges.  There are tape pulls on both top and bottom side panels.  There is some minor creasing at each end of the boxtop.  There is a litho lift on the right end panel from a price sticker.  There is some light staining of the lower left corner.  The instructions are in excellent shape.  Decals are also in very good shape.
USA Bidders only.  Buyer pays shipping and handling of .95 for priority mail shipping. All sales are final – if you have an issue you wish to discuss, please contact me.
Payment due within 3 days.
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