Corgi Stirling Mk III quickie review

[aferguson]

i opened my Corgi Stirling yesterday and was pleased to see that it was a fine model. Well shaped and finished and looks pretty accurate. I got the Mk III because, while it came out later and saw less combat action than the Mk I, it was really the definitive version of the Stirling and saw some heated combat action during much of '43. Plus it has the unusual toadstool shaped dorsal turret that i like.

Interesting tidbit about the Stirling: though much maligned for its poor performance, which was mostly a very low ceiling that put it within range of all German flak guns, it had the ability to out turn the Ju-88 and Bf-110 night fighters pitted against it. Amazing for such a big plane.

Back to the model: the windows on the fuselage sides are clear plastic, rather than painted on as with the earlier Corgi Lancaster and the overall level of detailing is finer. The only thing i don't like about it is for some reason the upper wing roundels are decals, not printed on markings as with the rest of the plane and as is the norm for diecast aircraft in general. As a result there is a very fine halo of silver surrounding the upper wing roundels....it almost sparkles at certain angles and really catches the eye, despite it being very narrow. I zapped the area with some Testors dullcote and while the silvering is still noticable if you look for it, the sparkling silver effect is gone and it no longer catches the eye. Strange that Corgi did this.

Otherwise an excellent purchase. Recommended.

[Dauntless]

I got one, glad I did. The Aurthur Arron version. Didn't know it had decals though?

These are a little less money than the average Corgi heavy, and it's a newer mold, so a little better detail.

[snake]

Glad that Corgi decided to do the Stirling. It deserved to be done and completed the Bomber Command heavies, with the Lancaster and Halifax.

Created quite a bit of buzz, when it was announced and I pre ordered the first one immediately. "MacRoberts Reply".

Corgi unfortunately got the Stirlings unique and tall landing gear wrong on the first release, and it was a little short. Pun intended. They quickly issued proper landing gear, which were sent free of charge. Good customer service, immediately correcting this mistake. Subsequent releases had the proper size landing gear.

One Stirling is enough for me, and it is a well done new model. Although, not sure why they still insist on using decals for the wing roundels in particular. They do have a sheen to them, but not a deal breaker.

Think they have released three so far, but not sure how subsequent releases will fare. They will all look very similar, just with different fuselage codes for the most part.

Glad that Corgi did the Stirling though. It is a big beast in 1/72.