Is scale 1;500 now defunct ?

[diecastflo]

Hi, I started collecting Herpa 1:500 as a little boy, let's say maybe 1995? Can’t tell it exactly. The collection paused at about 50 planes. All of them 50…-numbers. I don’t know why, but the days after Christmas 2018 I checked the web if Herpa Wings still exists. And bingo! By now I have almost 1700 planes in 1:500 – so much about little boys and their hobby

Unfortunately I do have the same problem as many others, I don’t have space to show them. They ALL are well packed in plastic boxes on the attic. What a shame! But who knows what future brings.

In November 2022 I decided to stop collecting 1:500s. The reason for this decision first of all was the low number of active producers of 1:500. This is more or less just Herpa. So we talk about 13 new announced(!) planes every two months. And as Herpa seems to work for Lufthansa you can bet that there is always one LH. I know, I know home market and so on… but that becomes boring! And I have enough of their so called “special liveries”. Sorry, different topic

So if you compare this situation to 1:400 – which I started collecting in Nov. 2022 – you have several producers and a much wider variety. And I don’t even speak about little details on the planes that make them more realistic.

The only negative point is the price. They are almost twice as expensive. But as I said, you get a more detailed aircraft.

So I would say 1:500 is still alive and doing a great job. And as long as Herpa exists, you will always get new (LH ) models.

[planemanone]

They most certainly are not an investment. There are of course anomalies that seem to get more attention than others. I have paid the price for that like many other collectors. In my case I chased a PAN AM 727-200 with winglets some years ago and paid a premium for it! But it made me happy and that was the value in it - not the prospect of making a lot of money reselling it.

[planemanone]

I like the comment about the switch over to 200 from 400. I would have done it to if had double the money and double the space! But the reality is that the hobby is in the eye of the beholder. I have much more attraction to the pre Airbus era. From DC3's to the Connies along with the prop jets and smokers like the 707. 990 and DC 8's.

[AvGeek]

The 1:500 scale is only "dead'' on forums. I'm not going to sugar coat it. People take photos and zoom this scale out of whack, only to find something negative to post about.

[fleetlordatvar]

really, why?

[JAL1628]

I did a couple deals w/ Jetway but no more.

[JAL1628]

Very well said.

[Brusselsairlines]

You're welcome

[Geoff]

Many thanks for the contact details. Will certainly get in touch with her and see she has to say.

[Brusselsairlines]

Here you go:
eva-maria.schroeder@herpa.de.

[Brusselsairlines]

Yeah, SKY-500 only releases A330/340, B777/747 and a few others (anyway, no 787!) Try to contact Herpa, it is certainly worth a try I will post the email adress here for you

[Geoff]

Certainly worth a try. One can only see what, if anything, they might say. I'd just hope it fitted when, and if, I got one.

[Siegerflieger]

the only way I can get hold of the proper engine is to buy a model of the 787 assuming that is, that SKY500 make a model. ...

They haven't yet. But there's no reason not to try and fit a Herpa 787 engine ;-)

[Geoff]

P.S. Sorry that should be QANTAS

[Geoff]

Thank you for your message. You are quite right in saying that Herpa do not make this model, but I understand that SKY500 did. Where they are based I have no idea but think it might be China. All the engines on the test bed were Rolls-Royce engines as fitted to many airliners, notably Quantas, British Airways and Cathay Pacific to name but three. It may sound stupid, but the only way I can get hold of the proper engine is to buy a model of the 787 assuming that is, that SKY500 make a model. As for Herpa, I've no reason to complain about their service as they sent me a replacement for my Boeing 747-8i which was faulty, so I now have two.