k5054nz Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 (edited) Hi all, This weekend is the first of New Zealand's two big airshows this year, Wings Over Wairarapa. The host airfield is home to The Vintage Aviator Limited's (Sir Peter Jackson) flying WW1 fleet. A few minutes ago this popped up on TVAL's Facebook page: Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr I'm at the show on Saturday so I'll be taking photos and asking questions, fingers crossed they can shed some light on the future...or at least some hints! Edited February 28, 2021 by k5054nz 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Blimey that does sound encouraging - I hope it’s not just a massive stock clearance! Well spotted and thanks for sharing TT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnerboy Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I hope I'm wrong, but my guess is clearing stock 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I wouldn't be planning my whole life around the prospect just yet, but there could be some people that have recently purchased a WNW kit or two at very high prices that may be questioning their decisions now. We'll see 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAT69 Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Given that we haven't heard or seen any announcements of a company rebirth, I suspect this is a stock clearance ... but I surely hope I'm wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Would be great to see some photos of the 'original' WWI aircraft . . . I've been down there when they brought the 'Dambuster' aircraft out . . . One wasnt allowed across the airfield, I wasnt allowed in the hangar but it must be time to give them an airing and this seems as good an opportunity as any . . . Oh and by the way, best opportunity to ask those all important questions from those at WNW 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Given the use of the WingNut Wings business name it does indicate that the company is not insolvent/ in liquidation/ in receivership etc but merely dormant. That in itself gives some hope that it may well return to trading and business in due course. Nothing is certain until it happens though. As Mike says recent buyers might be excused wondering if a purchase at a premium was as good an idea after all as it seemed yesterday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 I canned tentative plans to cross the ditch for WOW 2021, due to the on-again, off-again nature of the Australia-New Zealand travel bubble. Now I wish I hadn't! Next one, maybe ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 (edited) I should note, for those who are unaware, that The Vintage Aviator Limited is Sir Peter Jackson's 1/1 Great War aircraft company so the post is official. It certainly came out of the blue. Unfortunately I'll barely have enough pocket money for an engine sprue but it will be interesting to see what's there and quiz the staff as much as they'll let me! 11 hours ago, Mancunian airman said: Would be great to see some photos of the 'original' WWI aircraft . . . How are these? Taken by me the week before Christmas. Only the Biff is original, I'm afraid, but they will have three or four other originals flying this weekend (with the new-builds and replicas) over four distinct display slots. TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr Edited February 23, 2021 by k5054nz added photos 20 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KITCAT Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 I cannot for the life of me imagine all the staff are at hand to revive the Co. So we are left with a stock clear out and Maybe a shipment sent to SOMEONE overseas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Alan Bardell Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Fingers crossed for the re birth of WW - but I suspect this will be a stock clearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mancunian airman Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Zac Fantastic set of photo of the early birds of aviation Many thanks for sharing them . .. .👍 Replicas or not, they are a great collection and . . . so colourful ! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stalal Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 This is an exciting news. I hope it turns out to be true and WnW is back in business. Or perhaps they just want to sell their kits in stock and not really coming back. We will know in time to come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kopperhed Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Haven't molds been sold and employees gone to different companies? I mean, otherwise this could be great news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy4u Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 This is an interesting development . Is there someone on this site who is planning to go to this airshow ? If so , can you take some photos of the models for sale ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Just rumourmongering....I wonder perhaps if the DR.1 deal with Meng was purely down to the fact that they owed them for the tooling and moulds and they struck a deal whereby Meng issued the kit themselves to recoup the debt... TT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMSLion Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 That's my bet. The real joker in the deck is the HP 0/100 and 0/400. Which were reportedly in a much more advanced stage of tooling than the Triplane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold55 Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 This is mostly speculation but there has never been any indication that they did not own their molds with the exception of the Dr.1 which was being made for them and they probably never took delivery. Like most companies they outsourced many functions, including printing, mold making and injection molding. It might be difficult for them to create new kits at this stage but it would be very easy for them to start production of existing kits and a good source of cash. Who's to know for sure but it is good news that they kept their trademarks and name. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary from darwin Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 my guess they are just flogging off all the stock they didnt sell online cheers gaz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 8 hours ago, kopperhed said: Haven't molds been sold and employees gone to different companies? I mean, otherwise this could be great news The employees are definitely gone, but there have been no announcements about a change in ownership of the molds that were completed. The only one we know for sure is in different hands is the Fokker Dr.I since released by Meng. Since the company only went dormant and not bankrupt, there would be no liquidation sale unless the owner, i.e. Peter Jackson, wanted to sell them off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 1 hour ago, Harold55 said: It might be difficult for them to create new kits at this stage but it would be very easy for them to start production of existing kits and a good source of cash. This is exactly right. It would not take a lot of in-house expertise to start churning out copies of the kits that have already been released the existing molds and artwork for instructions, decals, boxes, etc. However, it’s difficult to see how they could do more than that without hiring design staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 AFAIK the moulds are spread around a number of manufacturers, and the only person who really knows where they all are is long gone. So I'd bet on selling off the existing stock in NZ - and it's "several containers" worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Interesting, it would be really good if the Lancaster was to magically appear, I had promised myself the nose section release, the full aircraft would be much too big (and expensive). Have to wait and see. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 3 minutes ago, Jo NZ said: AFAIK the moulds are spread around a number of manufacturers, and the only person who really knows where they all are is long gone. So I'd bet on selling off the existing stock in NZ - and it's "several containers" worth. Seriously? It seems unlikely that a company would entrust knowledge of the location of its main assets, which each likely required several hundred thousand dollars of investment to the mind of a single employee. There certainly will be records detailing the location and status of each set of mold tooling. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeronut Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 13 hours ago, k5054nz said: I should note, for those who are unaware, that The Vintage Aviator Limited is Sir Peter Jackson's 1/1 Great War aircraft company so the post is official. It certainly came out of the blue. Unfortunately I'll barely have enough pocket money for an engine sprue but it will be interesting to see what's there and quiz the staff as much as they'll let me! How are these? Taken by me the week before Christmas. Only the Biff is original, I'm afraid, but they will have three or four other originals flying this weekend (with the new-builds and replicas) over four distinct display slots. TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr TVAL pilot training day 19/12/2020 by Zac Yates, on Flickr I'm no expert on the rigging of WW1 aircraft but the rigging of the RE8 and Brisfit ailerons looks a bit suspect? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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