UK ET members may not know that a new 'magazine' has been launched this week called 'Build The Titanic'. It's one of those weekly things that costs £1.99 for the first part, and £3.99 for every part thereafter. You get a thin Titanic magazine, a thinner shipping mag, and pre-cut wooden parts that will eventually all build together into a BIG model of the ship-1.250 scale, 3 feet 6 inches long! Of course this is all very tempting, though I find it a bit suspect that all the 'finished model' photos are of the smaller 1.350 plastic kit version...anyone else have an opinionon this?
'Build The Titanic' UK magazine
- Thread starter Mike Bull
- Start date
Michael H. Standart
Member
What would I do? Build that Minicraft 1:350 kit that I have....as soon as I can find a way to protect it from my ever inquisitive cats! Cheaper that way.
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Kyrila Scully
Member
Sounds like someone is ambitious to make a fortune! Perhaps a letter campaign to the publishers is in order, or letters to the editor where this magazine is available to warn potential buyers.
Kyrila
Kyrila
Apparently this model has already run in many countries, though has been 'improved' for the UK-I have notified the British Titanic Society anyway, as well as the UK consumer affairs TV show 'Watchdog'. It's just not right that they show the plastic model instead of the wooden one, and that they all but hide how many parts the thing is actually in!
As a follow-up I'm hearing that it's already been running in other parts of the UK, and people are WAY behind with their copies-one nice lady I've heard from is only on Issue 10 after a year...remember that this thing is supposed to be weekly! Nobody can contact anyone about this, either...it amazes me how such a blatant rip-off can stil sit quite happily in high-street stores.
David Robert Hemmings
Guest
I have a completed model of the Minicraft Titanic on a shelf at home and apart from the base and the railings around the bridge (which incidentely shouldn't be there) there is no difference in the model and the photos in issue one. Even the anchors and propellers are finished in the same gold colour!!
And my model only cost me £40.00 not £400.00.
Dave.
And my model only cost me £40.00 not £400.00.
Dave.
Geoff Whitfield
Member
Mike, Yes indeed! Watchdog researchers have been on to the British Titanic Society recently asking for our co-operation in a programme which features this publication - well, we all said it would end in tears didn't we??
Geoff
Geoff
It would appear that this dreaded magazine model was actually featured on TV on Tuesday 19th, and I missed it! I have read the small report on the Watchdog website though. They made it into one of those 'You pays your money and takes your choice' type things, which is fair enough I guess...it all seemed to focus on the number of issues needed to complete the model, and online at least did not mention the fact that actually annoyed me personally the most-the fact that there is no photo of the WOODEN model finished-but lots and lots of shots of the dear old Revell/Minicraft kit finished instead! Tut tut...
Michael H. Standart
Member
Quite a scam, isn't it Mike?
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Dave Gittins
Member
I saw the same publication advertised on Channel 10 in Australia tonight.
Caveat Emptor! (And beware of pirates too!)
Caveat Emptor! (And beware of pirates too!)
Dave Gittins
Member
Further research shows that the first edition costs $5-95 AUS. The rest cost $10-95. There is no hint on the packaging of the total number of magazines. I think that the packaging has been changed for Australia and now shows the actual wooden model. The outfit behind this is French and their web site is at http://www.hachette-collections.com
From my limited French, I gather that this is how the firm always does business. They issue a cheap opening magazine and the rest cost much more. They don't publicise the total number. The models appear to be quite decent but the price is ridiculous.
From my limited French, I gather that this is how the firm always does business. They issue a cheap opening magazine and the rest cost much more. They don't publicise the total number. The models appear to be quite decent but the price is ridiculous.
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