Wingnut Wings Q & A
with Richard Alexander

by David Wilson

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Barely three years since its global launch, Wingnut Wings has re-defined the landscape of large scale WWI aircraft modelling.

 
Since its surprise launch in 2009, the New Zealand-based company, a passionate project by noted New Zealand movie director Sir Peter Jackson (who has a lifetime interest in WWI), has revolutionised large scale WWI models with a series of releases offering Tamiya- like quality of previously unreleased ( in 1/32 scale) subjects at affordable prices with free global shipping.
 
To date, Wingnut Wings has released 19 kits with another seven listed as most likely for release in 2012. These are the Fokker D.VII, Sopwith Triplane, DH.2, Fokker E.1, Fokker E.II/III, Fokker E.IV and Sopwith Snipe.
 
With Sir Peter Jackson’s Wellington-based plastic model company confirming it also has around 50 new models in development, WWIaircraftmodels.com conducted a Question and Answer session with Wingnut’s Project Co-ordinator, Richard Alexander.

 
Key points:

• WNW is not developing a Sopwith Camel or a Fokker Dr.I but does not rule these out at some future time.

• The company is considering another twin engine subject to follow the Gotha G.IV.

• Worldwide free shipping will continue for the immediate future.

• WNW has around 50 new model projects in development.

• No release date yet on the long-promised resin ground crew accessory figures.
   

Q: Has Wingnut Wings achieved the company’s hoped-for sales wishes since its launch? Is the market what you hoped it would be or has it been affected by factors such as global financial crisis/ impact on the hobby by world economies) ?

A: Although we are not a sales/profit driven company, overall we have been very happy with sales and so long as this continues we will keep producing new models. Of course, we would always like to sell more so if anyone would like buy a few extra models from us we will not complain.

Going into this venture we knew that WWI aircraft modelling was a niche market with a small, but highly dedicated, community of enthusiasts. By designing our models with a (hopefully) nice balance of high detail and ease of assembly we hoped that we would be able to attract new modellers to the genre.

It would appear that we have been pretty successful in this respect, with many modellers contacting us to say that, although they had never previously built WWI aircraft (or aircraft at all in some cases), they have successfully built one of our models... and, most importantly, enjoyed it!

Of course, the wide range of production variations and highly complex nature of some of the original aircraft have presented a large number of design challenges. On the whole I think we have been quite successful in our aim of making them as easy to assemble as possible.

 
Q: A recent media article ( Idealog Feb 2012) stated there are about 50 models in various stages of development to follow those already released. Is this correct?

A: 50 sounds about correct at the moment.

Q: Although the 2010 feature article on Wingnut Wings published on HyperScale stated there was no perceived need for a WNW Sopwith Camel due to the Hobbycraft kit, the Hobbycraft model is now unobtainable and many believe a Camel is a ‘natural” for Wingnut. Can you advise if Wingnut is working on a Camel? If not why not?

A: I can advise that we are not working on a Camel. Why not? Because we are currently working on models of aircraft from the Great War that have never been modelled in 1/32 scale. But this does not rule out the Camel (or any other subject for that matter) for sometime in the future. Never say never.

Q: Would it then be correct to also say you are not doing a Fokker Dr.I ?

A:  Yes, we are not working on a Fokker Dr.I. But just as I said for the Camel, who knows what the future will hold? Never say never.

Q: Are there any plans to produce more big bombers, twin engine and four engine machines to follow the Gotha? Is a Royal Flying Corps/ RAF bomber possible?

A: We have been pleasantly surprised at the response to the Gotha G.IV so it is entirely possible that it will not be our last twin engine aircraft model. Given enough time and continuing demand, almost anything is possible.

Q: Does Wingnut Wings plan on continuing the worldwide free shipping deal?

A: This is something that we are constantly reviewing and, while it can not continue forever, we don't plan to change the current arrangement in the immediate future.

Q: The 2010 feature discussed special editions of the then kits with extra photo-etch, decals, figures etc. These have not yet appeared. Can you advise their status?

A: All Special Editions and figure sets are still 'in development'. Although the wait has been much longer that anyone, most of all us, would have liked I think the end results will be to everyone's liking. Well, almost everyone, some will of course baulk at the complexity of the 100s of photo-etched metal parts that will eventually be included in the Special Editions.

On the whole, the standard plastic parts from the current editions will be included so those with an aversion to tiny photo-etched metal parts will of course have the ability to build their model without tying themselves in knots trying to bend and assemble the 100s of extra detail parts.

Q: Similarly, the resin ground crew figures were discussed as due for release soon in 2010 but modellers are still waiting them. You recently said there was nothing to report on them but are we going to see them?

A: Yes you will eventually see them.

Q: The Ukrainian company Roden has reportedly retreated from 1/32 scale due to the quality/ price benefits of Wingnut kits. This effectively leaves Wingnut as the sole surviving mainstream 1/32 scale WWI aircraft kit manufacturer. How do you feel about that?

A: It's important not to forget that Roden still produce 18 great 1/32 WWI aircraft models (and 6 engines), not to mention the others available from Amodel, Special Hobby and Hobbycraft etc. So really, we cannot be considered 'the sole remaining mainstream 1/32 WWI aircraft manufacturer' and I feel that this statement is doing these other highly capable companies a great disservice. If they are no longer producing new models it does mean that eventually all the significant gaps in the 1/32 WWI aircraft available will be modelled by us.

Q: Do you have special plans to mark the 100th anniversary of WWI. Do you plan to release any special models in 2014?

A: Hopefully all of our models are 'special' in some way. No doubt the 100th anniversary will see many commemorative releases from many manufacturers. Personally I consider these anniversaries as rather solemn occasions and marking the end of hostilities would be more to my liking.

Q: Given his heavy film-making commitments does Sir Peter Jackson manage to be closely involved in the company?

A: Absolutely. He is intimately involved keeping an eye on developments and selecting or approving any new models.

Q: It has been noticed Wingnut models to date are only of British and German subjects. Is this deliberate or simple coincidence?

A: All our models are deliberately chosen, but it is just a coincidence that all the currently announced and released models are British or German.

Q: Are there plans to issue kits of French, Italian and Austro-Hungarian subjects?

A: We started with a long list of subjects to model but during the intervening years many of those were announced and released by other manufacturers before we could start ours. Sometimes, like in the case of the SE.5a,  DH.2 and Sopwith Triplane, our models were already well into the development stage before they were announced by Roden so we continued with our effort.

For those that decry the availability of French subjects in 1/32 scale, it should be noted that there are 15 French 1/32 WWI aircraft models currently available. This fares well against the 10 German and 8 British aircraft models currently available from Wingnut Wings.

Q: Where do you hope the company will be in five years’ time?

A: We hope to be offering the full range of figures, accessories and Special Editions that we have in the pipeline, and perhaps a few other surprises as well. Additionally I hope we will still be living up to modellers expectations and continue to provide enjoyment for enthusiasts of all ages all around the world.

Q: Hobby forums often run Wingnut wish list threads. Do you read them and does this influence the choice of new subjects?

A: Although I am always very busy, I do find time to check in on the forums occasionally and it's always interesting to see the 'wish lists'. Of course, some simply resemble a list of almost all WWI aircraft but some of the more well thought out lists actually quite closely mirror many on our own list of upcoming projects.

It's also great to read all the email requests we receive for new models, especially if the requests are accompanied by great reference material. It's not always possible to reply to every email but we do read them all and take on board the suggestions.

Q: Customers have looked forward to ‘surprise releases’ and so can you advise if there are any surprise releases in the pipeline for this year? 

A: I think if I said that people should expect 'surprise releases', then the actual surprise element is diminished somewhat. But it is true that we do like surprises!

To complement our Question and Answer feature article with Richard Alexander, Project Co-ordinator at Wingnut Wings, HyperScale is pleased to show a range of new test shot images of some of the “coming soon” model kit subjects.

Richard Alexander asks readers to note that these are quite early test shots and the final products will have more refined/different details etc.

Model test shot images courtesy of and Copyright © Wingnut Wings

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This article previously appeared on the WWIaircraftmodels.com forum.

Text Copyright © 2012 by David Wilson
Page Created 29 June, 2012
Last Updated 29 June, 2012

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