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Italeri box question

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  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Staten Island
Italeri box question
Posted by BigDaddyBluesman on Thursday, October 13, 2011 8:49 AM

I have a lot of Italeri stuff but most of the big older boxes I bought on eBay and were already open. Like the M108, m107, m109, m110. Either Italeri or Testors.......I have bought some new Italeri and some older stuff and they were all sealed in plastic.

I'm looking for an Italeri LCM 3 to try and make it into a HSSC Vietnam era boat.

The question is how are the boxes to those models sealed? I have a seller on eBay who swears Italeri uses circular tape. Every Italeri model I have is shrink wrapped. I said it's possible that model had tape I don't know. The guy was real nasty and I will never buy from someone like him.

But for future reference when I do find one if it is factory sealed was it in shrink wrap or tape. I am very dubious of the tape story. Maybe some of the older Testors versions might have been taped because of the type of box but not a big box like that with an open top, but it could be possible.

That's why I am seeking some advice here from someone who remembers or has one that's sealed. Or the older Italeri big box armor. I had a Paladin M109A6 that was shrink wrapped. I sold it because they didn't use it in Nam.

I have those Italeri boxes that were opened when I bought it and even those older big models must have had the full wrap because I could find NO tape residue. With tape you cut the tape with a razor and not remove it because it sticks to the model and you would ruin the cover.

I think this eBay seller is wrong and trying to sell a model that does not have all the parts.

Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: my keyboard dreaming of being at the workbench
Posted by Aaron Skinner on Thursday, October 13, 2011 8:56 AM

I think I've seen Italeri boxes both shrink wrapped and taped. I found a couple around the office that definitely have circular tape on both end opening and tray-and-lid type boxes. My experience with the tape is that it is possible to remove it cleanly.

Cheers, Aaron

Aaron Skinner

Editor

FineScale Modeler

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Thursday, October 13, 2011 11:00 AM

Italeri and Revell of Germany frequently use clear circular tape on the side edges of the box. I rarely see one of the RoG kits shrinkwrapped. Italeri kits are normally shrinkwrapped, but some of the bigger kits, like the XB-70 Valkerie, used the circular tape.

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Thursday, October 13, 2011 11:57 AM

Aaron Skinner

I think I've seen Italeri boxes both shrink wrapped and taped. I found a couple around the office that definitely have circular tape on both end opening and tray-and-lid type boxes. My experience with the tape is that it is possible to remove it cleanly.

Cheers, Aaron

Ditto I thought this was weird too, until I asked about it in the LHS.. They basically said the same thing.

  • Member since
    November 2004
  • From: Cat Central, NC
Posted by Bronto on Thursday, October 13, 2011 4:52 PM

Italeri kits come to the US with the round tape.  They are shrink-wrapped here in the US by the importer.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Thursday, October 13, 2011 5:08 PM

I am pretty sure all the Italeri kits i have seen in the UK are sealed with tape.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Staten Island
Posted by BigDaddyBluesman on Thursday, October 13, 2011 6:54 PM

Thanks everybody I appreciate the education.

My issue with the guy was his attitude. I sent him a message, a nice message that if he removed the tape and made sure everything was there I would bid to win. His starting price was low for the kit and I felt there was something wrong, from my past ebay experiences.

He came back with insults and attitude, he picked the wrong guy for that...LOL. I said I would let him know if I found out about the tape thing as I would ask here but I would not bid on anything from him. And all my Italeri kits that are sealed are wrapped in plastic.

Anyway I did send him a message that indeed some are only taped as I originally said to him that's it's possible I will find out but I never saw one like that.

I was prepared to spend up to $70 on it all he had to do was act like an adult and not a New Yorker. He's in California but I could swear the guy has a New York attitude. I should know I lived in New York all my life except my time in the Army.

Again that solves that and I am more informed for future reference when I do buy that LCM 3. Now if I could find out why Italeri stopped making so many great models.

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Thursday, October 13, 2011 7:12 PM

Shrink wrap is no guarantee of anything.  I worked in a retail store for awhile between "real" jobs- they had a shrink wrap machine in the back room and re-wrapped most customer returns and put them on the shelf to sell as new, unopened.  No one could tell the difference.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Friday, October 14, 2011 12:31 PM

I checked the Italeri kit boxes in my LHS today. The kits had the circular tapes at all four sides and the Lend Lease 2 1/2 ton truck was shrinkwrapped over the tapes.

There was also a new Dragon Smartkit M4A3 that had the tape at all four edges and shrinkwrapped as well.

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