Anigrand Models 1/72 SIKORSKY S-42 FLYING CLIPPER Anybody Know About This Kit

Anigrand models are a mixed bag, some good and some not.  I don't know anything about that particular kit, but I sure wish there was a good kit of the type.

mic53mlb

My earlier post triggered my interest and want for a nice representation of the subject matter a Sikorsky S-42. I did a search, yes you get these desk models that are basic representations of the aircraft you're interested in ( I used to see these in local bars close to LaGuardia Airport where pilots used to drink back in the day), but I found this kit on Ebay.. it looks nice but it's $166.00 plus s+h. Anybody familiar with this kit ??

 

One sixty six is about what the going rate is on the Anigrand website.  It’s also in what I would consider to be the ballpark for all resin kits of this size & complexity, based on my experience with resin ship kits. 

Have you built resin before?   Nothing magical or mystical but it requires a different mindset than injected plastic.  Looking at the parts on the Anigrand site the outer wings look like they may be a bear to attach & align without droop.   Main cabin is solid, or perhaps hollow without seats.  The separate lower boat-shape hull may also be problematical.   Resin kits often have differential shrinkage rates between parts of different masses.  It gets scary when you think you will have to cut apart a major piece to section it to make it smaller or add a shim to make it larger

Resin kits often fill the void of ‘I wish there was a kit of ...’.   They are often the only game in town and if you want one bad enough are the sole option to a set of plans, a block of wood, and time. 

That particular kit seems to be well reviewed on airliner forums, however those are experienced modelers. I think it's pretty expensive and I'm sure it would be a challenge. The biggest problem seemed to be poor fit of the canopy part. I've only ever built one Anigrand kit, a Republic Rainbow. It was a big impressive box of resin, and a fair amount of work to get it right.

Or there's the Airfix Boeing 314 in 1/144. A straightforward model, fun to build.

Another possibility is the Special Hobby S-43 "Baby Clipper". It's plastic, seems to be available on eBay for around $ 100. The kit was the military JSR-1. Mike at Vintage Flyer Decals has a PAA set for it. I think his products are top notch.