1/72 Kościuszko Albatros 'Cooper' Squadron Encore Models #72103 Shrink Wrap MISB

Description

I need to clear some space on my shelves, so I need to part with some of my collection. Encore Models was one of the brands from the once-bankrupt Squadron Products in Texas that was known for giving a second life to kits from other manufacturers by packaging them with value-added aftermarket products. They are generally limited to short runs and can be very hard-to-find. In this case, you get the Roden Albatros D.III kit with thirteen True Details resin parts added for the cockpit, engine, guns and landing gear, along with a fret of over 30 photo etched metal parts, an acetate windscreen and great
Cartograf
decals.
I only see one of these kits listed on eBay (rare, OOP and hard-to-find) but as a Top Rated Plus US Seller, I have it in stock and can reliably ship this kit very quickly. Here is some of the information about the kit that I have found online:
Scalemates.com shows that this 2013 release is based on the 2002 Roden tooling. They show the dynamic box art and have a link to download the full-color 8-page instruction set and painting guide. There are also a few links to reviews, aftermarket parts and references to get you on your way to a successful build.
Scott Van Aken did a detailed In-Box Review of the modelingmadness.com site, showing the plastic and photo etched parts along with the decals. He felt the Roden kit was already a very good kit and was impressed with the thoughtful details Encore threw in, especially the helpful photo-based documentation, saying: “
Encore has been pretty good at picking a good kit and making that much better with additional photo etch and resin parts.
”
Mark
Davies did an impressive First Look Review on the hyperscale.com site. After a little background on Merian Cooper, the joint American-Polish Kosciuszko Squadron, the Oeffag S.253 kit from Roden and even kits of other brands, he details the kit contents from the original kit as well as the resin and PE upgrades. Over a dozen high resolution photos show the plastic and resin parts, PE fret, decals and instructions. He goes into detail about the airframe, cockpit, engine and wing assemblies, noting the high quality all around. His summary reflects his enthusiasm for this kit, saying: “
This kit is an example of Squadron’s Encore brand at its best. Encore has taken a good quality kit and added just enough quality resin and PE components to lift it another level, all matched with beautiful decals and very good instructions.
”
Michael Benolkin did a helpful Fist Look Review on the cybermodeler.com site, showing each plastic sprue, the baggie of resin parts, the PE fret and the exquisite decal sheet. He gives the history of the aircraft and the pilot (Merian Caldwell Cooper) before listing the impressive features of this finely crafted kit. He notes that Kościuszko Squadron is still an active unit in today’s Polish Air Force and said about the model: “
This is a nice looking kit that should allow any WWI modeler to have some fun.
”
Brian
Baker did a riveting Build Review on the ipmsusa3.org site that started with a lengthy history of the aircraft and the story behind the kit subject. He gives you tremendous insight into the kit as he goes through each step of the build. We also get a few photos of the work in progress and then nine shots of his stunning model. He had to put in some work to get his outstanding results and said: “
It is very colorful, and the decals really make it stand out. If you have some modeling experience, and want to build a truly unique model, this is the one to get. It's not an easy model to build, but you'll get a feeling of accomplishment when you have it finished and on the shelf.
”
This kit is in a colorful box about 10” x 6.5” x 1.25”. As you can see from the pictures, the box is in outstanding condition. You can also see that it is sealed with the original shrink wrap, so I consider this
factory sealed and absolutely gift-ready
.
This item contains one complete injection molded plastic model kits with grey plastic parts, resin and photo etched metal detail parts and a very nice sheet of
Cartograf
decals. It requires cement and paint to complete as shown. I use eBay Managed Payments, but I no longer ship internationally. Auction winner pays the winning bid and for a limited time, I am offering this kit with
First Class Shipping in the US
!
No reserve and a low starting bid. Check out my other great auctions for combined shipping. Good luck!
Those familiar with my listings can tell that I really enjoy these products and the modeling hobby. I like to provide more than just the bare facts about the items, trying to lead you into discovering more about the subjects and optimizing your builds (if that is your goal). I started out picking up models that I was interested in, with the eye toward building them when I had time. Always a bargain-hunter, I accumulated many more than I can build, so I found myself in a Collector status (sounds nicer than a hoarder).
As I am sure you have noticed, my items are almost always sealed and in mint condition (I call them Gift-Ready), since I only open them when I am ready to build them. Now I enjoy making these products available to my fellow modelers; both Builders and Collectors. For the Builders, there are probably better (at least cheaper) ways to add to your project lists than buying from me, but you know you are getting top quality. For Collectors, my goal is to save you a few bucks over the competition for the same item in factory sealed and collectible (or resellable) condition.