NGBZ Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Seems to be a few rumours circulating the Wingnut Wings may be another victim of the Covid-19 closexown in NZ. Richard Alexander has seemingly responded to a post on an Oz based WW1 plane forum that things are not looking good for the company. Wod be a real shame, but goes to show the devestating impact the current crisis is having on everybody. Much rather lose a model kit producer than human lives, but sad news indeed if true. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robthepom Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 (edited) Yes I just read the FB posts, surly can’t be true https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=10978.15 Edited April 10, 2020 by Robthepom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanKB Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Don't really see the need to close it permanently? Might be money, but PJ is absolutely loaded. Close the offices, furlough the staff, reduce all expenditures and wait it out for 3 months. And why just shut it all up? Could it not be sold to, for instance, Tamiya? Or the same investment house who purchased Revell? The moulds are valuable assets, and there are many, many of them. There must surely be something else to this story, because it is NOT making any sense to me. A three month cash-flow issue should not lead to businesses shutting their doors for ever. (Unless its a pre-packed administration deal, where the company sells itself to, for instance, PJ. But he's already sole owner, so that makes no sense. Unless he IS selling it, closing the business down, writing his losses off, then the new buyer starts off where WNW stopped?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanKB Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 I'd say its related to this, maybe toys being propelled from pram at near light speeds?: MIL-OSI New Zealand: Media release on $41m annual subsidy for Weta Group The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Sir Peter Jackson to front up and explain the megabucks his company has been pocketing from taxpayers through corporate welfare subsides, and his company’s reported efforts to try and stop the public exposé of the payment amounts. Responding to the NZ Herald’s reporting today, Jordan Williams said: “No wonder Weta and Sir Peter Jackson wanted to keep this secret. He has taken taxpayers for a ride.” “This is the ultimate in socialism for the rich and blows to bits any arguments that subsidies make sense from an economic perspective.” “For every job created, $25,000 per year of taxpayer money is being funnelled to Peter Jackson’s entities. The whole thing looks like a ruse.” “In 2017, we exposed that the per household annual cost of the Government’s various corporate welfare schemes is $931. These new figures show just how out of control this crony capitalism has become.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 This would be a terrible kick in the guts if true. But no point in getting into a tizzy just yet. I still have four WNW kits in my stash. scvrobeson, Rick Griewski and CANicoll 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robthepom Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 4 minutes ago, Gazzas said: This would be a terrible kick in the guts if true. But no point in getting into a tizzy just yet. I still have four WNW kits in my stash. oh no I,ve built most of mine, strange and stupid thing to do (got FEE and Hassa in Stash.....I'll sell on Ebay and retire.....oh wait i am retired) MikeMaben, Lothar and Rick Griewski 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamj Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 And we will lament the loss...Especially the Lancaster. Just in shock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Griewski Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Greif8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanKB Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 It'll be back in some form or another, just consider it a temporary reprieve for your wallets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Griewski Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 23 minutes ago, DeanKB said: It'll be back in some form or another, just consider it a temporary reprieve for your wallets. I just completed my small WNW wants list using Sprue Brothers. I could not shell out for the new Gotha kits. My c-card is still glowing. I have been waiting for a long time for the Fokker triplane and I guess I can wait a bit longer...or buy one from Roden and deal with its short comings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Griewski Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 51 minutes ago, williamj said: And we will lament the loss...Especially the Lancaster. Just in shock. the Dr.I kit for me sad for us and it looks as though for the tax payers of NZ Bill_S and Sepp 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 (edited) http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/news These days what you hear or read believe only 5% of it. Newspapers today sometime do not print the whole truth about any situations. They like to sensationalize a lot of things. WnW could simple figured that currently getting things in or out is a hassle plus they could be like everyone else working from home office wise that is. Unless there is an official statement from the company believe nothing. One question to answer why is where do they get their tooling and molding done? That could be the reason why they stopped operations for now Hacker Edited April 10, 2020 by Hacker Greif8, chrish, MikeMaben and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 45 minutes ago, Hacker said: http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/news These days what you hear or read believe only 5% of it. Newspapers today sometime do not print the whole truth about any situations. They like to sensationalize a lot of things. WnW could simple figured that currently getting things in or out is a hassle plus they could be like everyone else working from home office wise that is. This is true, however do take this into consideration: If you follow the link in post #2 to the WW1Aircraftmodels forum, you'll find this information from Richard Alexander Quote Richard Alexander, General Manager of Wingnut Wings has responded to the Forum request for an official comment on what is happening with the business right now and the reports it is being closed down permanently. He says: " Nothing is finalized yet but it looks pretty grim. Very sad. I hope you understand that I have nothing else I can say at this time." It's understood final decisions on the future of the company will be made in the next week or so. Dave Wilson Gold Coast Australia Dave Wilson and Richard Alexander communicate with each other. Let's hope the decisions are around where and how models are made rather than if they continue at all. There are people likely to lose their jobs in NZ Richard CANicoll 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANicoll Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Apparently Richard Alexander replied to a direct inquiry regarding the future of WNW: Richard Alexander, General Manager of Wingnut Wings has responded to the Forum request for an official comment on what is happening with the business right now and the reports it is being closed down permanently. He says: " Nothing is finalized yet but it looks pretty grim. Very sad. I hope you understand that I have nothing else I can say at this time." It's understood final decisions on the future of the company will be made in the next week or so. Dave Wilson Gold Coast Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANicoll Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 I see RLWP and I posted the same thing at the same time. Sorry to see WNW go if that happens, but grateful for their attention to detail and raising the bar for the kits they did produce. I still have the Green Tailed Trilogy, Albatros Jasta 5 and Albatros DV Manfred von Richthofen in my closet. Rick Griewski and RLWP 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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