Author Topic: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down  (Read 26523 times)

Offline Eric Armstrong

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #15 on: April 10, 2020, 12:48:20 PM »
How ironic.  Just today there was a story in CNN about how New Zealand had only one death from COVID-19 and how they had for the most part weathered the worst effects of this pandemic.
Honor Necessity

Offline Vickers

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #16 on: April 10, 2020, 12:58:52 PM »
If WNW is truly shutting down permanently, then I would simply like to thank everyone involved for bring us dozens of outstanding, affordable 1/32nd Great War models that no other company could or would have touched. Their passion for the genre and commitment to excellence in every aspect of kit design and composition initiated a renaissance and set a standard that few will ever match. Good show, chaps, sorry to see you go, but thank you.
Bruno: "How many rules are there?"

Willi: "I don't know... none of zem have ever been written down."

Offline Vickers

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #17 on: April 10, 2020, 01:00:57 PM »
How ironic.  Just today there was a story in CNN about how New Zealand had only one death from COVID-19 and how they had for the most part weathered the worst effects of this pandemic.

I suspect that beyond the temporary postal restrictions in NZ, their business associations and production mechanism in China may have been hit too hard to resume operations.
Bruno: "How many rules are there?"

Willi: "I don't know... none of zem have ever been written down."

Online hiddeous1973

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #18 on: April 10, 2020, 05:17:11 PM »
I guess you are one to know....
I always understood that WnW is a very small operation, maybe there is nobody around to pick up the phone due to covid-19?
Just a thought, simply not willing for WnW to end.....

Offline Dave W

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #19 on: April 10, 2020, 05:55:03 PM »
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
Owner and Administrator of ww1aircraftmodels.com and forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Offline Dave J

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #20 on: April 10, 2020, 06:14:15 PM »
Heya Everyone,

I don't post often here, but I do still check in weekly since I left WNW. This is really sad news, but not a total shock to me at all. If it's going the way things I am being told, it's very sad for all those that have been involved with WNW. I just ask you to keep everyone in your thoughts at WNW that are effected during this shitty time.

Dave
« Last Edit: April 10, 2020, 06:24:15 PM by Dave J »
Dave Johnson
Wellington, New Zealand

Former Wingnut Wings Dungeon Master, Sales & Logistics Manager

Offline rhwinter

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #21 on: April 10, 2020, 06:41:23 PM »
How can we help? Can we at all? Buying even more WnW kits probably won't help, as money should not be the main problem with Sir Peter backing WnW... Sad!

Offline iwik

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #22 on: April 10, 2020, 07:11:18 PM »
Hi!
I just CAN'T believe PJ won't back up WNW. It's his baby.
Surely other factories in China are up to the task.
Don't believe it.
Ciao
IWik, hopeful.

Offline RLWP

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #23 on: April 10, 2020, 07:27:52 PM »
Damn - now I don't know what to do.

Should I scrape together enough to buy all the engines I might need for future scratch builds? Would those orders be honoured? What do I need?

I'll try and sit tight and await further news

Richard
Hendon for flying - the fastest way to the ground!

Dekenba1

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #24 on: April 10, 2020, 08:45:59 PM »
He's had a fair bit of bad press in NZ lately, perhaps he's just had enough??




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.”

Offline Dave in Dubai

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #25 on: April 10, 2020, 08:58:40 PM »
Whatever the truth may or may not be regarding tax exposés of the business accumen surrounding the Wingnuts Film companies , the model community owes a great deal of thanks to Wingnut Wings for having the vision and passion to bring these amazing series of kits to the world’s modellers over the past decade.

I for one feel for all the employees at WNW who like many many people round the world just now are having their lives turned upside down, in very uncertain times and hope a way forward can be found to ensure the brand survives.

Good luck Wingnut Wings.

Dave in Dubai

Offline Ringleheim

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #26 on: April 11, 2020, 03:28:00 AM »
This story doesn't make any sense.

If WNW is shutting down permanently, something is going on here beyond COVID 19.

And for sure, someone will buy the existing tooling. 

That Fokker DR. I seems a million miles away now!


Offline Monty

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #27 on: April 11, 2020, 04:12:49 AM »
It's always about the money. I'm sure Sir Peter feels the same about WNW, his aircraft collection, and the dedicated people involved as he always did, but events have overtaken him. Covid-19 isn't the problem. The massive recession that follows certainly will be a problem, here in South Africa we are "junk" staus over and over already, and businesses are closing... Yes, I'm very grateful for the amazing models and I have a respectable stash, so I'd better build..

So sorry to see Richard Alexander and his small team move on but.... So long, and thanks for all the fish....

Now, about that group build...

Regards,

Marc

Offline RichieW

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #28 on: April 12, 2020, 01:18:34 AM »
Very sad news, I only recently discovered the joys of their kits but mostly sad for the poor folks who have invested so much time and passion into making WNW such a great company.

Offline Lettow

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Re: Shock news - Wingnut Wings is closing down
« Reply #29 on: April 12, 2020, 04:20:38 AM »