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Corgi 48102 1:144 Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker Illinois ANG 0-20900 City of Chicago

Sale price£18.00 GBP
Duties & Taxes Prepaid Where Available
30-Day Returns

Condition summary

Model condition
Excellent (8/10)
Box condition
Excellent (8/10)
Completeness
The model is in excellent condition overall and comes complete.
  • The model is in excellent condition overall and comes complete.
Full condition notes

Model condition

  • The model is in excellent condition overall and comes complete.
  • Some light handling wear is present to the top of the nose.
  • Some paint bubbling is present at the end of the wing.
  • Despite the noted minor imperfections, the model still displays very well overall.

Box condition

  • The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some light shelf wear present.

Ships from the United Kingdom.

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International orders: Duties and import taxes are collected at checkout where available. If not collected, you may need to pay them, plus carrier handling fees, on delivery.

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Description

A substantial 1:144 scale diecast representation of Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker 0-20900 “City of Chicago”, operated by the Illinois Air National Guard. Released as part of the Corgi Aviation Archive range, model 48102 captures one of the United States Air Force's distinctive piston-engine aerial refuelling aircraft.

The KC-97 was developed from the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, which shared much of its design heritage with the wartime B-29 Superfortress. Its unusually deep fuselage provided substantial internal capacity for fuel, cargo and support equipment.

KC-97 tankers used a flying-boom refuelling system to transfer fuel to receiving aircraft. The type supported early jet fighters and bombers, although the speed difference between the piston-powered tanker and faster jet aircraft could make refuelling operations demanding.

The KC-97L incorporated auxiliary General Electric J47 turbojet engines beneath the outer wings. These additional engines increased the tanker's speed and performance during refuelling operations while retaining the four principal radial engines.

Aircraft 0-20900 carries the individual name “City of Chicago” and markings associated with the Illinois Air National Guard. The polished natural-metal finish, Air Force insignia and prominent unit markings reflect the appearance of American tanker aircraft during the Cold War.

The model features extensive diecast construction, a large double-deck fuselage, six engine nacelles representing the four piston engines and two auxiliary jets, rotating propellers, detailed tanker markings, removable landing gear and the original Corgi presentation display stand.


Fact Sheet

Brand: Corgi

Series: Aviation Archive

Model code: 48102

Aircraft: Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker

Aircraft Marking: 0-20900

Aircraft Name: City of Chicago

Unit: Illinois Air National Guard

Associated Squadron: 108th Air Refuelling Squadron

Role: Aerial refuelling tanker

Date/Period: Cold War era

Operator / Country: United States Air Force / United States

Scale: 1:144

Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with quality sub-components

Special Features: Authentic City of Chicago markings, polished natural-metal finish, flying-boom tanker configuration, four radial engines, twin auxiliary jet engines, rotating propellers, removable landing gear and original presentation display stand


Model Dimensions

Length: 9.25" or 23.5 cm

Width (Wingspan): 11.75" or 29.8 cm

Condition

Model Condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The model is in excellent condition overall and comes complete.
  • Some light handling wear is present to the top of the nose.
  • Some paint bubbling is present at the end of the wing.
  • Despite the noted minor imperfections, the model still displays very well overall.

Box condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some light shelf wear present.

Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.

Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Grading

Grading Criteria

Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.


Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.


Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.


Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.


Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.


Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.


Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.


Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.


If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.

For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.

Shipping

Dispatch & Tracking

Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.

If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.

Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.


UK Delivery

  • Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.

  • Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.

  • Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.


International Delivery

We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.

  • Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.

  • Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.

 

Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.

If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.


Import Duties & Taxes

For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.

Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.

If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.


We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.

Returns

Returns

You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.

Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.

We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.

To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.

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Description

A substantial 1:144 scale diecast representation of Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker 0-20900 “City of Chicago”, operated by the Illinois Air National Guard. Released as part of the Corgi Aviation Archive range, model 48102 captures one of the United States Air Force's distinctive piston-engine aerial refuelling aircraft.

The KC-97 was developed from the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, which shared much of its design heritage with the wartime B-29 Superfortress. Its unusually deep fuselage provided substantial internal capacity for fuel, cargo and support equipment.

KC-97 tankers used a flying-boom refuelling system to transfer fuel to receiving aircraft. The type supported early jet fighters and bombers, although the speed difference between the piston-powered tanker and faster jet aircraft could make refuelling operations demanding.

The KC-97L incorporated auxiliary General Electric J47 turbojet engines beneath the outer wings. These additional engines increased the tanker's speed and performance during refuelling operations while retaining the four principal radial engines.

Aircraft 0-20900 carries the individual name “City of Chicago” and markings associated with the Illinois Air National Guard. The polished natural-metal finish, Air Force insignia and prominent unit markings reflect the appearance of American tanker aircraft during the Cold War.

The model features extensive diecast construction, a large double-deck fuselage, six engine nacelles representing the four piston engines and two auxiliary jets, rotating propellers, detailed tanker markings, removable landing gear and the original Corgi presentation display stand.


Fact Sheet

Brand: Corgi

Series: Aviation Archive

Model code: 48102

Aircraft: Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker

Aircraft Marking: 0-20900

Aircraft Name: City of Chicago

Unit: Illinois Air National Guard

Associated Squadron: 108th Air Refuelling Squadron

Role: Aerial refuelling tanker

Date/Period: Cold War era

Operator / Country: United States Air Force / United States

Scale: 1:144

Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with quality sub-components

Special Features: Authentic City of Chicago markings, polished natural-metal finish, flying-boom tanker configuration, four radial engines, twin auxiliary jet engines, rotating propellers, removable landing gear and original presentation display stand


Model Dimensions

Length: 9.25" or 23.5 cm

Width (Wingspan): 11.75" or 29.8 cm

Condition

Model Condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The model is in excellent condition overall and comes complete.
  • Some light handling wear is present to the top of the nose.
  • Some paint bubbling is present at the end of the wing.
  • Despite the noted minor imperfections, the model still displays very well overall.

Box condition - Excellent (8/10)

  • The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some light shelf wear present.

Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.

Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Grading

Grading Criteria

Our grading is based mainly on the physical condition of the model itself, including paintwork, attached parts, repairs, visible wear and overall presentation. Box condition and missing separate accessories are noted separately where applicable.


Mint (10/10)
- As new, with no visible flaws to the model itself.


Near Mint (9/10)
- Very light signs of handling, storage or display only.


Excellent (8/10)
- Light wear or a few tiny marks, but still displays very well.


Very Good (7/10)
- Noticeable wear, small chips or rubs, but still presentable as a display piece.


Good (6/10)
- Obvious overall wear, visible marks or paint loss; better suited as a display or filler piece.


Fair (5/10)
- Heavy wear, larger areas of paint loss, repairs or clearly visible flaws.


Spares / Repairs (4/10 or below)
- Significant damage, missing attached parts, broken components or best suited for restoration/spares.


If a separate accessory, stand, leaflet, certificate or optional part is missing, this will be mentioned in the listing notes. The model may still receive a high grade if the model itself remains in strong condition.

For a full breakdown on how we grade models, please refer to our Condition Grading page.

Shipping

Dispatch & Tracking

Orders are dispatched on the next working day after they are placed. We do not dispatch orders on the same day.

If you would like us to hold your order for a later dispatch date, please add a note in the cart before proceeding to checkout, or contact us directly as soon as possible.

Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel on our 'Track Your Order' page.


UK Delivery

  • Tracked 48 — £4.20: Usually 2–3 working days. Available on orders under £100.

  • Tracked 24 — £5.20: Aims for the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £100 or more.

  • Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50: Guaranteed by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch. Free on orders of £200 or more.


International Delivery

We ship worldwide from the UK using tracked services, with parcels insured up to the full order value.

  • Europe: Usually 3–5 business days after dispatch.

  • Rest of the world: Usually 6–7 business days after dispatch.

 

Add your models to the cart and enter your address to see available services and prices. Postage is combined by weight when you purchase multiple models.

If you place separate orders before they have been dispatched, we will combine them where they can be packed safely together and refund any excess postage paid. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can identify the orders.


Import Duties & Taxes

For supported destinations, duties and taxes are shown and collected at checkout. These orders are sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due on delivery.

Duty-paid delivery is available where shown at checkout for the United States, Norway, Switzerland and selected European destinations. See our Shipping Policy for the full destination list.

If duties and taxes are not collected at checkout, your order is sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). You may need to pay import charges or carrier handling fees before delivery.


We wrap each model box in bubble wrap and use paper void fill inside a sturdy, double-walled shipping box. We may reuse boxes and bubble wrap where suitable, while ensuring your order is protected during transit.

Returns

Returns

You can return an item within 30 days of delivery, provided it is in the same condition as when you received it.

Returns are free for UK customers. Customers outside the UK are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe each item carefully so you can buy with confidence.

We inspect returned items before issuing a refund. For full details, please see our Returns Policy.

To start a return, email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under About & Help in the top menu.