If you need to return an item, please email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under “About & Help” in the top menu.
Please note: This model is part of our Pre-Loved Collection and is graded Good (6/10) or below on our condition scale. The models will show signs of display use, wear or faults. Please check the Condition description and photos for a full breakdown before purchasing.
Corgi AA31801 1:144 Boeing B-29 Superfortress USAAF 58th BW Esso Express
Duties & Taxes Prepaid Where Available
30-Day Returns
Preowned - Good (6/10)
Limited Edition
952 of 4000
Pieces Worldwide
Dispatch by
Tue, Sep 22
Rates shown in cart
- Description
- Condition
- Grading
- Shipping
- Returns
Description
A monumental long-range heavyweight engineered to strike deep within hostile territories. This highly detailed 1:144 scale diecast model by Corgi (AA31801) replicates the legendary Boeing B-29 Superfortress (#42-6242), affectionately christened "Esso Express." Operating during the final, high-stakes months of World War II, this aircraft served under the USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing, 468th Bombardment Group. The B-29 represented the pinnacle of wartime aviation technology, introducing cutting-edge advancements such as a fully pressurized crew cabin, an advanced analog missile control system, and a network of remote-controlled defensive machine-gun turrets. Designed as a high-altitude daytime strategic bomber, it famously adapted to carry out relentless low-altitude nighttime incendiary missions that ultimately altered the course of the war in the Pacific. This model serves as a definitive tribute to the heavy piston-engine era, finished in an authentic olive drab livery with its distinct tail markings.
Ideal for curators of Pacific theater operations and foundational strategic bomber collections, this Aviation Archive Collector Series release stands as a definitive historical artifact. Despite its compact 1:144 scale, the model is built with a heavy diecast metal construction, weighing in at well over a pound with minimal plastic components. Structural engineering highlights include a solid-metal wing and tail assembly integrated flawlessly with four Pratt & Whitney radial engine nacelles. Fine detailing includes thinly stamped, free-spinning all-metal propellers, internal radial engine details visible behind the cowlings, and transparent glazing on both the nose and the rear gunner's canopy positions. Complete with rigid, all-metal machine gun barrels and an elegant presentation stand to capture the heavy bomber in a commanding flight profile, this premium collectible delivers an uncompromised presence.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Corgi
Series: Aviation Archive Collector Series
Model code: AA31801
Aircraft: Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Serial/Tail Code: #42-6242
Nose Art / Nickname: "Esso Express"
Unit: USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing, 468th Bombardment Group (58th BW, 468th BG)
Campaign: Pacific Theater / Strategic Firebombing Campaign
Date/Period: World War II (Late Era)
Scale: 1:144
Limited Edition: 4,000 pieces worldwide
Material: Heavyweight Diecast Metal
Special Features: Authentic olive drab livery, free-spinning all-metal propellers, detailed radial engine faces, transparent nose and tail gunner windows, sturdy all-metal defensive turrets, premium metal presentation display stand
Model Dimensions
Length: 8.25" or 21 cm
Wingspan: 11.75" or 29.8 cm
Condition
Model Condition - Good (6/10)
- Paint bubbling present on both sides of the vertical stabiliser.
- Small area of paint loss to the top of the fin.
- Tray rub to the leading edge of the wing, with some paint loss.
- Paint cracking/crazing visible on the grey underside paint.
Box condition - Fair (5/10)
- Noticeable wear is present including a rip, flexing to the box and missing surface art. All shown within the images.
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.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel through our Track Your Order page, also available from the main menu.
UK Delivery
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 — £4.20
Usually delivered within 2–3 working days. Available for orders below £100. - Royal Mail Tracked 24 — £5.20 or FREE on orders of £100 or more
Aims for delivery on the next working day after dispatch. - Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50 or FREE on orders of £200 or more
Guaranteed delivery by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the United Kingdom, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
Estimated delivery times after dispatch:
- Europe: usually 3–5 business days.
- Rest of the world: usually 6–7 business days.
Add your models to the cart and enter your delivery address to view the available services and postage costs. Shipping is automatically combined by weight when purchasing multiple models.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, any applicable duties and taxes are calculated and shown at checkout after you enter your delivery address. These charges are collected with your order and the parcel is sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due upon delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is currently available where shown at checkout for:
- United States
- Norway and Switzerland
- Selected European destinations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
For destinations where duties and taxes are not shown and collected at checkout, orders are sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). The recipient may therefore need to pay local import duties, taxes or handling charges before delivery.
Every model is carefully packaged to help ensure it arrives safely and securely.
Returns
- Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery.
- Items must be returned in their original condition.
- Free UK customer returns.
- Non-UK customers are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe all items accurately to help you buy with confidence.
- Refunds are issued after inspection of the returned item.
For more information on returns, please visit our Returns Policy page.
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Corgi AA31801 1:144 Boeing B-29 Superfortress USAAF 58th BW Esso Express
Sale price£18.00 GBP
- Description
- Condition
- Grading
- Shipping
- Returns
Description
A monumental long-range heavyweight engineered to strike deep within hostile territories. This highly detailed 1:144 scale diecast model by Corgi (AA31801) replicates the legendary Boeing B-29 Superfortress (#42-6242), affectionately christened "Esso Express." Operating during the final, high-stakes months of World War II, this aircraft served under the USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing, 468th Bombardment Group. The B-29 represented the pinnacle of wartime aviation technology, introducing cutting-edge advancements such as a fully pressurized crew cabin, an advanced analog missile control system, and a network of remote-controlled defensive machine-gun turrets. Designed as a high-altitude daytime strategic bomber, it famously adapted to carry out relentless low-altitude nighttime incendiary missions that ultimately altered the course of the war in the Pacific. This model serves as a definitive tribute to the heavy piston-engine era, finished in an authentic olive drab livery with its distinct tail markings.
Ideal for curators of Pacific theater operations and foundational strategic bomber collections, this Aviation Archive Collector Series release stands as a definitive historical artifact. Despite its compact 1:144 scale, the model is built with a heavy diecast metal construction, weighing in at well over a pound with minimal plastic components. Structural engineering highlights include a solid-metal wing and tail assembly integrated flawlessly with four Pratt & Whitney radial engine nacelles. Fine detailing includes thinly stamped, free-spinning all-metal propellers, internal radial engine details visible behind the cowlings, and transparent glazing on both the nose and the rear gunner's canopy positions. Complete with rigid, all-metal machine gun barrels and an elegant presentation stand to capture the heavy bomber in a commanding flight profile, this premium collectible delivers an uncompromised presence.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Corgi
Series: Aviation Archive Collector Series
Model code: AA31801
Aircraft: Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Serial/Tail Code: #42-6242
Nose Art / Nickname: "Esso Express"
Unit: USAAF 58th Bombardment Wing, 468th Bombardment Group (58th BW, 468th BG)
Campaign: Pacific Theater / Strategic Firebombing Campaign
Date/Period: World War II (Late Era)
Scale: 1:144
Limited Edition: 4,000 pieces worldwide
Material: Heavyweight Diecast Metal
Special Features: Authentic olive drab livery, free-spinning all-metal propellers, detailed radial engine faces, transparent nose and tail gunner windows, sturdy all-metal defensive turrets, premium metal presentation display stand
Model Dimensions
Length: 8.25" or 21 cm
Wingspan: 11.75" or 29.8 cm
Condition
Model Condition - Good (6/10)
- Paint bubbling present on both sides of the vertical stabiliser.
- Small area of paint loss to the top of the fin.
- Tray rub to the leading edge of the wing, with some paint loss.
- Paint cracking/crazing visible on the grey underside paint.
Box condition - Fair (5/10)
- Noticeable wear is present including a rip, flexing to the box and missing surface art. All shown within the images.
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.
Once dispatched, you can follow your parcel through our Track Your Order page, also available from the main menu.
UK Delivery
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 — £4.20
Usually delivered within 2–3 working days. Available for orders below £100. - Royal Mail Tracked 24 — £5.20 or FREE on orders of £100 or more
Aims for delivery on the next working day after dispatch. - Parcelforce expressAM — £9.50 or FREE on orders of £200 or more
Guaranteed delivery by 12 noon on the next working day after dispatch.
International Delivery
We ship worldwide from the United Kingdom, with parcels insured up to the full order value.
Estimated delivery times after dispatch:
- Europe: usually 3–5 business days.
- Rest of the world: usually 6–7 business days.
Add your models to the cart and enter your delivery address to view the available services and postage costs. Shipping is automatically combined by weight when purchasing multiple models.
Import Duties & Taxes
For supported destinations, any applicable duties and taxes are calculated and shown at checkout after you enter your delivery address. These charges are collected with your order and the parcel is sent using a duty-paid service where available, so no further import duties or taxes should be due upon delivery.
Duty-paid delivery is currently available where shown at checkout for:
- United States
- Norway and Switzerland
- Selected European destinations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
For destinations where duties and taxes are not shown and collected at checkout, orders are sent Delivered Duties Unpaid (DDU). The recipient may therefore need to pay local import duties, taxes or handling charges before delivery.
Every model is carefully packaged to help ensure it arrives safely and securely.
Returns
- Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery.
- Items must be returned in their original condition.
- Free UK customer returns.
- Non-UK customers are responsible for return postage unless the item is faulty or not as described. We photograph and describe all items accurately to help you buy with confidence.
- Refunds are issued after inspection of the returned item.
For more information on returns, please visit our Returns Policy page.
If you need to return an item, please email jay@thecollectablesvault.com or use the contact form under “About & Help” in the top menu.
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