If these models inspire as much general enthusiasm as the film saga, the Herpa miniatures of the Air New Zealand planes carrying the special Lord of the Rings liveries will certainly end up as "Lords of the Wings". The first part of the film trilogy was nominated for no less than thirteen Oscars. The second part of the film version of the fantasy novel written by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien notched up the most successful film start of all times in December 2002. On the other hand, the film cost almost 300 million euros, earning it another record as the world's most expensive film as well. The mammoth film was shot in 150 locations in New Zealand. Director Peter Jackson, who lives in New Zealand's capital of Wellington himself, had found the ideal landscape for the fantasy world of Middle-earth in his own backyard. Air New Zealand knew how to profit from this great success, and has figured as the "Airline to Middle-earth" since last year. On that Boeing 767-300, the loving couple of Aragorn and Arwen poses amidst majestic scenery. The world's largest flying screen is now released in the small scale as well. As the only manufacturer in the world, Herpa has been granted the license to build models of Air New Zealand's special livery planes. Naturally, we would like to offer these to collectors of all scales. The "Lord of the Wings" are already available in the 1/500 scale. Models in the 1/400 and 1/200 scale will follow, as well as the Boeing 747 in the Herpa Premium Series. And there are plans for further Lord of the Rings liveries in various scales - a great subject for a collection in its own right of its own that will transport more than just cinema fans into the realms of fantasy.
