Avia Mini II - December 1996
LONG PROSPER AIRLINERS
Long Prosper models are scale airliners in various scales from 1:130 to 1:250, exclusively distributed by Mach III.
Recent releases include:Airbus A-320 Northwest 1:200Many others are available, and there will soon be the first all-colour catalogue from Long Prosper. For more info contact Mach III at:
Boeing 747 200F All Nippon Cargo 1:250
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 McDonnell Colours 1:200
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 TWA Old Colours 1:200
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Monarch Airlines 1:250
Airbus A300 Simera 1:200
Airbus A340 Air Mauritius 1:200
BAE 146 Jersey European 1:150
Boeing 727 Pan Am Delivery Colours 1:200
Boeing 737-400 Qantas 1:185
Boeing 747-100 TWA Double Globe 1:250
Boeing 747-400 China Airlines New Colours 1:250
Boeing 757-200 Transavia Airlines 1:200
Boeing 767-300 Royal Brunei 1:200
Boeing 777-200 All Nippon Airways 1:200
Lockheed Tristar TWA Old Colours 1:250
McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Valujet 1:200
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Airtours International 1:200
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 Japan Airlines 1:200
Douglas DC-3 TWA 1940s Colours 1:130
Spectators Terrace Gift Shop, Terminal 2 Rooftop, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex TW6 1LS, Tel 0181 897 2747, Fax 0181 564 8747.CLUB NEWS FAMAS
The Frog and Airfix Model Aircraft Society publish a bi-monthly journal, capably edited by Merv Hambling, full of useful information and nostalgic chat. The predominant interest is in Frog rather than Airfix, and in their products which ended up in Russia and other ex-Eastbloc countries. I recently received a 20-page fax of current products available from such a country, many of which are very Frog-like! If you are filling a 1:200 collection, Frog's B-47E was 1:207 for instance' and you can trace all kinds of unusual subjects and scales through the Frog back catalogue. Frog's plastic kit heyday must have been profitable, as apparently they made 245,000 between 1966 and 1973 of the Heinkel He 219 Uhu, and a further 30,000 between 1974 and 1977. Kit makers of today would be overjoyed at such quantities for even a more popular subject than a Uhu.
Membership of FAMAS costs only £5.00 per year. Contact Merv Hambling at
35 Rosebery Road, Suffield Park, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 0BX.BOOK REVIEW
SKYBIRD NOTES: by A G Sinclair, Published by the Author. A5, Softbound, 80pp.
Available from author: A G Sinclair, 4 Durrington Park Road, Wimbledon, London SW20 8NX at £10.00. Also available to members of HOASKA (the Skybirds Club) at special price of £7.00Alfred James Holladay worked for London toy wholesalers from 1893 to 1914, eventually taking over his employer's company and renaming it A J Holladay. Growth in the 1920s and 1930s caused the company to consider making their own products. In 1932, the 18 year old James Hay Stevens began to design wooden aircraft kits and accessories for Holladay's new Skybirds range. Stevens is credited with inventing 1:72 scale, mainly due to a misinterpretation of the Britains lead soldier scale, which he took to be 1:36 (actually 1:32), so he halved it to create 1:72. Thus another British invention which became the world-wide standard for model aircraft up to today, turns out to have been a bit of a cock-up.
The Skybirds range grew considerably through the 1930s, about 50 different items having being made by 1936, 70 by the outbreak of war in 1939, and about 80 in total by the end of the company's existence. Many of the models were Great War fighters, others were the latest aeronautical designs. All were basically wooden block designs, to be shaped by the skill of the enthusiast. There were often cast parts, the metal alloy being supplied by Fry's Metals, still in business today. Components and transfers were strung into attractive cardboard boxes. There were accompanying accessories including figures (soldiers, airmen etc), buildings (hangars, control towers etc) and vehicles (mostly bought-in from other makers such a Johillco or Taylor and Barrett). An idea of the scope of these 1:72 models is given by the fact that the smallest was the Comper Swift, the largest the Fairey Hendon. Many older collectors first got into model aircraft by way of Skybirds, and joined the Skybird League, which ran from 1933 to 1945, culminating in 18000 members and 600 local clubs. For younger collectors, Skybirds give a fascinating insight into an earlier era of model aircraft enthusiasm. Even the simple degree of handicraft necessary to complete a Skybirds kit would be beyond today's youngsters, many of whom find even plastic kits too difficult to build. There is little doubt that the skills developed whilst working with Skybirds (and of course Meccano and other products) helped to produce a generation of people with the manual dexterity, flexibility and confidence to tackle any project. These were the folk who went on to keep Britain moving in the war years through 'make do and mend', and who led the Do It Yourself movement after the Second World War. The war had a direct effect on Skybirds, as Holladay's showroom and warehouse were bombed in 1940, necessitating a move of premises. In 1942 production of toys or models containing metal parts was forbidden, to conserve strategic materials, and production of Skybirds ceased. In 1945 Holladay retired from business, and wound up the company, though it was re-launched by his Managing Director W L J Pook, with Stevens and other ex-employees. Soon they sold out to Zang, creator of Herald figures, Timpo and other ranges but the new owner only wanted Holladay's licences for scarce raw materials, an important factor in postwar industry. He therefore did not reissue Skybirds. Thus this successful range just fizzled away.
Listed below are all the known 1:72 scale Skybirds aircraft, though there may have also been 1:36 versions, as this was how Stevens started out. All Skybirds aircraft are now rare, and rarely-seen, though luckily for enthusiasts they apparently don't fetch the high prices seen for other contemporary products. One can only assume that this is because those collectors, dealers and auction houses whose activities drive prices up don't know much about Skybirds. If you also don't know much about them, this book will tell you almost everything you need to know. A G Sinclair has done an excellent job in putting together the history of Skybirds, clearly written and well-illustrated with original factory drawings, documents, letters etc. It is great value for money, and essential for anyone interested in the history of model aircraft. RCWSKYBIRDS POSTSCRIPT
Good news: David Hughes of HOASKA plans to reissue the Skybirds Lockheed Vega! A set of components is likely to cost around £10.00, and if there is sufficient demand it may have replica box and instructions for £25.00-ish. And New Cavendish may finally publish Peter Cooksley's book on Skybirds in 1997.
Does this mean a Skybirds renaissance?SKYBIRDS KITS
DH Puss Moth
Hawker Fury
Blackburn Segrave
Sopwith Camel
Lockheed Vega
Fokker DVII
Comper Swift
Nieuport Scout
Sopwith Schneider
Fokker Dr-1
DH4
Lockheed Orion
Westland Wallace
Cierva Autogiro 24
LVG CV
Armstrong-Whitworth XV
Atalanta
DH Gipsy III Moth (or Moth Major)
Percival Gull
Macchi MC72
Handley Page Heyford
SE-5
Airspeed Courier
Fairey Gordon
Fairey Seal
DH 88 Comet
DH Leopard Moth
Albatros DIII
Gloster Gauntlet
Avro Tutor
Dewoitine D500
BE2c
DH 89 Rapide
Hawker Hart
Lockheed Electra
Supermarine Seagull V (Walrus)
Heston Phoenix
Percival Mew Gull (Junior Series)
BA Eagle
Fairey Hendon
Bristol Fighter
Fairey Battle
Blackburn Shark
Caudron C450 (Junior Series)
Heinkel He70A
Percival Vega Gull
Bristol 138A
Aeronca-Jap (Junior Series)
SPAD SVII
Grumman F2F
Supermarine Spitfire I
RE-8
Westland Lysander
Bristol Blenheim
Hannoveraner
Hawker Hurricane
Sturdy (Flying Model No 1)
Curtiss P36A
Blackburn Skua
Gloster Gladiator
Miles Master
Speedy (Flying Model No 2)
A W Siskin IIIA
Fairey Seafox
FE-8
Airspeed Oxford
DH 94 Moth Minor
Marane Saulnier MS 406C1
Messerschmitt Me109
Handley Page Hampden
Dornier Do17
Hawker Henley
Boulton Paul Defiant
Lockheed Lightning
Curtiss Tomahawk
Bristol Long-nose Blenheim
Douglas Havoc
Messerschmitt Me110
Messerschmitt Me109F
MIG-3 (1-61) (postwar)
Hawker Tempest V (postwar)
Gloster Meteor (postwar)
Supermarine Spitfire XIV (postwar)BEL AIR MODELS
Bob Dros of Amsterdam tells us about his two ranges of aircraft. He says 'Bel Air Models is gaining a reputation for supplying extraordinarily nice museum quality models, made in solid perspex, of which we are very proud.' This is the Bel Air Models range of 1:72 aircraft, mostly inter-war airliners made in plexiglass.
Prices are in the broad region of 1000 to 2300 Guilders (£400 to £1000 approx).28A Fokker F.II KLMOther types of aircraft in this range are:
28B Fokker F.II Lufthansa
29A Fokker F.III KLM
29B Fokker F.III Lufthansa
30 Fokker F.VII
8 Fokker F.VIIa
9 Fokker V.VIib/3m
22 Fokker F. VIII
32 Fokker F.IX
53 Fokker F.XI
23 Fokker F.XII
33A Fokker F.XIV
33B Fokker F.XIV/3m
5 Fokker F.XVIII
10 Fokker F.XX
34 Fokker F.XXII
27 Fokker F.XXXVI
31 Fokker Universal
36 Fokker Super Universal
51 Fokker F.10A Super Trimotor
35 Fokker F.32
11 Douglas DC-2
6 Douglas DC-3
7 Douglas DC-5
24 Bristol 170 Wayfarer
37 De Havilland DH-86 Express
39 Focke-Wulf Fw-200 Condor
40 Dewoitine D-338/6
56 Boeing Model 247D
57 Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta
58 De Havilland DH-91 Albatross
59 Latécoère 28
60 Fokker T-V
61 Fokker D-XXI
62 Fokker T-IX
63 Fokker F.14 (USA)
64 Focke-Wulf A.38 Möwe
65 Farman F-3X Jabiru4 Pilatus PC.6 Porter (1:50)FUTURE: Boeing Model 80, SE161 Languedoc, Savoia Marchetti SM66, Breguet 763 Provence.
25 De Havilland Tiger Moth (1:48)
26 De Havilland Beaver (1:48)
38 Focke-Wulf Fw-190 D-9 (1:50)
41 Cessna Caravan (1:50)
42 Swearingen Metro II
43 Fokker G-1
47 North American B-25 Mitchell
48 Pander S.4 Postjager
49 De Havilland DH-88 Comet Racer
52 Beechcraft Super 18BEL AIR MINI METALS
Bel Air's other range is 1:200 Mini Metals mastered in England by Leighton Fletcher for Holland. Retail price of these 1:200 aircraft is 99 Guilders each (around £40.00). For more info, contact Bel Air Models, Amstelveenseweg 61 III, NL - 1075 VV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Tel 020-6 79 95 18). The Mini Metals range consists of these aircraft:1 Spitfire VB (wd)The next releases are:
2 P-47D-20 Thunderbolt (wd)
3 P47D-25 Thunderbolt (wd)
4 Harvard II (wd)
5 P-51D Mustang (wd)
6 Hunter F.6 (wd)
7 Meteor 4 (wd)
8 Boeing P-26 (wd)
9 MiG-15 Faggot
10 Spitfire IX (clipped) (wd)
11 Hurricane IIA (wd)
12 Me-109E (wd)
13 Sea Fury (wd)
14 Sea Hawk
15 Venom F.B.1
16 Meteor 8
17 F-86F Sabre
18 Grumman Panther
19 P-80 Shooting Star
20 Lockheed T-33A21 Tempest II (wd)Note: (wd) means wheels down.
22 DH Vampire
23 Spitfire II (wd)
24 Tempest V (wd)
25 Vampire Trainer
26 Tempest V
27 Meteor N.F.II
28 Hunter F.6
29 Meteor N.F.14
30 Meteor N.F.12
31 Meteor F.R.9
32 Meteor 4
33 Meteor T.7
34 Spitfire VB Trop. (wd)
35 P-51B Mustang (wd)
36 Mustang III (wd)
37 Speed Meteor 4 (wd)
38 Miles Magister (wd)
39 Spitfire IX (wd)
40 ME-163 + gear (wd)
41 Spitfire II + pilot & hood back (wd)
42 Spitfire XVI (wd)
43 Spitfire IX Trainer (wd)
44 Me-109F (wd)HERPA WINGS AIRLINERS
The busy market for small scale diecast jet airliner models is being targeted by Herpa Wings with a constant stream of 1:500 releases. All of these airliners are well-cast and finished, giving great impact to Herpa's current programme., with a rate of release of around ten models per month. recent releases include:Airbus A34-300 LufthansaAll of these are 1:500 scale, but the 1:160 Junkers Ju52/3M got a new livery for Christmas 1996: Milka. Jacob Suchard the chocolate people have a Junkers in their characteristic purple, in co-operation with Swiss airline Ju-Air.
Boeing 747-400 United Airlines
Boeing 747-400 China Airlines, with red poppy on fin
Airbus A321 Austrian Airlines
Boeing 737-500 Hapag-Lloyd German holiday charter
Airbus A340-300E Singapore Airlines 'Celestar'
MD-11 American Airlines
Boeing 747-400 Northwest Airlines
Airbus A320 Northwest Airlines
Northwest aircraft feature tKLM logo, with red-grey-white livery.
Concorde 'Pepsi' (new blue logo, Gatwick April 1996)
Fokker 50 Austrian Airlines
MD-83 'McPlane' McDonalds-Crossair-Hotelplan
Boeing 767-200 American Airlines
Boeing 777 Emirates
MD-83 Crossair
Boeing 767-300 TWA
Airbus A300 B4 Apollo Airlines
Boeing 737-40 Japan Trans Ocean Air
Airport Accessories: Frankfurt Airport 19 part set.
For the 60th anniversary of Frankfurt Airport.
Bae 146-300 Hamburg Airlines
Airbus A321 Air France
Concorde Air France
Boeing 747-200 Air France
(Note: Herpa's Air France models are not available through French retail dealers).
DC-10-30F Gemini Air (US cargo line)
Boeing 747-357 Swiss Air current livery
Airbus A319 Swissair current livery
(Herpa's Swissair fleet now eight models)
Boeing 777 JAL 'Sirius'
Boeing 747-400 Korean Airlines
Boeing 737-300 revised and remade, in Boeing house colours.OBSOLETE FLEET
This time we look at the principal diecast toy company in Denmark, Tekno, and its top-quality model aircraft:The original toy company was founded in the basement of the owner's house in 1928.
A Siegumfeldt was a plumber, whose skills enabled him to make tin toys to compete with the all-pervading German imports. By 1930 he received a Diploma from the Danish industry for the quality of his tinplate toys. A series of moves to ever-larger premises allowed production to increase until tinplate production had to stop in 1940 due to Second World War restrictions. This meant a diversion of effort to zinc diecast toys, cars and aeroplanes. Due to the toy aeroplane products, the occupying German authorities briefly confiscated stock and arrested the proprietor, as they deemed this to be potentially dangerous to the Third Reich! Postwar production continued to expand, with manufacturing subsidiaries opening in Sweden and Holland, exports going all over Europe, the USA and elsewhere. Tekno toys were admired by collectors everywhere. Mr Siegumfeldt's death in 1969 led to the sale of the company by his children a year later, but the new owners couldn't make a go of it, and the company collapsed in 1972. The Tekno name, tools and model vehicle products were sold to Holland, where some continue in production today, though none of the aircraft models was made after the death of the founder in 1969.TEKNO AIRCRAFT 1938-69, all diecast in Denmark
401 B-17 Fortress four engined ambulance aircraft: Danish Air Ambulance Service.
Liveries on same casting: RAF, USAF, Dutch AF, Luftwaffe, Danish AF, Swedish AF camouflage, USAF camouflage, Swedish AF silver, USAF silver-light blue.402 BB-1 Bomber aircraft twin engined: Danish AF silver, also in camouflage finish.
403 DSB-1 Fighter, single engine, in Danish AF white, or in camouflage.
488 SAI KZ IV Ambulance aircraft, twin engine : 'Zonen'.Other liveries: OY DZV 1939-1949, OY DIZ, OY DDL transport, various colours.
765 Douglas DC7C silver and white, also in the following liveries: Sabena, KLM, SAS bluenose, Sudflug, Swissair.
766 SE210 Caravelle: Air France, SAS, Swissair
785 Hawker Hunter fighter RAF.
786 MiG 15 fighter, red or olive green
787 North American F-100 Super Sabre, Danish AF or USAF.
788 Dassault Super Mystere fighter, Danish AF or French AF.
Notes on values: All of these models are rare and expensive in Denmark, and are even harder to find elsewhere. Occasionally they come up in Auction, such as at the Frederiksberg Auction House, in Copenhagen.
Further reading: 'Tekno, Made in Denmark' by Dorte Johansen, published by Togborsen, Copenhagen 1988.CLASSIC AIRCRAFT COLLECTIONS
Dick Miller's Classic Aircraft Collections Ltd of Texas makes two ranges of aircraft for collectors. First is the RACER SERIES, 1:48 scale (six to eight inch wingspan), fully built, with a display stand. They are solid castings, with authentic paint schemes. All are aircraft from the Golden Age of Air Racing in the 1920s and 1930s.
Prices are mostly around $155 each.Howard Hughes 1-B, 1935 record holder, 352.388 mph.The other series consists of RECOGNITION MODELS. Original ID Recognition models from the Second World War and after are now sought-after collectors pieces. Not only are very few left, but many are in unstable cellulose acetate and won't last much longer. Classic Aircraft now reproduce many of these models, finished in matt black or light grey, in 1:72 or 1:144 scales. The list of available models is far too long to reproduce here, but we'll describe the series in outline. Following the example of Skybirds in standardising on 1:72 scale, the RAF produced hand-carved wooden aircraft recognition models in this scale in the early years of the Second World War.
Supermarine S6-B floatplane, Schneider Trophy winner 1930, 401.5 mph.
Gee-Bee R-2 Racer, Bendix Trophy 1932.
Travel Air Mystery Ship, National Air Races 1929.
Rider R-4 Firecracker National Air Races 36
Laird Super Solution, Bendix Trophy 1931.
Macchi MC-72 seaplane Schneider Trophy
Howard Mr Mulligan racer.
Curtiss R3C-1 landplane racer.
Curtiss R3C-1 floatplane racer.
Boeing Stearman PT-17 trainer USAAF.
Boeing Stearman N2S-2 trainer USN.
Lockheed 10E Electra, Amelia Earhart.
In order that the outline should be clear, the models were painted black. When the US entered the war in 1941, they decided to adopt the same scale for their ID Recognition program, but wanted a larger-scale production process. Plaster of Paris, hard rubber and papier maché were tried, but eventually cellulose acetate was settled on, the contract being awarded to the Cruver Company of Chicago.
With the end of the war, the program subsided, to be re-invigorated for the Korean War, terminating finally in 1961. In all, 425 different types were made from 1941 - 61, in 1:72 scale up to 99 feet wingspan, 1:144 scale for larger aircraft.
So, just a few examples from the list of ID Recognition models:1941 - 45 US AIRCRAFT: 43 different, including P-51D, P-47D, P-47C, P-40E, P-39, P-63, P-38, F4U-1, F4F, F6F etc, right up to PBY-2, B-24, PB2Y and B-32 (if you didn't remember, the Consolidated Dominator).Prices range from $60 to $150. For more information, contact Classic Aircraft Collections Ltd, 3321 Suffolk Ct W #105, Fort Worth, Tx 76133, USA.
BRITISH AIRCRAFT: 15 different, including Spitfire V, Hurricane II C, Ventura, Albacore, Beaufighter, Maryland.
JAPANESE AIRCRAFT: 17 different, including Val, Zero, Kate, Nate, Oscar, Nell, Betty, Sally, Lily.
GERMAN AIRCRAFT: 16 different, including: FW 190A, Bf 109E, Ju 87, Ju 88c, FW200, FW187 Go242, DFS 230,.
ITALIAN AIRCRAFT: 5 different: Macchi MC200 and 202, SM 79, Cant Z506B SM82.
RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT: MIG3 and PE-2.
'ORIGINALS' in the style of ID Recognition models, F40-1D, P-59, Me 262A, FW 190D-9.
Postwar US AIRCRAFT: 25 types include B-50D, F-84E, B-58, -131A, A3J-1, F8F-1.
POSTWAR OTHERS: 11 types include: Hunter, Pembroke, Viscount, Sea Fury, Mirage III, Su-7, MIG-15, YAK-25, Saab J32.WESTERN 1:200 AIRLINERS
Further to the feature in avia mini I, here is an update on the production programme of Western 1:200 scale white metal handbuilt airliners.
Releases in this order:Convair 440 Metropolitan Swissair.
Douglas DC-6B Swissair.
Douglas DC-6B American Airlines.
Breguet 763 Provence Air France.
Lockheed Electra Western.
Convair 440 Metropolitan National.
Douglas DC-7C Japan Air Lines.
Lockheed Electra KLM.
Breguet 761S Silver City.
Convair 440 Metropolitan Sabena.
Douglas DC-6B Panagra,
Convair 440 Metropolitan Iberia.
Ilyushin IL-18 Aeroflot.HBM 1:200 AIRCRAFT
Ron Crawford's HBM series of 1:200 scale aircraft began in l977 to help fellow collectors to fill gaps left by classic series such as Wiking, Hansa-Schowanek, Dinky, Mercury, and Eskader. 'It has developed a momentum of its own over the years, however', says Ron, 'And is now regarded by collectors as a range in its own right. Over 500 different aircraft have been issued, making HBM by far the largest range ever developed in 1:200 scale. The choice of models offered in the HBM series is frankly eclectic. As collectors, we began by producing types not already made as recognition models by Wiking. Then we looped back to produce more famous aircraft types. The HBM range is produced by hand from epoxy resin and supplied to collectors around the world. Approximately 50-100 copies of a model are normally produced, and series of new models are produced approximately three times per year. HBM Models are delivered as unfinished castings, the aircraft in flight attitude, with landing gear retracted where applicable. Simple aircraft (eg, a Spitfire) are cast in one piece. More complex types such as the Bizerte must be assembled with cyanoacrylic or epoxy cement. Prop discs, landing gear and decals are not supplied. Prop discs are easily made with a compass knife and clear plastic sheet. Decals in 1:200 are widely available'.
The range is far too large to cover here, though we hope to add more detail and pictures in a future avia mini. Apart from the many more obvious types, how about some these rarer HBM delicacies?Handley Page Harrow,Ron says, 'Our Summer 1996 releases included Me 262A- 1, Ju 88A4, Ju 88A- 1, Boulton-Paul Defiant, Lockheed P2V-3, P2V-5, and P2V-7'.
Heinkel Wespe project,
Douglas Y1B-7,
Curtiss Shrike,
Fairey Hendon,
Northrop F-15 Reporter,
Amiot 143 Autobus, Martin-Baker MB-5,
Supermarine Stranraer,
and more!
For further gen contact: Ron Crawford, PO Box 23, North Ferrisburgh, VT, USA, 05473. Phone: (802) 877-3542.
E-mail: RLCraw@together.netRUSSIAN FIGHTERS, by Alexander Yurcenko
In Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, some years ago was made a range of 1:120 scale modern Russian fighter aircraft in diecast metal.
There was a Yak-25, SU-7 and a SU-KS, though the latter was made only in small quantities. They were packed in plastic boxes with transparent tops, and are now obsolete, although a few can still be found in Russia today.MAJORETTE AIRCRAFT
A new livery for Majorette's diecast Dauphin 2 helicopter for 1996 is Coast Guard (previously Police). The model is approximately seven inches (160 mm) long. In the same series is a Gazelle helicopter in 'Rescue' livery. Majorette's 'Airport' series of small-scale diecast airliners include Boeing 747, Airbus, Tristar etc, at very low prices.VEREM CHOPPERS
Verem is the 'low-volume' company related to the Majorette-Solido section of Ideal Group (now German-owned). Verem make models which don't justify the larger production runs needed by the other companies, often based on older Solido originals. For 1996 there are two new versions of existing Solido diecast helicopters, a Gazelle French Army missile launcher and a Puma UN.PARADAIR FIGHTERS
Paradair 1:200 fully-finished white metal aircraft, made in UK for France. Latest news:Dewoitine D520 North Africa April 41.
Potez 63 North Africa Summer 42.
Messerschmitt BF 109 Med. end 42.
Messerschmitt Me 262 May 45.
NA P51D Mustang Europe end 44.
LANGTON WWI AIRCRAFT
Langton Miniatures have released the Friedrichshafen FF49C, Rumpler 6 B.1, Short 184, and Sopwith Baby floatplanes and the Felixstowe flying boat from the Great War period, all available painted or as kits. (News via Ron Crawford).HELMET FIGHTERS, by Ron Crawford
Dennis Knight of Helmet Models has made Curtiss Warhawk, Tomahawk and Hawk 75. Cast in white metal they look very nice, especially as a set. They are available fully finished or as kits. Also available from Helmet are a resin Avro Shackleton and DH Albatross with white metal landing gear, props, and detail parts.
Contact Helmet Models, Fairview House, Gadbrook Road, Betchworth, Surrey, RH3 7AH, UK.AERO CRAFTS HAWKERS, by Ron Crawford
New from Aero Crafts in both wheels up and undercarriage down versions are a Hawker Hurricane II-D (tropical) and Sea Fury two seater. Both are very finely detailed and ready to paint. You can order them from Leighton Fletcher, 57 Denny View, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8BT, UK.KONISHI FROM JAPAN, by Ron Crawford
Konishi models are available only direct from the maker. The series now includes 42 types, all only in painted form, with landing gear down, rotating props, and in most cases a drop tank or bomb. Quality is very good to excellent. Contact Hideo Konishi, Konishi Seisakusho,3- 13-18 Ikuno Nishi, Ikuno-Ku Osaka, 544 Japan.ARMOUR COLLECTION
CDC the Italian makers of 1:43 Detail cars and 1:72 Armour Collection diecast models now have a range of 1:100 modern military jets and 1:8 flying helmets.
The jets are:MB339 Italian AF aerobatic team, Italian AFLots of interesting subjects, especially the colourful aerobatic liveries, prices around £20.00 each
F16 Falcon Thunderbirds aerobatic team, F16 USAF, F16 USN, F16 Netherlands
F18 Hornet Blue Angels aerobatic team, F18 USN
Alpha Jet Stunt Team French AF, Alpha Jet E French AF, Alpha Jet A German AF
F4E Phantom Thunderbirds aerobatic team
F4J Phantom Blue Angels aerobatic team
F4E Phantom USAF, F4B/J Phantom USN
BAe Hawk Red Arrows aerobatic team, Hawk RAF
T45 USN, F5 Swiss aerobatic team, F5 USAF
The helmets cost around £10.00 each in ten different styles. Distribution should be via your usual model dealer.ROAD CHAMPS AIRCRAFT
Road Champs have an enviable reputation for the quality and value for money of their Chinese-made diecast toys for the US and other markets. Unfortunately their aircraft are not to a constant scale, but to a common size, four or five inch wingspan. Their finish is superb, and fully authentic liveries are used. Latest styles include:Boeing B-17 USAAF Sally Ann, 91st BG.
Republic P-47 USAF Lil Friend, 56th FG.
NA B-25 USAF Panchito (National Warplane Museum)
Boeing B-29 USAF Fifi (last flying example)
Chance Vought F4U USN, Pappy Boyington
Douglas C-47 USAF D-Day, American Airlines, PanAm.
F-16 USAF Thunderbirds, AH-64A Apache, 6th Cavalry, F-14B Tomcat prototype, F-18 Hornet USN.
F-111 USAF, SR-71 Blackbird A-12 + GTD-21 Drone.ZYLL DYNA FLITES
Zyll Enterprise Ltd of Hong Kong, also often known as Zylmex, is one of the most prolific producers of diecast aircraft in the Far East. Three main series are currently in production, Dyna-Flites, Super Dyna-Flites and WWII Historical Dyna-Flites. The differences between these series are marginal, mainly only in size, and one may find a single aircraft type, such as a B-17 in all three sizes, all slightly different.
DYNA-FLITES: Four inch (100 mm) size, over 60 types, from Spad, Zero, Mustang and Corsair to Vigger, Tomcat and F-117A Stealth.
On the way there are helicopters, transports and a very pretty little Gee Bee Sportster in various colour schemes.
SUPER DYNA-FLITES: Four and a half inch (112mm) size, over 30 types, mostly modern jets (including YF-22, Harrier B2 Stealth and SR-71) and helicopters, but also including a B-24 Liberator.
WWII HISTORICAL DYNA-FLITES: Three and three quarter inch (88mm) size. 20 different; Mustang, Tomahawk, C-47 etc.
All of these series are very competitively priced and well finished, though not, of course, to constant scale. Some will coincide with standard scales, and will thus fit in well with many collections.TAURO MODEL
Although plastic kit ranges will now fall outside the ambit of avia mini, due to pressure from readers, such firms as Tauro Model of Italy are definitely 'specialist' enough for us. They do, it is true, make some plastic kits, but they also use resin, photo-etched metal and other low-volume materials and techniques.
For example, multi-material limited production kits are available of Macchi MC205 Veltro (1:48), Macchi MC202 Blitz (1:48) and NA F86K Sabre (1:72) as built by Fiat.WIKING RECOGNITION MODELS
From Wiking Magazin 1995 and 1996.
Translated by Hans-Georg Schmitt, by permission.Half a century after the end of the Second World War, we can look at what Wiking made during that period. Various aircraft types were made by the Wiking Model Building Company just before and during the war and were used mostly by the military authorities (for example for aircraft recognition by anti-aircraft batteries). In common with all other factories in the German Reich, Wiking was, from the outbreak of war in 1939, under state supervision. Only products essential to the war effort were allowed, such as military, aircraft and ship models for the Navy, for the Army, for cadet organisations and for export into neutral countries, to earn foreign exchange. We have to admire the creativity of the model makers of the period. With the aid of only a few photos and a little information provided by the military, the team under the leadership of master model builder Mr Kedzierski built accurate three dimensional models of many aircraft of the Allied Air Forces, which because they were in the same 1:200 scale allowed a size comparison between them and Luftwaffe types. The total number of types made was remarkable. Also, after analysis of more accurate data, changes were needed, so new moulds had to be made. Moulds were also made for special aircraft models. Shown at the top of the page is a group of aircraft of the German and Italian Axis air forces made by Wiking during the war years, and also a group of Allied types. Early 1939 saw the start of deliveries of the Wiking Luftwaffe Models range, made in a uniform scale of 1:200 and (to quote from a sales brochure) 'made from a light German material'. Before this, only very small numbers of metal aircraft types were available, which were superseded by these examples, made of plastic, which could be mass produced without problems. Almost at the time that the Second World War broke out, the range of different aircraft models was increased, and was 'continuously enlarged according to the requirements of appropriate departments Air Force, Air Defence etc)'. Out of a multitude of models made (up to 1945) 15 different Wiking aircraft models are shown in the two groups at the bottom of the page, which were made shortly before or during the war, mostly for training in military departments. All carry the square cross which identifies them as aircraft of the German Air Force during the Third Reich. As well as military aircraft, also shown are some civil aeroplanes, which were requisitioned for military service. This included the aeroplane that at the end of the 1930s was the most modern four engine airliner, the Junkers Ju90 (nicknamed the big Dessauer'). Also shown are Junkers Ju86 and the Focke-Wulf Fw200 (Condor), which had parallel military roles to their civil purposes. The Luftwaffe used them as bombers (Ju 86k) or as long range reconnaissance planes (Fw200C). It should be pointed out that it is still not customary to show swastikas in printed publications in Germany.LDM AIRCRAFT MODELS
The name of Brian Lawrence frequently crops up when discussing scale model aircraft. He is well-known to have made patterns (masters) of aircraft for other manufacturers' ranges; but also produced his own 'LDM' ranges of aircraft.
The LDM range was the first to use white metal alloy in aircraft modelling, in 1977.
Brian's 1:48 scale white metal kits broadly tell the story of the light aircraft in miniature from the 1920s to the present. Prices vary from £15.00 to £30.00.
The current list is as follows, though not all are currently available:1a Pitts S2A JY-RJJ (Royal Falcons)Brian tells us that his next addition will be a Jodel Bébé 'I am working, slowly, on it'. Only 500 of each kit is made, so if any kit hasn't reached the 500 limit it may be re-introduced once it goes out of stock.
2a Cierva C30A Autogyro K4232, G-ACWR
3a Comper Swift G-ABUS
4a Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF, ZS-AHM
5a Chilton DW-1, G-AESZ
6 LeVier Cosmic Wind
7 Payne Knight Twister Imp'l N5DF
9 Pitts S1S G-BOOK (Dunlop)
10 Cantilever Pou (Flying Flea) G-AECD
11 Caudron C460 Thompson Trophy
12 DH71 Tiger Moth racer G-EBQU 1927
13a DH82a Tiger Moth G-ACDC
13b DH82a Tiger Moth RAF
14 Christen Eagle 1 N41ET
15 Fournier RF4 G-AVNZ (Skyhawks)
16 Walter Extra 230 G-XTRA (Jaguar)
17 Miles M14 Magister RAF
18 Shleicher ASK-13 sailplane
19 Deperdussin Racer 1913
Most of Brian's current effort is on his '125 series' so-called because these white metal aircraft all have a similar wingspan of 125 mm (five inches), regardless of scale. They are polished, lacquered and swivel-mounted on a triangular wooden base, at the remarkably cheap price of £17.00 or £17.50. The current list is as follows, though 2, 5, 8, 14 and 15 were not yet available at time of going to press:1 Airspeed AmbassadorPlease note that the LDM range is now out of production, due to the illness of Brian Lawrence.
2 Jodel Ambassadeur
3 Douglas DC-3 Dakota
4 DH 91 Albatross
5 DHC-1 Chipmunk
6 Bristol Brabazon
7 Vickers Wellington
8 Saro Princess
9 DH Comet 1A
10 Avro Lancaster
11 Lockheed Constellation
12 Bristol Britannia
13 Bristol Blenheim
14 Short Sunderland
15 Boeing Flying Fortress.PLANE CRAFT IN WOOD
We have all seen, or seen advertised, the hardwood model aircraft made in the Philippines, and described in avia mini I. Jeff Setterfield also hand-crafts aircraft in hardwoods, but his models are unpainted, just sealed to reveal the depth of the grain pattern. Cockpits, spinners etc are often picked out in a contrasting type of timber, and there is always a timber base with brass plaque. Most models are one-offs, at most two or three are made for different clients, but each time the aircraft comes out slightly differently, due to the timber used, or other factors. Each aircraft is commissioned individually, and Jeff researches the real aircraft wherever possible. Minimum time to make an aircraft is two or three months, and prices start from £100.00 upwards. Scale is determined by the optimum size of timber to work, or available, but this is open to discussion when ordering a model. We have seen models of Concorde, Harvard (Texan), Mosquito, Spitfire, Hunter, and Westland Whirlwind, among others.
For more information contact Jeff Setterfield, Plane Craft, 32 Blossom Lane, Theale, Berkshire, RG7 5BD,
Tel 01734 302067.WOOSTER UPDATE, by Matthew Jackson, Sales & Marketing Director, K V Wooster International
Following the fire in October last year K V Wooster are now in full production in two new factories, producing more models than ever before. Three new tools have just been completed, and models using these will soon be on sale.
These are the A319 (1:200), Saab 340 (1:100) and the Jetstream 41 (1:72).
New liveries include Ansett 747-300, Qatar 747-200, Continental DC-10 and 757, US Air Dornier 328, Fedex MD-11, JAL 777, Lan Chile 767 and Air New Zealand 747-400 new colours.
Tools planned for early 1997 include ATR42, ATR72 and the A321.WOOSTER FIGHTS BACK, by John Hanson
Intrigued by the article in avia mini I, and holidaying in the area, I decided to pay K V Wooster a visit in Campbeltown.
Although I turned up unannounced, I was made most welcome by MD Roger Clark, who took the trouble to show me around and tell me all about the company, now back in operation after their fire.
Production is now split between two sites of around 6000 sq ft each. The main site is an industrial unit, next to the defunct original factory whose concrete base and boiler house still stand. Here are offices, moulding and tool rooms. The other is part of an old whisky distillery, mainly concerned with printing, packaging and dispatch.
All the work, including gutting and rebuilding of the distillery, was undertaken by the firm's own employees, who Mr Clark constantly praised for their loyalty and dedication. Naturally fire prevention was a very important factor in the rebuilding. A work-force of 60 includes all the original staff, except one, currently serving five years in prison for arson.
Both sites offer room for expansion which will allow 50% increase in output. As much production as possible is done in-house, including manufacture of their own printing pads, and the tool room is particularly impressive.
Entering production at the time of my visit was the Saab 340, future new models will include A321 Airbus and Jetstream 340. Current production is targeted at 33,000 model aircraft each month, and goes to several outlets, most requiring their own packaging. I think I spotted Harrods and W H Smith amongst the airlines' and manufacturers' names awaiting delivery.NOTE: since this was first published, Wooster have closed down!
Copyright 2001 Modelauto Ltd and Solnet Systems Ltd
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