First published September 1998
Note: the print version of avia mini V, with much more than is reprinted
in this archive, and many, many illustrations, is still available as a
back number direct from the publishers. You can order it from this
website.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Avia Mini V, especially if you are one of the many new
readers who have joined us in the past few months. Greetings also to the
faithful readers who have been with us from the start. This has been a
process of gradual acceleration. Almost two years were needed to get
from avia mini i to avia mini iii, then six months to avia mini iv, now
we are at last up to a regular quarterly publishing interval. In future
we will see a new volume each December, March, June and September.
MORE CONTRIBUTIONS PLEASE!
To fill avia mini every three months we need a regular flow of news and
features, so I invite you to send in any material you can put together.
News of new products, descriptions of obsolete ranges, thematic
treatments of types of aircraft, operators etc or just a selection of
photographs of models in your collection, we can use them all!
MORE ADVERTISERS PLEASE!
We also need some more advertising revenue, in order to help our sums to
add up. If you want to promote your own products, services or event,
please see our advertising rates on page 34. Or if you know someone who
you think should be advertising in avia mini who doesn't at present,
please tell us, and we will contact them.
MORE STOCKISTS PLEASE!
We also still need more retail outlets. We are not distributed by the
newstrade, and we rely on specialist outlets to stock avia mini. If the
dealer where you usually buy model or toy aircraft does not carry avia
mini, please give us the postal address, and we'll send them a dealer
pack.
AN ASSURED FUTURE FOR avia mini!
We now have an assured future. I intend to try to please all collectors
and enthusiasts for obsolete and new aircraft in all scales and
materials. With the help of your contributions, this will be achieved
every three months in the future.
And avia mini vi will be out in December.
Happy Collecting!
THE DAWN PATROL
The Dawn Patrol collection is a series of limited edition 1:32 brass
aeroplanes. The first release is an SE5A, of which 115 are to be made in
each of nine 'standard' versions at $395 each, plus p&p. There are also
deluxe (more detailed) versions at $755 each plus p&p.
The available versions are all RAF aircraft from 1918, variously built
by the Royal Aircraft Factory at Farnborough, by Bleriot-Spad, Vickers
or Wolseley.
3201 85 Squadron Captain E Springs DFC DSC (US)
3202 85 Squadron Major Billy Bishop VC, DSO+Bar, MC, DFC (Canadian Ace)
3203 85 Sqn Capt Snowy Randall DFC (English)
3204 74 Squadron Major Mick Mannock VC, DSO & 2 bars, MC & Bar (English)
3205 74 Sqn Major Grid Caldwell MC DFC+Bar (NZ)
3206 74 Squadron Capt Taffy Jones DSO, MC, DFC+Bar, MM (Welsh)
3207 24 Squadron Capt McIrish McElroy MC & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar (Irish)
3208 24 Squadron Major Andy Andrews MC & Bar, DSO (English)
3209 24 Squadron Capt Billl Lambert DFC (US Ace)
You can get more information on these stunning models from: J D
Schapiro, 13378 SW 128th Street, Miami, Florida 33186, USA.
Tel (305) 385-3909, fax (305) 255-9143.
A SHORT HISTORY OF IMACS By Ron Crawford and G R Webster
EDITOR'S NOTE: Many new readers of avia mini are ex-IMACS members, so
for the benefit of those who are not, I have asked for some background
information. Now let RC and GRW tell us the story:
IN THE BEGINNING
An antediluvian edition of the famous comic strip, Donald Duck, once
distinguished between types of collectors. Some, like Donald's Uncle
Scrooge MacDuck, treated collecting as a solitary pursuit, compulsively
squirreling away piles of treasures and drawing their enjoyment from the
size and value of their piles. For many people, however, collecting is a
social activity. Collectors typically hunt together, meet to compare and
celebrate their finds, help each other research and restore bedraggled
examples, endlessly negotiate swaps, and shamelessly attempt with shows
and exhibits to interest unsuspecting visitors in the hobby.
DIFFERENT COLLECTING SECTORS
Until the 1980s there were no broad-based organizations or media
expressly for collectors of miniature aircraft. Collectors of diecast
and toy aircraft identified most closely with the collectors of diecast
vehicles and ships. Collectors of ID (identification) models clustered
on the fringes of aviation history and plastic modelling. Collectors of
display and airliner models survived on similar ties. Each segment had
an Old Guard of established collectors who had been friends for years,
and some, like the devotees of 1:200 models, even had informal
newsletters and meetings in major cities.
THE PLANE NEWS BEGINS PUBLICATION
We all wished that there were specialised magazines and shows for us but
that was wishful thinking. By the late 1980s desktop publishing
technology had advanced to the stage that one could efficiently publish
a low-circulation, colour-illustrated magazine, using an Apple computer,
Pagemaker, and Rapidocolor laser printing. In 1989, Geoffrey R (GR)
Webster, then an American expatriate executive living in Paris polled
his collector friends around the world, found enthusiastic support, and
founded a magazine called The Plane News (TPN). TPN was an unabashed
labour of love. G R Webster edited and published without any
compensation, and the writers and columnists likewise contributed their
efforts. Expenses were reimbursed only in hardship cases. Involvement
was much more like being in a club, with the subscription charges
hopefully defraying the inevitable club expenses. Editorially TPN was
also a clubby product. We contributors built stories and made photos
covering the models which excited us personally, and we wrote for a
readership whom we generally knew on a first-name basis. Balance was
achieved mainly by giving roughly equal space to experts on ID models,
display models, diecasts, current toys, and collector miniatures.
Quality and style were functions of the professional training of
writers, whose average education was above a master's degree. Occasional
rockets from GR to Rambling Ron and other contributors provided fine
tuning. We were all surprised at the popularity of TPN. Over its life
span over a thousand collectors subscribed at least once and another
2000 sample issues were circulated.
Despite the interest, however, the magazine regularly operated in the
red.
THEN THE SHOWS, MAQ AND IMACS
There was a lot of interest in model shows, where members could meet one
another and the public could be exposed to the hobby. A first show was
held in 1991 on the grounds of Roure Inc. in Teaneck, New Jersey. That
was so well attended that the show subsequently moved to a hotel in
Tenafly, NJ. A second NJ show in the autumn was added to the schedule
about 1993, followed by Plane News shows in Los Angeles, Amsterdam and
London. For a variety of reasons, not the least being similarity in
title to a radical religious periodical, TPN was renamed Miniature
Aircraft Quarterly (MAQ) circa 1995. At the same time a non-profit
corporation called IMACS (International Miniature Aircraft Society) was
founded as a holding company and liability firewall for the magazine and
shows. Sy Merrall of Rochester, NY was named as president of IMACS and
GR Webster as secretary. Both the magazine and the shows experienced
difficulty in 1997.
PROBLEMS IN THE LATE 1990s
Publication and mailing costs increased, revenues from the magazine and
member-ships fell during a turbulent economic period, and the annual
shortfall for 1997 rose to approximately $8,000 US. Concurrently, GR
Webster, who had personally absorbed the accumulating losses over the
years, found his time and energy absorbed by successive promotions in
his day job. The final issue of MAQ was published in the autumn of 1997.
The IMACS shows similarly fell victim to hard times. The European shows
lost their key leaders. The US shows fell victim to the bureaucracies of
American states, after harassment by state sales tax authorities.
(Overseas readers accustomed to casual sales and exchanges at swapmeets
should understand that each American state and Canadian province
collects its own sales tax, a rough equivalent of VAT. Some sales tax
authorities are extremely aggressive and view any sale at a meet as a
source of revenue.) Does that mean the end of IMACS? We think not. Rod
Ward has generously agreed to team up with us by providing space in Avia
Mini, and you will see stories and columns by a number of the experts in
IMACS. In addition, Michael Bludworth has single-handedly established an
email digest for the exchange of letters and ideas. You can subscribe to
that merely by sending your email address to mjbscape@worldnet.att.com.
Michael is also beavering away at creating a print newsletter to be
titled On Model Wings. Further down the road we anticipate the
establishment of an IMACS website with links to producers, sources, and
specialised archives. More on these initiatives in future issues.
In the meantime enjoy Avia Mini and OMW. You're already getting more
bang for fewer bucks, and your old TPN issues are now collectible
classics.
Footnote by Rod Ward:
I am happy to provide any kind of platform, or place for IMACS minds to
meet. Those who have known me from the 25 years I have been
professionally associated with model collecting will know that I share
the same aims as the IMACS luminaries. I never joined IMACS, as I feel
that it is necessary for any journalist or publisher to be detached from
any pressure group or organisation, even if he shares their views. Those
who know Model Auto Review, which I have published for the past 17 years
for model vehicle enthusiasts, will hear bells ringing in the
description of TPN contributors and their philosophy.
I express no particular view on any aspect of aircraft collecting, as I
feel it is best to appeal to as many different types of collector as
possible. If a collector knows that a publisher, editor or team is
biased towards one aspect then they may feel that their own interests
will not be well-served. I hope that the contributions we receive will
make up a balanced publication to appeal to everyone.
Of course, some people want a 'dedicated' publication which only serves
their small interest field, to the exclusion of all others, but the
economic practicalities of publishing make it necessary to cover as much
as possible, and most readers understand this. As you will expect, the
first four avia mini volumes, which were largely experimental in
balance, have produced lots of input from readers. Everyone wants their
own field to be covered: old Dinky or other diecasts, tin planes, card
cutouts, expensive investment products, modern diecast and plastic
ranges, travel agent display models, 1:200 recognition models, resin,
white metal, you name it it's been requested. The only request for
EXclusion is plastic kits, but even these will be included from time to
time if relevant (for instance 1:144 collectors mostly want to know
about them).
In the 16-plus years that we have published MAR, which largely fills the
same role for specialist model vehicle collectors, I have never joined
any societies or clubs, and never 'taken sides' in any of the inevitable
feuds and clashes of personality which seem to dog any special interest
activity. This has enabled me to be a detached observer, able to juggle
the sometimes conflicting interests of collectors, dealers,
manufacturers, writers, advertisers etc. We have never published
'advertorial' (not knowingly, anyway), and I have always tried to adapt
the balance of MAR to suit current areas of interest.
Some collectors think that there is a 'perfect' scale and no other
should be covered. In cars this is probably 1:43, yet there are
currently a dozen vehicle scales, all avidly collected, mostly because
very large vehicles and very small ones are not suited to 1:43.
Similarly 1:200 is often seen as the preferred aircraft scale, but there
are followers of many other scales from 1:32 to 1:500, and these will
all be served in avia mini. We'll see how it develops, covering old
tinplate, cheap modern diecasts, whatever is of interest or newsworthy.
The other (perhaps pretentious) role of Model Auto Review has been as a
kind of 'journal of record', so that readers can refer back to old
copies to find out what was new in 1986 or whatever, and to cover
obsolete ranges in a clear and informative way. We will try to fill the
same sort of role in avia mini, with the help of our contributors.
Articles and news will be sufficiently detailed to not insult the
intelligence of a real expert on the subject, whilst still being
informative to a reader for whom this is not their main field, and
retaining their interest. avia mini is not a dry as dust esoteric
learned journal.
It is important that we continue to encourage new people to collect, so
they must be entertained and informed, to encourage them to join in (or
to revive an otherwise stale and flagging interest). It is my job to
prune more wordy manuscripts. Only rarely do more words mean more
information, any subject can be condensed, even if enthusiasts wish it
wasn't. I welcome all contributions, which unfortunately will all be
unpaid.
We are never likely to sell enough copies of avia mini to have paid
contributions, so this will continue to be a labour of love.
HERPA AIRLINE STORIES
By Jutta Rottner, Herpa GmbH
NEW LIVERIES
We continue to expand the holiday charter fleets in the Herpa range such
as Aero Lloyd and LTU. Condor Berlin began operating in March 1998 and
Herpa add an Airbus A320 in the new design. We also have the flagship of
LanChile., a new airline to us. Delta Air Lines has been flying for over
70 years, and for more than five years collectors have asked Herpa for
miniature Delta airliners. In 1994 we produced a sample for Delta, but
then production had to stop, as we did not get their go-ahead. Now we
are making an MD-11 in Delta livery. The latest Herpa model for Texan
carrier Southwest Airlines, the Silver One, has a striking all silver
livery.
AERO LLOYD: 508674 Airbus A321-100:
In 1980 Aero Lloyd Luftverkehrsgesellschaft launched with only three
French Caravelle 10Rs. Under the name Aero Lloyd Flugreisen GmbH & Co,
the airline extended its charter business. In 1988, they offered
domestic flights within Germany, and then scheduled flights to London
and Paris. Now German market leader flying to the Middle East, Aero
Lloyd began extensive renewal of the fleet. By 2002, they will have
replaced their MD-80 fleet with Airbus A320s and A321s. 50 times per
week, Aero Lloyd takes off to Germany's favourite holiday island,
Majorca.
LTU: 503747 Boeing 757-200 and 767-300:
LTU was founded in 1955 by Englishman Bernard A Dromgole, to transport
news-papers from the UK to Germany. Kurt Conle, a property developer and
architect from Muelheim, laid the foundations for today's tourism group.
At first, there was just a mini-fleet of three Vickers Vikings. Then
followed Fokker F 27 and F28, Caravelle and in 1973, the TriStar,
offering the possibility of long haul destinations. In 1995, they got
the first Airbus A330 registered in Germany, to replace the TriStar. For
long haul flights, they now use four MD-11s. LTU's current fleet also
includes five Boeing 767-300ERs and ten Boeing 757-200s. In1997, LTU
Sued merged with parent company LTU. Now the whole company has a unified
appearance.
DELTA AIR LINES: 503327 McDonnell-Douglas MD-11: In 1924 Louisiana, Huff
Daland formed Huff Daland Air Navigation Co. C E Woolman transformed it
into Delta Air Lines four years later, and took over many airlines,
Northwest in 1972, Western in 1987, and Pan Am in 1991. Today, the
carrier offers more than 2,600 daily flights to more than 250
destinations world-wide. After more than 30 years, they slightly
modified their livery in May 1997. The MD-11 will carry this new livery
as well. Delta was this aircraft type's launching carrier.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: 50055 Boeing 737-300: In June 1971, the first
Southwest Boeing took off from Dallas Love Field and founder Herb
Kelleher, still today the boss, invented his unconventional no frills
concept: Short direct flights, very little service on board, but very
cheap tickets. It was a success. Within 25 years, the former small
regional carrier became the fifth biggest airline in the US, in terms of
domestic customers carried, with 2,200 daily flights to 50 destinations,
using 256 aircraft, all Boeing 737s.
TEA Switzerland: 511131 Boeing 737-700, In 1988, charter airline TEA
Basel began operating as part of of the Transeuropean group. In 1989,
their first airliner, a Boeing 737-300, flew from Zurich to Lisbon.
Since 1994, they have been TEA Switzerland. TEA Switzerland began a
strategic alliance with British budget airline Easyjet, in the first
phase Easyjet took 40% of TEA shares. This is expected to become the
core of Europe's largest low price airline in the 21st century. By the
end of 1999, their fleet will consist of 23 Boeing 737s (21 -300s and
two -700s). There will probably be a change of livery in early 1999, so
the Herpa is a limited edition.
BOEING FLEET: 511070 Boeing 737-800: In November 1993 Boeing announced a
family of 737 derivatives to build on its success. The 737-600, -700,
and -800 are refined versions of predecessors -300, -400, and -500.
Although the 737-800 is only three metres (ten feet) longer, there is
space for 189 passengers, compared to 168 in the 737-400.
Lan Chile: 502894 Boeing 767-300: The Chilean airline's fleet is to be
expanded and modernised. In 1997 another Boeing 767-300ER joined to the
long haul fleet., with an average age of 30 months, the youngest fleet
in South America. Between 2000 and 2005 20 Airbus A320s will replace old
Boeing 737-200s on short haul flights within Chile and South America.
The new corporate identity was developed by Davies Baron.
CONDOR: 601682 Airbus A320: In 1996 this holiday airline celebrated
their 40th anniversary with the Rizzi Boeing. In 1959, Deutsche
Flugdienst GmbH began with a Vickers Viscount that flew to Israel. In
1959, Lufthansa took a majority share in this charter company. From the
1960s to the 1980s turnover and passenger numbers increasied. From 1991
to 1995, the figures doubled again in the booming tourist market after
German unification. Today, Lufthansa holds only 10% of the shares, and
Condor owns a small subsidiary company of its own, Condor Berlin, with
eight Airbus A320-200s in a slightly modified livery.
Air Atlanta: 502528 Boeing 747-200: Air Atlanta Icelandic, founded in
1986 as a contract carrier, the first contract was the wet-lease of a
Boeing 707 to Caribbean Airways for flights between London and Barbados.
In 1988, they won a contract with Air Afrique to wet-lease a Boeing
707-320 to transport Islamic pilgrims from Africa to Jeddah. These Haji
flights later used L-1011 TriStars and Boeing 747s. In 1991, Air Atlanta
introduced their first wide-body jet, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, which
in 1992 began flights from Iceland to Majorca,. Using a Boeing 737-200,
Air Atlanta began scheduled services between Phnom Penh and Bangkok.
Today, Air Atlanta flights are operated from nine bases throughout the
world. The current fleet consists of two Boeing 737-200s (cargo
version), one 737-300, seven Boeing 747s, and seven L-1011s.
HERPA LATEST NEWS
New 1:500 diecast releases from Herpa:
Airbus A340-300 Lufthansa: The Herpa Wings collection is extended by
another miniature from the biggest German airline, our 15th Lufthansa
model.
Boeing 747-400 United Airlines: The two already released models of
United Airlines planes will be complemented with the flagship of the
fleet.
Boeing 747-400 China Airlines: With this Boeing 747-400, China Airlines
appears for the first time in the Herpa programme. Available with base
and wheels. The vertical stabiliser has a screen print of a red flower.
Airbus A321 Austrian Airlines: Austrian Airlines have extended their
fleet with a new type of aeroplane for them.
Boeing 737-500 Hapag-Lloyd: In time for the summer holidays, the fleet
of this popular holiday airline by Herpa increases.
Airbus A340-300E Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines flies mostly
between Australia, Europe and North America. Their latest type is the
Airbus A340-300E, called Celestar. Available with base and wheels.
MD-11 American Airlines. With the Flagship of American Airlines, Herpa
has its first model from this US carrier.
Boeing 747-400 Northwest Airlines: and Airbus A320 Northwest Airlines: A
special feature of these models is the four colour KLM logo screen
printed on to the model.
Boeing 737-300 Southwest 'Arizona One'
McDonnell-Douglas MD-82 TWA 'Wings of Pride'
Boeing 747-200F Lufthansa Cargo
Boeing 747-400 Mandarin Airlines
Douglas DC-3 Lufthansa
Canadair Jet Lauda Air
Boeing 737-300 Deutsche BA 'Herbert Flag'
Airbus A321 Air Lingus
Douglas DC-10 Hawaiian Airlines
Airport Accessory Set III: incorporates pilot, passengers, passenger
gangway, luggage train, Herpa truck, police van, small airstairs, large
airstairs, Cessna 172, Cessna Citation and helicopter.
New from Wooster
By Matthew Jackson
New aircraft from Wooster, all fully finished plastic models: Current
British Airways models, new colours available:
Boeing 747-400 South Africa Image
Boeing 747-400 Hong Kong Image
Boeing 777 Botswana Image
Concorde
BAe 146 Holland
Coming in September: Boeing 757 Poland, Boeing 767 Scotland, BAe 146
Celtic
Other new models for September:
Northwest 146, US Air Metro Jet 737-200, United J41, United Dornier 328
BRITISH ROUNDUP
By Ron Crawford
check these lists of the offerings of British producers of painted
models (courtesy of Vince Corcoran and Mick Armitage).
Western Models latest are the Ilyushin IL-18, Airspeed Ambassador,
Bristol Britannia, Lockheed 749A Connie, Vickers Viscount 800, Douglas
DC-4, Boeing B-29, and two sets of airline ground equipment.
Historic Aircraft Models is offering an IL 62, Tu-144 SST-ski, Tu-104,
DH Comet I, Tu-134 and Tu 154.
Jet Wings has the Convair 880 and 990 and an assortment of DC-8
variants.
Metal Airliner Models is making the VC-10 and Super VC-10.
Airfleet Collection has a Lancaster Mk 1.
DH Models makes a DH Trident 1/lE, 2E, and 3. Prices generally run
between £50.00 to £100.00 each, but for that you are buying completely
finished models with landing gear, props where appropriate, and so on.
WIKING B&V Ha140
By Ron Crawford
For as long as I have collected Wiking aircraft there have been rumours
of various aircraft models that could not be documented. In some
instances the models actually appear in Wiking brochures or preserved
correspondence. One example has been the Blohm und Voss Ha140. It
appears as late as 1945 in a product information notice, although the
aircraft was then several years out of service. Optimistic collectors
have long listed the Ha140 and similar models in their search lists.
When their faith wavered, sure enough another possible sighting would be
reported. In the case of the Ha 140 we received a report in the late
1980s that a chap in Moravia actually had one. However, the alleged
owner never answered my letters, and he was a man of such unpleasant
reputation that none of my local contacts would even agree to contact
him. He later sold his enormous collection to another American
collector, who told me that the Ha140 was not among the models acquired.
The mystery continued. Last autumn I had coffee in Prague with an aged
and infirm Czech Wiking collector. He had personally known the first
collectors who mined former German bases in Moravia in the 1940s and
1950s. He hauled out his scrapbooks and files, and right there in living
black and white was a picture of himself holding..you guessed it, a
1:200 scale Ha140. The Wiking Ha140 does justice to the less than
artistic or commercial success of the prototype. The model is in
standard wartime RLM grey plastic. It bears the WM logo under the port
wing and original Wiking German crosses on the topsides. Regrettably
some past owner felt compelled to paint the underside and canopies in
light blue and to add some other decals. I verified the authenticity by
holding a wing in boiling water, but I have not yet summoned the courage
to strip a one-of-a-kind model.
Does that mean one of us will find the original C-54 Skymaster or one of
the Gothas? Keep the faith! The Ha 140 only took me 20-plus years.
Wiking Aeroplanes
A Collector's Guide
By Ron Crawford
Part One
What is special about Wiking aeroplanes?
A collection of Wiking aircraft is effectively a one-firm, and in many
ways a one-man, history of scale models. The range began in the 1930s as
a then unique 'boutique' hand-painted series of white metal miniatures
for collectors. Before the Second World War, Wikings, as they are known
to collectors, set another precedent as the first model aircraft
injection moulded in a durable modern plastic. During the war Wikings
were the standard recognition training models for the German, European
Axis, Swedish and others. In the postwar era Wikings served again during
the Berlin Airlift, were reintroduced as a scale model line, and very
nearly became the ID models of the Cold War. Wiking aeroplanes meet the
desirability criteria of most collectors. They are visually attractive,
durable enough to withstand handling, accessible without impoverishing
one's family, have an impeccable historical pedigree, and are compact
enough to display in tight quarters. As collectors absorb the extant
examples, their appreciation potential is excellent. Exact replicas are
available to fill gaps and for people who prefer having to hunting.
How do I recognise Wikings? The majority of Wiking aircraft are easy to
identify. The aircraft are almost all in a consistent 1:200 scale. A
B-17 Flying Fortress, for example, has a wingspan about six inches (150
mm). From the introduction of plastic materials, the undersides of most
Wikings are hallmarked with a prominent raised 'W over M', or WM,
trademark. The cockpits and turrets have raised frames, a detail which
other makers neglect. Propellors are represented by clear plastic discs.
The aircraft are depicted 'in flight' with landing gear retracted. The
material is a dense thermoplastic similar to Bakelite called Cyanolit,
which is heavier and much more durable than today's inexpensive
polystyrene plastics. My standard test for authenticity is to drop
suspect models in boiling water. If they soften they are copies.
How did Wikings get started? Wiking Modellbau began in Berlin in the
early 1930s. Friedrich Peltzer, a son of a seafaring family and a writer
and illustrator of childrens' books, started as so many of us have. He
carved model ships from the wood of cigar boxes and decided those looked
very nice, so he began casting lead replicas for himself, for friends,
and eventually for sale. In interviews he talked at length about the
trials and tribulations of becoming a manufacturer and his difficulty in
convincing incredulous toy and department stores to display his models.
The very first models were frankly 'suggestive' of the prototypes, in
the manner of slush-moulded toys, but they improved rapidly. In a
setting where miniatures like tin soldiers and doll's house furnishings
had been collected for generations and became family heirlooms, replicas
of warships and freighters sold well. Mr Peltzer's models had a special
appeal because they were built to a common scale, enabling the creation
of harbours or sea battles on a table top. The play element was
extremely important to Mr Peltzer. He strongly believed that people
should play with their models and teach their children to do likewise.
He enjoyed punctuating interviews with impromptu demonstrations of how
ships looked on a sea-blue surface or moving model planes in front of a
cloud background. He would speak with equal but opposite feeling about
the compulsive collectors who lock away each new acquisition in closets
and drawers. With sales successes, Mr Peltzer and his wife incorporated
their business as Peltzer and Peltzer - Wiking Modellbau and began doing
the things which grow a firm. They brought in full-time model builders
and casting personnel. Homeworkers were recruited to clean and paint
castings. Brochures were designed, and export outlets were recruited.
The ship range was continually expanded, with each annual brochure
proudly introducing the latest issues and projecting future products.
With the ship line well established, Mr Peltzer turned in quick
succession to creating ranges of aircraft and then AFVs and civilian
vehicles. A scale of 1:200 was chosen for both ranges. He explained that
an aeroplane held at arm's length looks just about as one would see it
at an aerodrome or in close combat, while AFVs and figures in 1:200
match the aircraft and are ideal for desktop skirmishes.
These were not the first models in 1:200 scale. At least Fokker and KLM
had previously commissioned 1:200 aircraft for display models and 1:200
was an accepted shipbuilders' and architects' scale. As with the ships,
however, Wiking was a pioneer in offering a broad range at reasonable
prices to the general public. Like the ships, the first aircraft and
vehicles were white metal castings. From their mass it is evident that
the alloy is predominantly lead. By 1935 the aircraft range was
sufficiently well-known that the German armed forces used supplies of
them as training models during the Spanish Civil War. The thin
cross-sections of 1:200 aircraft wings and empennages created design and
service problems for Wiking. Aircraft cast in lead alloys were either
unacceptably subject to bending and breaking or were unrealistically
thick. Mr Peltzer had read about work with injection moulded plastics
and became an early convert. Plastic allowed Wiking to introduce
delicate models like the DFS Glider and to manufacture models that had
the primary colour cast in place, required little hand-finishing, and
could be shipped with no fear of breakage. The first plastic Wikings
predated Frog kits by a matter of years. It should be mentioned that
Wiking, along with other early plastic model makers, were slow to
develop shell (ie hollow) designs for their products. Aircraft were
generally made as solid, one-piece mouldings, and the producers found
some very ingenious ways of preventing sink marks that would otherwise
occur as plastics cool and harden. Some kit makers today could well
profit from studying 1930s technologies. A unique feature of the
'Cyanolit' plastic used by Wiking is that it is incredibly durable.
Whereas Frog, Cruver, and other early injection moulders typically used
cellulose acetate (which has a projected service life of circa 30 years
and is sensitive to heat, light, moisture, and acidic conditions),
Cyanolit was developed for harsh applications like radio cabinets and
ash trays.
To be continued in avia mini vi
REVELL AIR ACES
By Bill Stewart
The main focus of my collection has been on acquiring Ertl Force One
aircraft. However, Revell also made a line of toy aircraft similar in
size, price and quality to Force One. Actually, Revell made two lines of
aircraft, Air Aces and Sonic Aces. These planes were manufactured in
1990 and 1991. Each line consisted of eight aircraft: F-14 Tomcat in
grey, F-15 Eagle in what looks like Thunderbirds red, white and blue
colours, F-16 Thunderbirds, F-18 Blue Angels, MiG-29 Fulcrum in grey
camouflage, Su-27 Flanker also in grey camouflage, European Fighter
Aircraft in grey and Tornado in German Air Force green and black
camouflage. The F-14 and Tornado were never readily available in the US
or UK In fact, the only known examples I am aware of are located in
collections in France. Sonic Aces differed from the Air Aces by having
electronics that produced engine noise and an afterburner flash when you
pushed a button located behind the canopy.
The Sonic Aces also came with a 'joystick' handle that could be inserted
in the underside of the plane.
Other than the 'engine' button, Air Aces and Sonic Aces are
indistinguishable. The airplanes are diecast with a plastic under-belly
attached with small screws. The under-belly contains the electronics for
the Sonic Aces which are missing from the Air Aces. The tail pipes are
unrealistically red plastic. However, the red plastic is necessary to
see the engaged afterburners on the Sonic Aces. Each plane came with
plastic retractable landing gear and a set of plastic bombs. However, I
had problems with the landing gear knocking off the bombs when the gear
was retracted or extended. Some of the planes had wing missiles as part
of the casting. From my correspondence with Maurice Mouraux and
Jean-Bernard Jamme I discovered that the European releases have a
different numbering system from the US releases. I have listed the
releases here:
Euro No. US No Model Description Span Length
8301 8639 EFA JF-90 Eurofighter grey 4-5/8" 5-7/8"
8302 8637 MIG-29 Fulcrum Soviet Air Force grey camo 4-5/8" 6-1/4"
8303 8638 Su-27 Flanker Soviet Air Force grey camo 4-3/4" 6-1/4"
8304 8642 F-15 Eagle USAF, red/white/blue 4-5/8" 6-3/4"
8305 8640 F-16 Falcon Thunderbirds 4-1/2" 6-3/8"
8306 8641 F/A-18 Hornet Blue Angels 4-7/8" 6-3/8"
8307 ? F-14 Tomcat light grey
8308 ? Panavia Tornado German Air Force, green/grey camouflage
UNION GEE BEE RACERS
Union have been well-known for a long time as one of the main Japanese
plastic kit ranges, but now they have ready-made 1:48 scale diecast
aircraft, starting with a selection of nicely made Gee Bee racers:
1101 Gee Bee R-1
1102 Gee Bee Model Z
1103 Gee Bee R-2
MAGNIFICENT MARUSHINS
MARUSHIN 1:48 diecast in China for Japan: These model aircraft are
superbly made, and require only simple final assembly, mostly by screws.
Available types include Zero variants A6M2, A6M3, A6M5 in grey, green or
silver, P-51D Mustangs in two USAF liveries or postwar 'Miss America'
racer, plus Kawasaki Tony and Mitsubishi Raiden (Jack) fighters. Shown
here are models in their sturdy packaging (below), the components as
they come out of the box (left), and the superb finished results
CORGI Aviation Archive
Second half 1998 programme
SALES of the first half year of releases in the new Corgi series of
1:144 scale diecast aircraft must have encouraged the company. Some
models have sold so well, notably the 'Battle of Britain Flight' Avro
Lancaster, that additional quantities have been ordered from China,
almost unheard-of nowadays in Corgi's diecast model vehicle ranges. So
we look forward to the July to December releases, which are listed here,
and many of them pictured.
47302 Avro Lancaster GR3 RAF Coastal Command (Aug)
47106 Douglas C-47A Dakota C3 RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
(Sept)
47506 Lockheed C-69 Constellation USAF (Sept)
47105 Douglas DC-3 Eastern Airlines NC18124 (July)
47107 Douglas DC-3 Dakota Air Atlantique G-AMPZ (Oct)
47203 Avro 685 York C1 Dan-Air Services G-ANTK (Aug)
47505 Lockheed Constellation Braniff International Airways N2520B (July)
You may notice that there are no releases listed beyond October, so we
may expect some more news in avia mini vi! Corgi also make a card kit
of an aircraft hangar in 1:144 scale.
HBM LATEST NEWS
By Ron Crawford
Secret HBM Plan Revealed.
Yes, friends, after making 1:200 scale aircraft for something more than
20 years, we finally have a plan. Our modest goal, inspired by the
response to our modern aircraft ID kits, is to develop similar displays
for aircraft of the fighting powers in the Second World War, for
X-planes, and perhaps for selected other subjects. This will enable
collectors to build museum-quality exhibits using our models or
substituting models of their choice. Most of the required models are
already available. We will devote most of our forthcoming production to
filling out the selections, creating printed backgrounds for the
displays, and developing needed supplies such as decals and mounting
pylons. Readers can obtain copies of the full listings free by email at
rlcraw@together.net . If you do not have email please send stamps or IRCs
for 1.5 ounces. Our snail mail address is Ron Crawford, PO Box 23, North
Ferrisburgh, Vermont, USA 05473.
Summer HBM Releases.
The summer HBM series should not strain even a novice's aircraft
spotting repertoire. (Are you getting at me again, Ron? Ed.).
We are concentrating on filling holes in the coverage of WWII types. The
AAF receives the Curtiss XP-37. The Luftwaffe gets the Reichenberg
manned V-1 and two-seater Reichenberg trainer, the Messerschmitt Me 210,
Me 262B night fighter, Me 252A with 57mm cannon, early Ju 52 with
optional ventral gondola, and Junkers Ju 52-3m with minesweeping
(degaussing) ring. The RAF gets an early Avro Manchester bomber.
The French selection is supplemented with the Dewoitine D520 and Bloch
MB.152.
New Italian types are the Macchi 200 and Macchi 202. The Soviet Union
receives the Polikarpov I-15, I-15bis, I-153, and I-16 Rata. Assembly is
limited to the Junkers and I-15 family. We recommend that you cement the
Ju 52 landing gear struts to the aircraft first, and then mount the
wheels or wheel-spat components. That will enable achieving the correct
positive camber of the wheels for an aircraft on the ground versus in
flight. The degaussing ring or ventral gondola goes on last. The I-15
series biplanes are an easy build. The top wings of the I-15 and I-153
drop into their slots, and then you add the outer wing struts and
landing gear. On the I-15bis, which has a raised top wing, it is
simplest to glue the inner struts in place with tiny drops of
five-minute epoxy or a slow gel-type cyanoacrylate glue.
That allows you to align them while the cement is setting. Then the top
wing is added, and so on.
Autumn HBM releases.
Currently in preparation for the fall are the F-22A Raptor, Dark Star
and Global Predator UAVs,the Saab J39B two seater Gripen, remastered JA
(fighter) and AJ (attack) versions of the Saab Viggen, a remastered Saab
Lansen, another armoured train, NASA's X-6, X-38, remastered versions of
the Japanese Tony, Oscar, and Ki.100-1A, Morane MS406, Heinkel He 177,
Martin XPB2-M Mars, and a Dornier 217E-2 with a Henschel glide bomb. To
maintain our reputation for the exotic we are also casting the USAF
SCREMAR hypersonic trans-atmospheric aircraft with the hypersonic SCHMAC
cruise attack missile, Strikestar, the scaled up armed Dark Star design,
Dark Star itself (no twinkle jokes, please), and Global Predator . Check
out the plans in Air Force 2025 for a preview.
While you are at it, also peek at the three-view drawing of the carrier
aircraft SHAAFT, which will be along as soon as we figure out how to
cast that monster.
HBM Decals.
We now have available decal sheets for Japanese hinomaru with and
without white surrounds and for Swedish aircraft roundels. Each sheet
offers multiple insignia in varying sizes, so that several aircraft can
be finished from one sheet. Sheets for Second World War French and
Soviet aircraft will be available in September. In October we will have
Second World War Italian and RAF sheets. USAF-USN and Luftwaffe will
follow.
HBM Custom Finishing is a new initiative for us. So many collectors have
asked us to supply our models fully finished that we have recruited a
talented painter. Initially we are going to work out the wrinkles by
offering painted models only on new issues.
1:200 Wiking Ships We received letters from several ship experts about
the 1:200 Wiking models of WWII German warships. It turns out that these
were a custom made series built specially for display at Reichsmarine
installations. Some were also brought to recruiting events. Photographs
of my examples can be downloaded from the Navis Magazine website. For
those readers living or travelling in Europe, a set of the models is on
display at the Navy Memorial in Laboe, Germany. Those models have been
modified and refinished over the years but are the most complete set in
existence.
NORFOLK GROUP
Norfolk Group will shortly be offering a new kit of the Short Solent.
For info write to Chris Sayer, Kett Hall, Wymondham College, Wymondham,
Norfolk NR18 9SX, UK.
AERO CRAFTS NEWS
Aero Crafts latest gems are the Focke-Wulf FW 190A, FW 190D.9, FW 190F,
Zeke 52, Hamp, P-40C, and Cochrane Spitfire two-seater, all with wheels
down. Next up is a wheels-down Vampire. Lots more on the way. Contact
Leighton Fletcher, 57 Denny View, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8BT, UK.
AIRLINERS AMERICA
I heartily recommend that airline buffs request a copy of Clint Groves
Airliner America/ATP catalog. They carry just about anything you might
want in airliner kits, accessory decal sheets, and documentation. That's
Airliners America (Mr Clint Groves), 3014 Abelia Court, San Jose,
California 95121. ClintSJC@aol.com
SASQUATCH MODELS
Sasquatch Scale Models (Mr. Dean Slaybaugh) PO Box 68735, Portland,
Oregon 97268) now has their 1998 catalog out. Some really unusual 1:200
and 1: 144 airliners, conversion kits, parts like alternative engines,
and airliner decals.
UFO MODELS
UFO Department. Rick Atkinson, who sculpted our Roswell Mk. XXXXVII
flying saucer, has created several other 1:200 UFOs. Rick would like a
show of hands on whether anyone would like copies of those. You can
contact Rick at 986 Grosvenor Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3M
ON6.
METAL MODELS
Metal Models/ Speed in the Air , 230 Earlham Road, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
reports a contract to supply quantities of their SR-71 Blackbird to a
model distributor and will follow that with a B-1B, XB-70, and some USAF
jet trainers. Those models will still be available to current customers.
WEST-TEX COLLECTIBLES
West-Tex claim to be the 'world's foremost supplier of petroleum and
other quality collectibles', and their catalogue makes that look
possible. As one might imagine, they are keenly into Texaco
collectibles, but they have much more besides, particularly in the
aviation line:
Texaco Aviation Series
Racing Champions Stearman biplane 1934 1:32 Ernie Irvan (made in 1994)
Ertl Lockheed Air Express 1929 (1993)
Ertl Northrop Gamma 1932 (1994)
Ertl Stearman biplane 1931 (1995)
Ertl Curtiss Robin monoplane (1998)
Ertl Grumman Goose 1940 (1996)
Ertl Travel Air Mystery ship yellow (1998)
Ertl Travel Air 1930 Mystery ship red (1997)
SpecCast Travel Air no 13 (1992)
SpecCast Blimp, black or red (1997)
Exxon-Esso-Humble
SpecCast Travel Air Exxon (1993)
SpecCast Stearman Biplane Exxon (1995)
First Gear Douglas DC-3 Humble (1996)
Ertl Ford Trimotor Humble (1996)
SpecCast F4U-1 Corsair Exxon (1998)
Other Oil CompanY liveries
Gear Box Stinson Detroiter Gulf (1998)
Gear Box Stinson Reliant Gulf (1998)
Gear Box Grumman Goose Gulf (1998)
Gear Box Stinson Detroiter Shell (1998)
SpecCast Stearman Biplane Shell (1998)
Gear Box Stinson Detroiter Mobil (1998)
SpecCast Beech Staggerwing Mobil (1997)
SpecCast Travel Air Mobilgas (1993)
SpecCast Stearman Biplane Mobiloil (1994)
SpecCast P-51 Mustang Mobil silver (1995)
SpecCast P-51 Mustang Mobil red (1995)
MIlitary aircraft: all new this year:
Gear Box Sopwith Pup RFC, US Army, USN, German
Gear Box Airco DH-4, RAF, US Navy, US Airmail
Gear Box Stinson Reliant US Army, USCG, RN
Gear Box Grumman Goose US Navy, Coast Guard
Gear Box Stinson Detroiter US Army
SpecCast P-51 Mustang USAF Susu or S Dakota NG
Other liveries:
Ertl Northrop Gamma Bud Light
Ertl Biplane Coca-Cola (1997)
Racing Champions Stearman 1934 Hooters (1995)
Ertl Northrop Gamma Coca-Cola (1995)
Gear Box Stearman Biplane 32 Pepsi Keystone Cops
Gear Box Stearman Biplane 1932 RCA Victor
SpecCast Blimp Goodyear
Ertl Stearman Biplane American Airlines (1998)
Ertl Douglas DC-3 American Airlines (1996)
Ertl Ford Trimotor American Airlines (1997)
Racing Champions Stearman Biplane Jeff Gordon
SpecCast Hot Air Balloon Pepsi (1998)
SpecCast Beech 18 Sinclair (1998)
SpecCast Beech 18 Haliburton (1997)
Gear Box Stinson Detroiter Pennzoil (1997)
SpecCast Stearman Biplane Pennzoil (1996)
For more details contact West-Tex at PO Box 150835, Arlington, TX
76015-6835, USA.
ERTL TEXACO 1:43 PLANES
The two latest aircraft from Ertl are both 1:43:
Texaco 13: Travel Air Mystery Ship model R 1930, in its original red and
yellow racing paint job, intended for the transcontinental speed record
attempt that year. Ertl have already produced this aircraft in the red
and white finish in which it was repainted after a crash-landing.
Curtiss Robin 1929, the 'aristocrat of small ships', used by the Texas
Company sales department. It logged 990 flying hours in 40 months of
use. A very pretty little plane.
1:43 SCALE AIRMEN
At last we have found a reason for Ertl to make diecast aircraft in 1:43
scale. It is obviously to complement the 1:43 figures made by Phoenix
Model Developments. They make a USAAF officer, RAF officer, RAF airman
and WAAF girl with gas mask, among many dozens of other figures in 1:43
scale. All are unpainted white metal, very highly detailed and
remarkably cheap at £1.00 to £2.00 each. For more details contact
Phoenix at The Square, Earls Barton, Northampton NN6 0NA, UK.
BEACON PUBLICATIONS
By Ron Crawford
Beacon Publications, 23168 Brandon Place NW, Poulsbo, Washington, USA
98370 offer an extensive range of decals for micro (1:285 to 1:432)
scale models. The subjects include major air forces from Great War to
present. The decal sheets offer a gradation of sizes and would typically
finish several aircraft. For 1:200 scale they are especially useful for
tail markings, the sides of fuselages, and very small fighters.
V-BOMBER PROTOTYPES
By Ron Crawford
Seen at an English model/casting shop were prototypes for a Vulcan,
Victor, and Valiant. We believe those will be offered by Collectors
Aircraft Models.
STANISLAV SPURNY
By Ron Crawford
On a sad note, Stanislav Spurny, the creator of X-Models, died on 28
March. One of his associates may revive the range but we have doubts
that will occur.
STRATOMODELS
By Ron Crawford
Just in is information about Stratomodels, PO Box 22040, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, USA 33335-2040. Stratomodels is Steve Boza, who
specialises in custom decals and finishes for 1:200 and other scales of
airliners.
RESIN CASTING
Book Review By Ron Crawford
Karl Juelch of Wingnut International has published his long awaited book
on resin casting. Aptly entitled Secrets of Expert Mold Making and Resin
Casting, it covers materials, designing and building moulds, vacuum and
pressure casting, and building your own equipment. The emphasis is on
prototype work, but someone who wants to produce in quantity would use
the same techniques and equipment with multicavity moulds and multiple
moulds. Highly recommended. The cost is $19.95 plus $3.00 domestic or
$6.00 overseas, from 1065 Route 173 West, Asbury, New Jersey, USA 08802.
Note: the print version of avia mini V, with much more than is reprinted
in this archive, and many, many illustrations, is still available as a
back number direct from the publishers. You can order it from this
website.
avia mini Front Page
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