List your childhood model collection
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The airline took a further blow when my Mum unreasonably demanded the kitchen table back.
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Ah yes - hardened globules of glue on mums baking board guaranteed a clip around the ear.
To be followed by another one if it was confirmed that my big brother wasn't the cause !!
The strangest looking aircraft model I built was a Vought Cutlass. Looking at pictures of the a/c recently I wonder what the designer was smoking at the time.
To be followed by another one if it was confirmed that my big brother wasn't the cause !!
The strangest looking aircraft model I built was a Vought Cutlass. Looking at pictures of the a/c recently I wonder what the designer was smoking at the time.
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Tamiya Swordfish - Check this out!!!!!
Go to Britmodeller on these links
Fairey Swordfish, 1/48 Tamiya - Britmodeller.com
The Stringbag Diorama - Britmodeller.com
Amazing!!!!
Take the time to go through both posts and see the detail and care involved
If only I could even think about this sort of skill!!!
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Childhood model collection
My first kit ever was an Airfix Fiat CR42, 1:72 scale in green plastic. It was bought by my late father somewhere in 1971 - IIRC (was five years old) -, as a surprise (*). I recall I loved the picture of the airplane on the small box, but was puzzled by all those pieces of plastic on the (three ?) sprues inside. At those times I used to jump for happiness (wish I could still do it, if then they were not to lock me up ;-)).
Since I began with the wrong foot, to disconnet the two fuselage halves I just bent it more times until it detached, my father took over and built the model. Unfortunaterly it was lost years later.
I then distinctly remember the second was a bimotore, probably a Marauder, still 1:72, followed by a Vickers Wellington -- that I can never forget so nice looking it was --and later by a Boeing B29 (that really seemed to be very large), probably all Airfix.
My father properly disconnected the pieces and let me fit them, always saying: "use less glue!".
After some practice, a couple of years later, I built all by myself a Dauntless (possibly a Baravelli kit) in blue plastic. It was fun also because my cousin had got the same kit as a present and we were building it together to see who finished first. He had used way too much glue, though, and after a few hours from completion his model became soft, the wings and the fuselage bent under its own little weight.
(*) = most gifts were not surprises, they were on request.
Since I began with the wrong foot, to disconnet the two fuselage halves I just bent it more times until it detached, my father took over and built the model. Unfortunaterly it was lost years later.
I then distinctly remember the second was a bimotore, probably a Marauder, still 1:72, followed by a Vickers Wellington -- that I can never forget so nice looking it was --and later by a Boeing B29 (that really seemed to be very large), probably all Airfix.
My father properly disconnected the pieces and let me fit them, always saying: "use less glue!".
After some practice, a couple of years later, I built all by myself a Dauntless (possibly a Baravelli kit) in blue plastic. It was fun also because my cousin had got the same kit as a present and we were building it together to see who finished first. He had used way too much glue, though, and after a few hours from completion his model became soft, the wings and the fuselage bent under its own little weight.
(*) = most gifts were not surprises, they were on request.
Last edited by vonbag; 19th May 2009 at 19:24. Reason: typo and RIP to my father ;-(
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Not sure whether I'll be able to remember the whole collection (it was the mid 70s we're talking about), but these were definitely amongst them:
Airfix 1/144 scale
Air France B747
Air France Caravelle
Air France Concorde
BEA Comet 4c
BEA HS Trident 1C (?)
Braniff B747 (Big Orange - painted by hand!)
British Airways B707 (Negus livery)
British Airways B737-200 (Negus livery)
British Airways Concorde (Negus livery)
British Airways L1011 Tristar (Negus livery)
British United/BUA BAC 1-11
KLM DC9
Lufthansa A300B
Lufthansa B727
Lufthansa B737
Monarch B707 (again painted by hand)
Pan Am B727
SAS DC10
I also had a few Revell 1:144 kits and some from more obscure manufacturers.
I also recall having spent years trying to find the Airfix 1:144 scale BOAC or BA VC10 model, but never did find one...
Airfix 1/144 scale
Air France B747
Air France Caravelle
Air France Concorde
BEA Comet 4c
BEA HS Trident 1C (?)
Braniff B747 (Big Orange - painted by hand!)
British Airways B707 (Negus livery)
British Airways B737-200 (Negus livery)
British Airways Concorde (Negus livery)
British Airways L1011 Tristar (Negus livery)
British United/BUA BAC 1-11
KLM DC9
Lufthansa A300B
Lufthansa B727
Lufthansa B737
Monarch B707 (again painted by hand)
Pan Am B727
SAS DC10
I also had a few Revell 1:144 kits and some from more obscure manufacturers.
I also recall having spent years trying to find the Airfix 1:144 scale BOAC or BA VC10 model, but never did find one...
Off thread a bit, but guess what I have.
An unfinished 1/8 scale Sopwith Camel by Hasegawa. Huge and is not meant to be covered. The engine (Clerget) is a masterpiece. It went out of production ages ago (the kit).
LM
An unfinished 1/8 scale Sopwith Camel by Hasegawa. Huge and is not meant to be covered. The engine (Clerget) is a masterpiece. It went out of production ages ago (the kit).
LM
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Just remembered another kit which a friend has got stashed away for me (he acquired two and I've not got around to collecting mine yet!).
1/20 Nichimo Cessna 172. From memory each of the metal cooling fins on the cylinders has to be individually positioned with spacers, etc, etc. Very, very detailed!
1/20 Nichimo Cessna 172. From memory each of the metal cooling fins on the cylinders has to be individually positioned with spacers, etc, etc. Very, very detailed!
Reading this thread has inspired me to search the deepest reaches of my shed. And I found my 2 old Oliver Tiger Mk111's- does anybody fly control line any more ? I feel a model coming on, after a 25 year break.
The 1/20th Cessna 172, the stuff of dreams when your a nine year old kid!
I would have happily swapped my younger sister to get my hands on one of those kits in the 1970's.
That was the only thing wrong with the world in those day's not enough civilian model kits, but dad did purchase me a Cessna C337 Skymaster that was made in the late 1960's and then I found a Monogram C180 Sportsman in the local hobby shop.
I would have happily swapped my younger sister to get my hands on one of those kits in the 1970's.
That was the only thing wrong with the world in those day's not enough civilian model kits, but dad did purchase me a Cessna C337 Skymaster that was made in the late 1960's and then I found a Monogram C180 Sportsman in the local hobby shop.
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Born just before WW2, collectible aircraft toys became pretty scarce when war broke out. My father was away in uniform contributing to the downfall of Hitler and Mussolini, and I had to look elsewhere for the three items in my meagre collection.
The first was a battered Dinky toy model of what hindsight now tells me was probably an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign, with much-chipped silver painted finish. Surviving examples, particularly if they still have the box, are likely to change hands for ridiculous sums, but to me it was priceless.
An industrious and friendly uncle, an ARP warden and cement supplier for airfield construction (so in a "Reserved Occupation", however much he volunteered for military service) had a wondrously well equipped shed and tool set. He made me a huge wooden model of a Vickers Wellington, with lovingly painted camouflage finish and RAF roundels, with two nails in the nose turret as guns. Almost as big as me, aged about 4.
In the summer of 1944 the V1 "doodlebug" flying bombs roared over our home in Maidstone, exciting for me, but deadly for others, and uncle made me one which made me envied at infant school among my peers.
Oh how I would love to still have those three treasured pieces now! My grandchildren would think them pretty tame compared to their Playstations etc., but they were better than gold dust to me. I think it's clear that my fascination with aviation started in those far-off days.
The first was a battered Dinky toy model of what hindsight now tells me was probably an Armstrong Whitworth Ensign, with much-chipped silver painted finish. Surviving examples, particularly if they still have the box, are likely to change hands for ridiculous sums, but to me it was priceless.
An industrious and friendly uncle, an ARP warden and cement supplier for airfield construction (so in a "Reserved Occupation", however much he volunteered for military service) had a wondrously well equipped shed and tool set. He made me a huge wooden model of a Vickers Wellington, with lovingly painted camouflage finish and RAF roundels, with two nails in the nose turret as guns. Almost as big as me, aged about 4.
In the summer of 1944 the V1 "doodlebug" flying bombs roared over our home in Maidstone, exciting for me, but deadly for others, and uncle made me one which made me envied at infant school among my peers.
Oh how I would love to still have those three treasured pieces now! My grandchildren would think them pretty tame compared to their Playstations etc., but they were better than gold dust to me. I think it's clear that my fascination with aviation started in those far-off days.
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I had a control-line KeilKraft 'Talon' powered by the glow-plug version of the ED 2.46 'Racer'. Racer? Good job the trades description act wasn't around back then - it was an utter slug.
I think the first reasonable engine I had was a Merco 35 and the first one to actually exceed my expectations was an HB61.
Various Keil Kraft, Veron, Frog aircraft came and went as well as a few scratchbuilt ones like a Beagle Airedale and assorted sailplanes.
Last one in that era was the Kavan Jet Ranger. Might have been the first RC helicopter kit? In any case everyone who bought the kit got the name and address and phone of the other buyers to compare notes.
There were no instructors let alone gyros and the collective/pitch/throttle mixing was all mechanical.
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kms901
I have just put my Ollie Mk. III in a "Peacemaker".
Like many, it has suffered the usual Ollie crash damage and the carburetter is held on with a blob of skilfully? applied alumunium-filled epoxy.
Amalgam of George Aldrich and John Oliver - MAGIC!!!
On the other hand, if you wish to part with one/both???????????
I have just put my Ollie Mk. III in a "Peacemaker".
Like many, it has suffered the usual Ollie crash damage and the carburetter is held on with a blob of skilfully? applied alumunium-filled epoxy.
Amalgam of George Aldrich and John Oliver - MAGIC!!!
On the other hand, if you wish to part with one/both???????????
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My old uncle in Kent was a member of the Royal Observer Corps and as a seven year old in 1939 I helped him spot friendly and enemy fighters and bombers over the next couple of years. My eye-sight was excellent - his wasn't - hence I was an unpaid volunteer. Over several days he worked on a strange twin engine wooden model and then closing the shed door he showed me his masterpiece made out of one piece wood - a de Havilland Mosquito. Wing span around 18 inches. He made the plans from Observer Corps aircraft identification silhouettes. The fuselage of the model was square - not oval - but that was the only fault. He swore me to secrecy as this was the new wonder bomber he said was made of balsa wood and still on the secret list. Well that was what he said and I believed him.
Twenty years later and when I was a pilot in the RAAF, I bought a wonderful plastic kit called the "Phantom Mustang" which had a working retractable undercarriage and propeller, using a tiny electric motor. The wings and fuselage were transparent. I enjoyed every minute of putting that Mustang together mainly because once upon a time I flew real Mustangs and thus the model took on a nostalgic meaning for me. Alas, my Phantom Mustang did not survive a domestic argument with my then wife as she became more irritable with each passing day that I would gaze at the model and quietly contemplate the good old days of hack, flick and zoom.
Twenty years later and when I was a pilot in the RAAF, I bought a wonderful plastic kit called the "Phantom Mustang" which had a working retractable undercarriage and propeller, using a tiny electric motor. The wings and fuselage were transparent. I enjoyed every minute of putting that Mustang together mainly because once upon a time I flew real Mustangs and thus the model took on a nostalgic meaning for me. Alas, my Phantom Mustang did not survive a domestic argument with my then wife as she became more irritable with each passing day that I would gaze at the model and quietly contemplate the good old days of hack, flick and zoom.
The Monogram Phantom Mustang can still be found now and again on eBay - pricey though. Search either for 'Monogram Phantom Mustang' or 'Revell Phantom Mustang' - the kit was re-released under the Revell brand some years later.
I remember seeing the original at Hamley's one Christmas - whirling prop, retracting undercarriage etc etc!!
I remember seeing the original at Hamley's one Christmas - whirling prop, retracting undercarriage etc etc!!
In no particular order
Airfix range:
Lanc
Gnat
Spitfire
Zero
Beaufighter
Mosquito
Sunderland
Javelin
E.E. Lightning
P38 Lightning
Saturn V
SPAD(?)
and probably others I can't remember.
Now the family ditched most of those when I left home, but for some unknown reason, the only one I still have is .......
Fireball XL-5 ( manufacturer unknown)
Airfix range:
Lanc
Gnat
Spitfire
Zero
Beaufighter
Mosquito
Sunderland
Javelin
E.E. Lightning
P38 Lightning
Saturn V
SPAD(?)
and probably others I can't remember.
Now the family ditched most of those when I left home, but for some unknown reason, the only one I still have is .......
Fireball XL-5 ( manufacturer unknown)