Factory Desk models....

[JBoyle]

Anyone else out there collect factory desk models?
If so, what's your favorite?

Not the wooden imported stuff you see on ebay, but the real stuff from the 50s-90s and made by Topping, Precise, Allen and s couple of firms today in California.


My favorite is an Alllen 1/72 C-124 made out of metal...a favorite since my dad flew them way back when. It's large crinkle fished black base has the old Douglas logo and a plate with a squadron inscribed on it. A bit of research shows that unit was assigned to the base where I was born...when I was born.

I also have a handbuild metal 1/35 scale Bell 47/H-13. I was told by a helicopter model historian (and former Bell test pilot) they were made in japan in the 50's.

[tom d. friedman]

i collect those, & the early bakelite plastic ww 2 cruver black silhouette i.d. models as well. what do you want to know???

[Glyn]

I'm interested in getting started in the hobby - mainly to replace models of my dad's that I destroyed when I was a kid. Have often thought that tracking down replacement models for him would make great Christmas/birthday gifts.

I need the following planes, no idea if they can be found.
T-38
A-1
OV-10
F-111
F-5
F-15

[JBoyle]

Tom friedman...
The ID models are neat...I only have one, but the planes I'm referring to are the "VIP" models given to pilots, commanders and people in the aviation industry. I saw a few nice ones in the office of a parts supplier to Lockheed, Bell and Gen. Dynamics.

I'm interested in getting started in the hobby - mainly to replace models of my dad's that I destroyed when I was a kid. Have often thought that tracking down replacement models for him would make great Christmas/birthday gifts.

I need the following planes, no idea if they can be found.
T-38
A-1
OV-10
F-111
F-5
F-15

The T-38 , F-15, F-111 (in several versions) should be easy...they're often on ebay. F-5s are found less often...I have a huge 1/35th scale one.
OV-10s are rarer still, and usually when they come up the props are missing. I don't recall seeing any A-1s.
You should be able to get the 15, 111, & 38 for less than $100 each. Take your time and wait for a good one, there are plenty around.

[Paul Krumrei]

You can order aircraft from my uncle, at itsmyairplane.com

You can custom make an aircraft to your needs, or order simple aircraft.

Ask him, he will get it for you.

[Chris Brame]

I've got a little (8 3/4" wingspan) DC-6 that probably came off an ashtray; there's a broken-off pivot on the bottom. It's chromed cast pot metal with "Vic Pastushin Industries Inc./Los Angeles, California/Made in U.S.A." underneath. Anyone familiar with that firm?

[Tulio]

When I was a kid, there used to be a large size (larger than 1/24 scale) model of a Pan-American Stratocruiser, behind a travel agency's window, in Guatemala City.

It had one half of the fuselage and wing, covered in transparent plastic, and showed the internal layout of the airplane.

Years later, I went to the same place and asked if I could buy the model, and was told that they had thrown it away . . .

I have been looking for something similar ever since, and I still have to find one, but I keep visiting antique shops, just in case.

Saludos,


Tulio

[tom d. friedman]

i had an f-14, but sold it, as it faded. it wasn't as well made as the old topping ones. otherwise i have 1/48 scale ov-10 mohawk with electronics boom & a 1/48 scale grumman tracker. both are quite heavy, attests to their quality. the f-14 was made by a company in elyria ohio who has made the models for the pentagon brass hats ever since. i don't re-call the name of the company, but i should check them out as i only live a 1/2 hour from their. regards, tom

[bdk]

I've got a little (8 3/4" wingspan) DC-6 that probably came off an ashtray; there's a broken-off pivot on the bottom. It's chromed cast pot metal with "Vic Pastushin Industries Inc./Los Angeles, California/Made in U.S.A." underneath. Anyone familiar with that firm?

http://www.decodame.com/decorativearts/smoking_accessories.htm

[ww2John]

I am fortunate to have inherited two manufacturer's presentation models from my father. They are both from Grumman, made of some "heavy" "plastic" and have wingspans of 12-1/2" and 15-3/4" respectively.

The Hellcat is complete with it's stand (identifying it as Grumman Hellcat). It flies CAP on my bookcase.

The Tigercat is missing its stand and on propellor. It "flies" missions around the ceiling in my office.

They are a beautiful reminder from another time.

[Tulio]

When I was taking flying lessons, the lineman at Escuela Aerea in Guatemala, had a utility room where he kept all kinds of things related and connected to the C-152-IIs that the school operated, but also some other items.

Amongst the items that I wanted to acquire -but never managed- was a presentation model of the Cessna A-37B, in Guatemalan AF colors and markings. I tried several times to buy it from "Don Victor" but he did not want to sell it. He promised though, to keep me in mind if he ever decided to sell it.

I moved to the USA, and the first time I went back to Guatemala, I made a special trip to seek Victor . . . but he had died, and his only son, had no idea where the A-37 model ended up.

Saludos!

Tulio

[Tulio]

i collect those, & the early bakelite plastic ww 2 cruver black silhouette i.d. models as well. what do you want to know???

Tom:

On I-30 and West of Texarkana, TX (not more than 30 miles out) there is a military surplus store, "Turner's Army Surplus" with an F-111 (39768) outside, and an impressive collection of neat stuff inside, including a very large number of WW-II bakelite aircraft identification models.

According to the owner, his collection is one of the largest of its type.... (I know, Dayton and NASM have the largest collections).

Saludos,


Tulio

[RickH]

In Fredericksburg TX there was an antique toy museum off of the main street. Hanging from the ceiling were aircraft recognition models of nearly ALL of the aircraft used by Allied and Axis powers. The ceiling was full of them. The owner stated that he collected most of them from the trash at the end of WWII at Ellington Field- Houston. The mueum has closed and I don't know what happened to all of the stuff. He also had the WWII period Christmas window displays from one of the downtown department stores in Houston. Most of my chilhood was in that museum !

[tom d. friedman]

oh those bakelite models are out their!!!! but buyer beware!!! there are plenty of phoneys ones being knocked off too. they are near indistinguishable from the original ww 2 ones. buyer beware is the most prudent approach to take. if you know who you are dealing with then i'd say buy em with confidence, other wise be careful. these bastards that are knocking off the phoneys are even making them with the ww 2 issue dates!! unscrupulous dealers i'd say!!! another thing to be extremely careful about the i.d. models is what's commonly called among the collectors of them as the "DISEASE"!!!! the disease is when the bakelite model starts to break down & deteriorate from the inside of the model. remember..... bakelite plastic was 1 of the earliest forms of the substance, so hence the way it was made then has made them prone to this break down of the material. sure signs of the disease are when the models start to get a vinegar type smell, & the bakelite gets a slimey black sheen to its normal flat black finish. if this is the case then those models are toast, as there is no way to stop the plastic breakdown process. there are people who will buy them that way, but be prepared to lose your ass $$$$ wise. why these schmucks buy them in that condition i'll never know!!! also believe it or not if you handle a diseased i.d. model, & then handle another 1, you can actually spread the disease to your other models!!!! and then it is an unreversable casualty to your collection & wallet, as these babes don't come cheap any more. they must also be displayed in the right environment, not to damp, & definetely not to hot as the material will warp or melt. the models are best displayed hanging from the ceiling because of 3 points..... 1. they just look cool that way!!!! 2. that's how they were used in the military ready rooms during the war, 3. by hanging them prevents the disease, but make sure they are not touching another plane while hanging. i have 11 of them with representation of all the ww 2 major combatants, but i know a guy in michigan with one of the most extensive collections of them in the country. i sold him around 100 of the black cardboard i.d. models too, all still in their envelopes & the pieces still on the templates. also sold him around 40 original i.d. posters. i've always had a keen interest in silhouette i.d. stuff. i have hundreds of slides, about 60 various posters left, & yes!!!! 3 original ww 2 mini i.d. models, that are cracker jack toy sized. this concludes ww 2 bakelite i.d. model class 101. regards, tom