Two professional military and commercial airline scale-model constructors were operating in The Netherlands in the 1960s. The most well known company was that of Maarten Matthijs (Thijs) Verkuyl, who started building zinc and sheet metal aircraft in the attick of his house in the Sperwerstraat in Rotterdam in 1920 and was an active model designer/constructor from the 1940s until the early 1990s. At this time he was working for at IMC, which experienced financial difficulties and had to shut down business in 1992.
The following description of the early years of Matthijs Verkuyl is largely based on an article in Dutch that appeared in Avia 14(6) (Aarts, 1965) and on information kindly provided by Mr. Arthur de Koning, the stepson of Matthys Verkuyl who worked in Verkuyl's workshop from the late 1950s onwards when the F-105 Thunderchief model was produced.
The father of Matthijs Verkuyl had a milk delivery business, with the Schiphol Airport being one of his major clients. Hence, Matthijs became already familiar with the the airport as a boy aged 3.5. When he became older he was allowed access to all hangars and knew many of the VIPs at Schiphol in the 1920s and 1930s, including the pilots Mr. Versteegh, Mr. J.J.E. Duimelaar, Fokker's main test pilot, Mr. Emil Meinecke and the director of Fokker, Mr. Anthony Fokker. He was always present when the Fokker Aircraft factory handed over a new type of aircraft to the KLM or the Department of Aviation. He was fascinated by airplanes and would have preferred to become a pilot, but his father did not allow it. As a hobby, he started carving wooden models of aircraft that he saw at the Fokker Factory and at Schiphol Airport. Albert Plesman and Anthony Fokker were duly impressed by the quality of Verkuyl's models and started to provide Verkuyl with orders for building models. At the start of World War II he joined Fokker's company school and engineer Mr. F.W. Seekatz, who was the director-general of Fokker at that time, became so impressed by his models that he was encouraged and trained to become a professional model maker. His model craftmanship and relation to Fokker allowed him to stay in the Netherlands during the war.
His early models were all made of zinc sheet-metal, which was shaped into exact scale-replicas of the original aircraft thanks to Thijs' craftmanship. These models included the Fokker C-5 and D-21 aircraft (see below).
After the war, model production became more professional and with some assistance of Fokker, Matthijs Verkuyl moved to the Meidoornweg 35 in Badhoevedorp to start his company in a garage-like workshop at his house. His starting capital was only 30 guilders. The workshop served to finish and paint the cast models, whereas the models were first cast in a shed along the dike leading to Badhoevedorp and later in an unheated asbestos shed next to the house.
Matthys Verkuyl worked together with people with craftmanship skills who made his company famous, such as Willen de Ruis and Rinus van Duuren who were experts at casting the models, and Rob Pauw, Nico van Leeuwen en Mees Beurre and later Paul Gerstman, who worked to finish the casts to become the high-quality models leaving the workshop.
The Dutch Air Force became aware of his skills and he received an order for aircraft identification models. His sheet-metal production process was not designed to produce large quantities of models and a switch was therefore made to die casting (process description provided below).
Fokker remained his most important contracter, but he also made model aircraft for large American contractors (e.g. Douglas) and airline companies as well. According to Aarts (1965) his largest clients in the mid-1960s were Fokker (F27 and F28), KLM (DC-8 and later DC-9), Lockheed (e.g. P2V Neptune, C-141 Starlifter, F-104 Starfighter), Lufthansa (Boeing 707, 727 and later 737) and Republic Aviation (F-105). He also had contracts with smaller airline companies and with most NATO Air Forces.
In the late 1960s he took over his Dutch competitor, the Raise Up Metalworks company based on the Mathenesserdijk in Rotterdam. Raise Up had stopped producing models by the mid-1960s and some of their model design and metal work specialists moved to work at Verkuyl's Badhoevedorp workshop.
One of these employees who had worked for Raise Up at the Mathenesserdijk in Rotterdam and moved to Verkuyl's workshop in Badhoevedorp was Mr. Paulus Aldus (1937-1977), who was a specialist in painting the models. Verkuyl was good for his employees, arranging transport to and from Badhoevedorp for those Raise Up employees who still lived in Rotterdam and also supporting his employees when there were problems in their private lives (pers. communication Mrs. M. Aldus).
In 1965, Verkuyl had a staff of 8 persons. They produced about 50 models in a week. Total production already exceeded 50,000 models of about 200 different aircraft. The Fokker F27 was the most popular model at that time with a production of over 15,000 units (Aarts, 1965).
In the early 1970s Verkuyl received a large order for producing aircraft models for the German AviAction charter airline company. This company wanted to sell models of their Fokker F28-1000 Fellowship to their passengers. However, by the time that Verkuyl had finished most of the production, the company had stopped services (November 1973) and the models could not be sold. In frustration, Verkuyl dumped most of these models in the garbage bin. The financial consequences of this large order falling through nearly bankrupted his company. However, he continued producing model aircraft until he experienced new financial difficulties in 1978 and had to sell his business to form the new International Model Center (IMC) Company (see below).
Matthijs Verkuyl made a beautiful model of the Republic USAF F-105 Thunderchief "Thud" shown in the image below for the Fairchild Hiller Corporation (formerly Republic Aviation) in scale 1/50. The model was produced in aluminum, based on a wooden protototype made at the same scale (see images below).
Verkuyl's F-105 model was made in large quantities (8,000-10,000 units) as it was given to every pilot flying the F-105 and at special occasions to high-ranking USAF officers or other VIPs. The model shown below dates from between 1965, when Fairchild - Hiller took over Republic Aviation, and August 1969, when it was given to Col. Ben Crawford, Chief of Maintainance of Missiles and Aircraft for the Pacific region, at the end of his tour at the PACAF headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. The model bears the text "Air Parts International, modelled by M.M. Verkuyl, Holland, The Hague". A similarly looking metal F-105B model, but with a plastic canopy, was produced for Republic Aviation earlier by Topping Inc., which had gone into bankruptcy in 1965. Apparantly, Fairchild - Hiller Corp. decided to issue a contract for additional F-105B models to Verkuyl through Air-Parts International, a company specialised in supplying parts to the militaryand civil aviation sector. The model has the "buzz" number FH-105 below the cockpit,which could identify the aircraft type (e.g. FH for the F-105, FJ for the F-4 Phantom) and the tail number (105 in this case) to citizens that would like to make complaints about the pilot's flying. See my F-105 web page for the cockpit instrument panel configuration of this aircraft.
The above F-105B model was presented in 1969 to Col. Ben Crawford, who was Chief of Maintainance of Missiles and Aircraft for the entire Pacific region for the United States Air Force (PACAF) during the Vietnam era. The model was presented to him at the end of his assignment because of his direct involvement with the F-105, together with a 32-page book by Roy E. Wendell titled "Thud! The USAF F-105 Thunderchief". The book was published before 31 July 1969 by the Fairchild - Hiller Corporation in collaboration with the US Air Force, Maxine McGaffrey, Robert Lopshire, the US Air Force Art Program and THE AIRMEN Magazine. Images of the name plate, the text on the F-105 model and several of the pages of Thud! can be viewed below. The F-105 model remained with Col. Crawford until he passed away and was always displayed prominently in his bookcase with the book standing up behind it.
Verkuyl also produced Republic USAF F-105B models at a scale of 1/32. An example of such a model that was previously owned by Major General John C. Giraudo is shown below. Due to the larger weight of the model, it was placed on a different stand than that used for the 1/50 scale models.
Matthys Verkuyl produced several Lockheed L-500 / C-5 Galaxy models, first in metal and later in resin. Three versions are shown below, each with different engines. The first Galaxy model shown below is a 1/150 scale full-metal L-500 model in Lockheed colours owned by Matt Hanne. This is presumably a model made in the early 1960s (1963?), dating from before actual production of the C-5A started. The engines of this model are similar to those of the C141 Starlifter and are different from later C-5 models that have the General Electric high-bypass turbofan TF39 engines (see C-5A model below).
Matt Hanne is looking for more information on this model (date built, engine configuration, etc.) and is also looking for a stand for this model. Please contact me if you have any information about this model and its engines that would be useful, or if you know where a stand for this model could be obtained.
In the 1960s Lockheed contemplated to make the military C-5A Galaxy aircraft available for civilian use (passengers and cargo transport) as the L-500. Verkuyl was apparently asked to produce a few different versions of the Galaxy models to present to airline officials. The model below was made in American Airlines livery to present to American Airlines officials. I do not know if any other airline liveries were applied to the L-500 models made by Verkuyl. Lockheed's plans for a commercial L-500 version failed to materialise and no additional models in airline colours were therefore produced by Verkuyl after the early 1970s.
The third model is a 1/150 scale full-metal C-5A, presumably produced shortly after 1966, with images of its original box and a 1966 brochure that was boxed together with the model. It does have the General Electric TF39 turbofan engines. This particular model was shipped by Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia, to Mr. Paul Schneider, then director of Precise Models Inc. and also includes a flyer detailing the specifications of the aircraft.The model was later owned by Mr. Gary Schneider, the current director of Precise Models, Inc.
 Detail of C-5A nose and engine |
 Detail of original box of C-5A |
 Inside view showing transport capabilities of the C-5A Galaxy as detailed in the accompanying 1966 Lockheed - Georgia Company brochure |
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The resin version of the C-5A (with landing gear down)
was available from the employee outlet at the Lockheed factory in Marrietta, Georgia,
at a price of $29.95 in the 1970s.
The Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar (USAF C-140) was made famous in the James Bond movie "Goldfinger", in which this business jet was owned by Goldfinger and piloted by Pussy Galore. It was also used in other movies such as Cliffhanger and Face/off and was owned by Elvis Presley. In the late 1960 and throughout the 1970s, Verkuyl produced this model in scales 1/25 to 1/90 in USAF livery and in white/red/black Lockheed factory colours. Several registration numbers were used on the factory versions (e.g. N1007, N711Z).
Being Dutch, and having his business close to Schiphol, where the Fokker Aircraft Corporation had its factory, Matthijs Verkuijl produced a lot of Fokker airplane models. The production included the most popular Fokker aircraft, the F27 Friendship (over 15,000 units produced), such as the one in Royal Jordanian livery shown below (I am looking for an original stand...).
According to Mr. Marcel Duijn, who used to be a model maker at Verkuyl's and was in charge of the painting operations from 1986-1992, the Verkuyl company was taken over by the International Model Center (IMC Modelworks) in 1978. The new company moved from the
Meidoornlaan in Badhoevedorp to the Hugo de Vriesstraat in Nieuw Vennep in May 1980.
Verkuyl stopped managing the company and instead devoted all his time to model
design, producing the wooden master models from which the casts were made. These
included the resin F28, F50, and F100 models for Fokker, which were produced in the
Fokker factory colours.
The various people in charge of different production aspects at Verkuyl and later IMC were:
In the mid-1980s IMC had about 30 employees, and was therefore similar in size as it's US counterpart, Precise Models Inc. However, IMC operated mainly in the commercial airline business, whereas Precise Models was mostly producing models for the US defence industry. IMC Modelworks was was run by director Mr. Hans van den Berg and managing director Mr. Hans Michels, who oversaw the day to day operations. Mr. Verkuyl was not in the board of directors but still had a large influence on the decisions made by the directors. Other personnel of IMC involved in the painting / finishing of the models were Mr. Arie Korringa, Mr. Herman Verbeek, Mr. Wim Schaap, Mrs. Jacobs-Verkuyl (sister of Mathijs Verkuyl and married to Dick Jacobs), Mr. Hajo Johans, and Mr. Marcel van der Willik, who now is in charge of the scale model department at the Luchtvaart Hobby Shop in Aalsmeer. This group finished all the larger models (up to scale 1/10) coming from the aluminum / polyurethane casting and polyester production lines.
In 1984 a new financial crisis occurred and IMC Modelworks was taken over by Mr.
Jansen, who became the new director. He managed to largely overcome the financial
difficulties. Business with Fokker was already slowing down and in 1986 a contract
was made with Construcciones
Aeronáuticas SA (CASA), a Spanish aircraft manufacturer, for the
production of mostly military scale models from their C-101, C-212 and CN-235
aircraft. However, this could not entirely compensate for the loss of business with
Fokker. Other customers included the Miniature
city Madurodam near The Hague, where an IMC Concorde and a
mammoth tanker ship are displayed, the National Aviation Theme Park Aviodrome in
Lelystad, The Netherlands, which has a number of aircraft models and the European Space Agency (ESA), for which
models of satellites were produced.
IMC models produced for Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA
(CASA)
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 IMC CASA C-212 Aviocar SAR model produced in 1987, scale 1/25, polyurethane (Photo M. Duijn). |
 IMC CASA CN-235 model in house livery, 1987, scale 1/30, polyurethane (Photo M. Duijn). |
 IMC CASA C-212 Aviocar model in house livery. Produced in 1987, scale 1/25, polyurethane (Photo M. Duijn). |
 IMC CASA C-101 Aviojet model for the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Produced in 1987, scale 1/25, polyurethane (Photo M. Duijn). |
IMC got its tenth birthday in 1988 and all personnel was treated to a trip to the UK to celebrate this event. In the same year IMC merged with Inflight Trade Center, a company dealing with inflight sales of shawls, perfumes, Lego toy aircraft, etc., and the company was sold to Mr. Pieter Schoen Jr. The Schoen family had been involved in producing paints from 1725 onwards (using a wind mill named "De Gekroonde Schoen" (The Crowned Shoe) in Westzaan, North Holland, to do the milling at the time) and were part of the Sigma Coatings B.V.
Fokker, the biggest customer of IMC, has been in serious financial trouble since 1987 and receives financial support from the Dutch Government on condition that a foreign partner is found for a collaboration or a merger. The financial troubles at Fokker in the early 1990s caused them to start producing their own aircraft models, which did affect the business of IMC. By this time business is slow and competation from l;ow-cost countries is increasing so that the IMC employees continuously fear for their jobs. In mid-1991 IMC changes its name to Consolidated Model Design (CMD) and the inflight trade business part of the company (i.e. ITC) separates from the model production business. Finally, in May 1992 CMD had to close its doors due to bankruptcy. Shortly after, in 1993, Fokker signed a contract with the German DASA group and in 1995 filed for bankruptcy.
Matthys Verkuijl had developed heart and kidney health problems and died in the mid-1990s of a coronary infarct after being admitted in the hospital.
Model production did continue with the moulding machines previously owned by IMC,
which were moved to a new location somewhere in Amsterdam, but not under the name IMC
or CMD. The production now consisted only of small, low-cost, models (1/200 - 1/250
scale), which were produced in very large numbers.
Verkuyl produced zinc sheet-metal models in rather small numbers in his early years and shifted to die casting aluminum alloy models when the demand for his models increased (Aarts, 1965).
Production of any model started with the preparation of very accurate scale drawings of the aircraft. Aircraft dimensions and details were generally provided on drawings by the client. The scale drawings were made by Thijs Verkuyl himself (Aarts, 1965). Based on these drawings Mr. verkuyl would then hand-carve a wooden scale model of the aircraft. This wooden model formed the basis of the subsequent production in metal and often consisted of several separate parts (e.g. fuselage, wings, engines, propellors, etc.) as required by the technical limitations of the casting production technique. When the wooden master model was finished, it was used to prepare a more robust full-metal master copy that was again processed by hand until it became an exact replica of the wooden master model. This metal master copy was subsequently used to prepare the casts for all further production.
The aluminum alloy models were made in a sand casting process using special sand imported from Brussels, Belgium. The cast was commonly made in a 60x60 cm metal box. The box consisted of upper and lower halves that each contained imprints of the top and bottom halves of the metal master model in oil-sand mixtures. This allowed production models to be carefully removed from the cast without damaging the cast. The two halves were placed on top of eachother using center pins for exact placement and pressed together using weights. Molten metal would then be poored into a funnel placed in a hole in the top box to produce a production model with the exact shape of the master model. In case of larger parts such as the fuselage, a sand core would be placed in the center of the box to create a hollow part with a wall thickness of several millimetres. This was done to save on raw material and reduce model weight. After the model had cooled, the sand core would be removed from the inside of fuselage through a hole. Casting and cooling of the model would take a few minutes, after which the next model could be produced.
A nice detail is that the raw material used for the production of the metal models consisted of rejected pistons from piston-engined KLM aircraft, and perhaps other aluminum scrap aircraft parts (Aarts, 1965). As these rejected aircraft parts were recycled to become aircraft scale models.
After the model had cooled, it could carefully be removed from the cast. The protruding remains of filling channels in the cast would be sawed off and any rough edges had to be buffed. Lesser surface defects were sanded to get a smooth surface. The different parts would then be assembled to form a complete model. This was done using bolts and nuts for the early models, whereas Araldite metal glue was used to assemble later models. If required for particular models (e.g. the Fokker F27), lines representing the ailerons, flaps, rudder and doors would be engraved at this stage.
In case of the Republic F-105 model shown above, a model that only received little painting around the cockpit/nose area, the model would be sanded and polished to perfection.
If the model would be fully painted, such as the C-5A shown above, it would first be coated with a thin layer of black paint. The black paint would then be sanded off so that smaller defects, where the black paint remained, would become visible and putty filler was applied to get a smooth surface. The model was then again sanded to perfection and would be ready for finishing (see below).
Examples of moulds and modern injection moulding and die casting machinery can be found on the web sites of several companies listed on my Model aircraft page.
In the 1970s Verkuyl started to produce polyurethane resin and polyester models,
in addition to the metal models. Polyurethane is a mix of two components and was only
suitable for the production of smaller models, such as the 1/72 scale Fokker F100
shown below, because of the heat produced during mixing, the 10% shrinkage that
occurs upon cooling and increased deformation with increasing mass of the model. The
largest polyurethane models produced were the CASA CN235 (see above), with a weight
of about 60 kg.
At IMC the largest scale 1/10 polyester models were always produced in very small
numbers and were made from polyester because of the weight and deformation issues
associated to polyurethane at this scale. According to Marcel Duijn, these polyester
models were made as follows. Based on scale drawings provided by the client, models
of the fuselage, wings, engines, etc. were first made by hand out of modelling foam.
From these foam models, negative molds were then made in polyester. This procedure
resulted in fabrication of two halves of the fuselage, wings, stabilisers and
engines. These polyester molds were then used to recreate positive polyester halves,
that accurately represented the original foam models. These halves were then glued
together and joined to form the complete aircraft. The raw product then underwent the
normal procedure (sanding, buffing, milling, etc.) to obtain a perfectly smooth and
accurate model. On some occasions interior lighting was built in these large models.
The original foam models were cut up after the polyester negative molds were made and
used to produce later models.
The polyester models were made by Matthys Verkuyl himself at IMC, with Marcel Duijn
doing the finishing. The weight of a 1/10 scale polyester F-100 model (see below)
could reach up to 100 kg, with the original foam model that was used to produce it
weighing three times as much. Several 1/10 A-310 Airbus models were also produced
this way for Hapag Lloyd that are on display in several European airports.
After the model was completely smooth, a primer was applied, followed by various coats of lacquer paint to get the right colour scheme. Finally, decals were applied to represent doors, windows, company names, etc. These decals produced in a photolithographic process by Verkuyl's brother-in-law, Mr. Jacobs who owned a graphic design company.
When the model was finished it would be packed in a carton box bearing the name Verkuyl and shipped to the client.
Examples of different models and related items made in Verkuyl's workshop in Badhoevedorp before 1978, and later under his direction at IMC in Nieuw Vennep, are shown below. As I would like to add to the history of the Verkuyl workshop, please do contact me at aviation@watergeek.eu if you have more information about Matthys Verkuyl's work. I would also like to display more images of his workshops, especially from the Badhoevedorp location...
Examples of models produced by Verkuyl before 1978 and related
items
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 Republic USAF F-105 "Thud" aluminum aircraft 1/50 model with alternative squadron markings. |
 Republic USAF F-105 "Thud" aluminum aircraft 1/50 model data plate on stand. |
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 Logo/text on the Republic USAF F-105 "Thud" aluminum aircraft model that is shown above. |
 Cover of a 32 page book by Roy E. Wendell (1969?), titled "Thud! The USAF F-105 Thunderchief". Published by the Fairchild - Hiller Corporation (source: Linda Plummer). |
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 Front page from Roy E. Wendell, 1969 Thud! book, Thud! The USAF Thunderchief... |
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 Pages 6-7 from Roy E. Wendell, 1969 Thud! book, heading for the valley... |
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 Pages 18-19 showing nose art. From Thud! by Roy E. Wendell, 1969, proud names in the sky.... |
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 Full-metal model of the Dutch DC-3 Dakota named Uiver, scale 1/48?. (Photo: E. van Rooijen). |
 Full-metal model of a British European Airways DC-3 Dakota produced in the 1980s, scale 1/72 (Photo: F. van de Plas). |
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 Full-metal model of a BOAC Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, produced in the 1980s, scale 1/72 (Photo: F. van de Plas). |
 Full-metal Lockheed Super Constellation model in "Flying Dutchman" colours, scale 1/72 (photo: W.G.F. van der Kraats). About 50 were produced, also in TWA livery, in 1974 as gifts for ex-KLM captains. Mr. Verkuyl made several more with blue spinners in a shed behind his house in the early 1990s just before his passing away (Thanks Ferry!). |
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 Full metal Transavia Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle model, scale 1/100. Produced in the 1960s (Photo: E. van Rooijen). |
 Full metal Fokker VFW F28 Felloship in blue livery, model handed out on 17 January 1974 to Mr. J.P. v.d. Kasteel for his silver jubilee at Fokker. Scale 1/100, photograph courtesy of Mr. Stephan Verkerk. |
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 New England Airlines Fairchild F27 Friendship model, scale 1/48. Produced in the 1960s (Photo: Ferry van der Geest, The Strijbeek FFF Collection). |
 Full-metal model of the unarmed reconaissance version of the VFW Fokker F27 Maritime, scale 1/72 (Source: Joost van Vondel). |
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 Full-metal Lufthansa Boeing 707 model, scale 1/100. Produced in the 1960s (Image courtesy of Joey Bombaci) |
 Full-metal model of a Transavia Boeing 707, scale 1/100. Produced in the 1960s (Photo: E. van Rooijen). |
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 Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar model, scale 1/200. (source: Ebay seller 571743) |
 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter in the Dutch Air Force colours, scale 1/48 (Photograph: Ferry van der Geest) |
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 Full-metal Lockheed L-1329 JetStar aircraft in factory colours, scale 1/50. Produced in various liveries (USAF, KLM, etc.) from the early 1960s until 1978 (Photo: Clifford Overstreet). |
 Full-metal Lockheed L-1329 JetStar aircraft in US Air Force colours, scale 1/50 (Photo: Thanksdot). |
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 Full metal Hamburger Flugzeugbau HFB 320 Hansa, scale 1/50. This model was especially made in Dutch Government Aviation School (Rijksluchtvaartschool) livery, which operated three of these aircraft. The registration code PH-HFC on the model was of one of their aircraft. (Image courtesy of Gert van Lingen). |
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 Full-metal Martin's Air Charter (MAC) Douglas DC-8 model, scale 1/72. (Photo E. van Rooijen) |
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 Full-metal Martin's Air Charter (MAC) Douglas DC-9 model, scale 1/72. (Photo E. van Rooijen) |
 Full-metal KLM Douglas DC-9 aircraft model, scale 1/72. Produced in the 1960s (Photo: E. van Rooijen). |
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IMC models produced from 1978-1992 |
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  Model of a US Government Fokker F28, scale 1/25, with view in the cabin showing the interior design. Photograph taken at the IMC workshop in the 1980s, courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
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 Boeing 747-400 Japan Air Lines made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
 Boeing 747-400 Cathay Pacific made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
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 Boeing 747-400 in KLM livery made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
 Boeing 747-400 Korean Airlines made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
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 Prototype of an Fokker F100 turboprop version in Fokker house colours. Aircraft was never built. IMC model in polyurethane, scale 1/72. |
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 Aeroflot Tupolev TU-204 made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
 Aeroflot Iljoesjin II-62 model made by IMC, scale 1/50. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
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 IMC Fokker F100 Air Littoral, scale 1/25. Material vacuform plastic. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
 IMC Fokker F50 Busy Bee, scale 1/25. Material polyurethane. Photo courtesy of Marcel Duijn. |
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 IMC Fokker F50 in Mississippi Valley Airlines (MVA) livery, scale 1/25, material polyurethane. Photo taken in the IMC workshop by Marcel Duijn. Other finished models and unfinished parts are visible in the background. |
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 Douglas DC-2 model of the Uiver (KLM),
made from aluminum, scale 1/200. Forty models made by IMC for a Telegraaf
Newspaper contract to celebrate the Uiver's London - Melbourne memorial
flight in 1984. Photo courtesy Marcel Duijn. |
 The people at IMC were also building their own models as a hobby. This is a KLM Douglas DC-2 model of the Uiver made from wood by Arie Korringa, scale about 1/30. Photo Marcel Duijn. |
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 IMC Fokker F27 resin model, scale 1/72. The KLU Maritime colours were painted on later by somebody else than IMC/Verkuyl. Given by Fokker to the Dutch Navy in about 1985 (photo: Raymond Gelder) |
 Airbus A300 model in IMC company colours (scale 1/200). Used by IMC as a giveaway to promote their company (photograph courtesy of Marc Volland). |
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 IMC Fokker F27 Friendship in factory colours (scale 1/72, resin). This model was owned by the former director of Terlet Airport near Arnhem in The Netherlands and was on display in his office at the airport. |
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  Resin Airbus A310 model (scale 1/200) produced by IMC for inflight sales during Martinair Holland charter flights (source: F. Brown). The A310 was operated by Martinair between 1984 and 1995 and this model was therefore produced after 1984. The instruction sheet shows the different parts that needed to be assembled before displaying the model. Landing gear was also included in the kit. |
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 Resin Saab Scania CN-112 bus model (scale 1/50) produced by IMC for bus dealers, also operating in the USA. The bus was used in the 1980s (Photograph courtesy of Marc Volland). |
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I would like to thank Mr. Ferry van der Geest, captain at KLM and avid collector of Verkuyl's Fokker models, for his contributions towards the information given above. You can see some of his extensive collection at www.triple-f.eu. Furthermore, ex-IMC employees, Mr. Marcel Duijn and Mr. Marcel van der Willik, are thanked for providing all background information and photographs regarding the IMC period. I am also grateful to Mr. Van der Kraats and Mr. van Rooijen for their contributions.
A.L. Aarts, 1965. Modelbouwen als beroep. Avia 14(6). p. 310-312.
The following sites are good references for information
about Verkuyl's scale models:
The Precise Models LLC
web site and internet shop serves is an additional source of information for scale
model collectors and includes a forum to exchange ideas, tips and techniques. Also
sells contractor scale models and parts.