NEWS: The first AEROCOLLECTOR - PARIS 2020 fair will be held on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March, 2020. More than 1000 m2 will be dedicated to aviation collectors to hunt aviation collectibles including airplane parts, books, vintage airplane models, posters, memorabilia and promotional items. The venue will be at Espace Charenton in the Ariane Room, 327 rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris. You can visit the web site at aerocollector.com. On the web site you can registrer to participate as an exhibitor.
Scale models were often used as recognition tools in
the military, but also for promotional purposes. Such models were given
away to pilots as a gift, to clients to serve as reminders of the
company, as well as to travel agents for display in their offices.
Because of their promotional value, the scale models are ordered by the
contractor well in advance of the roll out and sales of the original.
There were several contractor scale model manufacturers in the United States. One of the earlier producers was Topping, Inc. who started business in 1943. In the 1960s, Precise Models, Inc., Rolen Plastics, Inc., Allyn Sales Corporation (who made models for Douglas Co., General Dynamics and Boeing) and Pacific Miniatures (Est. 1946) produced both military and commercial airline models. Only Rolen Plastics, that diversified to industrial parts production, and Pacmin are still in business.
In the Netherlands, promotional scale models were produced by Matthys M. Verkuyl between 1948 and 1988 and by Raise-Up Metalworks until 1964. These Dutch companies do not exist anymore.
Some technical information about how plastic models were manufatured, tips for cleaning and restoration of models and useful links are given at the bottom of this page.
In some cases, models were also produced by the Aircraft companies themselves. These were often made in very limited numbers and given to the directors of the companies on some special occasion. The Lockheed SR-71 model below is an example of such a model.
This USAF F-4C model below is cast from aluminum. Paolo Monti was so kind to inform me that the model was made by FomAer located in Misano Adriatico, near the Italian Air Force Base of Rimini. Flight crew and canopy are made of plastic.
Several F-16 models and a stand for the F-4 Phantom made by
Precise Models Inc. are now available on my aviation sales web page, where fellow
collectors are invited to trade aviation items.
Deze web pagina toont vliegtuig modellen die gemaakt zijn
voor reclamedoeleinden voor veelal grote Amerikaanse
vliegtuigfabrikanten. Informatie wordt gegeven over Topping, Inc., en de
opvolgers van Topping Inc., Rolen Plastics, Inc., Precise Models Inc. en
Allyn Sales Corporation. Twee nederlandse vliegtuig model bouwers komen
ook aan bod. Dit zijn Maarten Matthijs Verkuyl uit Badhoevedorp, die
vanaf de jaren vijftig tot de jaren negentig veel modellen bouwde voor
onder meer Douglas, en Raise Up Metalworks uit Rotterdam. De modellen
die hieronder weergegeven zijn, werden cadeau gegeven aan piloten en
ander luchtvaartpersoneel, de mensen die vliegtuigen inkochten, en aan
reisagentschappen voor tentoonstelling in de winkel. Ik ben op zoek naar
meer informatie over de geschiedenis van Verkuyl en Raise Up. Zo zou ik
graag weten wat de adressen van deze bedrijven waren, of er foto's of
advertenties zijn, etc. Alle informatie is welkom. U kunt mij per e-mail
bereiken, ook voor vragen, via aviation@watergeek.eu.
I started this web page because there was little
information available on the internet about the history and models of
Topping, Precise Models Inc., etc. I now have the ambitious plan to put
images of the full Topping and Precise Models collections on this page.
With your help, this may actually work so please do send me images of
your Topping or Precise models and let's see how far we get.
If you have more information about the history of contractor
scale model manufacturers, nice images of contractor models, have other
catalogues or promotional material from Topping, Precise Models Inc.,
Rolen Plastics, Inc., Verkuyl, Raise Up, or others, or if you have an
old model made by these manufacturers for sale, please contact me at aviation@watergeek.eu.
If you want, I'll credit you as the source of images or texts.
Promotional commercial airline models were made by a number of manufacturers, including Verkuyl, Raise Up, IMC, Topping and Precise models. These were often made for display by airline companies and travel agents, but also for promotion of the aircraft companies to airline officials.
An example is the Resin Boeing 707 model shown below that has factory markings rather than that of a commercial airline. Paul Reveling was so kind as to send me the following background information for this model. The model represents a 707-120, the first production model, but the registration number (N70700) belonged to the prototype. The prototype on paper was model 367-80, but a print of a Boeing model shop drawing of it is labeled as a 707-80. Boeing employees just called it the "Dash 80", its protoplasm paint labeled it 707. If Boeing had followed its own model numbering standards it would have been model 707-8. The 367 model number, matching Stratocruisers and KC-97s, was substituted a ploy to make it sound less risky to get Air Force approval buy-in for production. The USAF KC-135s actually wound up being Boeing Model 717, while the civilian airliners became 707s. The vertical stabilizer on the model matches the 707 [367-80] tail. The rest of the model is the 707-120 configuration, with paint appearing to be like the actual temporary appearance of the first two production 707s as first-painted. Later, after flight test and FAA type certification, they were repainted and delivered to PanAm. The #1 & #2 production 707s actually received registration numbers N70702PA and N70701PA, respectively. The opposite order would have been logical (...01PA for #1, ...02PA for #2), but Pan Am requested swapping number because they had expected that #2 would be the first one flown & delivered. Actually the #1 (N70702PA) was first.
CollectAir Aviation Art and Artifacts, Dr. Michael Kosman D.C. (Geneseo IL., USA), Mr. Mark Johnson, Mr. Rich Beebe, Mr. Frank A. Doll, Mr. Walter D. Willett IV, Mr. Steve Eisner, Mount Vernon Auction Center, Mr. James A. Powroznik (Custom Models, Clovis, California) and the Air & Space Museum, San Diego, California, and many others were so kind as to provide information about the companies and images of their models as listed below.
NOTE ON DISPLAYED IMAGES: Most of the images displayed below are from my own modest model collection or sent to me by other collectors, Some images displayed on this page were downloaded from Ebay. Although I generally try to contact the Ebay sellers and include their names as the source of the image, I did sometimes forget from which seller the image came from. I hope that the sellers that made these pictures and are not credited as source do not mind me displaying their images here. If you do recognise an image, or perhaps do have better images for me to display, please contact me at aviation@watergeek.eu and we'll work something out...
A few vintage models made by Precise Models Inc. and some other aviation items are now for sale through this web site. Click here to see details. In addition, links are provided on the different web pages pointing to other information sources. If you have a vintage scale model that you might want to sell, you can contact me at aviation@watergeek.eu for an assessment of its value (see below) and perhaps I may also be interested in adding it to my collection.
The value of a scale model depends on a great many factors. These include:
With so many factors that potentially influence the price of a vintage scale model, it is hard to give a general value for any model. For a single model (e.g Precise F-4 Phantom scale 1/72), the price range may already be considerable, ranging, for instance, from $10 for a model in very poor condition up to $150 for a Blue Angels model in excellent condition. I have therefore not given value indications for any of the models displayed on my web pages. However, after years of looking at vintage model auctions and buying such models, I do have gained some experience with assessing the value of a model and know the market prices. If you have a model that you want to sell and would like to have an indication of its value, you can send me one or more pictures and a short description (e.g. size) by e-mail (aviation@watergeek.eu) and I'll be happy to give you an honest appraisal of its market value.
The Allyn Sales Company made metal promotional sales models for
Douglas, Convair, General Dynamics and Boeing. Their production
included metal and plastic models, chrome plated models, ashtray
models and model kits. Edward Das in Canada is a collector of such
ashtray models, some of which can be viewed on his very interesting
aviation web site at canadianaerospace.weebly.com. The plastic model kist were very simple, consisting of only few parts, several of these kits made by Allyn can be viewed at http://www.philsaeronauticalstuff.com.
Allyn Sales Co. further produced 1/2A model engines (engines with a displacement of 0.049 - 0.051 cubic inches) as well as engine model kits.
 Example of a plastic model kit of a Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser produced by Allyn in scale 1/144 (Photo: a_dartigues4y65). |
 Mar Fury 0.049 RC model marine inboard engine made by K&B (Photograph: rureelybob) |
The company was was taken over by K & B Manufacturing, who continued to produce some of Allyn's engines under the name K&B Allyn. Production of aircraft scale models did cease completely, though. K&B Manufacturing is now part of RJL Industries - Sierra Madre, California, USA. More information about Allyn Sales Co. and images of some of their beautiful models, are given on the Collectair web site. Below is a nice example of one of their plastic models, the F3D Skynight.
Allyn's model production further included (list not complete):
Arifer is a very exclusive European cutaway model production team that creates large cutaway replicas of vintage airliners and also restores vintage models. As the production team is formed by collectors of vintage models (e.g. Raise Up airline models in Sabena livery) they adhere to a very high standard. Production numbers are low as all their models are produced according to designs from the past and are hand-made. Their web site shows several images of 1950s - 1960s aircraft interiors and examples of their production, including a Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser, DC-7 series, the Lockheed L-188 Electra, etc. They also produce aircraft decals on demand. Their site is definitively worth a visit!
| Examples of Arifer cutaway model and restoration projects | |
|---|---|
 Cutaway model of a Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser in 1st class passenger configuration, used by PAA in the early 1950s, scale 1/72. Interior based on contemporary pictures from airline brochures, material metal and plastic. |
 Douglas DC-4 contractor model restored by Arifer, scale 1/50. Blank model painted in livery of the Belgian International Air Services. Decals custom made by Arifer. |
Bel Air Models is a Dutch company that creates
handcrafted scale models upon commission, mainly for collectors. The
company is owned and run by Bob Dros. The focus is on creating very high
quality historical or obscure aircraft models that you cannot buy of the
shelf. Models are made of perspex and are usually from military or
civilian aircraft produced by Dutch (e.g. Fokker), European or American
manufacturers. Model scales normally range from 1/48 to 1/72, but other
scales are also possible. Bob designs his models using original
historical drawings and other historical documents.
The prices of Bob's models reflect the time for background study, care and finesse that goes into the production of each model. I would say that Bob is a good follower of the Dutch model designer/builder tradition that started with Mathijs Verkuyl. If you want a museum quality model, I would recommend that you contact Bel Air Models. You can contact Bob through his web site at www.bel-air-models.com or by phone at +31 20 6004750. His web site is well worth a visit.
Fomaer was known for its polished, mostly military, 1/50 scale metal aircraft models, such as the F-4 Phantom already shown above. FomAer manufactured high-end models for the general public in the period from 1960 until the late 1990s and made perhaps only one alpha-jet contractor scale model for Dornier. The Golden Hawk F-86 Sabre model shown below is a good example of a FomAer model.
REQUEST: Daryll is a collector of RCAF jet-era memorabilia and is looking to acquire an original FomAer "Golden Hawks" F-86 Sabre desk model. If you have one of these models and want to part with it, please contact him at darrylpajot@hotmail.com.
This is a Danish model maker who has produced models in the 1950s and 60s? I do not have any information yet so if you know more, please contribute text by e-mail to aviation@watergeek.eu. An example of a vintage DC-7C cutaway model made by Osgaard & Co., presumably in the late 1950s is shown below.
Pacific Miniatures (PacMin) was established in 1946
and has continuously been in the contractor model business, now for over
60 years. The company designs new models from drawings and their
services include prototyping, tooling, moulding, preparation, painting,
customizing, graphics and printing. Over 170 persons are employed to
manufacture high-quality models for large aerospace and airline
companies. Their clients include Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed - Martin,
Bombardier American Airlines, British Airways, etc. A short description
of how PacMin produces their Airbus models is given on the About Airbus Models
web page. Their web site, with examples of their models and contact
information, can be viewed at www.pacmin.com.
Retail models can be bought from their factory outlets.
A second good source for information about PacMin and its models
is www.pacminfinder.com. This
site also has a section for trading PacMin models.
The Canadian Precise Modeling company, not to be
confused with Precise Models, Inc. discussed above, claims to
manufacture "the finest scale models on Earth". They target an
international market and their scale models are of museum quality. Their
web site with examples of their models and contact information can be
viewed at www.precisemodeling.com. Their models do indeed look very real!
For all of you who have affinity with the products of Precise Models Inc., there is very good news. Mr. Mark Johnson has teamed up with the former Precise Models Director, Mr. Gary Schneider, to develop the Precise Models LLC web site and internet shop. This site serves as an additional source of information for scale model collectors and includes a forum to exchange ideas, tips and techniques. Furthermore, Topping and Precise models and parts are for sale at this web site and can be bought for competetive prices.
Space Models Ltd. is a leading European model and plastic prototype company that was established in 1947. They produce professional display models over a very large range of scales, including full scale replicas that are displayed on major air shows. Their models include airline models, as well as military air planes and missiles. They will be part of the Curvature Group of companies and have recently moved to a new facility with state-of-the-art model making technologies.
Architects have long used analogue models (maquettes) to show their clients what their prosepctive building or design would look like form the outside or inside. These analogue models used to be made on scale from wood, plastics, metal and cardboard, such as those shown for a NAM platform and Schiphol Airport on the Verkuyl web page. Photorealistic models are now also made digitally, which is called 3D computer visualisation and rendering. The three American companies listed below specialise in the creation of such digital architectural models and designs.
Global3D-Arts provides
very high quality photorealistic 3D illustration renderings,
architectural home renderings, 3D animation and architectural scale
models and maquettes. Global 3D Arts has been working with architects
and developers for over 20 years and their artists therefore have
extensive experience in creating architectural animation, rendering, and
in building scale models according to their customer's wishes. Their web site
shows numerous examples of high-quality 3D illustration renderings,
animations and scale models and maquettes of interiors, buildings. Well
worth a visit if you are interested in architectural models or need to
have an architectural model made. They can be contacted through their web contact page
or by e-mail at global3darts@aol.com.
LunarStudio is a small group of talented artists and architects founded by owner and artist Charles Leo. They specialise in architectural renderings, architectural illustrations, 3D illustrations, 3D animations, architectural visualization, design, and 3D modelling. Numerous examples of their impressive designs can be viewed at their very web portfolio site. Certainly
worth a visit if you are interested in modern computer-based 3D visualisation models or need a custom-made architectural design. Contact by internet contact page, e-mail charles.leo@lunarstudio.com or phone.
Architecturalmagic.com is a 3D Architectural Rendering and Computer Animation Services company that provides architectural rendering and animations for architects, interior design studios, real estate developers and city planners. Their web site shows numerous examples of their work - including animations and interactive use - and also includes examples with price estimates. You can contact them by e-mail at info@architecturalmagic.com.
Much attention was given to the design of the carton boxes and carton holders of the models in the box for shipment. The producers of the models were well aware that their models were very fragile, especially those which had propellors, missiles or other small protruding elements. This required the models to be firmly fixed in their box to avoid them moving around during transport. A lot of clever design went into the carton holder of the model within its box, that prevents the model from moving around and sustaining damage. Soft paper and foam were used to provide further protection against damage to paint and decals. Several examples of such professional packing solutions are shown below.
Most boxes show the name of the model manufacturer (Topping, Precise, etc.), as well as the name of the particular model and the contractors name (Boeing, McDonnell, etc.). Some examples of the graphics on the boxes are shown below. The graphics range from a simple logo and type indication (Precise Models Inc., McDonnell RF-4C) to more elaborate graphics (Topping Vigilante and the Precise Models Inc. F-16).
Models that are sold together with their original box fetch higher prices than those for which the box is missing.
For the design of new aircraft models wind tunnel experiments are needed to determine the forces on the aircraft and to test and optimise the aerodynamic design. Scale prototype aircraft models were used for the experiments as full-scale aircraft would not fit in a wind tunnel. Recently, NASA did a full scale B757 vertical stabilizer wind tunnel test in a very large wind tunnel located at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett, California.
Below is a 1/60 scale model of a Douglas C-133 Cargomaster four engine turboprop model (designed in the 1950s) that was used to determine its aerodynamic characteristics in a wind tunnel. The model is made of aluminum and has a detachable wing section.
In the past years, I have received many vintage models that I bought internationally. In quite a number of cases damage was sustained to the model during transport from the seller to me, which leads to a lot of frustration. As such I would like to include some tips on how to pack vintage models to avoid damage during shipping.
If you need to ship one or more models, you should realise two things:
This means that your parcel gets thrown around, dropped on concrete floors, shaken, twisted and may have other much heavier parcels placed on it. This may cause the model to move around in its box when not properly secured and may cause the carton box (and your model) to be compressed and deformed. A poorly packed model will easily break under these conditions.
Fortunately, you can avoid most damage during transport by packing the model correctly. The best way to do this is to give the model a lot of space within its box, and by placing a second box around the box containing the model, again keeping space between the inner box and the outer box. Compression of the outer box would then not have any impact on the inner box. If you proceed as described below, there is a good chance that the model will not be harmed during transport and that you save yourself and the buyer of your model a lot of frustration.
Most of the resin models shown above were made through a
technique called Plastic Injection Moulding. First, very accurate and
expensive metal or aluminum moulds are made of the models to be created.
A machine is then used to inject molten liquid thermoplastic material
under pressure into the mould. The plastic is allowed to cool and
harden. When the mould is removed from the injector and opened, an exact
replica of the shape of the mold is inside. The process has been
described in more detail on the page of Precise Models Inc.
Moulding and die casting are widely used techniques for producing a whole range of plastic and metal products, including scale models. The techniques are described on my Precise Models Inc. and Verkuyl pages. I would like to list a few companies that are active in this business. Their web sites show images of modern machinery and examples of moulds and molding products. These companies may also be contacted for producing moulds or the products derived from them using injection molding or die casting. Communication with these companies is in English.
Let's start with a Portuguese company that
manufactures machines and tools to produce the complicated casts/molds
that are used in the molding procedure. While I was travelling from
Amsterdam to Portugal for a field campaign, I met the director of Tecnologia de Maquinação,
Lda. We started talking about our jobs and I was surprised to find that
his company produces automatic milling and tooling machines for the
metalwork industry that are used to create technically complex moulds,
similar to those used to make the contractor models discussed on this
web site. The company staff speaks excellent English and they can be
contacted by phone at +351 256 690900.
Rolen
Plastics, Inc. is the only contractor scale model manufacturer still in
business, but does not produce scale models anymore. See the Rolen Plastics, Inc. web page
dedicated to this company on my site for more details.
In the USA, Solid
Concepts Inc. is a supplier of rapid prototyping, direct digital
manufacturing, tooling and injection molding services. The company was
founded in 1991 and employs state-of-the-art techniques to manufacture
a wide range of industrial products at very competitive prices. They
also handle with low-volume production and have experience in creating
presentation models for trade shows or other sales/marketing
activities. You can also download
literature about their techniques and applications from their web site,
wich I definitively would recommend visiting. Contact them through
their website or phone +001 888-311-1017 or +001 661-295-4400.
In the USA, Design
Prototyping Technologies is a rapid prototyping and tooling company
specialising in stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering or
Fused Deposition Modelling for creating a small number of prototypes of
your product. They can also mass produce using injection moulding or
metal casting. They can work with a range of materials including
thermoplastics, epoxy, nylon, urethane, and many different metals and
are very fast. They can be reached by phone at +1 315 434 1869.
Elite Tool
Technology Ltd. in Quangdong, Shenzhen city - China, is a private
company that manufactures moulds and moulded and die casted products
for a wide range of applications. They use state-of-the-art technology
and are one of the first Chinese moulding companies that exportedtheir
products. They handle the whole process from mould prototype to final
production. Contact through their web site or by phone: +86 755 2794
7813.
Great Precision Mould Co.,Ltd.
is a professional plastic mould manufacturer founded in Shenzhen (China)
in 1994. The company specialises in hardened injection moulds, blow
moulds, prototype moulds and soft moulds that range from small gear
parts to large automotive parts. Their products are made with state of
the art tooling equipment and used by automotive, communication,
construction, environment and other induxtries. Most of their products
go to the USA and Europe. They have excellent tooling quality and good
customer service. Contact by telephone: 86-755-86030057, fax:
86-755-86030056 and E-mail:marketing@greatmould.com.
ACE Mould
Engineering Making Ltd. is a Chinese company from Shenzhen City
that is in the injection moulding business. They do both metal casting
and injection moulding and can manage a project from the design phase
up to assembly, packaging and shipping. You can contact them through
their web site or by phone: +86 755 27538140.
A Quality
Mould Industrial Ltd. is another company in China specialised in mould
making, and manufacturing of injection moulded products. They employ
400 skilled technicians in a 27,000 m2 factory and provide
one-stop service from part design - mold design - mold making - samples
- mold or part shipment - after sales service. More information is
given on their web site and communication is in English. Contact them
via the web site or by phone at +86 755 86217026.
KAWO Mould
was established in 1993 as a joint venture and is one of the leaders in
injection mould research in China. Their web site shows moulds,
products and overviews of their production facilities. You can contact
them by e-mail (scarlett@kawo-mould.com
or by phone/fax (Tel: +86-769-81761186, Fax: +86-769-81760143).
Muyoung mould
industry Ltd. was established in 1995 and is another Shenzhen based
moulding company. They produce various kinds of moulds including
plastic injection, rubber, multicolor, plastic blow and suction,
thermoset andompression moulds. Their web site also shows moulds,
products and overviews of their production facilities. You can contact
them by e-mail (sales@mu-mould.com,
through their website form or by phone/fax (Tel: +86-0755-29654652,
Fax: +86-0755-29654639).
Star-Light Mould
Engineering Ltd. is a professional plastic injection mould producer that
offers hardened moulds, prototypes, soft moulds and simple die casting. They
also produce parts using these molds with their injection machines.
Contact by e-mail (sunny@starlight-mould.com,
through their website, or by phone/fax (Tel: +86 755-29761417,
Fax: +86 755-27926798).There are many opinions about restoration. As a general rule, the restoration should be reversible. My personal view is that restoration should only be done if the model is in a really bad shape with lots of paint or parts missing. If possible parts and decals should be replaced by originals. A good place to look for these is www.ebay.com. If you need to repair a model, Mr. Gary Schneider from Precise Models Inc. recommended the use of acetone solvent or superglue to fix parts to the model. An alternative glue is Eastman Chemical Tenite Butyrate cement No. 7756.
If fins or wings of your model are bent, but not broken, I would suggest to leave them as they are. Often wings will start drooping over time as the plastic gives away to gravity. If you really want to get them straight, you could try to submerge these parts into hot water and carefully bent them straight again. Be careful not to exert to much force because they may otherwise break.
The following sites are good references for information about contractor scale models or scale model kits:
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.
Just Kits and Models: Plastic Kits - Plastic Model Kits UK - Plastic Aircraft Model, Plastic Vehicle Model, Plastic Model Ships. This UK based company provides plastic kits and plastic model kits which mainly include plastic aircraft model, plastic vehicle models, plastic ship models, military vehicles model, military figures, maritime vessels and dioramas. Good stock of aircraft kits, ship kits, boat kits and road vechicle kits like car model kits, lorries model kits, motorbikes model kits. They also sell modelling tools.
The Strijbeek
FFF collection (mostly Verkuyl models) from Ferry van der Geest in the
Netherlands.
Although they do not sell models yet, the Jet Art sells avation
themed furniture, display items and collectables, Located in the UK.
See also their Jet
Art Ebay store.