Gents,
During the war my father, then in his early teens, made a number of wooden models in 1:72 scale that look like they were kits as they have metal props and celluloid canopies. The ones that survived, and which I now own, are rather unusual subjects; Martin Baker MB2, Spitfire XII, Hurricane IIC with cannon wing. Can anyone say whether these were kits and if so who manufactured them.
Thanks
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th December 2011 at 09:18
Thanks gents, so it looks most likely that they were sctratchbuilt from published plans. They are nicely done, as were the toys he made for my sister and me, which is interesting given that his DIY skills could be ropey at times.
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th December 2011 at 05:23
Some of that old stuff is collected here:
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net
Ryan
By: John Aeroclub - 17th December 2011 at 23:39
The Aeromodeller plans were all in 1/72 and the MB.2 appeared in June 1944. With solid kits you got a plan with sections and roughly shaped (or unshaped) blocks of wood which you carved and sanded to shape. Working from Aeromodeller plans meant that you found your own wood and Hard balsa,Lime or Piranah Pine or Obechi were the best but I never liked Obechi.
John
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th December 2011 at 21:03
Similar but smaller, definitely 1:72 scale. Judging from the weight and sound when tapped I would say they are soft wood like pine and not balsa. I guess they could be all or partially scratched-built, I never had the chance to ask Dad.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th December 2011 at 20:51
Wooden kits
Was it these?
http://www.collectair.com/woodason.html
Anon.
By: John Aeroclub - 17th December 2011 at 19:17
There were a number of “Balsa solid scale” manufacturers but I don’t recall one doing an MB.2. However there were plans published in Aeromodeller for these types and they were probably carved in Lime, pine or balsa from these. Metal airscrews were available (just like my own company produces now) as cast metal or stamped spares and canopies were moulded from acetate sheet using a simple push mould, in front of an electric fire.
I still have copies of all these plans
I hope this helps.
John
By: nibb100 - 17th December 2011 at 16:45
the kits I remember were made by Frog and were available into the 50s, they had rough cut out parts in balsa that you had finish
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December 17, 2011 at 4:19 pm