Airplane Sets All Makers (1 Viewer)

[tdubel]

A lot of posts lately about airplane sets. One thought I really agree with is to make the sets based on Personalities or Aces. I am in full agreement. While planes are cool, I jump at the sets that contain specific Personalities. I think this is best way to collect them. IMO>

TD

 

[Phantom Warrior]

A lot of posts lately about airplane sets. One thought I really agree with is to make the sets based on Personalities or Aces. I am in full agreement. While planes are cool, I jump at the sets that contain specific Personalities. I think this is best way to collect them. IMO>

TD

I wonder if that holds for the TS Market. I have collected die-cast airplanes for much longer than AFVs and have noticed the Aces planes are made in larger numbers than the lesser known pilots or generic aircraft which often do not sell out. The resale value of the Aces planes are at retail or higher and are harder to find than the lesser known variants which are easy to find and resell at well below retail if at all. The K&C polystone aircraft are made in moderately small quantities and seem to sell out even if not flown by an ace. I suspect many of the K&C buyers are military model collectors rather than airplane collectors as only a few posters are calling for aces. ???

Terry

 

[tdubel]

I wonder if that holds for the TS Market. I have collected die-cast airplanes for much longer than AFVs and have noticed the Aces planes are made in larger numbers than the lesser known pilots or generic aircraft which often do not sell out. The resale value of the Aces planes are at retail or higher and are harder to find than the lesser known variants which are easy to find and resell at well below retail if at all. The K&C polystone aircraft are made in moderately small quantities and seem to sell out even if not flown by an ace. I suspect many of the K&C buyers are military model collectors rather than airplane collectors as only a few posters are calling for aces. ???

Terry

Terry, I just like Personalities, it is easier to tell a story related to a person than a piece of equipment. NOW b/f you tech nuts go crazy on me, that is the people historian in me, I am not as knowledgeable on the hardware!

Tom

 

[Louis Badolato]

I like personalities, especially ones with colorful history and interesting insignia on their planes. I have to say, though, as long as the markings are historically correct, and I can look up the information about the pilot, the pilot doesn't have to be an ace to interest me. Sometimes you will read about a pilot who died tragically, or who only shot down a couple of planes, but had an interesting escape, and it is just as interesting to me.

 

[OzDigger]

I guess few forum members will be surprised that I am also in favor of Aircraft of the Aces/Personalities rather than generic issues.

For several years high volume diecast manufacturers such as Corgi and Dragon have enjoyed enormous sales success with Ace based aircraft models.

Will this translate to our 1/30 section of the military miniature hobby? Of course it will.

The generic and expensive K & C Warbirds sell out because they are made in very limited numbers.

The first generic polystone Hurricane sold well because it was the first of its kind.

However as more aircraft models are released the increasing costs and space required will force collectors into being more selective with their purchasing. And we should also keep in mind that K & C tend to reissue variants of earlier models, especially if they were good sellers.

Would you rather have say a "Douglas Bader" Hurricane or a generic version? If you are happy with a generic, that's fine by me, I will wait for something more interesting and noteworthy

I suggest that the popularity (actual sales) of the new K & C (Ace) Fw 190 compared to the TGM (Generic) version(s) will be an indication of the future.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Actually, gentlemen, the first polystone Hurricane made by K&C was an ace's plane, as it was the Hurricane flow by Flying Officer Carl Davis. Here is what I found out about Flying Officer Davis (DFC) on line:

Carl Raymond Davis DFC (30 July 1911 - 6 September 1940) was a flying ace of the Battle of Britain, having claimed 9 enemy aircraft (and 1 shared) destroyed, 4 (and 1 shared) probably destroyed, and 4 damaged [3], before he was himself shot down and killed in action.

Born in Krugersdorp, Transvaal in South Africa to American parents, Davis was educated in England at Sherborne School, and Trinity College, Cambridge (Bachelor of Arts) and at McGill University, Montreal (Bachelor of Arts qualifying as a mining engineer). Becoming a British citizen in 1932 [4] His wife was Anne, sister of Sir Archibald Hope of 601 Squadron[5] (Hope was in turn married to Carl's sister Ruth.) Obtaining his mining degree, he then took flying lessions in New Jersey while living with his sister.

Returning to the UK in 1935, he then lived in London and joined 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon, being commissioned in August 1936 (Service Number 90131).

Davis was called to full-time service on 27 August 1939 and, on 27 November 1939, flew one of the six 601 Squadron Blenheims that attacked the German seaplane base at Borkum. On 11 July 1940, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110, and he added two more Bf 110s on 11 August 1940 and three more Bf 110s on the 13th. Davis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 August 1940:

Flying Officer Davis has been engaged on operational flying since 3rd September, 1939. He has taken part in nearly all patrols and interceptions carried out by his squadron. He has been a section leader for the last two months, and on several occasions has led his flight. Flying Officer Davis has personally destroyed six enemy aircraft, and severely damaged several others. He has shown great keenness and courage.

Davis downed five more aircraft before being killed in action when his Hawker Hurricane I (P3363) was shot down in combat with a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Tunbridge Wells at 09:30hrs. Davis crashed, inverted, with his aircraft burned out in the back garden of Canterbury Cottage at Matfield, Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells.

 

[The Military Workshop]

As a dealer I find collectors are more interested if the aircraft is that of a particular pilot, preferably well known. Same goes for certain figures and some tanks.

 

[OzDigger]

Actually, gentlemen, the first polystone Hurricane made by K&C was an ace's plane, as it was the Hurricane flow by Flying Officer Carl Davis. Here is what I found out about Flying Officer Davis (DFC) on line:

Carl Raymond Davis DFC (30 July 1911 - 6 September 1940) was a flying ace of the Battle of Britain, having claimed 9 enemy aircraft (and 1 shared) destroyed, 4 (and 1 shared) probably destroyed, and 4 damaged [3], before he was himself shot down and killed in action.

Born in Krugersdorp, Transvaal in South Africa to American parents, Davis was educated in England at Sherborne School, and Trinity College, Cambridge (Bachelor of Arts) and at McGill University, Montreal (Bachelor of Arts qualifying as a mining engineer). Becoming a British citizen in 1932 [4] His wife was Anne, sister of Sir Archibald Hope of 601 Squadron[5] (Hope was in turn married to Carl's sister Ruth.) Obtaining his mining degree, he then took flying lessions in New Jersey while living with his sister.

Returning to the UK in 1935, he then lived in London and joined 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon, being commissioned in August 1936 (Service Number 90131).

Davis was called to full-time service on 27 August 1939 and, on 27 November 1939, flew one of the six 601 Squadron Blenheims that attacked the German seaplane base at Borkum. On 11 July 1940, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110, and he added two more Bf 110s on 11 August 1940 and three more Bf 110s on the 13th. Davis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 August 1940:

Flying Officer Davis has been engaged on operational flying since 3rd September, 1939. He has taken part in nearly all patrols and interceptions carried out by his squadron. He has been a section leader for the last two months, and on several occasions has led his flight. Flying Officer Davis has personally destroyed six enemy aircraft, and severely damaged several others. He has shown great keenness and courage.

Davis downed five more aircraft before being killed in action when his Hawker Hurricane I (P3363) was shot down in combat with a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Tunbridge Wells at 09:30hrs. Davis crashed, inverted, with his aircraft burned out in the back garden of Canterbury Cottage at Matfield, Brenchley, near Tunbridge Wells.

Technically he was "Ace" by Allied standards, but not noteworthy compared to others.

 

[IXEC]

Technically he was "Ace" by Allied standards, but not noteworthy compared to others.

The guy died a decorated hero, fighting for his country in a noble cause...........

what's not more........ " notworthy " .....than that.

 

[OzDigger]

The guy died a decorated hero, fighting for his country in a noble cause...........

what's not more........ " notworthy " .....than that.

I didn't say the man was not worthy, "noteworthy" means notable or famous. In fact I had never heard of the guy before and I have been collecting aircraft models for many years.