The History of scale aircraft modelling-Part 1

[jgrandgarcon]

One thing I don't think you mentioned (if I missed it - sorry) which was a key to the success of Airfix was that they produced all their kits in a common scale 1/72. Up to then scales were all over the shop not merely between manufacturers but a single manufacturer would use a variety of scales. A huge Spitfire next to a relatively tiny B-29 looked ridiculous. Airfix fighters and bombers could be displayed together. That had a huge impact on their sales and changed the industry. The variety of kits they began to produce was also a factor quite quickly. No one else produced many of the aircraft they did.

I remember when I first encountered Airfix kits in the late 50's. Crude as they may have been by todays standards they were light years ahead of Aurora for example without the heavy raised detail and rivets. They were a revelation. With the availability of Humbrol flat paints I could suddenly build a Spitfire or Hurricane which actually resembled the real thing. Wow!

Jeremy

From the Great White North - otherwise Known as Canada.

 

[wonwinglo]

One thing I don't think you mentioned (if I missed it - sorry) which was a key to the success of Airfix was that they produced all their kits in a common scale 1/72. Up to then scales were all over the shop not merely between manufacturers but a single manufacturer would use a variety of scales. A huge Spitfire next to a relatively tiny B-29 looked ridiculous. Airfix fighters and bombers could be displayed together. That had a huge impact on their sales and changed the industry. The variety of kits they began to produce was also a factor quite quickly. No one else produced many of the aircraft they did. I remember when I first encountered Airfix kits in the late 50's. Crude as they may have been by todays standards they were light years ahead of Aurora for example without the heavy raised detail and rivets. They were a revelation. With the availability of Humbrol flat paints I could suddenly build a Spitfire or Hurricane which actually resembled the real thing. Wow!

Jeremy

From the Great White North - otherwise Known as Canada.

*** A hearty welcome Jeremy and thanks for replying,Airfix were instrumental in promoting the constant 1=72nd scale for their revolutionary new kit products,something that as you say companies like Aurora and Comet did not do,they preferred to make the models to any scale that would conveniently fit the box,however having said this Airfix were by no means the first manufacturers to produce models to this constant scale,the first were the pre-war Skybirds ( take a look at the piece on this company and how James Hay Stevens the young designer evolved this scale ) even in the thirties American pulp magazines were advertising solid model kits where the scales were all over the shop,it just needed the popularity that both Skybirds and Airfix gave to firmly establish this scale.

In recent years the trend towards larger scales have been noticed with the demands for more detail but the sheer variety of subject matter in 1=72dn knows no equal in the kit world.

We owe it to Airfix for not only bringing out those historic pocket money priced kits but in further establishing this wonderful scale.

 

[jgrandgarcon]

Early model aircraft

*** A hearty welcome Jeremy and thanks for replying,Airfix were instrumental in promoting the constant 1=72nd scale for their revolutionary new kit products,something that as you say companies like Aurora and Comet did not do,they preferred to make the models to any scale that would conveniently fit the box,however having said this Airfix were by no means the first manufacturers to produce models to this constant scale,the first were the pre-war Skybirds ( take a look at the piece on this company and how James Hay Stevens the young designer evolved this scale ) even in the thirties American pulp magazines were advertising solid model kits where the scales were all over the shop,it just needed the popularity that both Skybirds and Airfix gave to firmly establish this scale.In recent years the trend towards larger scales have been noticed with the demands for more detail but the sheer variety of subject matter in 1=72dn knows no equal in the kit world.

We owe it to Airfix for not only bringing out those historic pocket money priced kits but in further establishing this wonderful scale.

Yes, I was actually aware of those earlier wooden kits. They were a little before my time but ads for them appeared in a series you're probably familiar with called Aircraft of the Fighting Powers. These were a little like the later Profile publications but the descriptions of the aircraft were quite short and the profiles were line drawings without of course the colour. We had four volumes and they were my earliest source of information for my models. Interestingly, the diagrams of each aircraft were drawn in something very close to 1/72 scale as I recall.

BTW it's a great series. Brings back lots of memories.

Jeremy

 

[wonwinglo]

Yes, I was actually aware of those earlier wooden kits. They were a little before my time but ads for them appeared in a series you're probably familiar with called Aircraft of the Fighting Powers. These were a little like the later Profile publications but the descriptions of the aircraft were quite short and the profiles were line drawings without of course the colour. We had four volumes and they were my earliest source of information for my models. Interestingly, the diagrams of each aircraft were drawn in something very close to 1/72 scale as I recall. BTW it's a great series. Brings back lots of memories.

Jeremy

*** Good morning Jeremy,yes the AFP series produced by Harleyford pioneered the way plans were to be presented in the future,there were 7 volumes in all which covered all axis aircraft,the fighters were drawn to 1=72nd scale with a few of the larger subjects done in 1=144th,we have to take some of the earlier drawings at face value as some were not very accurate and done from German propoganda material available at that time,best to treat the earlier works as an history of what was flying in those far flung days, but today they can be considered a bold approach to the subject of aircraft 3-view drawings.

Incidently quite a few of the drawings appeared in the Aeromodeller and were drawn by A.J.Cooper and his team of tracers at Harleyford.

Volumes 6 & 7 which were quite scarce as originals were reproduced in the sixties and sold by Alan Hall,these are excellent and mostly accurate.

The Profile publication series,this was a great idea to produce budget priced compact colour works for aeronautical reference,the content was usually written by specialists in their field,my checklist lists over 300 subjects but I only purchased the ones that interested me personally.The colour artwork was what made them worthwhile for scale modelling,you could also purchase them as bound volumes.

Today we are bombarded with books on every imaginable subject and type of aircraft,the secret is to weed out the most useful to us as model builders.

Even with the internet you cannot beat a good library of reference material to draw upon for your modelling.

Glad also that you are enjoying the recording of these historical landmarks in Aeromodelling,it is important that we get such material on the internet before it is forgotton forever,our childrens children must know how things evolved from simple beginnings and the circumstances behind the development of the scale model,the refined form that we all take for granted today took a few years to settle down,injection moulding has assisted the hobby with those unable to make from scratch or the time restraints to produce scale models of such beauty,modelling is certainly an art form and as long as we have enthusiasts then the hobby will prosper.

 

[jgrandgarcon]

*** Good morning Jeremy,yes the AFP series produced by Harleyford pioneered the way plans were to be presented in the future,there were 7 volumes in all which covered all axis aircraft,the fighters were drawn to 1=72nd scale with a few of the larger subjects done in 1=144th,we have to take some of the earlier drawings at face value as some were not very accurate and done from German propoganda material available at that time,best to treat the earlier works as an history of what was flying in those far flung days, but today they can be considered a bold approach to the subject of aircraft 3-view drawings.Incidently quite a few of the drawings appeared in the Aeromodeller and were drawn by A.J.Cooper and his team of tracers at Harleyford.

Volumes 6 & 7 which were quite scarce as originals were reproduced in the sixties and sold by Alan Hall,these are excellent and mostly accurate.

The Profile publication series,this was a great idea to produce budget priced compact colour works for aeronautical reference,the content was usually written by specialists in their field,my checklist lists over 300 subjects but I only purchased the ones that interested me personally.The colour artwork was what made them worthwhile for scale modelling,you could also purchase them as bound volumes.

Today we are bombarded with books on every imaginable subject and type of aircraft,the secret is to weed out the most useful to us as model builders.

Even with the internet you cannot beat a good library of reference material to draw upon for your modelling.

Glad also that you are enjoying the recording of these historical landmarks in Aeromodelling,it is important that we get such material on the internet before it is forgotton forever,our childrens children must know how things evolved from simple beginnings and the circumstances behind the development of the scale model,the refined form that we all take for granted today took a few years to settle down,injection moulding has assisted the hobby with those unable to make from scratch or the time restraints to produce scale models of such beauty,modelling is certainly an art form and as long as we have enthusiasts then the hobby will prosper.

I have 8 volumes of the bound Profiles which I still use. Some are exactly that the individual profiles just bound, but some have the pages renumbered which makes finding the right one much easier. But you also remind me I collected quite a lot of research material in those days - several Camouflage and Markings pamphlets which were similar to Profiles, a couple of Aircam series from Osprey. All of them are on my shelves somewhere, they've just become scattered over the years. You've inspired me to collect them together and reorganize them. Then there are the magazines - I know there's an article on modelling a WWI airfield. Was it in an old Meccano mag. or ...?

Thanks again, it's been an inspiration.

Jeremy :beer2:

 

[wonwinglo]

I have 8 volumes of the bound Profiles which I still use. Some are exactly that the individual profiles just bound, but some have the pages renumbered which makes finding the right one much easier. But you also remind me I collected quite a lot of research material in those days - several Camouflage and Markings pamphlets which were similar to Profiles, a couple of Aircam series from Osprey. All of them are on my shelves somewhere, they've just become scattered over the years. You've inspired me to collect them together and reorganize them. Then there are the magazines - I know there's an article on modelling a WWI airfield. Was it in an old Meccano mag. or ...?Thanks again, it's been an inspiration.

Jeremy :beer2:

*** Yes I remember that article now,it was by aviation artist Ken McDonnagh,really well done complete with canvas hangars,it could indeed have been the Meccano magazine.Like yourself I have books and mags everywhere and you do loose things over the years especially in house moves where things just vanish ! I personally find the earlier publications more informative,one of the best flying magazines was 'Flying Review' it had a first class cross section of material,interesting articles about aviators,cutaway drawings,plans,the model section done by Bill Matthews complete with colour side views,the sections in the back and front of the magazine answering questions on rare aircraft,now there is a mystery,when Flying Review was taken over and became the Air International I think it was called ? the files vanished into thin air,it was said to be the largest collection of aviation photographs held by any publishing company including the 'Flight' magazine ( even that one got dispersed after several take overs,and material disappeared ) whatever happened to those records I wonder ? we will probably never find out.

I am pleased that you are finding the material here useful and inspirational,sometimes we all need a breath of fresh air,Johns idea to start the Scale models forum was born not that long ago,from small acorns it has grown into what we have here today,your interest makes it even more worthwhile.

 

[peterpenguin]

History of modelling

Hello Barry,

I have read your articles on the history on modelling with great interest, thank you!

However, I have missed the greater importance of the Frog Penguin range, which is only mentioned in a small amount of text and, unfortunately, with some errors.

You incorrectly state (in part 5) that FROG issued the range after the war, which should be 1936, with the Gladiator, Shark and Fury biplanes. This makes them the oldest all plastic modelkits in the world.

In fact, due to the war, the Penguins have 2 production periods, 1936-40 and 1946-49. The prewar models issued in silver boxes, the postwar in green.

The material is not celluloid, as you mentioned, a mistake that is often made, like others saying it was bakelite. The material was cellulose acetate, although closely related.

The great problem indeed was the tendency to twist and warp. Many models found today have this problem, but an amazing amount (built or unbuilt) have barely any damage. Best way to preserve them is store them cold!

FROG also was involved in the production of wooden recognition models.

In my opinion Skybirds was the first to introduce the 1:72 constant scale for models and Frog Penguin the first for all-plastic modelkits. Airfix was the company that filled the gap when FROG stopped Penguin production and made the scale famous.

More on the Penguin range can be found on my website www.frogpenguin.com, with over 600 photos and lots of information, you are welcome to take a look!

Peter van Lune

The Netherlands

 

[wonwinglo]

Peter thank you for your comments and specialist corrections,sadly not a single Penguin has ever crossed my path to add to my own vast collection of historical kits and models,I take your point about the materials used in Penguins,as you say we get warpage even today on modern plastic kits but perhaps not to the same degree as with Penguins,it is obviously a specialist job in keeping these relics from the past preserved,I have similar problems in storing Dinky aeroplanes albeit this time from metal fatigue on early examples.Sorry that my notes were somewhat sparse regarding the Penguin range,my father mentioned them many times,you are very fortunate in having such a wonderful collection of them,in fact I have seen your wonderful web site many times and drooled at your historic collection,there cannot be many around today and in all my searches have never seen a single example for sale,so keep up the good work in preserving a little piece of modelling history for us all to see.

 

[wonwinglo]

Peter has sent in these great pictures of a Frog Penguin Cierva C.30A Autogiro,amazing that this delicate model has survived all of these years.

Penguin model of the Cierva C.30A Autogiro,this was known as the Avro Rota whilst in R.A.F service,the autogiro was used for radar calibration duties during the Battle of Britain.

Thanks to Peter Van Lune for submitting these pictures from his extensive historic collection of Frog Penguin models.

 

[duncan]

Pics of Cierva didnt come through Barry, just the dreaded red X in a box. Great link to Peter`s site.

 

[wonwinglo]

Pics of Cierva didnt come through Barry' date=' just the dreaded red X in a box. Great link to Peter`s site.[/quote']*** Thats strange Duncan ? I will re-install them,anyone else having problems with the Autogiro pictures ?

 

[takeslousyphotos]

I know this is a bit off topic....... But I've been reading this thread with interest. I have a Keil Kraft FOWLER CLASS 27 POUGHING ENGINE MODEL KIT IN 1:72 SCALE .... The contents are still in the Original Wrapper, The Instruction Sheet and Box are Mint condition ......... I'm just not sure if it's old or fairly new ....but it's unusual.

Peter

 

[Stevekir]

i was given a kit of a plane around 1945, called a "Penknife Kit". It was supposed to be able to create a model with only a penknife (which I had, all boys then seemed to have one). The fuselage was a block of very hard wood. I can't remember the rest (if there were any other parts). After whittling a little I gave up, very disappointed.