WWII Spotter Recognition aircraft models

[kfields]

Tail wing grafted and ready to hang!

I'm curious what solution folks have come up with to hang these aircraft from the ceiling without damaging the planes.

[kfields]

Repaired and flying again - haha!

 

[warguy]

On 9/19/2022 at 12:51 PM, kfields said:

Tail wing grafted and ready to hang!

I'm curious what solution folks have come up with to hang these aircraft from the ceiling without damaging the planes.

Most of them have a hole drilled at center mass and a single wire is used. Your method works as well, great to see it flying again. 

[kfields]

I was wondering about a hole in the center. This one (B29) shows a hole on the bottom center mass but none on top. I very gently attempted to thread a stiff wire from the bottom up but met too much resistance so I backed off rather than possibly wreck it by forcing it. I guess I could have drilled it but didn't know at the time I hung it whether it really did have a hole all the way through. Knowing now what you mentioned above, I figure the aluminum colored paint might have dripped down and clogged the hole.

[easterneagle87]

I agree. Don't force it. You've got it well secured. Looks good!

[TBMflyer]

Here are a pair I have hanging in my 'war room'

It was nice finding the Black Widow in such good shape, the P-38 came from a friend who flew P-40's and P-51's and thought I would like it. What looks like fraying of the string is dust...Doh.

Enjoy,

Mark

 

[warguy]

Very nice looking models. Thanks for sharing. I don't have either of those. Been looking for the P-38. Kevin

[General Apathy]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:30 PM, warguy said:

I am running a want ad for these models and a forum member there asked to see my "growing" collection, so here goes. I purchased ten of these as a grouping about three weeks ago after a picker buddy of mine found them at an estate sale in Nevada. Now I am hooked. These are all made by the Cruver company, and the model of plane is marked on the bottom along with the date it was created. Cruver's marking was a c inside a circle, and some folks mistake this as a copy right mark. These became mostly obsolete by the end of the war and were given away by the hundreds of thousands. Today they are tough to find, especially in good condition. The real ones are made of celluloid acetate (there are some also made of wood). Celluloid acetate is the same material they used to make old film. Consequently, you can detect an odor of vinegar or "old film" on most of these. If they were improperly stored over the years, specifically if they were exposed to much heat, they would melt or warp. It is best to store these in cool temps (the Smithsonian stores their collection in refrigerated storage) and provide a lot of ventilation for them. I was lucky and the ones I acquired were pretty much near mint. Now I am on the hunt for more especially bombers and Navy fighters. Thanks for looking. 

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Hi Warguy,

 

A nice budding collection good luck with increasing the size and variety of the acetate models, I only have a couple

 

Here's another style that was used for making the recognition models pressed from stiffened paper-board.

 

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regards lewis.

 

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[warguy]

Thanks. I saw something similar just recently on a dealers site. Hadn't seen them before. Interesting!

[General Apathy]

On 9/17/2022 at 1:45 AM, warguy said:

Also, on the wooden spotter models, GWB you are right, early in the war there was a call to model builders to help makes these out of balsa wood. There were lots of issues and problems with this, and consequently the contract let to Cruver who discovered the Celluloid Acetate process.

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Hi Warguy,

 

A trio of models for you, the Thunderbolt and Lysander are wooden built, the Corsair is Celluloid acetate, all unmarked as to manufacture, I have a Celluloid acetate PBY when I can sort and photograph.

 

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Regards Lewis.

 

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[warguy]

Those are great, thanks for sharing! Would love to see the PBY when you have the chance!

[easterneagle87]

Finally found this picture, German Float plane recognition model. This was posted on Etsy, OfferUp or FB Marketplace ... I just can't remember wher I saw it first! I posted in the USMF as well, but can't find the post. 

[warguy]

That’s an interesting one. Thanks for posting!

[General Apathy]

21 hours ago, warguy said:

Those are great, thanks for sharing! Would love to see the PBY when you have the chance!

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Hi Warguy,

 

well here it is and it's a different style of manufacture to both the Wooden and the Acetate models previously shown, it's hollow construction in both the wings and body, it has pre-formed shapes covered in thin linen and glued together.  Sadly there is some light separation of the parts that were glued together, also the linen covering can be seen in the shot showing the makers mark.

 

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regards lewis.

 

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[warguy]

Wow that is a great looking piece. I have never seen the linen covered ones and have never seen a PBY. Just a great piece there. Do you know if it is US made, or British, or? Thanks very much for sharing. I saw a PBY this summer at a museum, they are sooo much bigger than I realized!

[Geedee]

Those are some really neat models you guys have got right there and some great info on the various types of media used to make them. 

I have only 2 recognition models, one a Cruver made '51D and the prize is this wooden recognition model of the awesome Lib that I think is of wartime manufacture. There are 2 holes under the fuselage for mounting on a ‘stick’ / stand of some sort. 

Clearly, she depicts an early model ’24 and I’d love to find out more about her…when / where made / what exact model etc etc. If she was indeed made a 'youngster, then hats off to them for making mighty fine rendition of the 'Packing crate the '17 arrived in' !.

The only markings I can see on the model are under one wing where it says quite simply Lib !. She is of all wooden construction and looks to have been painted an initial pale blue color then all over silver before the black was applied. The silver looks to have been spray painted as there are absolutely no brush marks where it shows thru the black top coat…which again appears to be spray painted. Size wise her wingspan is just short of 27 inches…she’s a big girl !... and she tips the scale at just on 1 pound.

[warguy]

Really interesting! Thanks for sharing and again, welcome to the forum! Kevin 

[General Apathy]

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I have no idea when, where and who made this model, it's solid wood with clear plastic on the cabin and machine gun positions. It came with a 1943 dated paper clipping from ' Der Adler ' a German army magazine.  !!

 

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cheers lewis .

 

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[warguy]

Really interesting, definitely has the spotter or recognition look to it. I wonder if this was done by one of the many programs during the war? I thought those were mostly dissolved by 1943 or 44 but who knows? Maybe the magazine photo was used by the modeler although it is interesting the bubble on the nose isn't depicted in the photo. Thanks for posting!

[General Apathy]

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Hi Warguy,

 

Not really an identification model but thought you might find this interesting.  I acquired this part completed wooden P38 model from the attic  of a house that was on the boundary lines of one of the 1944 USAAF Advanced Landing Grounds ( ALG's ) near Ste Mere Eglise. The underside of the wings were covered in bat guano when I acquired it, been in the attic so long.

 

The photo image has nothing to do with this particular model it just shows a P38 at an Advanced landing Ground in 1944.

 

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Cheers lewis.

 

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[warguy]

Really interesting, thanks for posting. There must be a story there for sure. I know there was a program early in the war where civilians built these models, many from wood tin help out the Air Force. Maybe this was me of those? 

[easterneagle87]

Here’s a current mixed lot offered on eBay, I think 😬

Looks like a B-26 nestled within.

[General Apathy]

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apologies as this is not really an aircraft recognition model, hope it's of interest it's a set of WWII recognition playing cards I recently sold at auction back in November.

 

 

regards lewis.

 

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[warguy]

No apologies needed, thanks for sharing. I have seen some variations of the playing cards with recognition models. First time I have seen this variation. Pretty neat. 

[General Apathy]

15 hours ago, warguy said:

No apologies needed, thanks for sharing. I have seen some variations of the playing cards with recognition models. First time I have seen this variation. Pretty neat. 

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Hi Warguy.

 

Thanks, just thought nothing had been added for a while so wanted to put the topic back to the top again.  I will keep a lookout for further models to add. 

 

regards lewis.