Virtual Museum - Dinky
Aircraft
Prior to the
1990s revival of die-cast aircraft,
several manufacturers produced models in limited numbers which are now
becoming very collectable. Best-known of the early manufacturers
was Dinky (Meccano Ltd), which began producing die-cast aircraft prior
to WWII. These aircraft fetch huge prices when up for sale.
Aircraft in good condition are usually worth double the price of a
model that has chipped paint, or broken propellers/undercarriage.
Aircraft with the original box are worth twice as much again. One
of the rarest aircraft is the Dinky Vulcan bomber, which was produced
Canada - just 500 being made. They have sold for as much as
£2000.00. The models shown below are presented in numerical
sequence (as numbered by Dinky). Values given are those listed
from a 2002 British catalogue
for die-cast toys.
Ref. No. 813. DINKY
ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH AIR
LINER. Made post-war 1945-49.
Dinky No.# 62p. Wingspan 175 mm. Length 155 mm. Registration
G-ADSV. Market price range £100-125.
Ref. No. 902. DINKY AVRO YORK.
Dinky number # 70a. Registration G-AGJC. Silver. Made
1946-49. Wingspan 160
mm. Length 122
mm. Market price range £80-100.
Ref. No. 814. DINKY
VIKING.
Made 1947-49 in England by Meccano Ltd. Dinky No. 70c. Wingspan
140 mm. Length 98 mm. Registration G-AGOL. Market price
range £55-65.
Ref. No. 850. DINKY MERCURY SEAPLANE
G-AVKW.
Dinky No. # 700. Post-war version of the Mercury Seaplane. Made
in 1954-57. Wingspan 102 mm, length 66 mm. Missing floats. Market
price range £75-100.
Ref. No. 815. DINKY DE
HAVILLAND COMET.
Made 1954-55. Dinky No.#702. Wingspan
182 mm. Length 147 mm. Registration G-ALYV. When the
real aircraft with this
registration crashed, Dinky changed the registration to G-ALYX around
1960 (see below). Market price range £110-130.
Ref. No. 864. DINKY AIR FRANCE VISCOUNT.
Dinky No. #706. Registration F-BGNL. Made by Meccano
1956-57. Length 130
mm, width 150 mm. Market price range £100-125. The
model has been repainted at some stage and colour varies from original.
Ref.
No. 761. DINKY BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS VISCOUNT. Dinky
No. #708. Registration G-ADJA. Made 1957-1965. Length 130
mm, width 150 mm.
This version features finer detailed compared to earlier models.
Market price range £100-125.
Ref.
No. 747. DINKY SPITFIRE MKII. Made
1969-77. Dinky No. #719. Underside written “Dinky
Toys.
Meccano Ltd. No. 719. Spitfire Mk II. Made in England.”
173mm wingspan. Scale 1:65. It has retractable undercarriage and
a battery operated motor. This model was produced at the time of
the movie “Battle of Britain”. It was replaced by model No. 741
(see below),
which had no motor. Production ran from 1969 to 1977.
Prices on the internet in 2004 varied from US$75.00 for one in good
condition with no box, and from £85.00 to £205.00 for a
mint boxed example (equivalent to US$365.44). Unboxed
examples market price range is £50-60.
Ref. No. 898. DINKY HAWKER SIDDELEY
125. Dinky No. # 723. Made circa 1970-73.
Registration: XG 172. Wheel retract. Front door folds
down. Length 135 mm. Wingspan 130 mm. Market price
range £35-45.
Ref. No. 849.
DINKY GLOSTER JAVELIN.
Dinky No. # 735. Made in 1955-66. Wingspan 82 mm, length 93
mm. Market price range £35-45.
Ref. No. 768.
DINKY HAWKER HUNTER.
Dinky No.# 736. made 1955-63. Wingspan 153mm, length 73mm.
Market price range £30-40.
Ref. No. 889. DINKY DH 110 SEA VIXEN.
Dinky number #738. Manufactured 1960-65. Grey upper, white
underside. "Royal Navy" on booms. Wheels rotate.
Ref. No. 828.
DINKY DE
HAVILLAND COMET.
Dinky Number #999. Made 1955-65. Wingspan 182
mm. Length 147 mm. Registration G-ALYX. Circa 1960. This is
the late version with silver/grey wings & white on blue tail decal.
First issues of #999 had wing letters 'G-ALYV' (see above) as per #702
(the first version produced from 1954). Market price range
£100-125.