Virtual Museum - Model aircraft (metal)


The aircraft on this page range from one-off models produced circa 1930 through to WWII recognition and souvenir models, 1970s Matchbox models, and recent die-cast examples produced by manufacturers such as Corgi and Franklin Mint under the Armour title.  The most collectable die-cast aircraft range are those made by Dinky (Mecanno Ltd), which were made from the 1930s through to late 1970s.  These are located on a separate page here.

Ref. No. 733.  NICKEL PLATED MODEL SUPERMARINE S6B.  Circa 1930.  The S6 was flown in the 1929 Schneider Trophy Contest by the RAF and the S6B in 1931.  The S6B was the first aircraft in the world to exceed 400 m.p.h.  Given that the model is nickel plated, it is probable that the model was made at the time which makes it relatively rare.

Ref. No. 319. CHROME AIRSPEED OXFORD MODEL ON STAND. Circa 1940. Chromed brass. wingspan 240mm. Length 160mm. Very high quality. Complete with propellers. Supported on laminated wooden stand which is aerofoil shape - probably part of a Cheetah propeller.

Ref. No. 124. IDENTIFICATION MODEL HUDSON. Circa 1940. Wingspan 350mm. Length 265mm. Made from aluminium and originally painted black. Model in three parts; top fuselage which includes tail, bottom fuselage, and wing with engines. Stamped on bottom "HUDSON R/B OSNRB.  Rare.

Ref No. 32.  BRASS MODEL HURRICANE. Circa late 1930's. 170mm wingspan. 140mm length. On stand. Complete with propeller that revolves.  Although not accurately modeled, the wing profile and fin shape clearly indicate this to be a Hurricane fighter.  Brass stand included.

Ref. No. 752. HERPA WINGS JUNKERS JU 52 OLEY OE-LAM.  Cat. No. 19019.  Scale 1:160.  182mm wingspan. 120mm length.  Superb detail on these metal models - probably as fine as you could get on any model.

Ref. No. 1079 HOBBY MASTER BREWSTER BUFFALO DIE-CAST 1:48. Superb detail of an aircraft operated by 243 Squadron RAF and flown by New Zealand pilot P/O Noel Sharp over Singapore.

Ref. No. 751. CORGI AVIATION ARCHIVE DIE-CAST 1:72 SCALE NORTH AMERICAN P-51 MUSTANG "BIG BEAUTIFUL DOLL".  The Corgi range of aircraft are very popular collectibles.  Although of a very good standard, the 1:72 scale lacks some of the detail found in the 1:48 scale aircraft, although they represent good value for money.
Ref. No. 906. CORGI AVIATION ARCHIVE DIE-CAST 1:72 SCALE CURTISS P-40 KITTYHAWK "JZ-I" NZ3040.  This model is one of the few die-cast aircraft that depict RNZAF aircraft.  This example was flown by W/C P. G. H. Newton DFC and is depicted in Chris Rudge's book "Air-to-Air - The Story Behind the Air-to-Air Combat Claims of the RNZAF" (see elsewhere on this site) along with biographical information of the pilot.

Ref. No. 538. CORGI AVIATION ARCHIVE SPITFIRE MK I – No. 54 SQUADRON KL-B (PILOT - NEW ZEALANDER AL DEERE) WITH REPRODUCTION NOTES.  Made 2000.  Limited edition No. 5286 of 5600 produced worldwide.  Scale 1:72.  Features removable engine cowling, box, reproduction notes, and certificate.  Although a nice model, it lacks some of the finer features of the Franklin Mint Armour range (see below) and the 1:32 scale Corgi example below.  For example, compare the antenae, canopy and joints between both models.

Ref. No. 750 FRANKLIN MINT ARMOUR DIE-CAST 1:48 SCALE SPITFIRE.  Markings are for the aircraft flown by New Zealand fighter ace Alan Deere.  These solid metal models are crafted in China and the Franklin range is as good as any other well-known manufacturer.  The paint finish and cockpit detail is excellent.

Ref. No. 848. CORGI 1:32 SCALE SPITFIRE “KIWI” N31383/KL-B FLOWN BY AL DEERE.  Wingspan 350 mm. Pilot Officer Alan Deere used this aircraft to shoot down a Bf109E on the 24th May 1940 and a Bf110 on the 25th May during actions in support of the Dunkirk evacuation where he was credited with seven victories (plus one shared, one unconfirmed and one damaged) in just five days. On the 9th July 1940 this aircraft was shot down by elements of ll./JG51 over the Channel and its pilot, Pilot Officer A. Evershed was killed. No. 54 squadron lost two other Spitfires in this action, with a second pilot being killed and Al Deere suffering minor burns upon being forced to land P3938 near Manston. Features include removable engine covers with fully detailed engine, sliding cockpit canopy and hinged door with detailed pilot figure, removable gun covers with fitted machine guns, moving flaps, rudder, air brakes, ailerons and elevators, fully retractable undercarriage, rotating propeller and cradle display stand.

Ref. No. 535. FRANKLIN MINT RNZAF CORSAIR NZ5277 (MODEL NUMBER FMB672).  One of only 400 die-cast models produced for the New Zealand market, this 1:48 scale example represents NZ5277 (Ser. No. 5116, Bu49866), which was a Chance-Vought F4U-1.  A total of 368 Corsairs were allocated to the RNZAF from Chance Vought and were received at Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal and Hobsonville.  Of these 237 were F4U-1s. 

This aircraft was shipped from USA on 19 April 1944 aboard "USS Breton" and assembled in Espiritu Santo on 05 May 1944.  It was issued to No.15 Fighter Squadron, Guadalcanal on 18 May 1944 and featured the code "77".  It went to No.14 Squadron on 08 August 1944 and was badly damaged in taxying accident with NZ5275 at Kukum Field on 17 August 1944, but was repaired and returned to service.  It then went to No.16 Squadron on 21 December 1944 and to No.21 Squadron by April 1945.   It was damaged again on 24 July 1945 but was repaired and returned to service by September.  Ferried to New Zealand in October 1945, it was advertised for sale by WARB tender number 1704 and sold from Rukuhia to J. Larsen, Palmerston North on 02 March 1948.  While with No. 21 Squadron at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, in 1945, NZ5277 featured a painting of an irate Donald Duck of the side of the fuselage forward of the cockpit and also mission markings including eight ships, nine trucks, eleven small bombs and nine large bombs. 

Ref. No. 749. WARBIRDS SERIES DRAGON WINGS F-16C FIGHTING FALCON.  Item No. 50006. Scale 1:72.  This die-cast aircraft is beautifully detailed, with superb painting and super-fine writing (which, even with the best eyes, requires a magnifying glass to read).  Features independently rotating stabilisers, hinged canopy, interchangeable parts to display in on-the-ground or airborne phases of operation, plus removable tanks and rockets.  Length 200 mm, wingspan 140 mm. The aircraft this model depicts is from the 19th Squadron (Gamecocks) of the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina.  The 363rd have three squadrons; the 17th, 19th and 33rd.  The 363rd TFW played a major part in the ground offensive during Operation Desert Storm.
Ref. No. 753. FRANKLIN MINT ARMOUR F-18 US NAVY VFA 195 "Dambusters" CVW5 CAG. BIRDS.  Scale 1:48. Impressive detail, including authentic cockpit layout, full instrumentation, realistic landing gear (rubber tyres), armaments, and authentic paint scheme.  Length 340 mm, 270 mm wingspan.  This model represents an F/A-18C Hornet of VFA-195 the "Dambusters". The squadron served aboard USS Independence, CV 62, for most of the 90's until the Independence was decommissioned in September 1998 and they transferred to the Kitty Hawk, CV 63. The squadron's tactical call sign is "Chippy", hence the scheme "Chippy Ho!" on their CAG bird. This scheme first appeared on a squadron airplane in early 1995. Before decommissioning, the Independence was forward deployed and home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan.
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