Wow! International Airways By Technofix!

This tinplate treasure looks a bit special. I mean, Javol!

By Technofix of West Germany it's a real avionic wonder. The finish and box art are superb.

Anyone got one?

The Convair US XFY-1 Pogo Fighter Kits

Hi Woodsy

The Convair XFY-1 Pogo was a US Navy experimental Vertical Take-Off and Landing fighter of the 1950s. It was powered by a single Allison YT40-A-6 turbo-prop engine, driving a six-bladed contra-prop (two three-bladed units rotating in opposite directions to cancel out torque).

The first vertical flight was made on 1st August 1954. The idea was that it could operate from escort ships, to protect convoys, without tying up aircraft carriers on such duties. The planned armament was four 20mm cannon, or unguided rockets.

The aircraft proved difficult to fly, and landing was a problem with the unconventional design. The programme was eventually cancelled, but the prototype still survives.

There have been several kits of the Pogo, including kits by Aurora and Lindberg from the 1950s. Both were 1/48th scale.

This is the 1/72nd scale KP kit from the Czech Republic. No.33 in the KP series. According to Scalemates it was released in 1993, and has been re-boxed several times.

I recently found this example in a model shop, on a shelf of older, second-hand kits, and snapped it up. It is moulded in light grey plastic, with a two-part canopy in clear plastic, and decals for the prototype.

There was also a 2021 version of the kit "In Services", which included fictional markings for operational aircraft in service with the US Marine Corps, Royal Navy, and Japan Air Self Defence Force. A Japanese aircraft adorning the box top.

I look forward to building this model once I get a few other projects finished off. It certainly fits in to the Wow Plane category.

Five photographs - three of my kit; and two of the "In Services" version from Worthpoint.

Is this a kit or a plane you know?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Mystery Model Spitfire

Hi Woodsy

The recent post from Lewis about his visit to the Hurstville Collectables Fair included a photograph of a mystery Spitfire toy. 

It is a pretty terrible model of a Spitfire – probably the Mark Vb, which had two long barrelled 20mm cannon in the wings, along with four .303 inch machine-guns which did not project from the wing.

The deep chin is probably meant to represent the Vokes tropical filter, intended to keep dust out of the engine. The Middle Stone and Dark Earth colour scheme was used mainly in North Africa.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2025/08/looey-at-hurstville-fair.html#comment-form

Lewis has mentioned Google Lens a few times, but I thought this was something you had to sign up for. It turns out I already had it on my computer, but have only just discovered it.

Using Google Lens I was able to find several matches for the model. It is marked under the starboard wing UNIVERSAL PRODUCT © 1977, and under the port wing SPITFIRE, with MADE IN HONG KONG under the starboard tailplane.

Although a basic toy, the undercarriage does retract. The colour scheme is original, and has not been re-painted.

Thanks to Lewis for explaining what Google Lens is, in previous posts. I think it is going to be very useful, now that I know I have it.

Four photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

The Cox Helldiver

Hi Woodsy

Following your 2024 discovery of an old knitting pattern, with a photo of a boy holding a toy aeroplane on the cover, here is a bit more information on the aircraft.

https://projectswordtoys.blogspot.com/2024/07/excerpts-of-exeter.html#comment-form

The Curtis SB2C Helldiver was a WW2 US Navy carrier-based dive bomber. The SB2C designation means Scout Bomber, 2nd type built by Curtis.

It first flew in 1940, and entered service in 1942. The US Army Air Force also adopted the type, under the designation A-25 Shrike, as an Attack aircraft.

Cox was a major US maker of flying model aircraft, and they produced the Helldiver in both US Navy and US Army markings. The models were the same, but in blue ..

or dark green plastic, with different markings.

Both had the number 511 in yellow on the nose, and post-1947 US national insignia. The Navy plane had a red spinner, and the Army version a yellow spinner.

The model had a 20 inch wingspan, and was powered by a 'real gas engine', the Cox .049. It carried rockets and long range fuel tanks under the wings, and a bomb under the fuselage that actually dropped.

It also came 'With Thrilling Bail Out ! Parachute Action' for the pilot. After leaving his stricken aircraft, the pilot descended by parachute.

I do not know when this model was introduced, but it was certainly available in the 1960s.

Six photographs from Worthpoint.

Anyone got one?

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Ed's Lever Action Tin-Litho F-104

Well Woodsy.

I met with a bit of frustration trying to locate that lever-action F-104 I recently commented about.

I have one in green (as shown in your photo) as well as a silver one. Yet - apparently, I never took photos of the green version as they're nowhere to be found on the computer - and I would need to mount a full-blown excavation into The Cave to locate it. 

Anywho, here's the same jet in silver.

From Vegas Air Field

Ed

PLANES

I picked these up last month, a bundle of old metal planes and copters.

The green jet is Japanese tinplate, the rest are cast metal.

The small headless plane at the bottom is a cap banger I think.

Most of the cast models have the names of the planes on the undercarriage.

An interesting bunch.

Toys Keep Swinging

 Messing with my new F-111 Swing Wing, I'm amazed how big it is, at least 12 inches. I thought it was a model kit when I saw it in a suitcase but it's a friction toy alright.

Largely in great shape, its missing a tailfin and like my FAB1 last month, it's another old toy with a pesky cracked canopy. How does that happen so often?

To spruce it up I've cheated on the cracks.

A little bit of dark sticker from a sticker sheet has neatly covered the two of them!

As regards the tail, a modern spare came to the rescue. It's only on loosely and can stay white for now.

We're off! 

Arto's Sears Super Sonic Jetliner

Re. your blog post on the subject, I sent you these photos of my orange Sears Super Sonic Jetliner back in 2022. 

It came up here in Finland, in great working condition and with a survivor original box. It is an imposing, sizeable toy in its 62 cm long box.

Sad news, the Suomenlinna Toy Museum which featured my space toy exhibition back in 2017 has closed down after 40 years. Still reeling from the shock.

https://www.hs.fi/helsinki/art-2000011053511.html

Arto

Helsinki Base

Kevin's Dinky Harrier Jet

I Picked this up recently, in remarkably good condition. What a great little toy.

Kevin

UK

Master Model Plane Construction 1959

 

Check out this gorgeous British Pathe clip of trade modellers making a huge model plane in 1959.

Cor!

What do you think?

HOVER GOOD FLIGHT!

 

For Hover fans, this their cool BA Boeing 747 with transparent roof.

Have you anything like this?

Ekranoplans of the 1950s

Here is a short fantasy video I came across on You Tube. It shows some bizarre aircraft/airship/ekranoplan type craft in regular commercial service in a period 'newsreel' style.

The setting seems to be the 1950s. Perhaps such craft really do exist, in an alternative universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwcDyIy9p1w

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Aircraft Recognition Training - including Viewmaster

I just found this video on You Tube. A look at the various methods of aircraft recognition training, mainly in WW2.

From three-view silhouettes, on cards, in books and magazines, or printed on clear plastic for projection. Some were even printed on to playing cards, and used in various board games.

Models of various types in wood, plastic, plaster, and cardboard. Many of these were made by established model aircraft companies putting their peacetime experience to use.

Even the wartime role of the Viewmaster stereoscopic viewer is covered, and a military example is shown. These used the same type of reel as the normal 'toy' version so many of us are familiar with. See what you think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgdECjU8Gio

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Ed's Tin: the Yonezawa C-124 Globemaster

Woodsy and Fellow Moonbasers,

Here's another beautiful Hunk O' Tin from Vegas Air Field: the C-124 Globemaster from Yonezawa in Japan.

The Douglas' C-124 Globemaster II was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft developed from their earlier work on the C-74 Globemaster. Nicknamed 'Old Shaky". Globemaster II's were initially assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) hauling nukes until becoming the prime mover for the Air Force's Military Air Transport Service (MATS). 

It served with MATS from 1950 until MATS was re-designated as the Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1966, and on until 1970 when the last Globemaster's were transferred to the Air National Guard.

This terrific tin-litho aircraft is 18 1/2" (46.99cm) L x 20 1/2" (52.07cm) wingspan x 6 3/4" (17.14cm) H, and is among the biggest planes currently in my collection. It takes two 'D' cell batteries and when powered up the propellers spinm the front loading hatch opens, and the loading ramp deploys. 

There is a small tank and Jeep inside (both made by Mohawk I believe). The toy follows the standard practice of having detachable wings. Unfortunately, I don't have a video of it in operation.

From Vegas Air Field

Ed

*

For more of Ed's pics https://toyconnect.blogspot.com/search?q=globemaster