[flyXwire]

Alph, you got great patience as well as talent, buddy! When I was still living in the Philippines back in the 70s I met a friend who carved aircraft models out of mahogany for a living, and sold them to US Navy employees working at the Subic Naval Base, Pampanga. I still vividly remember the first model he made for me - a P-38 Lightning, very intricately made and beautiful. Sadly, I left it behind when I emigrated to the States.

[Alph]

Hi flyXwire,
That's where the idea to import models was born. I guess there is a Dateline that inflates their prices into the US. I think now the carver may make 15 dollars a model and the seller $220. My uncle was an engineer/Draftsman for Boeing 30 years. I asked a lot of questions and he'd put a set of line drawings in front of me and "Asks what do you see" So I took a pair of scissors and cut that set of line drawing into pieces,copies of course but he didn't have to scold me at all. Thats right!! The rest was a matter of understanding how a photo of an aircraft affects the block of wood. Pretty much I only do civilian aircraft. If any of you have a scroll saw I can teach you these skills "Doesn't matter what aircraft you choose"
Alph

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by Alph

Hi flyXwire,
That's where the idea to import models was born. I guess there is a Dateline that inflates their prices into the US. I think now the carver may make 15 dollars a model and the seller $220.
Alph

Yes it was and it became a 'cottage industry' overthere and took-off (no pun intended) big time! The hobby shop (sadly after in business for 40+ years had closed up) located in Mtn.View, Ca have imported a lot of the mahogany aircrafts from the P.I.

[Cavtanker]

My late grandfather had a rougly 1/72 scale of his 'Iowa Belle' P-51 made from bamboo. It is mounted on its still-live .50 cal round from his aircraft.

[Alph]

Hi Cavtanker,
I'm sure there are afew guys that have one or two of these models in their collections. I use bamboo for rotor blades on helicopters. It's not easy to break bamboo. Many retired military personel who delt with aircraft picked models up. Many times these models are one off and very RARE! The reason Mahogany is used is because it's like our pine very abundant! I tried to carve Balsa but if you hit the grain wrong it starts to fuzz up plus it sucks in paint so pine is as easy to get as goin to Lowes or a pallet company. I may have to move this thread as I have an idea for a how to in the modeling area. Does anyone know what a DH-88 is?
Alph

[STARMAN 352ND]

The Mahagany models cost that much now days wow.
I say i got a good deal for a buck at that yard sale.
I'm a great painter and plastic model builder but that woodcrafting is a great trade to learn if you could do it.
Someone once told me they have taken it to the next level of adding Clear window canopys and cockpits for the Mahogany line....That must cost a few bucks too.
JP

[Alph]

Hi Starman,
Pacific has a line of clear canopy models. Skunky posted a site where these guys collect the big travel agency models,sometimes costing as much as $1500.00. I'd like to find one of those but it's gonna be from a Good Will or a Yard Sale.Alph

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Alph

Hi Starman,
Pacific has a line of clear canopy models. Skunky posted a site where these guys collect the big travel agency models,sometimes costing as much as $1500.00. I'd like to find one of those but it's gonna be from a Good Will or a Yard Sale.Alph

Boy the price is out of this world.
I'll stick to the diecast ones....Thank you very much
I would think after years the putty on there would crack .

[SKUNKY]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Someone once told me they have taken it to the next level of adding Clear window canopys and cockpits for the Mahogany line....

The ones I've seen look like they stuck a 1/72nd scale pilot inside a 1/32nd scale cockpit...Waaaaaay too much money for those things.
I still have a lot of mahogany models, but I'm through buying them.

[MoMo]

For years, from time to time, I've been able to pick up the odd airplane model ( all roughly 1.72 in scale ) made from brass.

These models were all made during the war by fitters using odds bits of metal in their spare time. They were made as mometos of WW2 for servicemen and you can find them in antique shops and collectors fairs.

I have an early Supermarine Schnieder Trophy plane ( about 1936? )

a Bristol Blenheim

a Bristol Beaufighter

and also a British WW2 submarine.

They are all mounted on wooden plinths except for the Beau which appears to be mounted on a very worn piston head.

Together they make an interesting group. I guess that as years go on, and as more and more of them get chucked out by ignorant relatives of the dead, they will constitute a collecting niche of their own and become quite pricey.

They fall into the general group term of WW2 Art.

MoMo