[chiefs70]

I've been collecting diecast aircraft and armor for about two years and have a pretty healthy collection. Many of my purchases were on the recommendation of fellow forum members so I started to think what are the essential aircraft models and why. So, if money were no object which FIVE models do you consider essential to your collection. You may own them or not but if you could have 5 to start your collection what would they be at this time? I realize this may change over time but I would like to know what you think and why and if you own them. If this has already been covered I apologize but I found enough grey area to tell me to forge ahead with the topic.

Here are mine in no particular order:

1) Corgi 1/32 AA34904 Bf-109 G-6 "Erich Hartmann" Ace of aces regardless of ideology or otherwise and the best rendition of his aircraft in diecast. - Own
2) Dragon 1/72 500122 P-47D "Kansas Tornado" Dragon's P-47s are the finest available in 1/72 in my opinion and as a Kansas boy this is my absolute favorite. - Own
3) Corgi 1/72 AA32812 DH Mosquito NF Mk.II 'Special' Mossies are one of the quintessential WW2 aircraft and this one is my favorite of the bunch. - Do not own
4) GMP 1/35 P51D "Big Beautiful Doll" An ace in both the PTO and ETO and flew the iconic aircraft - imho - of WW II. This model is top shelf. - Own
5) Corgi 1/72 B-25J "Bats Outa Hell" One of the first aircraft I fell in love with as a child - with many aircraft built in nearby Kansas City. A workhorse that could pack a punch and this model is drop dead gorgeous. - Own

Tough to limit myself to 5, of course, but these are my 5 of the moment.

What are yours?

[Epapazian]

If I were faced with such a choice I would probably select a common scale for all five models and then the five planes I wanted most. In my case the scale would be 1:72 and the five planes would be the P-40E ( Flying Tiger version ), a Battle of Midway F4F-4, a Zero from the same era, a BF-109E-4 from the Battle of Britain and a BOB Spitfire. Once that was settled, I would dig deeper to find the best replicas to purchase. Why 1:72? This scale gives me many more manufacturers and planes to choose from. Why the five planes I selected? To me these symbolize a time in WW II when the outcome was far from certain and both sides were evenly matched----a far more interesting situation than the late war "turkey shoots" inflicted on hopelessly out classed and out numbered enemy fliers.

[djjeffhall]

Boy, this might be more difficult that the desert island thread going on elsewhere. 5 planes might give me to many options.

1) Corgi Apollo Recovery Sikorsky - Looking for a Saturn V model helped jump start this whole thing for me. While it's true this is not a full Saturn V, but the diorama knocks me out.

2) Finnish Gladiator diorama. I love the Corgi Gladiator and have this set up on my desk with a revolving bunch of winter camo armor. Putting German, or Russian armor with the diorama might not be historically accurate, but it fires up my imagination. (This might count as two models since I have at least one tank with this diorama at all times.)

3) F.O.V. P-40b - A Pearl Harbor plane and a beautiful bird.

4) Hobby Master Lexington Pre-War SBD - I have to have an SBD with me. My collection wouldn't feel complete without at least one.

5) Corgi Doolittle B-25

[PappyB]

Bit too general I think -- depends on what scale and era you're into, no?

I'm a WWII buff first, and focus on U.S. birds first... so if I were talking to someone with similar tastes that was just starting out, I'd probably say focus on one theater of operations first, such as the ETO and start with the heavy-lifters -- the most widely used aircraft:

(I also would probably recommend sticking to one scale, and 1:72 does have the most options...)

1. A P-51D -- I would choose any GMP model, first, then Dragon in 1:72 (BBD or Glamorous Glen) ...
2. P-38 -- Any of the new Corgi's, I like Old's ..
3. P-47 -- any of Dragon's will do ..
4. B-17 -- Corgi's Memphis Belle -- doesn't get more iconic than that...
5. B-24 -- I like the SB or Pistol Packin' Mama the best... (have all these myself except for the PPM)


Then of course you'd need to start a PTO collection: a P-40, Wildcat, Hellcat, B-25...

Then you don't want to forget our RAF friends... spit/hurri/mossie/lanc...

Then you need some opposition... 109 (corgi's hartman if you can have just one), 190, 110... etc. etc.

Then how about the smaller theaters.. MTO? Or the Eastern Front... ?

Then what about the Jet Age?

Five, no sorry, can't really do it

[swoop]

Can't do it either Pappy, there's always something new on the horizion. I'm pretty happy with my collection so far. ETO....MTO....PTO....And...OH, OH! look what's coming out this year.

[stalag8611]

Hmmm, so many issues, too little space and way too little moolah. But, here goes:

1) SBD-3 1:48 Leppla FMB 937

2) B-17 F/G 1:72 Corgi any livery - I have "Sweet & Lovely."

3) F-190 A-D, 1:72 any Dragon-all good

4) Hurricane 1:72 any Mk. version I prefer Corgis

5) TIE
P-47D 1:72 Razorbacks Dragons by a nose.
P-51B 1:72 Gemini "Bald Eagle" my favorite of three I own

[FormerViperDriver]

After much deliberation:

Corgi 1/32 P-51D "Old Crow" (silver)

GMP P-40E "Texas Longhorn) 1/35

C1 FW-190D-13 "Goetz" 1/48

EI P-51B "Patty Ann II" 1/48

Corgi 1/72 PBY Catalina "Black Cat" (I'd say that one is almost a tie with their Swordfish, only winning due to sheer size/presence)

I'll admit to some bias towards the above since I own them all, but they are truly great diecast models.

FVD

[jim]

Its no good I just cannot decide.

T have made a list then threw it away then made another, then threw that one away.

So after much thought ,

Number 1,
All my P40s ,

Number 2,
Merlins over Malta Spitfire,

number 3
Merlins over Malta Hurricane,

Number 4,
Swordfish, hmm, Ark Royal version.


No NO wait a minute I need a P47 in there and a Mustang , but then the Carousel Dora,,,,,,,,,,,, a Gemini Me109 ...................

Sorry this task is impossible.

[Cavtanker]

After some deliberation, I decided on the following:

GA P-51B 'Ding Hao'
Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA33305 B-17G Flying Fortress Diecast Model USAAF 99th BG, 346th BS, "2nd Patches", Tortella, Spain, 1944
CG-US35902 UH-60 Blackhawk
Century Wings 586727 F-14A Tomcat Diecast Model USN VF-154 Black Knights, NF101, USS Kitty Hawk, Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003
DM M1A1 'IFOR' (woodland camo w/o mine plow)

This is really in no particular order.

[skysurfer808]

Okay, thought about this awhile and decided to break it down according to scale, theatre and timeframe.

1/32-35

1. The Corgi Hartmann Bf 109. Agree with Chief's assertion that this is an essential, as it was flown by the top ace of all time.
2. Any Corgi Camo Spitfire. These are great models, the first metal 1/32 available, and virtually gone from most vendors, except for way too much money. I particularly like the Bader Spit, and am still on the lookout for a Lane.
3. Corgi's Big Beautiful Doll. This one is a particular favorite as it is probably the best depiction of a Mustang out there. GMP's would make the list, but they just don't look like a Stang. The only thing wrong with Corgi's Mustang's is that stupid plastic clip, which makes boxing and unboxing these beauties a tough proposition without damaging them.
4. Corgi's Bader Hurricane closely followed by their Sea Hurricane. Both of these are great models, the Bader wins out on the history of the airplane and pilot.
5. GMP's P-40. I agree with FVD that Texal Longhorn looks sharp, though Old Exterminator is a tough one to beat as well. The thing looks like a Warhawk, and is probably GMP's best model to date. Overall a great model with a level of detail that has to be seen to be believed...also in the case of Texas Longhorn, available for relatively cheap on Ebay (paid 59.95 for mine shipped.)

1/72 WW-2

ETO
1. Any of Corgi's Bf 109s...but especially either the original or current Galland
2. Any of Corgi's Hurricanes, but especially the early BoB Mk 1s...both of the above due to their place in history.
3. Any of Corgi's Fw 190s...especially the Losigkeit and Spring Grunherz, both superior liveries of a great fighter
4. Gemini's P-51B, best mustang in 1/72, hands down.
5 Gemini's Spit IX, great model and a welcome improvement over Corgi's mold.

PTO
1. Dragon's Zero, especially the Sakai version, a historic airplane by any standard.
2. Dragon's Yorktown Wildcat, to honor Jimmy Thach and his contributions to Air Warfare.
3. Hobbymaster's Dauntless, especially the Coral Sea and Midway variants. Both excellent detailed depictions of a history changing aircraft.
4. Hobbymaster's Hellcat, particularly the Vraciu and McCampbell birds, both well executed depictions of the top ace making airplane of WW-2.
5. Corgi's Boyington Corsair, what can I say, Boyington may or may not have been top Marine ace, but he will always remain a legend.

1/72 Jet

1. Any Century Tomcat, but particularly the VF-84 Jolly Rogers, probably the best thing in diecast at the moment.
2. Witty's F-15C 33 FW Gorillas, markings and airplane depicting the airplane with the best victory ratio in air combat history.
3. Dragon's F/A-18C definatly wins despite its inaccurate missiles, their newer Super Hornets are also the best depiction of the Superbug on the market. Only flaw is their weak gear in gear down, but they look more real then the Witty, especially when displayed side by side.
4. Any of Hobbymaster's A-10s, what can I say, the Warthog is one of the more important airplanes flying today...if it wasn't the USAF wouldn't be uprgading them to fly another 20 plus years.
5. Corgi's Parr F-86, a great depiction of the airplane, with an interesting history behind it.

Other models that deserve honerable mention are Carousel 1's AVG P-40, Corgi's Iraq War Blackhawk, and Corgi's P-38s, especially Bong's Marge. Corgi's later Razorback P-47 and Dragon's Thunderbolts are also great, and would make the list but for the superiority of the models listed above. Dragon's F-16 also scores points for accuracy, especially the 363 FW version...and the fact that it has the gear up option. These are my favorites, and I own most of them, despite my moves...only missing the Dragon F-16 and HM A-10. Finally honorable mention ought to go to the Falklands 809 Sqd Sea Harrier, which isn't on the list due to the near impossiblity of finding one...i got one of the last ones out there.

Skysurfer808