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[lizard]

Hi guys,

I have inherited a bunch of balsawood models that my RAF uncle Roy (kia 1943) made in 1940.

I'm not sure whether he made them from scratch or from models.
 
I'd like some assistance identifying them please.

I had always understood that Roy had made these from scratch, but today found this: https://rclibrary.co.uk/files_titles/2008/AeroModeller_1939_07.pdf which makes it clear that more sophisticated, flying, kits were available then. SKYROVA (7) was a recognises marque. The kits are likely to date from 1940.

1 French Dewoitine ?
2 Curtiss P75
3 Brewster Buffalo ? - though the wing shape's all wrong.
4 Curtiss?
5 Boulton Paul Defiant
6 Spitfire Mk Ib or IIb
7 From the wing shape, looks like Spitfire.
8 Interesting wing shape - straight leading edge, curved trailing
9 Fairey Battle

Best guesses, please.

Many thanks,


Bruce

[Knochenlutscher]

Looking through that Brochure, there where various qualities obtained.
If you abstract the real shapes it makes sense, don't search for nitpickingly details.
Some details you search, but won't find, it's whatever reason.
Maybe copyright, security, whatever, fantasy, lack of detailed plans.

The devoitine and the no. 8 and 7 point to a non RAF/US Fighter.
Both have unusual camo, indicating it's foreign origin.
The 8s Rudder and overall look has Re2000 style. The 4 barrels I wouldn't comment.

3 is a Hurricane closely looking to the Brochure article of a similar shaped Hurri.

Markings are only applied to RAF/US Fighters.

4 Curtiss CW.21
3 Hurricane/Buffallo ??? Engine looks like Buffallo, while the rest is like a Hurri
8 Reggiane 2000
7 Bf 109 /Hurricane ??? A mixed up 109er with Hurri Details

Cool stuff you have there, congrats for preserving this part of history

[BalDaddy]

Whatever they are or the accuracy, what a marvellous artifact to inherit!
The romantic in me wonders whether he crafted these to occupy his mind between sorties either as aircrew or waiting for his charges to return safely if groundcrew.
The ads are interesting. Many of the models cost in excess of, say, a LAC's weekly stipend at the time.

[K5083]

These are solid balsa models, yes?

They used to come in kits that consisted of rough blocks of balsa with plans for how to cut, sand, and assemble them.  Also, magazines would publish plans, and it was up to you to source your own wood.

Kids were encouraged to make these and give them to the civil defense authorities to be used as recognition models in AA gunner training.  Those had to be painted black.  If you built for yourself, you could paint them up nice like your uncle did.

A great forum about this is:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php

And their huge gallery of old plans is here:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/

#6 could be a P-43.  Here is a 1942 dated plan of a P-43 that looks a bit like it.



August

[lizard]

Looking through that Brochure, there where various qualities obtained.
If you abstract the real shapes it makes sense, don't search for nitpickingly details.
Some details you search, but won't find, it's whatever reason.
Maybe copyright, security, whatever, fantasy, lack of detailed plans.

The devoitine and the no. 8 and 7 point to a non RAF/US Fighter.
Both have unusual camo, indicating it's foreign origin.
The 8s Rudder and overall look has Re2000 style. The 4 barrels I wouldn't comment.

3 is a Hurricane closely looking to the Brochure article of a similar shaped Hurri.

Markings are only applied to RAF/US Fighters.

4 Curtiss CW.21
3 Hurricane/Buffallo ??? Engine looks like Buffallo, while the rest is like a Hurri
8 Reggiane 2000
7 Bf 109 /Hurricane ??? A mixed up 109er with Hurri Details

Cool stuff you have there, congrats for preserving this part of history

Hi Knochenlutscher, K5083 and BalDaddy

Thanks for your responses.

I think Knochenlutscher may be right with the Reggiane 2000. The radial and the wing shape seem about right.

Happy with Curtiss CW.21 for no.4 and with Dewoitine D 520 for no.1.

The others are still in doubt.

What's been most revealing is the existence of these balsawood kits as linked to by K5083. Many thanks for that!

I made hundreds of Airfix (and other ) kits when younger. Have had a go at a few in recent years, but it was a bit frustrating as I'm no longer as dextrous, well-sighted, or patient, as I was back then.

Thanks again, folks.