MAC Forum

see
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2&p=3924#p3924

My model:

It looks like a repaint, as you probably already know, but I point that out only so others on the forum would know.

Yes, I think too.

But it's hard to find in good condition.

I agree, very hard to find.
Nothing wrong with repaints at all, especially when you do not have one and want to fill a hole in the collection.

The problem arises when the repaints that are excellent renovations are sold on to the new owner and somehow it has become 'original' or as they say on eBay 'believed original'.

In my book, I included a section on counterfeit models {models made to deceive and sold as original} and some of them were very well done by a member of this forum, even given a nicotine patina to hide the transfer letters. He shall remain nameless. I knew they were fake when I bought them so I am not at all upset, in fact, I was delighted to be able to show others how good fakes can be if done well.

There has been a long discussion about how to tell if the Autogiro was made by Meccano UK or Meccano France. We now know that the pilot heads were introduced by both locations at about the same time but there are some major differences in later castings that would indicate modified tooling.
I am fairly certain both examples below are original and I have had them for 25 years, but one can never be absolutely positive unless they were childhood toys.

Great models !!!

I really wait for your book to see theses informations.

It's not easy to see fakes when you buy on the net and haven't the plane in your hands.

GR - Can you comment on the axel diameter of the Dinky autogiro toys?

Usually, I see a very thin and narrow axel rod, about .04 inches diameter. Most of the examples I own have this size axel.

But, I also have a gold with blue trim version, without pilot, that has a larger .06 inch diameter axel. Is a larger diameter axel an indication that the toy has been altered or reproduced at a later date? To be honest, all other components look correct on the toy...

The discussions I have had focused on the casting differences {Tail wheel, engine cowlings etc easily seen in my above post} and the pins used for the prop and the main rotor, so I do not have any info on the axles, sorry. Perhaps Jacques Dujardin, Jan Werner or John Beugels may be able to add something, as these guys are the true experts.
There have been some excellent re-castings in the 1980s and 1990s out of the UK that I am told are next to impossible to tell from the original, but sometimes the pins, axles, even soft metal props, wheels or even the smell of new paint can give then away.

I saw an autogiro toy advertised as a 1980s recasting by a company call DGM sell for $1123 - I was amazed at how much it brought!