No. 62a No. 62e pre and early postwar Spitfire

[grwebster]

The over acclaimed hero of the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire was the subject of a lot of toys.
Dinky Toys first version was No. 62a in sliver and No. 62e in camouflage. Neither had landing gear

Note the day/night 'dazzle scheme underneath.

Both versions appeared in 1940 and lasted a very short time before all factory production and even toy distribution was stopped due to the War. Both versions can suffer from metal degradation, sometimes erroneously referred to as 'fatigue'. Here is an example of one that is badly degraded.


After the war Dinky issued a Spitfire using the pre War reference No. 62a again but contrary to what some references state it was an entirely new casting of a much later Mark.
On the left is the later post War one and the pre War one is on the right.

The post War Spitfire was not produced in Camouflage nor did it have landing gear. It was available from 1946 to about 1948 and is not easy to find.

[aliflore]

My models:

[grwebster]

Nice selection of Spitfires, Yan.
From my research I would suggest that some of the propellers on your models are incorrect. They all should be three bladed. {The prewar Hurricane had a 2 bladed one, and early ones had landing gear.}

Silver Spitfire No. 62a. Scale 1/220. 1940-1941 was a one-piece casting never issued with landing gear. The first one was silver without cockpit blueing and a three bladed propeller. ‘M. LTD - ENGLAND - DINKY – SPITFIRE’ was cast underneath the wings. The prewar casting was modeled after an early Mark II {?} variant of the Spitfire and was not reissued after the war. The casting was used to create the Meccano Spitfire Fund pendant in an assortment of colors and with a ring attached but no Dinky Toys reference.

Camouflaged Spitfire No. 62e. Scale 1/220. 1940-1941 with a black and white underside finish. Same casting and markings as No. 62a.

Note: Spitfire No 62a was also the reference for the postwar Spitfire, 1946-48. The postwar issued Spitfire was a completely new toy even though it was marked with the same cast-in markings.
The first, early production has cockpit blueing, later eliminated. It was not reissued in 1952.

[aliflore]

Thanks, GR.

Dont worry, they have all 3 bladed propellers but the perspective of the photo hide some of them.

[grwebster]

Great, the blades were hard to see and looked 2 bladed.
As I mentioned on another post, I don't want to appear to be criticizing your's or anyone else's collection, just pointing our some details.
All Spitfires- prewar and early postwar are rare birds. Even some of the post 1965 'Big Plane' Spits can be hard to find today.
After, what, 55 years of collecting airplane toys, and the last 35 somewhat seriously, I still have not acquired a prewar original silver Spitfire.

[aliflore]

No problem, GR.

It's hard to be in the good place at the good time to find some specifics models. But the first quality of Dinky collector is the patience, like we know all.

[grwebster]

Actually, Yan I won 2 prewar silver Spitfires on ebay about 6 years ago during the same week from 2 different sellers, I bid on both and won both! - anyway this was before Paypal and I had to send cash to the UK for them.
Both letters arrived but both had been opened along the way in the mail system and the cash removed. I refused to send any more cash and that was that.
One day, as you say, I will be in the right place at the right time, and will get one at the right price.