BOAC Solent Travel Agency Model

[admin]

[grwebster]

This is an actual BOAC travel agency model in sheet aluminum. Very early postwar.
Some years ago a British gentleman, Paul Benn, made solid aluminum models of differernt British flying boats and one of them was a Solent. It closely resembles this travel agency model and he even duplicated the metal base and inscriptions. These are excellent models as the real travel agency items are almost impossible to find today.

[fliegerii]

Paul Benn is still active in selling his stock. Problem is, that he cannot remember sometimes, if the model to be sold is original or one of his recasts......

[grwebster]

Didn't realize that. Sorry to hear it. But the originals were hollow sheet aluminum, no? His are all solid and heavy.

[fliegerii]

If you refer to sheet metal models, of course this is easy to realise. But the majority of the old display models are made in solid cast or hollow cast aluminium. And if those were reproduced, it is sometimes not easy to see, especially since they are msotly sold via internet just with photographs and some verbal description.

[mod_ler]

Your Solent is a Woodason model (see following website for more photos and history) http://www.collectair.com/woodason.html\
These were made from sheet aluminum. Mr Benn's excellent models are cast aluminum.
Glen

[grwebster]

Many thanks for identifying the model.
I collect mainly toys but anything that floats and flys is of interest, too. {Former seaplane pilot}
Excellent site by the way. I made a reference to it in the ID section. Met Steve a few times, good guy.

[grwebster]

Here are some more photos of the Woodason made Solent Travel Agnecy Model. It is made from sheet aluminum.





I don't know what these numbers below mean.


The models below are solid aluminum ones made in the 1990s by Paul Benn.

[grwebster]

Here is Paul Benn's Empire, in solid aluminum