Merry Christmas planes-"sky's the limit" line

[Tone]

Cessna 195


Ercoupe


Monocoupe


Beech Staggerwing


Curtiss


GeeBee


Spartan Executive


Stinson


Laird

Sometime in the future I should re-photograph the earlier ones!

[MichaelB]

Indeed you should! And add the Spirit of St. Louis and the Wright Flyer. You also didn't mention that they are made and sold by Hallmark at the Gold Crown stores. I had posted an update elsewhere about the 2010 release - the Hughes R-1 (Hughes is not mentioned on the package) - that will be in stores soon.
While you are at it, you could add them to the new Gallery Section and I could add to that as well!
No searching in the future....
Love this line...thanks for posting...I just found this message, BTW...
Michael

[Tone]

Here are some photos of the new Hughes H-1.

I bought it early this year because for some reason they are so popular that they usually sell out and none can be found for half-price on Boxing Day.







Some of the writing on the box is humorous. It states that the plane was flying in 1937. Then it goes on to say that it influenced fighter aircraft design until the dawn of the jet age. Well, the dawn of the jet age was the late 1930s.

Nonetheless, I can see the body and tail of the Corsair plus the wing shape of the P-40 ! ! !

The original is preserved in a museum, and a replica has flown in the 2000s.

[MichaelB]

She looks good! Those appear to be the short racing wings, rather than the long range wings. Are those rivets!?? Shame on Hallmark! HH was scrupulous about flushing everything on the plane! Shades of the '50s and model kits - oversize rivets! It should be as smooth as a baby's butt!
Did they mention HH anywhere in the literature? ...I bet not...
Sadly the beautiful replica bird crashed in Yellowstone killing the pilot and wrecking the plane...in 2003.
For the past few years I have started buying one out of hand, and then hoping for good luck on Boxing Day...got lucky with the C310 and picked up four.

[Tone]

I discovered that I do have another Hughes H1. It is masquerading as a Schylling brand Bike Handlebar Mascot Airplane in chromed plastic with plastic mount ring support and oversized propeller. I mentioned this toy in another post but I did not make the connection until I saw the Schylling again. It's a fair replica of the H1 though not identified as one on the package.

[MichaelB]

Well, I just stopped off and picked up an example for myself, and with that I have to take back some of my prior comments.
It is flush riveted! The rivets you see are actually recessed and the whole thing is smooth to the touch. In that case it's excellent workmanship! Howard Hughes is not mentioned anywhere, but the Hughes Aircraft Company is. No copyright notices for HH or etc. The prop spins and the wheels turn - what more could you want?
And with that I have to say that it's an excellent piece and recommended!
Michael

[MichaelB]

This just in...the Hallmark Hughes R-1 is about 1/75, which happens to be about what the other racers in the line are (GB, Laird, Curtiss) and near the Monocoupe. It's also close enough for a 1/72nd collection. This is about as large, scale wise, as this series gets.
Fine piece - go get one now!
Michael