MAC Forum

Each Lehmann airplane toy was issued with a colorfully labeled card board box which contained an information sheet relating to the actual aircraft, and a metal ring, string and fuselage attachment device allowing the toy to flown in circles when swung around by a child. No clockwork mechanisms were used. Both toys had metal propellers that freely and realistically turned in the air stream when ‘flown’. Both the He-70 and He-111 toys, reflecting the actual aircrafts’ advanced retractable landing gear, were provided with additional spare parts representing the gear in an in-flight folded position. The pins holding the propellers also served to hold the selected gear position in place and when removed, to facilitate the changing of the landing gear configurations.

The early Lehmann He-70 in civilian transport markings with landing gear in the down position. . The registration, D-UDET, is in honor of Ernst Udet, a famous German WW1 ace. Wingspan 5 5/8 inches.


The early variant of the Lehmann He-111 in civilian registry. Note the passenger windows and raised, stepped cockpit and small engines. The notches in the fuselage top hold the metal attachment device used to realistically ‘fly’ the toy on a string. The toy was issued in a two-piece box, instruction sheet, metal ring, string and fuselage attachment device used to ‘fly’ the toy, and easily changed spare engine nacelles to reflect the gear up, in flight position.
Wingspan 7 1/4 inches.


While both aircraft were issued in light and dark camouflage designs, it is not known precisely why these two versions were made. It could be reasonably assumed that they reflected the actual military versions, one for its war in Spain and another, perhaps, as Germany began its rampage over Europe, starting with the invasion of Poland in 1939. Both the He-70 and the He-111 continued to serve with the Luftwaffe until the end of the war in 1945.
The 2 military camouflage variants of the He-70 with out the passenger windows.



The 2 camouflage variants of the He-111.


This is the second version of the He-111 with the all-glass nose section, top gunners position and large engines with air intakes.

The one with the stepped cockpit is the B-Version and the full glass cockpit is the H-type. Obviously for economic reasons Lehmann didn't change the wings to the angled type, as it should be for the H-type. Otherwise gunner's window on top as well as the bottom hull (I believe..) was correctly added. The civil type is the C-version.

Heinkel was very frank in releasing technical information for toy makers and model builders. It makes a difference, if you start building your model-toy from scratch or if you have the shape delivered by the original maker. From all Heinkel types the HE-111 was the most popular and the HE-70 was very famous for the several speed records. Last but not least you can make both models with the same parts for the wings, which is economic.

One of the hardest to find in this series is the RAF He-70. There is some historical basis for this as the UK did buy an example of the He-70 for evaluation. This was mainly for the engine rating not for the basic design as was thought for some time due to the similarity of the Spitfire's wing shape.



There have been rumors on the collecting scene that there was also a French version of the He-70. None have been verified and I am almost sure this was based on the confusion between the French roundels and the British ones. French ones have a blue center circle, British ones have red ones for the most part.

Lehmann order number #818 (assembled) and #818B (kit) is the french version of the HE-70. But it is not military, it is civil version named "ICARUS". French markings are on the tailfin.

That explains that, any photos of the French Civilian variant?

Here is a print taken from Lehmann catalogue. I have never seen an original plane. This print is published in several books about tin toys being available here in Germany.

Thanks Chris. I have never seen it. Did Frederic Marchand include it in his book, I wonder?
I don't have a copy of that book in france on pre war tin but found one last week on the internet and it is going to be shipped to me.
As some of you know Frederic has written three books on tin airplane toys, profusely illustrated with color photos, and they are the standard reference for that category.

I don't have any book of Frederic, but when he sold his collection in 2008, he offered a HE-70 under item #98 with the order number 818:

http://www.world-encheres.com/boisgirar ... 102008.htm

Unfortunately the subject pic is removed, but as far as I remember you showed me the catalogue of the auction when I visited you in France. If you still have that catalogue, you should check item #98.

Chris, I'll check it when I get back to France. I see that that item it didn't sell.

I thought that was the late Bernhard Macaire's collection ? ? ? The AVENSA DC-7 intrigued me (Same pressing as Line Mar Toys American version) - I wonder if it was a special order for that airline?