HUBLEY PROP FIGHTERS

[grwebster]

Hubley in the early post war period made a 'Navy Fighter', actually a Brewster Buffalo fighter with folding wings. It never looked right to me but then the short coupled actual aircraft never did either. About those folding wings, I do not believe the real aircraft had them. The 4-bladed prop and the landing gear were not accurate either, but I guess Hubley wanted to honor the U.S.Navy's first single wing fighter, inspite of its short lived combat record and bad reputation.


There were several Buffalo variants like these below and perhaps red and silver versions were also made- They are not rare as such but hard to find today just the same.


The Curtiss P-40 is a nice casting with fixed gear. Here are the older versions, there is another in orange 'Circus' markings that was the last variant.


Hubley also produced what they called a Navy Fighter Bomber. I am sure it was meant to be the U.S. Navy's Douglas AD-5 Skyraider {but it seems to combine the looks of a P-47 with folding wings}. The Skyraider did have folding wings and the Ad-5 variant had a large and wide cockpit for two crewman.
Hubleys first casting had some problems allowing the engine cowling to fall off. They modified the fuselage nose with a bump on top where the cowling touches to eliminate the problem. This is an original casting {with out the bump} which has been professionally restored to original markings.


This also came in an unusual set with a tractor trailer specially adapted to carry the airplane. The tractor/trailer have been restored to original paint color.


The second version is shown below with the bump in the casting. It is original, and unrestored. This casting was produced over a very long period in other markings but Hubley sold the molds and another firm continued to produce the plane with fictitious markings until quite recently. { One problem with the Skyraider {and also the Buffalo} is that the plastic canopy was loose and often disappeared. Those newer production toys are a good source for replacement canopies.}

[MichaelB]

Nice story!
I did have the Hubley naval fighter when I was a child, and was most happy to pick one up while out and about collecting. Kinda bumpy detail all around, but these little planes were in most households in the late '50s.
I see I do not have a picture of mine, so I'll put it on the list. ...it's the blue and white Bewster...
Michael

[grwebster]

There was also the Hubley P-38 in a variety of finishes, Od, silver red, etc.... but I didn't get to mine to photograph so if someone else could that would be a good thing.

Earlier, Hubley made a twin engine bomber {around 1938} which should be very rare but it isn't judging on the current values I see when one is offered. It is the colorful pre-war Bell Airacuda. The actual aircraft, which never went into large production, had some unusual places for the twin machine {really 37 cannon} gunners- check it out here
http://www.k5dxm.com/resources/bell+xfm-1+airacuda.jpg
I didn't get a photo of mine so lets get one up from someone else.

[MichaelB]

The Airacuda is one of the most iconic of '30s airplanes. Big, fast and "modern" looking, it was tasked with the job of destroying attacking enemy bombers long before they reached our shores.
Happily the air service saw its lackings long before any combat occured and didn't order any. However, it graced the covers of all the hobbyist, toy and mass media magazines from the time!
I'd love to afford a Hubley Airacuda some day!
Michael

[Tone]

The Hubley two-plane boxed set (Silver-red P-40 and the red/blue large Navy fighter bomber) were my first planes, as far as I know, Christmas 1966. I still have the P-40. In 1980 I painted the red wings blue. I had a respected local toy collector repaint it in 1990.

[Tone]

Here it is.

[Tone]

I have a yellow-green P-38 that matches the other P-40 you show. When I bought it, the seller (He likes Black ID Models) did have the P-40 also, but I only wanted the P-38.