Greetings from The Netherlands - FROG Penguin question...

[Peter van Lune]

Dear members,

I have just become a member of this forum, since it promises to be a good place to exchange information.

For the past decade or so I have been collecting FROG 'Penguin' modelkits and everything related to this range. In 2003 I started http://www.frogpenguin.com in order to share my information with others interested in this wonderful range of models. Due to lack of time I have not updated it, in fact for far too long. It's not that I don't have anything to add, quite the opposite! I have enough information to fill a book, so that's what I have been working on in the past years. A slow process, done in spare time. Not many sources to choose from and the era 1936-50 unfortunately is becoming one of first hand experiences of people that have passed away in the meantime... For me another reason to document and record everything that is related to the Penguin history.
The Penguin range deserves this place in modelling history I think and can be linked to the Sky Birds range, ID-models, solid-scale models and any post-war (all) plastic model kit manufacturer, to name a few...
So... would also like to benefit from the enthousiasm, knowledge, experience and contacts of members of this forum, if I may be so bold to ask. After all, I already have learned that it may take one person to actually write a book, it takes the help and suggestions of many others to help him finish it .

Any input on FROG 'Penguin' model kits is highly appreciated. Especially looking for owners of Penguin kits (to compare data), (any) documentation, photos, reviews, articles, first-hand experiences, etc.
Of course, since this is an "exchange" of information I'd be more than willing to share my knowledge of the Penguin range with you.

With kind regards,
Peter van Lune
The Netherlands

[grwebster]

Peter, thanks for joining and posting.
We have a few kit collectors here and I hope they will come forward.
I don't collect any kits but the FROG {Flys Right Off the Ground} rubber band powered flying models are wonderful toys AND accurate scale models, so I have a few of these.
I also have an usual, FROG built and finished Hurricane in a box and supposedly done that way for the early British ID model program.
I'll post a photo here when I get it out.
As far as your book goes, count me in for a copy but based on my experience with 3 airplane collecting books, there aren't many people who will buy them. I didn't do for the $ sales, so no big deal but it is disappointing just the same.
Don't waste a year of your life, like I did on the Dinky Toys book, unless you are doing it for joy, sharing a passion and fun.
I had three others underway when I just had to stop the work based on the little interest shown.
ALSO: No old school publisher will print it today in the normal way, so you will need to use the new internet publishers, I believe, like the one I used- blurb.com {search GR Webster and you will see my efforts}. They print the book when it is ordered, no stock, Amazon won't handle it. But a decent sized book can run $100 easily.

[moraal]

Hello Peter,
Please take GR's words seriously, he is an expert on publishing books of the kind you are preparing. The Penguin range is described to some extent in the FROG book of Richard Lines and Leif Hellström. FROG Model Aircraft 1932-1976. Do you know it? If not, it is worth a look at. New Cavendish Books 1989, ISBN 0 904568 63 6. Bob Dros, Amsterdam.

[Peter van Lune]

Thank you Bob and Geoffrey (although I already corresponded with Geoffrey on PM),

I have no unrealistic hopes about a book about the history of FROG Penguin. Popularity of plastic modelling has dwindled since the 1980's. Although books on other manufacturers have been written in the past 10 years (Airfix, Monogram, Revell, Aurora, Matchbox, just to name a few), this is more recent history and is more suitable for publishers to invest their money in. The Penguin range is "old" history: many who have firsthand experiences have already passed away or at at least in their 80's now. All the more reason to document however, that's what I think.
Indeed I know the work of Lines/Hellstrom, have frequently corresponded with Richard Lines in the past few years to find answers to questions I have and found him both very willing to cooperate and with a very good memory of detailed events that took place in the 1930's-40's. Very glad he supports my project and have found many others around the world willing to share their knowledge as well. The end result will be a indepth study of Lines/Hellstroms findings, but clearifying, correcting, covering subjects they left uncovered, etc. A price guide for collectors, museums, auction houses, etc. will also be included.

If I don't find a suitable publisher, I will find another way - perhaps publish it myself, like Geoffrey suggested.

Kind regards,
Peter van Lune

[grwebster]

Peter, just another word. My Dinky Toys book while generally well received was built on the work of many people, Derrak Barratt, the Richardsons et al, like yours on the FROG firm will build on Lines work and others etc....

My book corrected a few errors in those earlier works and added much new information, but I was criticized by some some for not including a check list of every Dinky Toys aircraft ever made- meaning all the color variants. While I did mention quite a few in each aircraft's monolog, some wanted more. Of course some aircraft toys have more than 20 variants so the list, which would hard to authenticate, would be very long.
Perhaps if Davis Shelton ever gets to it he could enlarge on this by just doing a checklist. He has a huge library of photos from many collections over the years.
But then in the end, is that effort worth it? Just to sell about 30 copies would take a long and large effort.

Anyway, You may consider adding a full checklist to your work if you haven't already.
I avoided citing and prices and did not do a price guide, mainly because there are many around on Dinkys but they tend to use the highest prices, are slow to recognize downturns, use inaccurate ones and/or are quite rapidly outdated. IMO, the quality and condition of any toy is main key aspect to its value and this is not really judged well in a book. Its hard to do in person too!
Good luck, just the same.

[Peter van Lune]

I am not an expert on Dinky Toys, but know so much that the list of every model that was ever issued, in all colors, pre-production models, box variants, etc. is much longer than a list of all Penguin kits. Therefore much easier to compile. Another difference is the fact that several books on Dinky Toys already have appeared, but only one on FROG and not a single one that focusses only on the Penguins. The only price guide available for Penguin kits is in John Burns' PAK-20. A second one appeared in 2010 by Simon Epton, in the Tri-ang Toy Price Guide. I counted dozens of errors in a couple of pages, including prices for models that were never issued... When I wrote him and asked for more information, he wasn't able to produce it. Although the guide is presented as based upon worldwide research and cooperation of collectors, auction houses, etc. the Penguin section was entirely based on the opinion of one collector. When I asked "Who?", he wanted to remain anonymous.
I am a fan of Murphy's Law. No doubt within 2 weeks after publication of my book, that one collector will contact me saying he owns the very model that has eluded me for 12 years. Which will give me a reason for a 2nd edition! Last: even digging into every lead (and I really mean: every...) that even remotely promised to give some new information about Penguins, someone will be disappointed about the outcome. Will just have to live with that, but most important for me is to be able to have this book finished and have a dream fullfilled. And what's life without dreams to pursue ..