Douglas Gooney Bird by NEW RAY

[Tone]

Back in the 90s I collected some of these inexpensive built-up plastic models known either as the "Sky Pilot" or "Motorize Propella" line. I was after the WWII planes but the series also included some modern jet fighters and, later, some less usual subjects such as the Stratocruiser, an AA DC-7 and even a Northwest Lockheed Model 10 Electra.

When placed on the die cast metal stand, the plane's props will spin. The mechanism is housed inside the streamlined metal stand with a string at the back to activate the mechanism. You can see on the bottom photo, below, the central aperture where the stand connects to the props to make them function. The name "TOY MARK" is cast into the bottom of the stand, while the boxes of the planes identify the brand name NEW RAY.

This Douglas C-47 has the 2000 date molded onto the wing and it appears in a 1950s or 60s "polar" color scheme with the red bands. Next to the two 1930s toys, a Japanese tin DC-2 and a Marx steel four-engine plane, the New Ray Gooney Bird looks positively refined. The length is 8", the wingspan 12" making it around 1:95 scale.













Here is my green D-Day variant along with a B-17, I have probably shown these to you before:

[MichaelB]

These are nice little models! The props spin when attached to the base and you pull the string! Action!
The Stratocrusier and DC-7 are quite nice, and the L10 approaches 1/48 in scale. These have been out of the New Ray line for a number of years now...eight years or so, but they have some miniature versions still for sale - but without motorization!