TEN MOST FAVORITE DIECAST AIRCRAFT

[richardstarr]

These are my ten favorite diecast aircraft, prior to 2002:

1. TEKNO DENMARK DOUGLAS DC7C CIRCA 1956
2. TEKNO DENMARK NORTH AMERICAN F100D SUPER SABRE
3. DINKY TOYS LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION CIRCA 1956
4. FRANKLIN MINT BOEING B17G FLYING FORTRESS CIRCA 1989
(THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF THE BEST FMPM; SHOULD BE #1)

5. AERO MINI VICKERS SUPER VC10 ROUGHLY 1978
6. AERO MINI LOCKHEED F104G STARFIGHTER
7. AERO MINI DOUGLAS DC8
8. DINKY TOYS REPUBLIC AVIATION THUNDERBOLT P47D MAYBE 1976
9. LINTOY MIKOYAN GUREVICH MIG 21
10. CORGI AVIATION ARCHIVE BRISTOL BRITANNIA CIRCA 2002

These personal choices are extremely subjective. It might be fun to see someone else's TEN MOST FAVORITE LIST.
I am sure that ten different diecast toy airplane collectors would have ten different choices.
I like to see the lists of others. THANKS,
REGARDS, RICHARD STARR

[grwebster]

good list richard, many of my personal favs are there.
GR

[Epap]

I can't name ten but I agree with the 1989 FM B-17G. Here's another candidate from a bygone era----the Western Models B-36:

[richardstarr]

WOW. I agree, this is the best DIECAST AIRCRAFT EVER. THE CONVAIR B36.
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. Funny how some airplanes always look good. RICHARD STARR

[hovermd]

OK… This is a little tough. So, I'm going to give you my TWO Top 10 favorite diecast helicopter LISTS…

First, the “vintage” pre-1960 List:

1. Solido Piasecki H-21 Work Horse
2. Solido Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw
3. Toostietoy #4320 Rocket Launcher Set featuring the Sikorsky S-58 Choctaw
4. Tootsietoy #4420 Traffic Control Set featuring the green Hiller 12-C/H-23 Raven (tin rotors)
5. Tootsietoy #4310 Pan American Airways set featuring the blue Sikorsky S-58 Choctaw
6. Molberg Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw
7. Dinky #60 French Coffret Cadeau Avions box set featuring the Sikorsky S-58 Choctaw
8. Dinky #716 Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly
9. Dinky #715 Bristol 173
10. Mercury Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chicasaw

Second, the post-1960 List:

1. Universal Mighty Wings No. 4401 Piasecki H-21 Workhorse
2. Cragstan Wild Wings No. 1124-3 Huey Cobra featuring the Bell AH-1G Cobra
3. Zee Toys No. 29370 U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chicasaw
4. Dinky No. 618 AEC Arctic Transport Set featuring the green S-61/H-3 Sea King
5. Dinky No. 303 Commando Set featuring the green Bell 47/H-13 Sioux
6. Dinky No. 724 Sea King box set featuring the S-61/H-3 Sea King w/ Apollo space capsule
7. Tootsietoy #1702 Traffic Control set featuring the blue Hiller 12-C/H-23 Raven (plastic rotors)
8. Dinky No. 299 Police Crash Set with orange/white/blue Bell 47
9. Tootsietoy #1760 Sportsters set featuring the green RotorWay Scorpion
10. Tootsietoy #1700 S.W.A.T. set featuring the Bell 206 Jet Ranger

[grwebster]

those are great lists, I will look over my collection and add some may be

[grwebster]

I might put the Tootsietoy OH-23 and H-34 into the 50s selection
I was not that impressed with the last Tootsietoy helicopters, the jet ranger and the scorpion but at least they made it to market.
To make room for my Post 60s favs I would eliminate the OH-13 police version, as the Army one is nicer IMHO and more realistic, and if need be also eliminate the Dinky Toys Sea King Apollo but maintain the Army version.
For my inclusions to your list I would add one of the excellent Solido helicopters, all well done and accurate- they made quite a few variants in various markings of the Alouette III, Gazelle, and Puma.
I would also place on my list the Cobra by the Spanish maker Play Me, the Spanish Nacroral Cobra, and perhaps the Jet ranger or the Hughes OH-6, by Pilen who made several smaller die cast helicopters in many variations.
Some how Corgi would find a place on my list also, they made a few but these are among my favs- a Huey on Floats, and a 'Flying Hospital' Red Cross Skycrane, both well done and worthy. Also one of the TH-55s by Britains.
there were also some very well done Bachmann plastic helicopters, but that would need to be on another list, I suppose, along with a few other plastic ones such as Processed Plastics/MPC, Swadair OH-13, etc

Now the hard part would be to make just one list of the top 10 from both periods- Mark, give it a shot.

[grwebster]

Richard, if I were to do my favorite diecast aircraft list I would limit it to the toy area and put Franklin Mint, Western, and others in the model category
My favs include many earlier toys by Dinky toys so perhaps a breakdown into 2 lists, a pre and post 1960s would be appropriate as Mark Driver did with helicopters.
In any case the Dinky Toys Shetland, the Tekno DC-7 and red Mig-15, the 1930s die cast Marklin flying boat would be on any list.
But I would have a lot of difficulty choosing down to ten when considering: the 1930 Skybirds Percival Mew Gull, The Tootsietoy Autogiro, Waco, High wing 1930s Bellanca Monoplane, Ford Trimotor, Coast Guard Sikorsky. Aero Mini F-4, and various others from Polistil, Solido, CIJ, Mercury, early Dinky, Hubley, early Corgi, early Lintoy/ERTL, and..... I could go on and on.

[Tone]

Top three: I like the 1) Frankonia Mail Box Series DC-7C (1968), 2) Tootsietoy DC-4E Super Mainliner and, 3) Tekno Denmark Caravelle OY-KRA with the working rear stairs.

Others:
4) Dinky Toys - Canadian Pacific Britannia
5) Hubley P-40 in red/silver, the first toy plane I ever had (1966)
6) Play Art Boeing 314 Clipper
7) Tootsietoy Waco Biplane a beautiful casting, before my time
8) Tootsietoy Ford Tri-Motor another beauty, before my time
9) Aero Mini Vickers VC-10, BOAC, though I like the Corgi/Lintoy, Tin Toys and PlayArt versions as well
10) Gemini Jets 1:400 Convair 990 Astrojet-American Airlines (2004) It's not a toy, but it looks so cool!

How's that?

oh wait, I forgot the Erie Boeing 247 !!!

[Tone]

I can't wait to see Bludworth's list.