Unknown Twin Beech

[MichaelB]

Here's another one: Small soft plastic Twin Beech, as it says under the wing, but that's in error. It's really a Twin Bonanza! The Twin Bonanza first flew in 1949 so this is another early example of the plastic toy revolution.
No maker ID but not unlike the very similar Thomas Toy plastic planes. Same size, about a 5" wing span. Nice detail on the flaps and control surfaces. It actually sits on it's tricycle gear; the undercarriage isn't anything like the Thomas Toy pieces.
The registration number is an applied decal; N3461A
Any thoughts on who might have produced this nice little plane?
Michael

[grwebster]

actually its really a Twin Beech Bonanza, a BE50
a sweet flying aircraft- I flew them on occasion in the Army. Had a landing gear failure over the Panama canal 3 am, interesting times. Low time LT Col command pilot due to retire in a few weeks, his last flight!

He went out of control, asked to foam runway.

As I wasn't rated in the a/c only thing I figured I could do before we crashed an aircraft on the runway was open the ops manual and read the emergent instructions. Basically pull reset circuit breakers as I recall. It worked.

That was his last flight for sure.

don't know who made the toy, though.

[MichaelB]

Colloquially the name "Twin Beech" is usually assigned to the Beech 18 - even Wikipedia thinks so!
Again, this helps date the piece to the early/mid '50s, just like the Thomas Toy pieces. Again, this item is nicer than those. I would hope the undercarriage would give it away but so far it hasn't.
Marx and Renwal usually have big logos on them, Thomas Toy, Eldon, Processed Plastics all have smaller.
...that's what makes this one unusual. ...and since it's a nice piece, I'd like to see if there are more in the line!
MJB

[Tone]

Somewhere along the line I heard or read that it was part of a Marx playset. I won't know for certain until I see a definite reference.

[MichaelB]

Could be...but Marx usually has single surface wings and never, never misses adding a logo. At any rate it's a nice piece.
I will go look at my pics of Marx sets...particularly the later ones.