ORIGINAL or FAKE CRUVER

[GrafikAircraft]

Hello there,

I've only just discovered recognition aircraft, so I bought my first model on eBay, it has all the markings of an original but just wondered if any of the experts on here could confirm it. It's in mint condition for its age, I've read up on Crurver models and apparently they were shiny until they had a matt lacquer applied, on the nose it has a small bit of the lacquer missing and is shiny underneath. It feels heavy for its size and seems really good quality to me.

Images here (please scroll down)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spitfire-Aircraft-Recognition-Model-from-1942/223414700435?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Hope someone can shread some light on this.

Still very happy with it either way, just be nice to know if it was an original.

Thanks,
Nick

[ramseyd]

Nick,
Glad you found this hobby. It is a fun and interesting one that you will certainly enjoy. As to your "Cruver", it can be hard to determine if it is original from the photos only. But here are tricks and pointers that I have used in the past to try to determine originality.

First, A company in Dallas Texas remade some of these Cruver models. He went out of business several years ago, but his models have a raised "R"' inside a diamonds on the bottom of the wing. Look at "who made the gray ID's?" section of the MAC Forum for a little more information on history. They feel close to the original Cruvers, but they weigh slightly different (my Cruver A-24 weighs 2.1 ounces whereas the repro weighs 2.5 ounces). If the "R" was ground off, smoothed and repainted, weighing would likely be the only way to determine if it was original.

There was another maker who made some several years ago with a different plastic. I saw one that had been made with a white plastic and then repainted. I was able to scrap off the white from inside the hanging hole, since I suspected it was not original. There appears to be some that were made in black plastic, too. Both of these models don't have the same feel to the surface as originals (they don't feel as smooth to the touch and they have a slightly different texture look - unpainted). In addition, these are lighter weight (my original Cruver A-31 weighs 3.4 ounces and the repro weighs 2.8 ounces.)

A collector (Bill Clark - CAPTAINMIDNIGHT on eBay) is now making these models. Don't have any, but they look like the original Cruvers and do not have any markings indicating they are repros. He sells them as "Recasts", but anyone could buy and resell as original.

Some original Cruvers may be repainted (sometimes repaired and repainted). I have occasionally done this when restoring them, depending upon what restoration is done. (I keep a record of the repairs/painting and report this when I sell so the new owner knows what I have done.) This can be another factor in weight comparison.

If you get a hint of a vinegar smell from your model, you can be fairly certain that it is original Cruver model. They will start to degrade over time and the first hint is this vinegar smell.

Not sure if this helps in your particular model, but at least you have some information on some of the reproductions. There may be other repros that some of the other members are aware of that I am not.

[GrafikAircraft]

Cheers Ramseyd, Thanks for all the information, really appreciate it.

No 'R' on the bottom, so I just need to find out the weight of a Spitfire.

I'll keep my nose in the air for the vinegar smell

Thanks,
Nick

[GrafikAircraft]

Hi Ramseyd,
Evening sir, thanks for the tip on the raised R, recently bought a Hawker Typhoon on eBay, photos abit ropey, arrived with a raised R in a diamond, the material seems lighter than the spitfire and has a slightly different feel, chalky, the spit seems smoother. Anyways still love it, shame it's a fake.

Have a great weekend.
Cheers,
Nick