Hallmark 2017

[MichaelB]

Hallmark has announced the Travel Air Model R Mystery Ship as the "Keepsake Ornament" for 2017. It would be expected that it'll end up being about 1/110 due to it's small size. They say it should be in the stores by July 8th, so - it's Christmas in July!
This is an excellent series of model aircraft and I'm sure this piece will continue that tradition.
....another "tradition" from Hallmark is that they will release a back up aircraft outside the series, generally by October...last year it was a rather bland F-16. Most of these have been Lockheed products, so we'll see what their license will allow them this year! Wouldn't it be nice to see a Constellation...or an Electra?
Michael

[MichaelB]

I just picked up the 2017 Hallmark Mystery Ship and it's a honey! This line of "ornaments" from Hallmark continues in its tradition of quality little models - most of which have never been done in another form - and so it is with the Mystery Ship.
The subject, R614k, crashed early on in 1930 but a replica is currently being flown in the air show circuit.
The scale is about 1/68 making this one of the largest models in the line - and also reflecting the small size of the original. Detail is very good overall; the small clear windscreen is rendered in light green as part of the fuselage. The propeller looks much too larger and closely remembers the one used on the Hallmark Vega some years ago.
Another nice piece from Hallmark, continuing the quality and detail of this line first introduced in 1997, now totaling 20 issues and taking the line into it's 20th Anniversary!

[sandmanoverhaul]

Interesting that they changed the prop, too bad. The first picture it looked dead-on, the second has a prop that would be a worm killer.

Tom

[FETT1]

I have many of the old ornaments , but decided a few years ago the same old styles were being followed.Plus many HALLMARK STORES folded up here in Western Canada....still miss the awesome LEGENDS Series.

[MichaelB]

The Legends series had a lot of faults:
1. High Cost
2. Large Size
3. Resin, or diecast? Both were featured.
4. Predictable subjects.
5. Not to scale; all were "box scale".

Armour and later, Franklin and Postage Stamp models would overcome all of that but concentrating on what really sold: Scale, the heft of metal and diverse subjects.
Now, all that is a given for much of the "model" industry. While some areas are still not adequately covered, there is just a darn lot of business out there.
Remember also that Hallmark began running a "Keepsake Miniature" line of their ornaments; it didn't last long either - who comes up with these ideas? On the other hand, the annual "October Surprise" in the ornament line has been popular.
I suspect the latter is to take advantage of their license agreements with a variety of aircraft manufacturers, or perhaps - in collusion with them. The "Skies The Limit" series features "classic" civil aircraft (most of the time) and the specials allow Hallmark to reach a wider spectrum of military collectors.
I hope it all works out for them, as the STL series is excellent.