Unknown French diecast pre-war plane

[Flyingtiger10]

I recently bought this die-cast metal alloy aircraft, which according to Sue Richardson's
Airplane book is supposed to be a Quiralu model.
But on further review, this plane should have been made in aluminum,
which clearly is not. And does not possess tin-plate two blade props.
As can be seen from the photo, it has two 2-blade unpainted die-cast props
which seem to be original.
There is no identification under the wings and has two French roundels
stickers on the wing ports.
The wingspan is 144 mm and the length is 128 mm.
The scale is an average: 1/155.
The color is a dark greenish-gray finish and has two unpainted
metal wheels.
I assume it was a pre-war toy made by a French toy maker.
Does someone know who this manufacturer may be?

It was modeled after the Bloch night bomber MB 210, which had an
enormous glazed snout in the front. Sue Richardson's book mentions
it to be a MB 200, but this is not the case, as this latter model had
high wing display, and the MB 210 had low wings, as the toy shows.
The WS was 75'-10" and the L was 62'-0".

The bomber was produced in 1934, and the first flight was November
1934. It was introduced in 1936 for the French "L'Armee de l'Air" and less than
300 were produced. It had twin engines with 3-blade propellers, and
was so underpowered, that it was obsolete before its utilization.
It was retired in 1941.

[grwebster]

While I have seen this plane described as a Quiralu also, I have some doubts. Quiralu only made aluminum models to my knowledge and it was their main point of difference with the then numerous lead toy makers. This said Quiralu started up in 1934 around when I believe the toy was made so the dates are right. BUT, Sue Richardson knew her toy planes and I am hesitant to disagree with her, except as you pointed out, it is a MB 210.
I have seen several of these in France over the years and am sure they are pre war. Mine has paper roundels. Nice model. Not often seen.

[Flyingtiger10]

Hi G.R.:

Thanks for your kind reply.
Regarding the information on SR's book,
I just talked to Mike Richardson and he said
that they had never seen the Bloch plane; and that the
information was given to them by someone
else. So, that's why there is no photo
shown in her book. Thus, the question is still
up in the air, waiting to be solved.
I attach a picture of what I think is a real Quiralu aircraft.

[Flyingtiger10]

But according to a Quiralu toy dealer, this should be the
real toy plane...

[grwebster]

The only aircraft that I know for sure are Quiralu in my collection are these 3 post war jets.

I don't know about the others in the tray.
Your two examples, I guess, would be attempts to model the Dewoitine D 520, an advanced pre War French fighter. The aluminum one looks to be hand made, sort of a 'trench art' effort more than a mass produced toy, but who knows. Bernard Macaire knew all the French producers but he isn't around anymore.
Next time I see Frederic Marchand I'll inquire about Quiralu aircraft.

[Flyingtiger10]

That seems about right. Your planes are indeed post-war aluminum factory made.
Is there a manufacturer's name underneath? I wonder why wouldn't Sue Richardson show these and
other Quiralu aircraft in her book?
Of the previous ones I showed, I agree that both are hand made; one in aluminum and the other in wood.
So, none of them appear to be mass produced and most probably not Quiralu either.

[grwebster]

Here are some better photos of the three aluminum Quiralu late 1940s aircraft. I do not think any others were issued in this series.






I did find some other, earlier aluminum toys {Hawker Typhoons??} that I had cataloged as Qiralu way back in the 1980s, most likely because the person who sold them to me in Paris said they were. Qiralu was not a brand that attracted high prices and their aircraft toys were not sought after by anyone {except me!} so the seller had no incentive to lie about them.
Note: one has UK markings and the other French.

[Flyingtiger10]

Hi G.R.

I also bought these two time ago through eBay a from a
french collector who had sold several other aluminum
aircraft, of which he did not know the manufacturer.
Both are made in aluminum, and after seeing the jet
plane finish, the ones I have are similarly done.
So, they could also be Quiralu...?
The P-38 has die cast props and wire dumbell wheels;
while the B-17 has tinplate props and stubs for wheels.
The markings are gone; somebody painted letters instead.
Any comments?

[grwebster]

The P-38 is by Cofalu, they did several other aircraft also like a B-17 an P-39. These are all post war toys
I will post some photos shortly.

[grwebster]

Here is what I believe to be the complete castings range of COFALU aircraft toys. I would expect to find the three basic color variations { Olive Drab, Silver, and Blue} with each casting. There are no marks on these toys but they were identified back in the 1980s by knowledeable French collectors.