Indiana Boneyard

[soslipstream]

Happy Holiday Weekend Everyone!

Communications have been dry lately so I thought I would post a couple of pictures (before my therapy begins?).
Over the last six months I have been sticking my thumb into the pie and trying to gather a few plumbs. The first shot are of 4 small pressed steel airplanes- 2 B-29's and 2 Marx(?) airliners. I would love to know who produced the B-29s, any ideas? The two airliners, I think, were Louis Marx' answer to Wyandotte's seaplanes/clippers. The one on the left, is a four engined taildragger and the one on the right, is the same basic airplane but assembled as a high wing version with a "sponsoon". Never one for convention, I plan to overhaul the taildragger as a vintage Focke-Wulf 200 Condor airliner in either Lufthansa (black trim, no Swastika) or Danish (red trim!) livery. The "seaplane" version is close enough to a Martin Pan-Am Clipper, that when it emerges it will be silver with the universal orange wing patch on top. If anyone has any complete airplane pictures or identification of any of those small four airplanes please let me know! Note: the sledehammer in the picture is only for a scale reference and not part of future therapy!!

Now for the Marx DC-4's. There are actually seven in the picture. Four in the front were Mk I's and Mk II's (opening cabin door) . The three facing in the opposite direction, in back, are the Mk III's that featured the wheels-turn-props option. I have enough (yea, too many) to create a two of the elusive MkIV's that would be specials that had both the open cabin door AND the wheels-turn-prop option. Since these are the "Apex" of this toy's design, I will make one in Pan-Am and one in American colors as I yield to tradition.

I have also secured at least six Marx "Airstairs" all of which will be need various degrees of restoration. Four have been slotted outright to join restored DC-4's. This total means about one plane a month to overhaul and some parts, like the various props and cowlings I will need some help identifying, any help, especially pictures will certainly be a blessing.

Finally, My very next DC-4 will be guised as an USAF C-54 with aluminum silver and colorful markings.m
Thanks Again,
Tom Sanders

[grwebster]

We will all enjoy seeing your projects progress.

[Tone]

The B-29 is by KEMLINE of Pennsylvania (Thank you Perry Eichor)

[grwebster]

Never seen that one before in such good shape. Didn't know who made it, though.

[fatalxsunrider43]

Hey, I had one of those rather crude cast B-29's shown in the top picture, it had about a 10" wingspan, look like it went on a stand. It had clear discs to represent rotating propellers.

Hans Nesbitt

[Tone]

Tom,

Are you the person named "ohmyflyguy" who contributed a review article entitled : "Vintage Metal Airplane Toy - What's In That Title" to a major on-line auction site?

I am asking because that person uses the same Old Time Pilot avatar. Or should I say "aviatar"

If so, that is good reading ! ! ! Thank You for posting.

[fatalxsunrider43]

I have seen the large Marx DC-4 with a Blue Fueslage and Silver wings, no idea what livery it had, if it had one at all, but I remember the colors.

Every no and then , these wil pop up at my local Antique Mall, I'll keep my eye open for anyone who might want one if I see it, let me know, thanks !



Hans Nesbitt

[soslipstream]

Guilty as charged! Yes, that's my moniker and thanks for reading my little diatribe! I get a little perturbed by the slight of hand being used by the seller/importers of Oriental Prison Labor Airplanes that are proliferating the auction sites preying on the unsuspecting.

Regards, Tom
(ohmyflyguy [auction sites], soslipstream [freeflight sites] GititWright [Scioly-Science Olympiad) soooo.... now the secrets are out!

Tom,

Are you the person named "ohmyflyguy" who contributed a review article entitled : "Vintage Metal Airplane Toy - What's In That Title" to a major on-line auction site?

I am asking because that person uses the same Old Time Pilot avatar. Or should I say "aviatar"

If so, that is good reading ! ! ! Thank You for posting.

[soslipstream]

I have seen the large Marx DC-4 with a Blue Fueslage and Silver wings, no idea what livery it had, if it had one at all, but I remember the colors.

Every now and then , these wil pop up at my local Antique Mall, I'll keep my eye open for anyone who might want one if I see it, let me know, thanks !

Hans Nesbitt

Yes, I have only heard of that scheme, blue Fuse with silver wings and would love to see a pic. There is no surprise in that combination.

Here are some others... Cream Fuse with Blue Wings (Pan Am), All Silver (Pan Am & AA), All Red (AA only), Red Fuse with Silver Wings (AA only) and all White (no markings!). After talking with a MARX authority, I found that virtually any combination of paint schemes were produced. In some cases they were specified by the purchasing organization ...or many runs were just simply "slapped" together willy-nilly. Bright colors other than red were non-existent as the cost for those paints were higher. Restoring one of the large DC-4's is a bit of a crapshoot and a matter of taste. The originals used lead paint, for sure, and were extremely plain in comparison to their Japanese Tin brothers and sisters. The market for these large DC-4's is interesting on the retail side. A very clean, vintage original will cap out at about $120.00 whereas a latter day custom painted piece (to vintage airline scheme) will draw $250.00 or more. I attribute this phenom to collectors whom already have a couple of the original stock airplanes but crave an opportunity for a unique piece.

BTW, most original American Airlines versions had the black markings applied with spray paint and not decals. This can make a stock restoration project a little dicey to reproduce.

Regards, Tom

[grwebster]

Tom has done it again, Beautiful work!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SS:US:1123