Lrg Marx DC4 -Next Project

[Tone]

Marchand has a photo of the DC-4 in his book with some molded plastic Marx railway figures frozen in time, running to catch the train. I have one of the air stairs for this plane, it cost a pretty penny! They work with other metal planes also. However I could not get used to recent die cast and plastic toy airport sets with oversized ground equipment, or undersized planes, or both!

[soslipstream]

I agree on all counts. The 35 mm figures are a good scale. The 40 mm figures are ok. The 45 mm ones are too tall so I don't what to with those.

I am slowly aquiring a Marx International Airport. It does have plastic airline steps that are too small. I might shoot them in silver as "maint. steps" for mechanics. I'm starting to gel the idea of having
the airport simply as a backdrop to highlight the future DC4 projects. I now have 3 in house and an elusive MK III with wheel turning props option is on its way. Since I have an open door MRK II fuselage and the MK III wing with the whl/turn/prop assembly, I could, conceivebly, be built as a "MK IV".

I will get pics up as the progress unfolds.
Regards, Tom Sanders

[soslipstream]

Afternoon Skyblazers!

Before I forget, in 1950, did American Airlines maint. personnel wear white, blue or gray coveralls? Though not final, how were AA aircrew suits colored? I will begin painting the people here in the next week.

Now, to the Pics...
Here are new shots of the re-minted Tootsie-Toy Shell Tanker. I have some more, "winged Shell logo" decals to go on but I need more white backed decal paper to get those done. I also modified the Tootsie "Fueling Mechanic" so he now has a partial hose in his hand. He can even hold the fuel hose in a more realistic manner. Note he also now has his shoes planted into a magnetic pad so that he stays in place and erect on top of the wing.

More details to go.... I have a couple of the plastic Marx airline ladders that make sense as a mechanic's access ladders to the wing. These will be painted in some shade of silver. Later in the month I will be tackling the airplane. A local metal specialist has given me some tips on replacing any of the broken metal fuselage tangs. As I apply those suggestions, I will update that progess as well. The wing's main landing gear struts now have new, fixed hollow axles. I will order a new nose gear assembly this week. The props have already been rebuilt and are staged for assembly.

Any suggestions or questions are most welcome!
Regards, Tom Sanders

[MichaelB]

Nice stuff! I'm impressed! That tanker looks great!
Tough question about ramp rats at AA in 1950...the flight crews wore dark blue..."AA Blue" is actually labeled "Bluebonnet Blue". In the diorama we built for AA the LGA crews in the late '30s seemed to wear dark blue, light blue and tan spread out among tops and bottoms. Here's a good example.
Finding color pics from the time isn't hopeless, but it will take some diligence. I'll look around for anything other in my files. ...but you can't go wrong with dark blue with AA!
Michael

[soslipstream]

Michael,

Thanks for your comments and picture. Nice Diorama. Once again, you have given me some direction to point towards. How about those vintage AA aircrew uniforms? Should I go with navy blue, light blue or an other color. I am leery of painting the ramp guys the same color as the pilots and air staff.

Oh, yea, the headlights are not painted as of yet on the Mack cab. I am still pondering whether I should counter bore the headlight buckets, then cover them with a plastic lenses or just paint them silver. I also have a couple of Tootsie COE International cabs that are waiting for trailers. One is now restored in red like the Mack. Though never sold as a set, the COE and the tank trailer can be made to work togther with some minor surgery.
I might save one of those for a 50's C-54 Air Force display and dress them in blue with white lettering.

Its now getting to be a fine line that I walk with turning a toy into a display piece. How far do I reach before my little niche market says that I have crossed a threshold into "too much detail"? I have reocurring thoughts of adding a windshield to the truck and then remind myself that the airplane lacks windows as well.

Anyway, Thanks Again,
Tom Sanders

[soslipstream]

Michael,
I'm sorry, you answered my question about the crew uniforms.

Tom

[MichaelB]

Depends on the job...engine...ramp crew...baggage handlers...all had different outfits. The flight crews all wore "suits" and coats. Grease monkeys would wear one piece work suits. For AA just stay with the dark blue...
EAL, as a consideration, dressed their line staff with blue lowers and white uppers. Again, in the hangars away from the public, almost anything would go but I am always surprised to see so many staff "dressed up".
Here's EAL in 1955...

[soslipstream]

I picked up a Marx International Airport as a future "set dressing". The plan will be to have it more as a backdrop in the distance (the image here is too cluttered) when highlighting airplane overhauls. The question I pose is whether to paint some of the plastic structures and equipment to approach a more scale-like appearance or should I leave well enough alone. What colors,for instance, that control tower, should I consider?
I might even get another stucture and stack it to create a taller appearance in comparison to the standard height.

I want to get rid of the red rolling stock and introduce more silver/white/blue colors. The other question has to do with the awning that covers the walk perpendicular to the building (molded in light blue). What would have been a popular color for this structure? Marx actually molded the canvas with amazing clarity and detail and I would like to have it as a possible focal point.

"Plasticville" also makes makes and airport admin structure that I might consider. It's actually got a nice feel as an USAF base facility.

As usual, opinions are welcome!

Regards, Tom

[soslipstream]

Hey all,

Here is a picture of the progress in the next project Marx DC4. Conspicuously the actual DC4 is in the middle of an overhaul so the local set-mule is standing in. As you may see, I have painted some of the Marx figures and will submit some close-ups later today. There are some future set changes planned as I am considering given some of the "out structures" other colors than blue since the they wash away into the sky. I will detail paint some of the Marx equipment to remove the bland red coloring as well. The airplane probably will not be finished for a week or so as I am an avid proponent of "long-cure" paint especially when working with layered colors. The American Airlines livery also has some difficult nuances to unravel along the way.

Regards, Tom Sanders

[soslipstream]

Hi Again,

I worked on a backdrop for the Marx Airport and am experimenting with various layouts and angles. Lighting will be on job's to do list. Anyway, here are some more progress pictures...

The first shot shows some people standing for viewing airplanes or boarding. I looked through a couple of vintage magazines' ads to get some of the outfits colored appropriately.

The second shot shows some of the ramp rats trying to figure where the props and engines have gone (Haa!). I am still trying to figure out what to do with the guy holding the wands. He is posed for comic relief until I re-configure those wands into wrenches(?) or some other tool later this week.

Finally, the DC4 Set-Mule about to get a load of Av-Gas. The Marx figure presumably from the Gas Station set has been modified to become a Shell Airport Fueler. His feet have been re-set into some flexible magnetic material (painted silver) so that he now sticks to the wing. I guessed on his uniform but figured yellow with the red trim made sense. As much as I had wanted to keep the displays "All-Marx", old Louis never did get his trucks scaled to match the DC4 so I have turned to a die-cast competitior, Tootsietoy for better scale vehicles.

BTW, I have quite a fleet of Tootsie-toy tankers now and if anyone wants to buy a custom unit, to your spec's, I can do it later this Spring, just contact me off-line. BTW, I have modified one COE (Cab Over Engine)International tractor and tanker trailer to now work together. In the past only the Mack tractors would work.

Questions or suggestions are welcome!
Regards, Tom Sanders