MAC Forum

I have a small question which I really need assistance with. I have and aware of Miniature Aircraft made by Matchbox Skybusters, Maisto Tailwinds, Corgi Toys - Fit The Box etc. I am wondering if anyone knows of any of the other Toy Companies who make Aircraft in the same miniature scale?

OK, I'm having trouble understanding your question.
All these lines have box scale toys - in the "toy" world it's usually like that. If you have a constant scale line they tend towards being "models", not that a toy model can't be a nice model...
So...it sounds like you are trying to find "scaled" companions for subjects in these lines? The ZEE A-6 is in 1/200 scale, so finding companions for it would be easy, since there are many 1/200 lines. However, if you are trying to match the Hallmark Cessna 195 in 1/112 scale - good luck with that!
And that's what it will take - luck - and a lot of measuring to find suitable companions.
As a matter of course I have scaled many toys over the years trying to find those who fit into a 1/144 or 1/200 or 1/240 or 1/320 or 1/700 etc scale. The first test is an eyeball - is it even close? Is the toy an acceptable "model" of the real thing? It is only then that I measure and calculate the scale.
...it's a long list...
What are you trying to accomplish?
Michael

I think off hand the only vintage TOY maker of aircraft that had a constant scale was the 1950s german maker Siku with their plastic toys, and they even had a complete airport and vehicles and hangars to go with it.
Then there was the British firm Lone Star from the same period with their die cast metal aircraft in 1/250 scale.

Currently there are many lines with "toy" models in 1/144, 1/72 and 1/48. The big scales are too numerous to state...Hobby Master, Franklin Mint, Armour and etc. Corgi also does 1/72 and 1/144 as well as box-scale pieces. There are so many 1/200 lines out there I cannot even begin to list them all -even if I could (Western Models is back, for instance)! I suggest some Googling, as well as visiting The Airplane Shop .com and looking at the current lines.
Good luck!
Michael

I would recommend Postage Stamp as well as some of the Euro brands like Italieri and Fabri. They seem to be comparable to Skybusters and Maisto in size.

Bill, they are except that they do trend towards the larger sizes and also "fit the box". It's a confusing line since it says 1/100 all over the boxes - the importer, MRC, is a train supplier so many of these end up in the 1/87 or 1/100 range.
Happily the PS models' scales are printed on their included stands!
I've given up on this line as the issues have gotten bigger and bigger and more expensive over time. They also have a smaller (box scale) line of airliners that I like very much, with some very interesting subjects.
There is a lot of stuff out there now as long as you look for "collectibles" and not the "toys"....

grwebster wrote:I think off hand the only vintage TOY maker of aircraft that had a constant scale was the 1950s german maker Siku with their plastic toys, and they even had a complete airport and vehicles and hangars to go with it.
Then there was the British firm Lone Star from the same period with their die cast metal aircraft in 1/250 scale.

AeroMini supposedly had a consistant scale though it seemed to 'drift' from 1:239 for the 707 to 1:290 for the 747.

Aren't Dinky airplanes mostly close to 1/200? That spawned a large group of imitators, or "in the style of" producers. UK today is known for it's variety of "garage" 1/200 airplanes.
Speaking of "in the style of"....HBM models does a huge selection of 1/200 resin aircraft. These need to be assembled and painted and are not in the stores. They are done "in the style of" Wiking 1/200 planes. Wiking was a German producer from before WWII that produced plastic ID models. I don't consider them toys in any regard, but if a child picks one up and "flies" it around the room - does that make it a toy?
You won't find them in WalMart.
Speaking of Walmart....21st Century Toys, in the past decade or so, did sell pre-made 1/144 plastic aircraft in WalMart along with their 1/18 behemoths. They also have a 1/32nd line. I don't know if any of these issues are still active - certainly not at WalMart.
Again - are you looking to find a line of constant scale toys that are Skybuster size? ...that would be nice, but...
I'm afraid I go through the lines looking and hoping to find the occasional piece that will size into a scaled collection. It takes some patience but can yield results. The Revell Mini-Snap of the XV-22 came in at 1/200, for instance.
Michael

Dinky Toys were not produced to a standard scale and vary widely over the years. The civilian vehicles were generally made in 1/43 scale, some of the military ones in 1/60, ships in 1/1800. The first British aircraft issues ranged from 1/130 to 1/220 scale. The early French issues were generally similar in scale with the exception of the 1/232 scale No. 61E Hanriot. Some of the later prewar aircraft were designed to approximately 1/200 scale, as were the majority of the 1950s and early 1960s aircraft, but these could vary up to 15%. The ‘Big Plane’ series generally used the ‘box scale’ system to standardize packaging sizes and this could range from 1/60 {the Bell Helicopter}, 1/77, 1/200 on up to 1/263 with the Space Shuttle.

There are several Japanese companies that produce pre-painted, and often pre-assembled, "toy" airplanes. They come as premiums in a variety of products, or as promotions as well. I'd go to HobbyLink Japan and take a look at the Furuta brand and similar. F-Toys is another brand, which you might find in some Hobby Shops. Here we are blurring the line between pre-built and kit to assemble, but...
Toys? Well, of course - they go well with my Godzilla toys...but models they are. 1/144 scale, again.