Mint Seaplanes

[MichaelB]

I didn't know where to put this, but I wanted to pick up where the recent discussion of seaplanes left off. The topic always generates a good bit of interest as there always seems to be an inordinate interest in seaplanes.
Anyway...of my Danbury Mint pewter pieces, the one item that makes everyone eye's perk up is the Sikorsky S-42. This is a true collectible, in comparison to today's models and toys. There are no marks or livery - just bare metal. The metal is extremely soft, and it's tough to keep the props, struts and tailplanes flat. It's a lovely piece, consisting of about 13 pieces. It has a wingspan of 7", and the scale of 1/189 (!) is duly noted under the wing, along with the name "Pan Am Clipper", but not Sikorksy S-42. Pan American Airways System is also engraved on the title board.
It is a lovely piece of a classic airliner. I don't know of any other pieces that fit all the genres here: seaplane, airliner, PAA, pewter or approaching the scale. The props spin (!), although that's a generous statement - they easily bend.
The Danbury set this item was in is named "Great Aircraft of History" and dates from 1991; there were 12 pieces. Other items of interest are the B707, Concorde, DC-3 and Wright Flyer (well, at least the most interesting to me!). The original subscription price was $49 each.

Similar, but not of the same scale (literally!), is the much smaller Franklin Mint Boeing 314 with a 5" wingspan. Pewter again, and not a toy - another collectible from the '80s. Like the Danbury piece, it is part of a larger collection of noticeably smaller planes. Seems that Franklin Mint issued this small scale set, while Danbury would go forward with 1/72 and even 1/48 planes over the next decade.

These two issuers of pewter planes stopped soon after these efforts, the last Danbury pieces being their "The Jets Of Desert Storm", from 1991. Franklin Mint would eventually go on to issue the Armour 1/100 planes under their names, and continue that series into the modern pieces we see today.

The FM B314 is of current interest since a recent discussion had centered around how few "toys" had been issued of the best. This is no toy, and because of it's small size would be even more susceptible to destruction by a child - or even by an adult! It's very soft! ...it's props do NOT spin - they just bend! In the photo below it is paired with the Corgi Showcase B314 - also of recent discussion. The only cast in identifier is "'87 FM" and a sticker proclaims "Made in Malaysia". Heavy panel lines show some panel and control surface detail. The Danbury S-42 has very little detail in comparison.
The B314 was part of their "World's Greatest Aircraft" series (geez...can't anyone think of a better name?) set from 1987 - there were 25 pieces which were issued on a subscription basis ($27.50 ea). One could also buy a wooden wall display cabinet for the set. Since it didn't have a cover your collection would tend to gather dust quickly. Perhaps someday we will go into this series in more detail - suffice to say they don't make them like this anymore!
I see both these series as an attempt to enter (or even start!) the "aviation collectibles" market and take it beyond the "toy" genre. In many respects they were ahead of their time, but we have seen the current "collectibles" market center on high quality cast models with accurate marking making them much more nicer "models", rather than jewelry. The collectible moniker has become just a marketing gimmick.
In the meantime these two seaplanes have become standouts from their series', and the much larger S-42 is a true attention getter for the "toy" airplane crowd!
Michael
Houston

[richardstarr]

WOW! These are certainly beautiful flying boats.
Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures.
Your comments are superb and show tremendous knowledge.
I too like the DANBURY MINT series in pewter.
Of course, there is also the PLAYART BOEING 314.

I believe DANBURY MINT also made a 72nd scale series of pewter
WWII fighter aircraft. I think there are roughly ten or twelve of these.
I can think of the GERMAN MESSERSCHMITT 109E, 110, FOCKE WULF FW 190,
SPITFIRE, HAWKER HURRICANE, DE HAVILLAND MOSQUITO, REPUBLIC AVIATION THUNDERBOLT,
VOUGHT CORSAIR, GRUMMAN HELLCAT, CURTISS P40, MITSUBISHI ZERO,
NORTH AMERICAN P51D, RUSSIAN YAKOVLEV 9, POLIKARPOV, FAIREY SWORDFISH, et cetera.
These are beautiful pewter aircraft.

I also have several DM English Pewter ENGLISH ELECTRIC LIGHTNING,
GLOSTER METEOR, HAWKER HARRIER, HAWKER HUNTER.
These are all 72nd scale.
Have fun with the hobby.
Richard

[MichaelB]

Thank you for your kind comments.
"The Great Fighter Planes of World War II" which consisted of 12 pieces was issued in 1986. The scales vary, but range in the 1/72 to 1/100 area. It is an excellent series. The Sopwith Camel is a standout due to all the rigging needed with two wings.
The Playart B314 was mentioned in the prior discussion of similar pieces, but it is a "toy" by any definition. It may actually be the only "toy" B314 in the genre, the various Model Power, Corgi and this pewter piece being either "models" or "collectibles". However, it is especially fine for a toy.
I have seen the UK DM pieces on Ebay on occasion, but that was after I was interested in the line. I too prefer either "models" or "toys", if possible. Do you have a full list, or is that it?
Michael