Posted 13 years ago
truckguy
(14 items)
When I was a kid the P-38 was my favorite warplane. This model must have been very inexpensive. It is quite crude in its representation of the real thing. It is rather charming in its simplicity.
1935 Crusader (wyandotte Toy Co.) predating the P-38 | ||
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Posted 13 years ago
truckguy
(14 items)
When I was a kid the P-38 was my favorite warplane. This model must have been very inexpensive. It is quite crude in its representation of the real thing. It is rather charming in its simplicity.
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That is the Wyandotte "Crusader", and is a very neat little plane. I have one myself. It is crude, yes, but there is something really neat about that.
Thank you Dr.-Rambow for identifying my P-38 as a Wyandotte Toy. Further on line research indicates a value of between 100 and $200. That's nice, but it is well worth while just having a remnant of post WWII toys. They were often made of scrap metals from sheet steel fabrication.
Depends what you like to collect. For me, I love Pre-WWII toys and military history so something like this is right up my alley. Depression era creativity & ingenuity at it's best. It might not do anything for other folks though, who might see it as a crude, worthless model (and would prefer a shiny new Chinese replica).
Realistically, I think you'd be looking around $50-100 since you can find these relatively easily, but it's still neat thing to have.
Very neat model. It's not actually a P-38, but a "Crusader", a small passenger aircraft from the early 1930's. It's design pre-dates the P-38. You can read more about it here: http://www.rareplanes.com/revw.htm
Well, thanks to Flanker, the real story behind this model is revealed. I have always been enamored of "orphan" automobiles , like the Kaiser and the Tucker, I even own a Dodges Brothers. Now my Shelton Crusader has become much more interesting... Funny how the things that you are drawn to collect bring renewed knowledge and insight into the past.
Hah, I totally beat Flanker to it! Very neat article though. :)
Dr_Rambow was first and indeed correct that this model is a "Crusader" made by Wyandotte, but not as distinguished from the P-38. So now I need to change title/designation of my photo. The link provided by Flanker above, leads to a very interesting book review on the story of the invention of the real life Crusader referred to as the Shelton Flying Wing built and flown in 1935. Like Preston Tucker though he did not get to enjoy the real fruits of his labor; and some years later stood helplessly by when squadrons of Lockheed P-38 Lightnings filled the skies with little or no recognition or financial reward for his pioneering design.
Dr_Rambow definitely beat me to it! I was just trying to add a little more information. What a pretty little plane! Check out the real thing flying here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnZWD6H_rfc
It is indeed a really neat little plane. I have one of these toys as well so I appreciate the information just as much!