Formaplane

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Formaplane

Post by JamesPerrin »

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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

Off the top of my head they had a catalogue of something close to 165 kits , the majority were 1/72 and there were a small number of 1/144th and 1/48th scale . I think the guy in charge was called Joe Chubbock and I think he had been a pattern maker for Airfix . BMW Models marketed the first kits , I think they closed and the kits were then sold by Capitol Models and then later by MHW Models . At some point in time some of the moulds of J+L , ID Models and Griffin were also aquired and became Formaplane kits . Quality varied in my opinion from pretty good like their BE2 and its conversion kit which gave the modeller the option to make several variants of BE2/12 , to pretty rough like their Fairey Gannet AEW3 conversion . Clearly there were a number of pattern makers so the quality varied . If you are trying to find kits use the name Formaplane and also Forma Plane as both seem to produce results on the likes of Ebay , equally vacform , vacuform , Vac-u-form , vacuum-formed all produce different results . I think some moulds were lost but most ended up with the guy who is Aircraft in Miniature .
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Re: Formaplane

Post by JamesPerrin »

Thanks yet again Kiwi for the interesting information. If I ever get time creating a family tree of manufacturers would be interesting. We did a simple one for the 101 GEMS display.
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

Formaplane 1/144
Short 330 Sherpa
Short C-23 Sherpa
Short 360
Bristol 170 Frieghter
Miles Marathon
Avro Manchester
Avro York
Vickers Vanguard
Douglas DC2
Douglas C54
Lockheed Electra

Formaplane 1/48
Bucker BU-131 Jungmann
Junkers Ju87A-1
Casa 101 Aviojet
Fiat CR32
Polikarpov I-5 Chato
Polikarpov I-16 Mosca
Hansa Brandenburg W 12
Suchoi Su 15 Flagon A
Suchoi Su 21 Flagon F
Suchoi Su 22M Fitter K
Yak 38 Forger
Blackburn Buccaneer
Supermarine Swift
Westland Wyvern
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

Somewhere I picked up the impression that it was only the first 8 kits that were produced/marketed by BMW Models Ltd , of 327/9 Haydens Road , Wimbleden , London SW19 . Maybe this was just the kits which came out in 1976 . I believe BMW were involved with the first 24 at least . The numbering of the kits is somewhat complicated as it seemed to change over time or maybe with ownership changes , however this is the sequence of the early production as far as I can figure out , these are all 1/72
1 Norduyen Norseman (wheels only)
2 Curtiss Seahawk
3 MiG 3
4 IAR 80
5 Rogozarski IK 3
6 Fieseler Fi 167A-O
7 Fairey Seafox
8 Mil 24 Hind
9 Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2
10 Cessna Bobcat/Crane ( I think this was made in 1978 )
11 Handley Page Hastings C mk 1 / T mk 5
12 Fairchild Argus / Forwarder
13 Fairey Albacore
14 Hawker Siddeley Vulcan B2
15 Hawker Henley T111
16 Pilatus Turbo Porter PC-6 B1-H2
17 Saab 17A (I think this was made in 1979)
18 Beriev MBR-2bis
19 BE 2c (I think this was made in 1980)
20 Halberstadt CL11 (I think this was made in 1980)
21 FE 2b (I think this was made in 1981)
22 ? ( My guess is Avro Rota C 30A but it is only a guess)
23 Hanriot Dupont H.D.1 (I think this was made in 1982)
24 Albatros B 11 (I think this was made in 1982)
25 Morane Saulnier A1 ( This might be the first kit issued by Capitol Model Supplies , 42 Anerley Hill , London SE19 )
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

Formaplane issued 5 1/72 conversion kits . One was a Joe Chubbock original and distributed by BMW ;
RAF BE 2/12
4 were ex ID Models
Fairey Gannet AEW 3
Grumman C.2A Greyhound
DH Vampire T11
Supermarine Spitfire Floatplane
I really have no idea how many kits were produced during the time of Capital Model Supplies but it lasted from 1983 to 1984 when that company folded , then the moulds and kits were aquired by MHW Models , 46 Haworth Road , Keighley . West Yorkshire .
The kits added from Griffin were ,
Curtiss SO3C Seamew (I think this had wheels and floats)
Lockheed T2V-1 Sea Star
McDonnell FH-1 Phantom
The other kits added from ID Models were
Avro 707A
Avro 748
Avro Andover
Saunders Roe SRA-1
Suchoi Su15 Flagon F
Vickers Varsity T1
Yak 36 Forger A
The other kits added from J+L
Aviation Traders Ltd Carvair
Curtiss T32 Condor
Douglas DC2
Douglas DC4/C54
Douglas DC7C
Grumman XF5F-1 (short nose)
Grumman XF5F-2 (long nose)
Grumman XP-50
Ilyushin Il 18
Stinson A
Stinson T
Stinson U
Yak 40 Codling
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

Here I will try and list the remainder in alphabetical order .
AEG C IV
AGO C II
Albatros C1
Albatros C111
Albatros CV11
Albatros CX11
Albatros DXI
Albatros DX
Albatros W4
Ansaldo A.I Balilla
Ansaldo SVA5
Antanov An22
Antanov TB-3 (ANT 3)
Armstrong Whitworth AW27 Ensign
Armstrong Whitworth FK10
Aviatik B11
Avro Tudor 1V
BAC 1-11 400
BAC 1-11 500
Bae Lightning F1/3
Bae Lightning T4/5
Bleriot XI Militaire
Boeing Y1 B-9A
Breguet XIX (Militaire)
Breguet XIX Super Bidon
Bristol 170 Frieghter
Bristol Super Frieghter
Casa 212 Aviocar
Caudron G4
Caudron O3A-2
Caudron R11
Caproni Ca4
Caproni Ca5
Caprioni Ca 133
DFW BI
DFW DI Dorand
DH 84a Dragon
DH 95 Flamingo
DHC4 Caribou
Dornier Do-15 Wal
Dornier Do-27
Farman F22
FBA Leveque
Friedrichshafen FF33L
Friedrichshafen GIII
Gloster Meteor NF14
Hansa Brandenburg CL II
Hansa Brandenburg CC
Hansa Brandenburg DI
Hansa Brandenburg KDW
Hansa Brandenburg W 12
Hansa Brandenburg W 29
Hawker Hunter
La15
Roland C11
Roland D11
LFG Roland D VIb
Lloyd CI
Lloyd CII
Lohner CId
Lohner L
Martin XB51
MiG 1-250
MiG 5
Nieuport 12
North American FJ-1 Fury
North American T-39 Sabreliner
Percival Pembroke/Sea Prince
Pfalz DrI
Pfalz EI
Phonix Scout (DI)
Piaggio P32bis
Polikarpov R-Z Natasha
RAF BE2e
RAF BE12a
RAF RE7
Roland DIVb
Rumpler 6BI
Rumpler DI
SAI 7B-1
Salmson 2A2
Savoia Pomillo type2
Savoia Pomillo type3
Short 330 civil Sherpa
Short 360
Siemens-Schuckert D1
Stampe SVA-9
Suchoi Su6 prototype
Supermarine Swift
Tupolev Tu16A
Tupolev Tu16B
Tupolev Tu16C
Vicker FB 19
Westland Wyvern S4
This is still a work in progress , it has been compiled from the likes of Burn's book , a list of what was aquired by AIM and what I have seen from sources such as Ebay Google etc . However there maybe faults and omissions so please feel free to add your own input , the idea is to create the most correct and complete list . There is a list which has several kits noted as maybe never having been issued . from that list I have seen the 1/48 Casa 101 Avia jet , the 1/72 Percival Pembroke/Sea Prince and the Dornier Do 27 so those three were definitely released .
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

As well as the aircraft kits , during the BMW period a series of vacform kits of structures and buildings . These were named Formashape I have no idea how many kits were created but imagine at least half a dozen . Formaplane also issued some decal sheets , one I think was markings for some WW1 German aircraft and I think there were a couple of sheets of German Lozenge patterns for WW1 aircraft .
Not all of their WW1 aircraft kits were mastered by Joe Chubbock but many of the ones he did ended up with Les Copper in his ranges , and I think these along with some others ended up with ED Models and were binned when that business closed .
Finaly there is a list of vacuform 1/35 Russian tanks which may have also formed part of this collection .
BMR-600
BA-64
BA-20
BA-6
FAI
And that is about my lot .
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Re: Formaplane

Post by JamesPerrin »

Cheers KIWI, I have started to assign number to things post BMW, those I've seen are labelled as being produced by MHW and the number are prefixed with a C. I've not got far yet and will need to hit some old issues of SAM.
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

C was not the only figure being used A , b , D , E , F and G were too . Then there are the prefixs , PNB , PNC ,PND , PNE , PNF and PNG . This is what I have seen , and I hope it adds to your list ;
A1 DH Vampire T11 conversion
A2 Spitfire (fins and floats) conversion
b4 CONV.B.E.2c,d,e;B.E.12,Ae (copied straight from the header card)
Another BE2/12 conversion I have has the same plastic but no kit number on the header card , and an instruction sheet reads conversion set 1a .

B4 IAR 80

C2 Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk
C3 Phonix Scout
C4 IAR 80 (hand written)
C5 Rogozarski IK-3
C7 Halberstadt CL11
C8 Curtiss Seamew
C9 Grumman XP-50
C10 Grumman XF5F-1
C11 Grumman XF5F-2
C13 Lockheed T2V-1 Seastar
C14 Saunders Roe SR A1
C15 Vickers F.B.19
C19 BE 2c
C21 FE 2b
C22 Hanriot HD 1
C23 Albatros B11
C24 Nieuport 12
C25 Morane Saulnier A1
C26 Lohner C1
C27 Hansa-Brandenburg D.1
C28 Hansa-Brandenburg KDW
C29 F.B.A.Leveque
C30 Armstronge Whitworth FK10
C31 Lloyd C-11
C34 Hansa B W12
C36 LFG Roland D VIb
C37 Albatros DXI
C38 Rogozarski IK-3 (note this also appears as C5)
C38 Dornier DO-27 (not an error I have clear pictures of both)
C41 Rumpler D-1
C42 Pfalz E-1
C43 A.E.G. C-IV
C58 Caudron G.4

E1 Curtiss T.32 Condor
E3 Stinson 'T' Airliner
E6 Breguet XIX (Super Bidon)
E7 Breguet XIX (Military)
E8 Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann (1/48 scale)
E11 Casa 101 (1/48 scale)
E16 Boeing B-9
E17 Martin XB-51
E18 Hunting P. Pembroke/Sea Prince

D16 Pilatus Turbo-Porter PC-6B1-H2
D17 Saab-17A
D18 Rumpler 6b1
D18 Beriev MBR2 (again number used twice)
D20 Lohner 'L'
D22 Avro Rota C-30A
D23 D.F.W. B-1
D25 Avro York (1/144 scale)
d29 Po.R-Z (copied from headercard)

F1 BAe HS748
F2 Friedrichshafen G111
F3 Casa C-212 Aviocar
F5 Douglas DC-2
F6 HS C-1 Andover
F7 D.H.Caribou
F8 Yak-40

G12 Dornier Do-15 'Wal'
G13 BAC-111 500
G14 BAC-111 400 srs
As you can see in several cases the same code and number has applied to two different kits and scale does not seem to be defined by a special code .
If anyone has any to add please do , it all helps to build up the story before it gets lost , as many of the individuals involved in the cottage industry have passed away .
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Re: Formaplane

Post by KIWI »

From where I live all I can find out about Formaplane come from the Net and old magazines . Joe Chubbock was the man behind Formaplane , I read that he mastered the kits , and I have enjoyed building some of his kits and found them to be well designed and well detailed . He clearly knows his job and subjects . Then I bought sight unseen the Formaplane Friedrichshafen G111 , clearly it is not as detailed , not too well designed and I was surprised to find white metal round engines (radial?) included in kit of an aircraft with cowled inline engines . What happend ? Did Formaplane under Joe Chubbock get sold , and less modellers master later kits ?
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