by auctionman
on Jan 30, 2010
I've never seen such intricately made model boats and planes. Amazingly, they're all made of ordinary cardboards, aluminum tin cans, match sticks, tissue paper and other stuffs including tissue cardboard rolls. Using only a pen knife, glue and of course paint, Alec Hose who is now in his late 70's finished one of the greatest home-made models I have ever seen. Check these out! Tried uploading photos but couldn't :-(
by auctionman
on Mar 18, 2008
I found this in the net and is a mixed collection of the vintage and modern Star Wars action figures.
Click this link to view more of them.
by auctionman
on Mar 17, 2008
This a rare 8-foot LEGO Rebel Attack Cruiser model was designed by LEGO Master Builder Erik Varszegi for display at Star Wars Celebration III , San Diego Comic-Con, LEGOLAND California and several other national LEGO events to promote the final episode in the Star Wars saga. This was auctioned off with a signed COA from George Lucas. The proceeds were donated to Habitat for Humanity's hurricane relief efforts in the southeastern United States. Starting bid was reported to be at $31,000.
Image source: Internet
by auctionman
on Mar 13, 2008
The early Lesney die cast products began in 1948 just a year after the company started - these items do not belong to the Matchbox 1-75 range which started production in 1953.
It was Leslie and Rodney (Lesney) with the help of their friend Jack Odell (Lledo) started experimenting making miniature models made of die cast metals and they were quite successful. Many of the early models that were first created later continued to the 1-75 Regular Wheels and eventually to Superfast and other ranges.
For all to know, here is a list of the earliest Lesney Models.
by auctionman
on Mar 02, 2008
The original Batmobile was 18 feet long but I haven't yet seen a photo of it which was said to have been first created in 1939. In just nearly 3 decades, the most realistic appearance of the Batmobile came out in 1966 by William Dozier in his famous TV series BATMAN which was produced by the 20th Century Fox Television. You will see a 1966 Batmobile photo which I took from the website.
Strangely, Gotham City's most advanced vehicle was built on a 1956 Lincoln experimental car. It was a famed Californian car builder named George Barris who powered it with a 500hp 8-cylinder engine equipped with fiber-glass top, triple rocket firing tubes, chain-slashing blade and the continuous "firing" jet-type exhaust!
The Batmobile I believe is the only car that has evolved into several designs - just to keep up with the times. And if there is one model in the Corgio range that can be set apart from the rest, then it must be the Batmobile!
by auctionman
on Feb 26, 2008
Very few people know where those intricately-made wooden model airplanes you see around come from. Sad to say, only few can really tell that these models come from a small town called Pampanga, a place Northwest of Manila, Philippines where the former Clark US Air Base was once located.
Clark Air Base was situated about 60 kilometers north of Manila and covered approximately 38 square kilometers. The base has been known to be one of the most modern and largest US base in history giving logistical and military support to the Asia Pacific region during WWII including the Vietnam war. It was an American stronghold from 1903 until 1991 when the base were forced to shut down due to social protests coupled by the devastating eruption of the Mt. Pinatubo. The base was later converted into a Special Economic Zone Force.
The wood carvers in Pampanga has been known to be the best in the Philippines (or perhaps one of the best in the world). For generations, they have carved images of saints and animals but the aviation activities at Clark Air Base gave birth to modern wood carving. The wood carvers took photos of fighter planes and out from the photos they took, highly detailed wooden air crafts. This industry rapidly grew making the Philippines the world's no. 1 producer and EXPORTER of wooden models.
If you take a closer look, you will not believe that these models have been made by hands - carved to perfection using Philippine Mahogany, a hardwood best for carving coupled by the "artistic" traits of the Filipino wood carvers. The attention to details is beyond comparison. All logos and prints you find in these models have been hand-painted and no decals or stickers or transfers are used. Though there is stiff competition today in the form of plastic, resin or die cast desktop plane models but most discerning collectors and buyers collectors will confirm that the look and feel of truly handmade model airplanes cannot simply be compared.
The life of these wooden models begin with the age-old process of hand wood carving followed by few more stages which will normally take 10 days to finish. The production stages are shown as follows:
Wood Carving
Process Skilled Carvers use the traditional hand tools to carve and shape the model. This art requires skills and years of experience. The wood used is a processed kiln dried Philippine Mahogany (which is also abundantly found in the locality). No power tools are used and the carvers work from actual aircraft drawings that have been appropriately scaled.
Applying The Putty
Once the wooden model has been carved, several coats of putty are applied to cover the creases and carving marks. The putty creates a very smooth finish prior to painting. Varnish is later applied to provide a clear, durable and protective finish.
The Body Painting
Paint used is a high quality acrylic (same paint normally used in cars). Colour matching is a painstaking job and the outcome must be perfect before artwork is done. The paint can be applied by hand or airbrush. After the model has been painted, it is left to dry.
The Artwork
After painting the aircraft's body and wings, the artist intricately hand paints the finest details of the models. These include cockpits, doors, windows, fan blades, rotors, hydraulics, logos, hatches, etc.) The tail fins are perfectly painted that no detail is spared from the "microscopic" eyes of the artist.
I have attached links to video clippings which I would like you to see. If ever you do see one of the these wooden planes, take a closer look and vision the hours and the patience these skilled woodcarvers spent to finish just one model. It's something I can really be proud of.
Links to videos:
Wood Carving
Artistry
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