Wiking World War II German ID Models with Bob Dros

Henry Tenby — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 22:52:19 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to visit with the famous Dutch model maker Bob Dros on a recent visit to Amsterdam, as arranged by my friend and fellow model collector Ed Van Rooijen. Whilst visiting with Bob he took time out to show me his amazing and near completed collection of Wiking Models.

These Wiking Models were made by a German toy company in the period of World War Two to help German troops and air force officers easily identify aircraft to separate friend from foe. These Wiking models were made of plastic, which was quite novel for the time as plastic was still in its infancy in terms of use beyond industrial applications.

After the passage of some eighty years since World War Two, these Wiking models have become quite hard to find. Over 150 of these ID models were produced and with so few coming to market, it is extremely difficult to build anything close to a complete collection. But Bob Dros has done just that, and it was no easy task, as he explains in this informative video.

Bob Dros resides in Amsterdam and has been building very detailed high quality models of aircraft in solid perspex. His models are very time consuming projects, and their price reflects their difficulty of construction. Bob’s perspex models can be viewed on his website, and we’d like to thank him for participating in this video.

Hermeskeil Aviation Museum Germany Visit November 2018

Henry Tenby — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 01:58:58 +0000

Niels Dam, Andreas Stryk and Henry Tenby captured in the optimal selfie with the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM as the backdrop. At the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. November, 2018.

In early November of 2018, my good friend Andreas Stryk drove me and another good friend, Niels Dam from Amsterdam by car from Frankfurt to the Hermeskeil aviation museum, which is a 2 hour road journey at a leisure driving pace. We allocated a full day trip for our museum visit from Frankfurt, as we did not want to have any stress or time pressure so we could enjoy the exhibits at the museum in a non rushed basis.

The privately owned museum features a very large outdoor collection of post war commercial airliners and military aircraft, from both Eastern and Western block manufacturers. Whilst the older aircraft, engines and historic displays are kept in the indoors building, which is not heated. Our visit of early November very much required warm outdoor clothing as it was quite cold outside and in the building.

In my opinion, the three star exhibits in this collection has to be the original Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation D-ALIN, the United Arab Emirates Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF, and the original early 1970s or late 1960s Concorde mock-up, which is open as a heated coffee shop and rest area to seek respite from the elements. The aircraft and helicopters from Soviet times are also very interesting, and although the museum is fairly remote, it is most certainly worth a visit for hard-core aviation tourists who find themselves within a few hour driving range of the collection.

Another nice view, this time in side profile of Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby with the fabulous Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

‘Aint it pretty! The three fins of the Connie are pure aviation magic! Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN is one of the star attractions at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

I can’t get enough of a lovely piston pounding Super Connie from every angle! ‘Aint it pretty! The three fins of the Connie are pure aviation magic! Lufthansa L-1049 Super Connie D-ALIN is one of the star attractions at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Can’t get enough! Three tails are better than one! Lufthansa Lockheed Super Constellation D-ALIN at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

BAC Aerospacial Concorde mock-up at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Late 1960s era static moc-up of the Concorde at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Inside cabin view of the 1960s era static Concorde mock-up at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Under wing view of the late 1960s era static moc-up of the Concorde at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Note the structural supports to keep the heavy wing sections in place.

Like everyone else, we stopped inside the mock-up Concorde for some warm drinks after spending several hours in the cold elements taking in the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Left to right, Niels Dam, Andreas Stryk, and Henry Tenby.

Niels Dam does a ground inspection on the awesome Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby chillin’ with the awesome Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Another nice side profile view of Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. This aircraft was acquired by the museum directly from Interflug, the former State airline of East Germany.

Under nose study of the Interflug Tupolev Tu-134 DDR-SCK at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Henry Tenby enjoying some quality time with two feathered Rolls Royce Dart engines, of the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Under nose study of the Lufthansa Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

A pure classic from any angle! Lufthansa Vickers Viscount 800 D-ANUM at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Front office view aboard Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Rear facing VIP cabin view as seen from the front entrance door aboard Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Vickers VC-10 G-ARVF tail view at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

United Arab Emirates Government Vickers VC-10 now permanently rests at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. It was flown to a nearby military airfield in the early 1980s, and then disassembled and moved to the museum by road, where it was put back together.

Interflug IL-18 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Cabin view aboard the Interflug IL-18 DDR-STH at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. I’m keen for a flight!

Interflug IL-18 engine details at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Polish Air Force IL-14 propliner transport at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. A very “meat and potatoes” all purpose transport for all sorts of uses.

Cockpit of the Polish Air Force IL-14 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Part of the furniture. A Dornier D-28 D-IFMP at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Dan-Air London Comet 4C G-BDIW at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Guess the engine? You should know instantly! This is the daisy petal sound suppressor from a Rolls Royce Conway engine, that powered ealry Boeing 707s, including those delivered to Lufthansa and BOAC. This engine is from a Lufthansa aircraft and is on display at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Bell 206 D-HBZV of the Luftrettung at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Huge model of the Dornier DoX flying boat D-1929 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Large scale pre-war flying wing aircraft model D-APIS at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Aeroflot Mil-26 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. When donated/acquired by the museum, the helicopter was flown by her Russian crews directly to the museum.

Cubana Cuba Antonov AN-24 at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

USAF Cold War beauty! The Convair F-102 Delta Dart 61125, was actually based in West Germany back in the 1960s.
She now is on permanent loan from the US Air Force as a display at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Royal Navy De Havilland Dove “Devon” at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

Luftwaffe Percivil Pembroke 5421 the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany. Back in the 1960s these were a dime a dozen in Germany, but the entire fleet was retired by the early 1970s.

Isn’t she a beauty? This Dan-Air London Comet 4C was acquired by the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany in the early 1980s, and she has been on guard looking smart ever since. One wonders if she could be made into a ground running breathing high-speed taxi aircraft with a bit of restoration. That would be amazing!

EFL Nortatlas D-ACUT at the Hermeskeil Aviation Museum in Germany.

Another government donation to the museum. This time a Royal Jordanian Air Force DC-3 Dakota troop transport at the Hermeskeil aviation museum in Germany.

We’ll close with some bathroom humour for avgeeks! This is the biffy aboard the Jordanian Air Force DC-3 (see above), which was very obviously British maintained or operated at some time in her illustrious career.

Germany – Henry Tenby – Aviation Fan – Worldwide Operations

Wiking World War II German ID Models with Bob Dros

Hermeskeil Aviation Museum Germany Visit November 2018