Thanx

BOWENAERO · 07-27-2002, 01:58 PM

WITH THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF A JASDF F-4 PHANTOM, I HAVE COMPLETED MY AERO MINI COLLECTION.

I HAVE ENJOYED THE HUNT FOR MOST OF TEN YEARS NOW AND HAVE MET MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVELED TO SOME EXCITING PLACES ON MY QUEST.

MANY THANX TO ANY AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY.

THE SHELVES ARE NOW FULL!!

REGARDS

MIKE BOWEN

TL925 · 07-30-2002, 09:51 AM

Wow, I must say that your complete collection looks absolutely great. I have a ways to go in my aero mini collection, but it always plays second hand to 1/400 and 1/500 models. Can I ask though what Braniff 747 that is? Is it a custom model. it appears to be red in the picture. It also looks like a lot of the 2nd generation models are in your picture, is it a complete collection of both?

chip707 · 07-31-2002, 10:54 AM

Congrats Mike....

You crossed the finish line in the elusive Aero Mini race....what a great collection.

I'm still missing 2 F-4's, 2 F-104's, 1 Zero, the E-4A, Spirit of '76, Chrome AA 747, JL DC-8, and the Tomkins BA 747. You know, just the easy ones to find..... Your success will keep me looking. Thanks for sharing.

Chip

BOWENAERO · 07-31-2002, 11:11 PM

THE BRANIFF 747 IS ACTUALLY ORANGE (BIG ORANGE) AND I DID IT MYSELF FROM AN OLD "JUNQUER." SEE ATTATCHED PHOTO. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE NOTICED A DELTA DC-9 I DID AND PERHAPS A MEXICANA 727 MADE BY A FRIEND OF MINE, HANS NESBITT. ALL ARE COUNTERFEIT, BUT DEAR TO MY HEART.

YES, THE SECOND-GENERATION COLLECTION IS COMPLETE AS WELL. AT LEAST AS OF THIS POINT IN TIME. I OWE THE PECKHAMS A LETTER TO FIND OUT IF ANYTHING IS CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS.

THANX FOR YOUR INTREST,

MIKE BOWEN

P.S. THANX CHIP, I HAVEN'T FORGOTEN YOU OR YOUR PLANES. THE SNOW WILL FLY SOON, AND I'LL HAVE TIME TO GIVE THEM THEIR JUST DESERVES.

BOWENAERO · 07-31-2002, 11:13 PM

HERE'S THE BRANIFF 747 WITH IT'S FRIENDS.

TL925 · 08-01-2002, 06:22 AM

I must say that that Braniff looks great. Out of curiousity, what model was it before you applied the Braniff colors over it?

bstewart · 08-01-2002, 09:23 PM

Do you have a JASDF F-104? I have one in my collection and some photos were included in issue 34/4 of Minnature Aircraft Quarterly. I don't know another collector that has one.

jjorgemiami · 08-02-2002, 11:25 PM

Wow, Bowenaero that looks awesome! Mike would it be too much to ask for you to list what is on the picture from top to bottom and from left to right, due to the angle, glare and distance some aren't identifiable in the photo.

Also PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post a close up picture
of the NW B747. Is that an original Aeromini NW B747????

BOWENAERO · 08-04-2002, 04:54 PM

OKAY GUYS, HERE WE GO, AS BRIEFLY AS POSSIBLE

1- I THINK IT WAS A TWA WITHOUT ANY WINDOWS OR DOORS AND SEVERAL PAINT PROBLEMS. I HAVE A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE SOMEWHERE. I'LL TRY TO FIND IT.

2 - AFFIRM THE JASDF F-104 (SEE ATTATCHMENT)

3 - TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT

EAL -9, 727, -8, 747, BOEING HOUSE 747-100

EAL 72*

PIED 73, UAL 73, OZ -9, OZ -9(ONE HAS THE TAIL "NOTCH" THE OTHER DOES NOT, PAA 74

PIED 72*, UAL 73*, AIR WEST 72 (X3)*, DELTA -9(MY REPAINT), PAA 70, PAA 72, PAA 72*

LUFTWAFFE F-104, USAF 104, JASDF 104, USAF C-135,
SPIRIT OF '76, USAF E-4

USN F4, USAF F4, ROYAL NAVY F4, JASDF F4, USAIR 73*, USPS 72*

NW 74, AA 74, AA 74 (CHROME FINISH), TWA 74

NW 72, NW -9*, NW 70, AA 70, AA 72, TW 70, TW -9, TW 72

BI 74 (MY REPAINT), BI 70 (X3)*

BI 72 BLUE, BI 72 RED, BI 70 (X5)*

TAP 74, BA 74, QUANTAS 74, BOAC 74 (ALL BRIAN TOMPKINS MODELS)

ALASKA 73*, KLM 73*, CANADIAN 73*, BA 70*, BAA 73*, BRITISH AIRTOURS 73*, AIR FRANCE 70*
AIR FRANCE 73* (X2) (ONE HAS NICKEL PLATED WINGS), CONTINENTAL 73*, BOAC VC-10

AIR CANADA 74, JAL 74

AIR CANADA -9, AC -8, MEXICANA 72(REPAINT),
JAL -8, JAL 72, ANA 73, ANA 72

* DENOTES "2nd GENERATION" BRIAN PECKHAM MODELS

THE BOTTOM SHELF IS JUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF PACKAGING: "SLIPCOVER" BOX, "BUBBLE" PKG, "TV" BOX
JAPANESE DOMESTIC RELEASE PACKAGE, AND VC-10
BOX.CONTINENTAL

BOWENAERO · 08-04-2002, 04:57 PM

HERE'S THE JASDF F-104 PHOTO.

THANX AGAIN

MIKE

bstewart · 08-05-2002, 08:28 PM

Issue 27 of Miniature Aircraft Quarterly has an interview with Robert Metchick, the founder of Aero Mini. In that interview, Metchick says he also made a USMC F-4 shortly before they went bankrupt. I haven't ever seen one.

In the same interview, MAQ has a picture of the silver Zero as well.

BOWENAERO · 08-05-2002, 11:27 PM

BILL,

I HAVE SEEN ONE PHOTO OF A USMC PHANTOM, IN FACT I CAN ATTACH IT HERE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT EVER WAS PRODUCED FOR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION. THIS ONE HAS TOO MANY DETAILS FOR AERO MINI (IN MY OPINION)

FURTHER AND MORE RECENT DISCUSSION WITH MR. METCHICK LEADS ME TO BELIEVE HE MAY HAVE HAD HIS PEOPLE MAKE ONE UP FOR HIM, BUT THAT IS AS FAR AS IT GOT.

RE: THE SILVER ZERO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS DONE IN SMALL QUANTITIES FOR THE JAPANESE DOMESTIC MARKET, HOWEVER THE ONLY PHOTOS I'VE SEEN ORIGINATED FROM KNOWN "MODELERS" WHO MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE "TINKERED."

MIKE

BOWENAERO · 08-05-2002, 11:29 PM

SILVER ZERO ATTACHED

bstewart · 08-07-2002, 08:18 PM

I will check my old issues of MAQ to see if I can find a photo of the USMC F-4. The photo you posted looks like someone modified a USN F-4. For some reason I was thinking the USMC version was silver like the USAF and the decals are much more basic than the photo.

MAQ did have a photo of a silver Zero next to the green version. The photos were from a collection of a Japanese member of IMACS so I suspect the model was genuine.

BOWENAERO · 08-07-2002, 11:03 PM

BILL,

I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT IMACS MEMBER IS ROCKY TATEIWA. THE PHOTO I POSTED IS HIS AS WELL. I TEND TO AGREE THE SILVER ZERO IS PROBABLY FOR REAL, ALTHOUGH DOMESTIC JAPAN SALES ONLY.

ANXIOUS TO SEE THE USMC, ALTHOUGH IT'LL BE HARD TO CONVINCE ME IT IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A "ONE OFF."

REGARDS,

MIKE BOWEN

kwip · 08-15-2002, 11:08 PM

Very nice collection! I appreciate your patience and perseverance in amassing it over the years.

Question... Does anyone have a list of the Brian Tompkins Aero Mini offerings over the years? I do have 4 of them... 2 AA 707-320c Freighters (lightning bolt and red/wht/blue) hand painted, a gorgeous Saudia L-1011 and a Singapore A300. Have also seen a Sabena 707-320 and Air Force One 707 from the Tompkins series.

Thanks in advance

BOWENAERO · 08-22-2002, 12:56 AM

Kwip,

I'm not sure if anyone would have a complete list of those or not, but you might try Brian himself. I'm not sure how to contact him myself, but someone here may be able to help you.

The one thing I did want to mention was that Brian's planes were called AIRO MINI, not AERO MINI. this is often a source of confusion, especially since he did, in fact, at one time, produce some AERO MINI 747's from blank AERO MINI castings (British Airways, BOAC, TAP, Quantas and possibly Air India.)

Regards,

Mike

p.s. you might try Don Kaylor @ Jetstreams USA for that Tompkins referral. <http://www.jetstreamsusa.com/>

chip707 · 09-24-2002, 11:53 PM

Took me a while to get to this, but attached should be a photo of an original Airomini box. The box lists 25 different models they offered. I have a BA 737-200 and AA 707F (lightning bolt) in my collection, but neither of these are listed on the box.

Chip

chip707 · 09-24-2002, 11:56 PM

Full box shot.

Chip

anthony lawler · 10-21-2002, 06:57 PM

Hi Mike, Interested to see you have completed the collection of Aerominis. Does this include the SAS, Lufthansa, Swissair and a few others that were distributed in Europe in very limited quantities - I've seen a catalogue photocopy - but never seen an actual model!Do you count Brian Peckham's - or only the originals? Regards Anthony Lawler

10-22-2002, 10:53 PM

WOW! Sir Mr. Anthony Lawler on the forum... Is this your first
visit or have you been here before and just laying low!!!!!

BOWENAERO · 10-25-2002, 05:07 PM

ANTHONY,

GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE T ATTEND ANY SHOWS LATELY, AND I FEAR I AM LOSING TOUCH WITH SO MANY FINE PEOPLE.

I DO NOT INCLUDE SAS, SWISSAIR, ALITALIA OR LUFTHANSA, AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN, OR EVEN HEARD TELL OF THESE ACTUAL MODELS. I AM , HOWEVER, FAMILIAR WITH THE CATALOG YOU REFER TO. IN FACT, I HAVE AN ORIGINAL. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH (ESPECIALLY IN CASE OF THE LUFTHANSA) THAT SOME OF THE PHOTOS MAY BE "ARTISTS RENDERINGS" OR AT LEAST SOME OF THE TITLING ON THE MODELS IS HAND-DONE. OTHERS, ALITALIA AND SAS APPEAR QUITE CONVINCING.

I DO, HOWEVER, INCLUDE THE PECKHAM MODELS. ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ACQUIRED THEM ALL. BTW, WHAT NEWS DO YOU HAVE OF THEM?

I INCLUDE THE TOMPKINS MODELS AS WELL, ALTHOUGH I MAY BE LACKING THE AIR INDIA 747 WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO EXIST IN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITIES. IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN "WHAT-IFS" AND SECOND-HAND DECORATIONS. MY GOAL WAS REALLY ONLY TO HAVE EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE PURCHASED VIA THE CATALOGS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME I BEGAN MY AERO MINIing IN 1975. I AM CONFIDENT I HAVE REACHED AND EVEN SURPASSED THIS GOAL. A PHOTO AND LAUNDRY LIST OF MY COLLECTION APPEARS EARLIER IN THIS FORUM.

AGAIN, GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. HOPE ALL IS WELL, AND PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH.

MIKE

I CAN POST COPIES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CATALOG IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.

NWO · 07-25-2003, 02:46 AM

actually what is the scale of Aero mini?

chip707 · 07-25-2003, 10:44 AM

They are considered "box scale" or sized to fit the retail boxes/packaging. I understand there are some slight variations in the model lines, but the scales quoted are:

747 1:290
all other passenger models 1:238

If you have not seen the 2nd generation of Inflight models from Jetstreams USA (currently Air Force One VC-135's), check them out. They are 1:200, have fixed gear, rolling rubber tires and are incredible.

Additionally, I was fortunate enough to see a mock up of a 1:250 diecast DC8 referenced by crownvic with retractible gear, incredible as well.

With these 2 products coming to market I can finally say there is a modern equivalent of Aero Mini's.

As always, anyone having leads on available original Aero Mini's, I'm missing the rarest and am interested (AA Chrome 747, Spirit of 76, E-4A, JAL DC-8, Tomkins BA 747, USAF and JASDF F-4, Luftwaffe and JASDF F-104).

Rgds

Regards

Flying Ace · 07-25-2003, 01:14 PM

Quote:

[i]
Additionally, I was fortunate enough to see a mock up of a 1:250 diecast DC8 referenced by crownvic with retractible gear, incredible as well.

With these 2 products coming to market I can finally say there is a modern equivalent of Aero Mini's.

[/b]

Are the wheels going to turn on Gemini's new product as the Aero Mini's do, or will they be stationary...also, how about the cockpit window...printed or or galss mimetic insert?

K

NWO · 07-26-2003, 02:23 AM

thx chip707

Flying Ace · 08-15-2003, 03:02 PM

Quote:

[i]
As always, anyone having leads on available original Aero Mini's, I'm missing the rarest and am interested (AA Chrome 747, Spirit of 76, E-4A, JAL DC-8, Tomkins BA 747, USAF and JASDF F-4, Luftwaffe and JASDF F-104).

[/b]

Don't know what your standards are for incoporating these planes into your collection, but here is the link for one of the rarest you have listed on ebay. It appears the sellers might know a little something about these planes. Too bad the canopy is missing.

K

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2650

07-27-2002, 01:58 PM	#1
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	Thanx WITH THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF A JASDF F-4 PHANTOM, I HAVE COMPLETED MY AERO MINI COLLECTION. I HAVE ENJOYED THE HUNT FOR MOST OF TEN YEARS NOW AND HAVE MET MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND TRAVELED TO SOME EXCITING PLACES ON MY QUEST. MANY THANX TO ANY AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY. THE SHELVES ARE NOW FULL!! REGARDS MIKE BOWEN

07-31-2002, 10:54 AM	#3
chip707 Junior Collector Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 13	Congrats Congrats Mike.... You crossed the finish line in the elusive Aero Mini race....what a great collection. I'm still missing 2 F-4's, 2 F-104's, 1 Zero, the E-4A, Spirit of '76, Chrome AA 747, JL DC-8, and the Tomkins BA 747. You know, just the easy ones to find..... Your success will keep me looking. Thanks for sharing. Chip

07-31-2002, 11:13 PM	#5
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	SORRY,HERE'S THE PHOTO HERE'S THE BRANIFF 747 WITH IT'S FRIENDS.

08-01-2002, 09:23 PM	#7
bstewart Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Minnetona, MN 55345 Posts: 3	JASDF F-104 Do you have a JASDF F-104? I have one in my collection and some photos were included in issue 34/4 of Minnature Aircraft Quarterly. I don't know another collector that has one.

08-02-2002, 11:25 PM	#8
jjorgemiami Complete Wacko! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: MIAMI Age: 47 Posts: 5,666	Outstanding!! Congrats and thanks for posting Wow, Bowenaero that looks awesome! Mike would it be too much to ask for you to list what is on the picture from top to bottom and from left to right, due to the angle, glare and distance some aren't identifiable in the photo. Also PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post a close up picture of the NW B747. Is that an original Aeromini NW B747???? __________________ Fly United Airlines we are R I S I N G !

07-30-2002, 09:51 AM	#2
TL925 Master Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: London Age: 26 Posts: 529	Wow, I must say that your complete collection looks absolutely great. I have a ways to go in my aero mini collection, but it always plays second hand to 1/400 and 1/500 models. Can I ask though what Braniff 747 that is? Is it a custom model. it appears to be red in the picture. It also looks like a lot of the 2nd generation models are in your picture, is it a complete collection of both?

07-31-2002, 11:11 PM	#4
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	THE BRANIFF 747 IS ACTUALLY ORANGE (BIG ORANGE) AND I DID IT MYSELF FROM AN OLD "JUNQUER." SEE ATTATCHED PHOTO. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE NOTICED A DELTA DC-9 I DID AND PERHAPS A MEXICANA 727 MADE BY A FRIEND OF MINE, HANS NESBITT. ALL ARE COUNTERFEIT, BUT DEAR TO MY HEART. YES, THE SECOND-GENERATION COLLECTION IS COMPLETE AS WELL. AT LEAST AS OF THIS POINT IN TIME. I OWE THE PECKHAMS A LETTER TO FIND OUT IF ANYTHING IS CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS. THANX FOR YOUR INTREST, MIKE BOWEN P.S. THANX CHIP, I HAVEN'T FORGOTEN YOU OR YOUR PLANES. THE SNOW WILL FLY SOON, AND I'LL HAVE TIME TO GIVE THEM THEIR JUST DESERVES.

08-01-2002, 06:22 AM	#6
TL925 Master Collector Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: London Age: 26 Posts: 529	I must say that that Braniff looks great. Out of curiousity, what model was it before you applied the Braniff colors over it?

08-04-2002, 04:54 PM	#9
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	ANSWERS TO ?'s OKAY GUYS, HERE WE GO, AS BRIEFLY AS POSSIBLE 1- I THINK IT WAS A TWA WITHOUT ANY WINDOWS OR DOORS AND SEVERAL PAINT PROBLEMS. I HAVE A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE SOMEWHERE. I'LL TRY TO FIND IT. 2 - AFFIRM THE JASDF F-104 (SEE ATTATCHMENT) 3 - TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT EAL -9, 727, -8, 747, BOEING HOUSE 747-100 EAL 72* PIED 73, UAL 73, OZ -9, OZ -9(ONE HAS THE TAIL "NOTCH" THE OTHER DOES NOT, PAA 74 PIED 72, UAL 73, AIR WEST 72 (X3), DELTA -9(MY REPAINT), PAA 70, PAA 72, PAA 72 LUFTWAFFE F-104, USAF 104, JASDF 104, USAF C-135, SPIRIT OF '76, USAF E-4 USN F4, USAF F4, ROYAL NAVY F4, JASDF F4, USAIR 73, USPS 72 NW 74, AA 74, AA 74 (CHROME FINISH), TWA 74 NW 72, NW -9, NW 70, AA 70, AA 72, TW 70, TW -9, TW 72 BI 74 (MY REPAINT), BI 70 (X3) BI 72 BLUE, BI 72 RED, BI 70 (X5)* TAP 74, BA 74, QUANTAS 74, BOAC 74 (ALL BRIAN TOMPKINS MODELS) ALASKA 73, KLM 73, CANADIAN 73, BA 70, BAA 73, BRITISH AIRTOURS 73, AIR FRANCE 70* AIR FRANCE 73* (X2) (ONE HAS NICKEL PLATED WINGS), CONTINENTAL 73, BOAC VC-10 AIR CANADA 74, JAL 74 AIR CANADA -9, AC -8, MEXICANA 72(REPAINT), JAL -8, JAL 72, ANA 73, ANA 72 DENOTES "2nd GENERATION" BRIAN PECKHAM MODELS THE BOTTOM SHELF IS JUST DIFFERENT TYPES OF PACKAGING: "SLIPCOVER" BOX, "BUBBLE" PKG, "TV" BOX JAPANESE DOMESTIC RELEASE PACKAGE, AND VC-10 BOX.CONTINENTAL Last edited by BOWENAERO; 12-10-2003 at 12:30 PM.

08-04-2002, 04:57 PM	#10
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	ADDITIONAL INFO HERE'S THE JASDF F-104 PHOTO. THANX AGAIN MIKE Last edited by BOWENAERO; 08-04-2002 at 05:00 PM.

08-05-2002, 08:28 PM	#11
bstewart Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Minnetona, MN 55345 Posts: 3	USMC F-4 and silver Zero. Issue 27 of Miniature Aircraft Quarterly has an interview with Robert Metchick, the founder of Aero Mini. In that interview, Metchick says he also made a USMC F-4 shortly before they went bankrupt. I haven't ever seen one. In the same interview, MAQ has a picture of the silver Zero as well.

08-05-2002, 11:27 PM	#12
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	BILL, I HAVE SEEN ONE PHOTO OF A USMC PHANTOM, IN FACT I CAN ATTACH IT HERE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT EVER WAS PRODUCED FOR RETAIL DISTRIBUTION. THIS ONE HAS TOO MANY DETAILS FOR AERO MINI (IN MY OPINION) FURTHER AND MORE RECENT DISCUSSION WITH MR. METCHICK LEADS ME TO BELIEVE HE MAY HAVE HAD HIS PEOPLE MAKE ONE UP FOR HIM, BUT THAT IS AS FAR AS IT GOT. RE: THE SILVER ZERO, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS DONE IN SMALL QUANTITIES FOR THE JAPANESE DOMESTIC MARKET, HOWEVER THE ONLY PHOTOS I'VE SEEN ORIGINATED FROM KNOWN "MODELERS" WHO MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE "TINKERED." MIKE

08-05-2002, 11:29 PM	#13
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	HERE'S THE SILVER ZERO SILVER ZERO ATTACHED

08-07-2002, 08:18 PM	#14
bstewart Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Minnetona, MN 55345 Posts: 3	USMC F-4 and silver Zero I will check my old issues of MAQ to see if I can find a photo of the USMC F-4. The photo you posted looks like someone modified a USN F-4. For some reason I was thinking the USMC version was silver like the USAF and the decals are much more basic than the photo. MAQ did have a photo of a silver Zero next to the green version. The photos were from a collection of a Japanese member of IMACS so I suspect the model was genuine.

08-07-2002, 11:03 PM	#15
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	MODELS BILL, I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT IMACS MEMBER IS ROCKY TATEIWA. THE PHOTO I POSTED IS HIS AS WELL. I TEND TO AGREE THE SILVER ZERO IS PROBABLY FOR REAL, ALTHOUGH DOMESTIC JAPAN SALES ONLY. ANXIOUS TO SEE THE USMC, ALTHOUGH IT'LL BE HARD TO CONVINCE ME IT IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A "ONE OFF." REGARDS, MIKE BOWEN

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08-15-2002, 11:08 PM	#16
kwip Senior Collector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 182	Very nice collection! I appreciate your patience and perseverance in amassing it over the years. Question... Does anyone have a list of the Brian Tompkins Aero Mini offerings over the years? I do have 4 of them... 2 AA 707-320c Freighters (lightning bolt and red/wht/blue) hand painted, a gorgeous Saudia L-1011 and a Singapore A300. Have also seen a Sabena 707-320 and Air Force One 707 from the Tompkins series. Thanks in advance __________________ WestPac could'a been a contend'uh if they'd stayed in COS

08-22-2002, 12:56 AM	#17
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	Kwip, I'm not sure if anyone would have a complete list of those or not, but you might try Brian himself. I'm not sure how to contact him myself, but someone here may be able to help you. The one thing I did want to mention was that Brian's planes were called AIRO MINI, not AERO MINI. this is often a source of confusion, especially since he did, in fact, at one time, produce some AERO MINI 747's from blank AERO MINI castings (British Airways, BOAC, TAP, Quantas and possibly Air India.) Regards, Mike p.s. you might try Don Kaylor @ Jetstreams USA for that Tompkins referral. <http://www.jetstreamsusa.com/>

09-24-2002, 11:53 PM	#18
chip707 Junior Collector Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 13	Airomini Took me a while to get to this, but attached should be a photo of an original Airomini box. The box lists 25 different models they offered. I have a BA 737-200 and AA 707F (lightning bolt) in my collection, but neither of these are listed on the box. Chip

09-24-2002, 11:56 PM	#19
chip707 Junior Collector Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 13	Airomini Full box shot. Chip

10-21-2002, 06:57 PM	#20
anthony lawler Junior Collector Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: virginia Posts: 1	Hi Mike, Interested to see you have completed the collection of Aerominis. Does this include the SAS, Lufthansa, Swissair and a few others that were distributed in Europe in very limited quantities - I've seen a catalogue photocopy - but never seen an actual model!Do you count Brian Peckham's - or only the originals? Regards Anthony Lawler

10-22-2002, 10:53 PM	#21
crownvic Guest Posts: n/a	WOW! Sir Mr. Anthony Lawler on the forum... Is this your first visit or have you been here before and just laying low!!!!!

10-25-2002, 05:07 PM	#22
BOWENAERO Junior Collector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NOBLESVILLE, IN Posts: 23	HELLO ANTHONY ANTHONY, GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE T ATTEND ANY SHOWS LATELY, AND I FEAR I AM LOSING TOUCH WITH SO MANY FINE PEOPLE. I DO NOT INCLUDE SAS, SWISSAIR, ALITALIA OR LUFTHANSA, AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN, OR EVEN HEARD TELL OF THESE ACTUAL MODELS. I AM , HOWEVER, FAMILIAR WITH THE CATALOG YOU REFER TO. IN FACT, I HAVE AN ORIGINAL. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH (ESPECIALLY IN CASE OF THE LUFTHANSA) THAT SOME OF THE PHOTOS MAY BE "ARTISTS RENDERINGS" OR AT LEAST SOME OF THE TITLING ON THE MODELS IS HAND-DONE. OTHERS, ALITALIA AND SAS APPEAR QUITE CONVINCING. I DO, HOWEVER, INCLUDE THE PECKHAM MODELS. ESPECIALLY SINCE I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ACQUIRED THEM ALL. BTW, WHAT NEWS DO YOU HAVE OF THEM? I INCLUDE THE TOMPKINS MODELS AS WELL, ALTHOUGH I MAY BE LACKING THE AIR INDIA 747 WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO EXIST IN EXTREMELY LIMITED QUANTITIES. IT IS HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN "WHAT-IFS" AND SECOND-HAND DECORATIONS. MY GOAL WAS REALLY ONLY TO HAVE EVERYTHING I COULD HAVE PURCHASED VIA THE CATALOGS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME I BEGAN MY AERO MINIing IN 1975. I AM CONFIDENT I HAVE REACHED AND EVEN SURPASSED THIS GOAL. A PHOTO AND LAUNDRY LIST OF MY COLLECTION APPEARS EARLIER IN THIS FORUM. AGAIN, GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. HOPE ALL IS WELL, AND PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH. MIKE I CAN POST COPIES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CATALOG IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED.

07-25-2003, 02:46 AM	#23
NWO Insane Collector Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: HK/PRC Posts: 1,385	actually what is the scale of Aero mini?

07-25-2003, 10:44 AM	#24
chip707 Junior Collector Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 13	Aero Mini scale They are considered "box scale" or sized to fit the retail boxes/packaging. I understand there are some slight variations in the model lines, but the scales quoted are: 747 1:290 all other passenger models 1:238 If you have not seen the 2nd generation of Inflight models from Jetstreams USA (currently Air Force One VC-135's), check them out. They are 1:200, have fixed gear, rolling rubber tires and are incredible. Additionally, I was fortunate enough to see a mock up of a 1:250 diecast DC8 referenced by crownvic with retractible gear, incredible as well. With these 2 products coming to market I can finally say there is a modern equivalent of Aero Mini's. As always, anyone having leads on available original Aero Mini's, I'm missing the rarest and am interested (AA Chrome 747, Spirit of 76, E-4A, JAL DC-8, Tomkins BA 747, USAF and JASDF F-4, Luftwaffe and JASDF F-104). Rgds Regards

07-26-2003, 02:23 AM	#26
NWO Insane Collector Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: HK/PRC Posts: 1,385	thx chip707