Category:Skybirds

Toy Brands and Manufacturers

Skybirds

1932 - 1940s

"Skybirds Descriptive Details" booklet [image info]

1933: Skybird Clubs and Skybird League [image info]

1934:Skybirds and Ship-Series [image info]

1939: "You can still get SKYBIRDS" [image info]

Skybirds was an early (1930s) range of 1:70/1:72 scale model aircraft kits and accessories (also available pre-built) made by A.J. Holladay & Co. Ltd. of London, run by Alfred J. Holladay. Much or all of the range was designed by A.J. Stevens.

The range, made from wood, was produced from 1932 until the 1940s (when their property was destroyed in the Blitz), and predated the more modern plastic 1:72 model aircraft ranges later made by Airfix and Revell.

1933: Skybirds Aerodrome. "Make a complete aerodrome or wartime scene. Constructive 1/70 scale model."

Aircraft range:

1 – Cierva Autogiro 24
1A – Avro Tutor – (May 1935)
1B – Fairey Battle – (Sep 1936)
1C – Boulton Paul Defiant – (Jun 1941)
2 – De Havilland Puss Moth – (Jul 1932)
2A – De Havilland Leopard Moth
2B – Heston Phoenix – (Feb 1936)
2C – Hawker Henley – (Aug 1940)
3 – Hawker Fury
3A – Hawker Hurricane – (Jun 1938)
4 – Blackburn Segrave – (Aug 1932)
4A – De Havilland Comet
5 – Sopwith Camel – (Sep 1932)
5A – Curtiss Tomahawk
6 – Lockheed Vega – Nov 1932)
6A – De Havilland Rapide – (Aug 1935)
6B – Airspeed Oxford – (Aug 1939)
6C – M.I.G. 3 (1 61)
7 – Fokker DVII
7A – Heinkel HE70A – (Dec 1936)
7B – Messerschmidt ME109 – (Jan 1940)
7B – Messerschmidt ME109F – (Oct 1942)
8 – Comper Swift – (Jan 1933)
8A – B.E.2c – (Jul 1935)
8B – F.E.8 – (Jul 1939)
9 – Nieuport Scout
9A – Morane Saulnier MS.406C1 – (Oct 1939)
10 – Sopwith Schneider – (Mar 1933)
10A – Gloster Gauntlet – (Jan 1935)
10B – Gloster Gladiator – (Jan 1939)
11 – Fokker DRI
11A – Fairey Hendon – (Jul 1936)
11B – Handley Page Hampden
12 – De Havilland 4 – (Apr 1933)
12A – R.E.8
13 – Lockheed Orion – (Jul 1933)
13A – Dewoitine D500 – (Jun 1935)
13B – Bristol 138A – (Mar 1937)
14 – Westland Wallace
14A – Supermarine Spitfire 1 – (Sep 1937)
15 – LV.G. CV – (Sep 1933)
15A – Percival Vega Gull – (Jan 1937)
15B – Dornier Do17 – (Jun 1940)
16 – A.W. XV Atalanta
16A – Lockheed Electra – (Jan 1936)
16B – Grumman F2F – (Jul 1937)
16C – Curtiss P36A – (Oct 1938)
16D – Lockheed lightning – (Sep 1941)
17 – De Havilland Gipsy III Moth (or Moth Major)
17A – Blackburn Shark – (Oct 1936)
17B – Blackburn Skua – (Nov 1938)
18 – Percival Gull
18A – Supermarine Seagull V (Walrus)
18B – Bristol Blenheim – (Dec 1937)
18B – Bristol Long-nose Blenheim
19 – Macchi MC72 – (Feb 1934)
19A – Bristol Fighter
20 – Handley Page Heyford – (Apr 1934)
20A – Hawker Hart – (Oct 1935)
21 – S.E.S. – (May 1934)
22 – Airspeed Courier – (Jul 1934)
22A – BA. Eagle – (May 1936)
22B – A.W. Siskin IIIA – (May 1939)
22C – Fairey Seafox – (Jun 1939)
23 – Fairey Gordon – (Aug 1934)
23A – S.P.A.D. SVH – (May 1937)
24 – Fairey Seal – Nov 1934)
24A – Westland Lysander – Nov 1937)
25 – Albatros DIII – (Dec 1934)
25A – Hannoveraner – (Mar 1938)
25B – Miles Master – (Mar 1939)
26 – Percival Mew Gull (Junior Series) – (Apr 1936)
26 – Hawker Tempest V
27 – Caudron C450 (Junior Series) – (Nov 1936)
27 – Gloster Meteor(1945 46}
27/1 – Aeronca-Jap (Junior Series)
28 – Set No. 1 : Unshaped Parts – (Jan 1934)
28 – Supermarine Spitfire XIV
29 – Set No. 2 : Unshaped Parts
30 – Set No. 3 : Unshaped Parts
– Sturdy (Flying Model No. 1) – (Jul 1938)
– De Havilland Moth Minor – (Sep 1939)
– Messerschrnidt ME110 – (Jul 1942)
– Douglas Havoc
– Speedy (Flying Model No. 2)

Skybird Airport

1933: Skybirds, and "Skybird Airport". "Well made, portable, when closed measures 36" × 10" × 10". It can be opened out in a minute for display – a realistic background for your photographs – keeps your models safe and tidy."

Aircraft Accessories

10B – Cockpit Pilots (set of 3)
10C – Cockpit Observers (set of 3)
16 – Large Bombs (set of 2) – (Sep 1933)
16A – Modern 230-pound Bomb (set of 2) – (Feb 1937)
17 – Cooper Bombs (set of 8)

42 – Transfers for Atalanta – (Jan 1934)
42A – Transfers for C.W.A. Scott's Comet aircraft – (Feb 1935)
43 – Civil Registration Transfers (208 letters)
43A – Military Registration
43B – Supplementary Civil Registration Transfers (168 letters)
50 – French Rings
51 – RAF. Rings
51A – Larger R.A.F. Rings
52 – German Crosses
53 – Coil of brass wire – (Jan 1936)
– Revolistic Airscrews(2 sizes) – (Aug 1934)
– Set of red and blue roundels – (Sep 1939)
– National cockades (different kinds and sizes, each available in sets of 4)
Set No 10 – Irvin Air Chute with Parachutist

Skybirds Airport

21 – Fencing
21A – Decorative Columns
– Landing Tee
– Maintenance Ladder
– Wind Indicator

Buildings

22 – Wartime Hangar
23 – Skybird Metal Hangar
24 – Heston Hangar – (Sep 1932)
25 – Large Hangar – (Jul 1933)
26 – Workshop Hangar – (Jul 1934)
26 – Mammoth Hangar – (Oct 1938)
27 – Workshop Hangar extension
28 – Brooklands Control Tower – (Feb 1933)
29 – Brooklands Club Building
29A – Airport Office
29B – Wind indicator (Gatwick set now numbered) – (Dec 1938)
30 – Radio Station set – (Dec 1933)
30 – Radio Station Set (revised set)
– New Airport Building
– Junior Airport Set – (Jun 1937)
– Skybird Airport

Gatwick Airport and railway station:

(No 1) – Martello Air Station
(No 2) – Ground Sheet (air station section) -
(No 3) – Ground sheet (runway section)
(No 4) – Gatwick Hangar
– Mainline platform (No 1)
– Island platform (Nos 2 & 3)
– Far-side platform (No 4)
– 3-way footbridge

Anti-aircraft units, refuelling, infrastructure and support vehicles

11 – Anti-Aircraft Gun – (Feb 1934)
11A – Trailer for AA. Gun
11B – A.A. Gun Unit – (Mar 1938)
12A – Sound Locator Unit and Crew – (Nov 1937)
12B – Sound Locator
18 – Silk R.A.F. and Civil Air Ensigns
19 – Petrol Pump (Red Line)
19 – Pratts Petrol Pump
20 – Searchlight
20A – Electric floodlight
31 – Fire Tender
33 – Ambulance
33A – Civil Ambulance
34 – Air Mail Van
34A – Air Mail Motor
35 – Breakdown Tender
35A – 3-wheel Aircraft Refuelling Tender – (Oct 1936)
35B – 4 wheel Petrol Lorry
36 – 6-wheel Petrol Tender – (Jan 1935)
Set No 8 – Airport Figures – (Oct 1935)
Set No 1 – R.A.F. Figures – (Apr 1933)
Set No 2 – R.F.C. Figures
Set No 3 – National Flying Services – (Aug 1933)
Set No 3A – Civil Air line Personnel – (Mar 1936)
Set No 4 – German Flying Corps – (Sep 1934)
Set No 12 – Anti-Aircraft Gun & Gun Crew
– Observer's Chair
– Petrol Pylon

Army, and Trench warfare

7A – Trench Layout
12C – A.R.P. Shelter – (May 1939)
13 – Lewis Guns (set of 4)
13B – Searchlight Unit – (May 1938)
14A – Modern Vickers Gun (set of 4)
14 – Vickers Guns (set of 4)
15 – Parabellum Gun (set of 4)
32 – Whippet Tank
36A – Lanchester Armoured Car
36B – Army Lorry with tilt frame – (Aug 1937)
Set No 5 – German Infantry, Trench Fighting
Set No 6 – British Infantry, Trench Fighting
Set No 6A – British Troops, Marching Order, rifles slung – (Apr 1936)
Set No 6B – British troops, marching order, rifles at slope – (Apr 1939)
Set No 6C – Headquarters Staff
Set No 6D – British Infantry, four kinds
Set No 6E – Presentation set, British Troops
Set No 6F – The "Twentys" of 1939 – (Aug 1939)
Set No 7 – British and Foreign Infantry,
Set No 9 – Motorcycle dispatch rider, Machine Gun and crew
– British Army OR standing, firing Lewis Gun on tripod – (Mar 1937)
– Electric searchlight – (Apr 1938)
– Lying Bren gunner – (Apr 1940)
– Set of 8 Paratroopers – (Aug 1940)
– Six-inch Howitzer – (Sep 1940)
– British Army Officer, seated, looking through field glasses
– Field gun
– Scammell and Howitzer
– Scammell Tractor

Skybirds, miscellaneous

31 – Set of Working Materials
37 – Painting Outfit – (Nov 1932)
37 – Improved Painting Outfit (replaced set issued in November 1932)
37A – Shadow Painting Outfit – (Mar 1939)
39 – Clear cellulose – (Apr 1934)
40 – Skybird Tube of Durofix
41 – Plastic paste
– Constructive Glass Show-cases (3 sizes)
– Embossed Seals
– Lubricating Oil Cabinet
– Transfers (96 letters)
– Tube of Croid

1939 Catalogue review

"Skybirds."

As mentioned in our issue last month, A. J. Holladay and Co. Ltd. have issued a new Skybird " list. We have now received a copy of this. It has been fully revised and brought up-to-date, while several new models have been added to the range. These make aeroplane construction simple, but for those people who do not wish to make up their own models they can be obtained ready assembled and painted. They range in prices to suit all pockets from "Hawker Fury," Sopwith "Camel" and "S.P.A.D." (French), etc., at 2s., to the Fairy "Hendon" and Night Bomber at 12s. 6d. These are for constructional sets, and the models already constructed retail from 6s. to 27s. 6d. There is also a complete and simple set for juniors termed the "Aeronca" which retails at 1s. 6d. There is a full range of accessories, etc., including engines, cowlings, airscrews, transfers, working materials, paints, etc., military equipment, aerodromes and aerodrome accessories, as well as a complete series of anti-aircraft models. The latter includes complete A.A. Gun Unit at 4s. 6d., anti-aircraft at 1s. 6d., complete A.A. Searchlight Unit, Sound Locator Unit, A.R.P. Air Raid Shelter, etc. In the mechanized units there are armoured cars, whippet tanks, ambulances and Army lorries.
There is also a large range of "Skybird" strong, solid cast figures and "Skybird" flying models. Full details and lists can be obtained from A.J. Holladay and Co. Ltd., 3 Aldermanbury Avenue, London, E.C.2.

— , --, , Games and Toys, , May 1939