702 D.H. Comet Airliner (1954-1965)

Yes Jacques, the Dinky model was indeed a Comet 1, and top marks to Meccano for having taken the initiative to provide us with a model so soon after the Comet entered service , but sadly selecting the registration for one that ultimately crashed. G-APAS the subject of your post above indeed spent many years outdoors but has now been refurbished and on 4 December 2006 was moved into Hangar 1 at Cosford, and is now assured of long-term preservation as a significant part of the RAF Museum collection. It is painted in the colours of BOAC although it never served BOAC having been delivered to Air France on 22 July 1953, remaining with Air France until 11 January 1954 when it returned to the UK for modifications as a result of the other Comet crashes. Interestingly, the fuselage at the de Havilland Heritage Centre of which I referred in my last post also flew with Air France its constructor's number being 6020 with G-APAS above being 6022, the third last and last Comet 1 constructed. The images below are of G-APAS at Cosford and the former F-BGNX, caption and its nose section. Bruce #150 4 December 2015

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The real French SE 210 Caravelle (first flight 1955) and the British DH Comet I (first flight 1949) shared the same cockpit cone, as initially designed for the Comet. The interiors were different. Interesting to compare the Dinky models and see similarities and dissimilarities in design and construction solutions for these areas. Caravelle (no. 60f/891) left, Comet (702/999) right. Kind regards, Jan

Jan---That is very interesting; I seem to remember reading something about them sharing that cockpit nose section, but did not think too much a out it. That is a great photo showing them side by side, and the two Dinky's definitely show that similarity. Nicely done!Regards, Terry

Hello Terry Can you please add a photograph of the inside of the lid of your model's box showing the quality inspection stamp to the above images? Kin regards Bruce (#150) 5 December 2015

Bruce--I will be glad to as soon as I can.Regards, Terry

Bruce--Here is a photo of the box, as well as one of the quality inspection stamp inside the box lid...........let me know if you need anything else!Regards, Terry

Thank you very much Terry. Have added the details including the initials of the inspector to my ever-growing data base. Now, if only I could obtain similar to all your other lidded boxes as well as the smaller end-flap Dinky Toys boxes without causing a severe breakdown with our friendship!! Bruce (#150) 5 December 2015

Bruce, Terry, some more - hopefully clarifying - pictures of my example and its box. Although the model is already marked 'DINKY SUPERTOYS' on a raised cartouche below the starboard wing, the box still bears the DINKY TOYS brand name. The '999' numbers on top and the sides of the lid are all oval stickers, two in black, one red. Whereas the model shows the new registration number G-ALYX on top of the starboard wing, the box still shows a model with the old G-ALYV registration number. Possibly this very model came in a box from slightly older stock or was this habitual for this whole batch? It is remarkable that the 'G -' on the model is of a different (fatter) typesetting than the subsequent 'ALYX'. The old letter combination shows all characters on the early models in the same (fat) letter type. I cannot find an expected box with 'DINKY SUPERTOYS' in straight characters. The next box seems to jump immediately to italic letters for the brand name, the correct new registration number and the model shown with blue tail. I do not manage to decipher the control stamp inside, I just made a picture with increased contrast, hoping this will do for Bruce. Well some pictures to follow, kind regards, Jan.


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Thanks Jacques I was somewhat surprised to see Meccano still usng old box stock for the re-numbered 999, especially in view of the use of stickers over the original 702 salesnumber on the box. Your moel was quality inspected in December 1959 whih shows a late production, and one quite unexpected. I state this as my 999 is in the new box with DINKY SUPERTOYS in italics as well as the change of the drawing to show he new registration letters wth the transfers for the registrations on my model being inner han yours. And yet i wasquality inspeted three months BEFORE your moel! Do not ask me how this came about, as prbably eve Meccano had no idea! I am leaving th text in thi Post as Al wats t see what is happenin wit typing on my computer. I will re-do this message correcting all the mising letter and spaces. Kind regards Bruce (#150) 6 Deceber 21

Thanks Jacques I was somewhat surprised to see Meccano still using old box stock for the re-numbered 999, especially in view of the use of stickers over the original 702 sales number on the box. Your model was quality inspected in December 1959 which shows a late production, and one quite unexpected. I state this as my 999 is in the new box with DINKY SUPERTOYS in italics as well as the change of the drawing to show the new registration with the registrations on my model being thinner than yours. And yet it was quality inspected three months BEFORE your model! Do not ask me how this came about, as probably even Meccano had no idea! I am leaving the text in this Post as Al wants to see what is happening with typing on my computer. I will re-do this message correcting all the missing letters and spaces. Continuing with my message, I presume the windows on your model are still square. Actually you mentioned about the thickness of the registration letters in our Post but I was in a hurry to type a message to enable Al to see the mess my posts would have been without spending ages correcting missing letters etc!! As you have never encountered a box with block lettering for DINKY SUPERTOYS that the change occurred during 1957 as it was this year when italic printing was introduced. Finally, the tail on my Comet is identical to the original 702 - white, although the drawing on the box shows the blue tail. Kind regards Bruce (#150) 6 December 2015

This is an other evidence that Meccano never trashed anything. If there are boxes left over and they can be used by adding stickers, they will be used. They have done this many times. This made me check the Comet page of Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia, it is missing a picture of the DINKY SUPERTOYS white box with blue strips. Can any one please supply a large picture of this box.

Do you mean something like these two images?