The Old Man's Musings
I use this blog to share knowledge, information or things I think are cool. Frequently I find information other places, either books, the internet or articles I come across. Where appropriate I do try to provide sourcing but I don't identify every little thing I come across
I always have something to say. Occasionally it is worth reading. I'll write it down, you read it, and decide for yourself if it was worth it!
As I sit here at my desk, whatever comes to mind is where I wander. When I figure it out I write it down and post it here in the blog portion of this website.
NRA - Nothing to do with Guns!
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I have seen several vintage moulds that have either NRA or N.R.A. stamped on the back of them. I have also seen numerous different explanations of what exactly it means. Some folks are explaining it as a distinct mould manufacturer. Others identify it as a special mould for certain shows or events. The truth is actually a little more interesting than that!
In the 1930s NRA did not mean National Rifle Association like it does today. It referred to the National Recovery Administration, which was a major New Deal program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The New Deal was meant to help the U.S. recover from the Great Deperssion. The NRA set industry codes for:
Rapaport Bros. History
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It is believed that Rapaport Bros., an American company, got it start about 1930 when the five Rapaport Brothers (possibly german), using designs from the German Schneider/Schierke designs as well as designs they created themselves started Junior Caster. Some of the designs they copied from the Germans include Schiff, and Ganseliesel, while original designs in the 1930 catalog include Battlecruiser, an anti-aircraft gun (which was then copied by A.C. Gilbert) and The Dirigble. 
Around 1935 advertisements for the Buck Rogers series of models appeared. Consisting of eight moulds, one of which is the holy grail as only models have been found-no mould. Additionally, there is one mould number, E-2508, that was set aside but neither mould nor model has ever been located.
In 1935 The Home Foundry company was started. Home Foundry was almost certainly a company also owned by the Rapaport brothers. The moulds from this company were almost entirely original designs, with the models much more action oriented. The 1937 catalog added a machine gunner, as well as Popeye Designs, Mickey Mouse and Flash Gordon.
What Kind of Bomber is the Rapaport Mould?
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We know that it is a Rapaport mould that was also sold by REB (but that is a different story...) Not by Home Foundry. It is identified in the Rapaport catalogs as a WWII "Attack Bomber", whereas the Home Foundry Bomber mould is called "Stunting" and while it appears to also be a bomber there are a couple of subtle differences between the two moulds. First the wheels are separate in the Attack Bomber. The Stunting Plane also has a three blade prop while the Attack Bomber has a two blade prop. Finally the Stunting Plane is listed in catalogs as early as the 1930's which would place it prior to WWII.
New How To Section
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I have just added a "How To" section to this website. This super random accumulation of How to articles are loosely based on tips and tricks I have learned over the years of making, pouring and painting molds and models. In no way is this meant to be the way you MUST do it. Far from it. If any of these how to's give you an idea on how to make your own molding or painting better then that is a win! The listing of articles explaining how I do things and may or may not be of any use to folks. Currently the articles in it include my custom metal formula, how I made my Vallejo Paint rack and a couple of other articles. I will continue to grow this section as I complete mor How To's. If you have an idea for an article, let me know I just may have figured out an answer!
Dick Tracy
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Dick Tracy first appeared on Oct. 4, 1931 — and crime comics were never again the same. Developed by Chester Gould, the first weeks comic strip gives us Dick Tracy's Girlfriend, Tracy's girlfriend, Tess Trueheart kidnapped and her father murdered. Tracy joins the police as a plainclothes detective, tracks down the killers, and rescues Tess. He then decides to stick with the force. His determination, incorruptible honesty, and well-known willingness to use violence in excess of any that had ever before been seen in comics combine to carry him quickly to the top of his profession.
It was Captain Joseph Patterson, the Chicago Tribune Syndicate editor who decisively influenced the direction of such diverse strips as Little Orphan Annie and Gasoline Alley, who named the strip (Gould wanted to call it "Plainclothes Tracy"), as well as Tracy's girlfriend. Although he never contributed so much as a single pen stroke to an actual published strip, Patterson's effect on American comics was profound. It's anybody's guess how much a snappy title contributes to a work's success, but the fact that "Dick Tracy" rolls so easily off the tongue certainly didn't hurt.
Dick tracy's villans were also known for their bizarre deformities. The Blank (1937), Little Face Finney (1941), Pruneface (1943), The Brow (1944), Shakey (1945), Pear Shape (1949) and many more. Generally a Dick tracy Criminal only lasted thru the current comic strip as Tracy was known to be quite liberal with the bullets.
Disney & Home Foundry
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In the 1930's Home Foundry Produced molds for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Donald Duck. I have seen the mould containing Pluto consistently misattributed not only to Allied Toy Company but also as Goofy rather than Pluto. However reseaching the catalogs clearly show the models from moulds of the Home Foundry Company and while Disney afficianados would know just by looking at him, the Home Foundry catalog identifes him as Pluto NOT Goofy.
Flash Gordon
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Flash Gordon, the hero of a space opera adventure comic strip, was created in 1934 by illustrator Alex Raymond and writer Don Moore as a Sunday newspaper feature for King Features Syndicate. The character was intended to compete with the already established and popular "Buck Rogers".
Buck Rogers in The 25th Century
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First, some history. Buck Rogers was created by Philip Francis Nowlan and his first appearance (as Anthony Rogers) was in the short story "Armageddon-2419 A.D" which was published in the August 1928 issue of Amazing Stories. The president of National Newspaper Service Syndicate, John Flint Dille, had read and enjoyed the original story. He eventually approached Nowlan to do a science fiction comic strip based on the concept, the first such strip in the world. Richard Calkins was commissioned to do the art and it debuted on the January 7, 1929 as "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". Three years later Buck also made the jump to radio, in a four times weekly broadcast starting on the 7th November 1932.
With his success in other mediums it was only a matter of time before Buck transferred to the big screen. In RKO's version of the story, several changes were made. Buck's aircraft is forced down by a blizzard over the Arctic, and in order to survive until rescue comes, he and his friend Buddy are forced to use the newly discovered Nirvano gas to place themselves into suspended animation. They are awakened in 2040 (500 years from the date of the serial). Killer Kane is now an evil gangster who rules the world with an iron fist, and the resistance is led from a secret laboratory by Dr. Huer.
Welcome to Vintage Toy Soldiers
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For quite a few years now I have enjoyed creating molds, pouring metal, and painting medieval models in the 54mm group. I was first inspired to get into this hobby when I took a trip to England and visited the toy store at the Guards Museum in London. There they had (and still do!) hundreds if not thousands of metal model toy soldiers for sale. I was fascinated by them and the way they were painted. So I looked into this and before I knew it I was hooked! My first molds purchased from Prince August, and were the true "Toy Soldiers". Since then I have expanded to several other mold makers (some of which are no longer in business), and even started making my own molds. I, like everyone else, live in a digital, instant gratification, world today. This hobby however is pure analog, and requires focus and attention to detail, with no computer needed!