Brooklin in Illinois - 1954 DeSoto Two Door Hardtop

Those images look superb and in terrific locations around Chicagoland. This one is in an excellent color and I have a neat 1/43 model of the 1954 DeSoto in blue from Franklin Mint.

Wonderful model. I love this one. When I discovered 1:43 scale models as an alternative purchase to my 1:24 models. I found three Brooklin models that appealed to me and started me down this road of appreciation for Brooklin. This was one of the 1st three I bought, and now at over 900 in my collection. I still love them.

One of the best detailed Brooklins ever until recently.

Posted by: @bob-jackman

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One of the best detailed Brooklins ever until recently.

Well said, I agree.   I have a very small collection of Brooklins .... my oh my, how things have changed.

I have this one also and agree that it is one of Brooklin's best. To bad Brooklin never used the chromed window frame/roof trim cage and roof insert on all of their hardtops instead of casting the model in one piece. The chromed trim really adds authenticity and realism.

@kenspear +1  I agree with you Ken.

@ed-davis I have this one, along with the convertible and the sedan, and love them all.

Ed, I seriously thought I was looking at pictures of the 1:1, that's how realistic both the car and the scenes are! 

It's not one of my favorite cars, but it is one of my favorite models. Brooklin did a fantastic job here. Your photos are terrific too.

Posted by: @ed-davis

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The next model featured in my Brooklin in Illinois series is the 1954 DeSoto Firedome Sportman two-door hardtop in Black and Cherokee Red (BRK176). The background shows a house in the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago's near northwest side. Many houses here are over 100 years old, well maintained and often with completely remodeled interiors. Wicker Park is popular with young adults due to its proximity to shopping and entertainment places in, and near, downtown Chicago. This is not one of Brooklin's newest models, but it is very detailed and is very nice.  The first picture is the one I used in the BCC Facebook page.  The second one shows the model and another older building.

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Ed D. I agree with Ed G's comments above and also much appreciate seeing the historic buildings located around Chicago in your posts. I don't know how you get the background pics and model cars posed so realistically (to scale appearance wise), where even some of the building is seen through the car's windows. Spectacular!

Here are some pics of my '54 Desoto, which was fun to detail because Brooklin provides such a nice "base" that calls out to be enhanced. At least to me anyway. The red trim around the windshield, a small detail as seen in reference photos, was what really grabbed my attention.

In the display shelf for comparison: MOC Buick conv. - interior WOW, a bit of a Caddie, a younger sibling Conquest Desoto, the Brooklin, Desoto only a year older - what a difference a year makes, a Franklin Mint Packard, and a black Conquest Studebaker.

@stewil 

I am glad you liked my pictures. It is a nice way to combine my interests in model  collecting, photography, and Chicago area history. I have more photos planned.

Thanks for your photos.

I noticed the A4 Skyhawk in one of your photos. I am wondering the scale of the model and who made it. I have five 1/72 scale diecast Skyhawks.

@ed-davis 

Five???? Holy Cow, must be a story there? So, what is it? Curious minds want to know.

It is diecast by Hobby Master in 1/48th scale. The aircraft flying in these eight display shelves all correspond in age to the automobiles being introduced in the same era. 

@stewil 

Here is the story (history) of my Skyhawk collection, and they are all 1/72 scale diecast models from Hobbymaster.  I bought my first one in 2011 or 2012 (bottom left in picture). Several years later, when I decided to add an airport to my 1/64 scale train layout, I had to make a decision what airplanes to use.  There is little available in 1/64 scale, but many 1/72 scale planes are available and look reasonably well in a 1/64 scale setting. I then bought the second Skyhawk (bottom right in picture). Incidentally, the second one is the plane former senator John McCain flew.  Due to the relatively small size of the Skyhawk compared to other jet planes of that era (60's and 70's), it fits well in the train layout.  Early this year Hobbymaster introduced the Skyhawk in the Blue Angels colors, and I bought two of them (top row in picture).  One came as number 1 plane, and the other came with a decal sheet with numbers from 1 to 6, and I used decals for the number 2 plane.  The fifth is actually a spare plane, which I keep in its box.  It is a Blue Angels plane with the decal sheet.  Maybe one day I will buy another and have Blue Angels numbers 1 through 4.

I have a question for you.  You said yours was a Hobbymaster 1/48 scale plane.  I have been following Hobbymaster for many years, and did not know they made a 1/48 scale version of the Skyhawk. When did you purchase it?  Hobbymaster makes many planes in 1/72 scale and 1/48 scale, but I have never seen them make the same plane in both scales.

Ed,

1952 A-4C Skyhawk, USN VA-144 Roadrunners, NH302, USS Kitty Hawk  Purchased from The Flying Mule for $63.00 on 12/15/14.        My "relationship" to the Skyhawk is that my best man was a Naval Academy grad and Marine flyer of Skyhawks, the hot rod of air at the time.

BTW - Are you a reader? The Chained Eagle is a fascinating story about a Navy flier who was shot down while flying A Skyhawk. Interestingly, LT Alverz was an eye witness to the action as he was dropping flares over the Gulf of Tonkin incident in order to illuminate the attacking torpedo boats that did not exist. Later, (early 70's) I spent a couple of weeks on the USS Maddox, one of the two destroyers involved. In the wardroom was a massive painting illustrating the attack which clearly showed the attacking, phantom, torpedo boats.

@jcarnutz 

i agree this is one of Brooklin best as is the 55 Lincoln. Only issue with both cars are the too small headlights photos attached. I have both cars and have corrected the Lincoln and will work on the Desoto.