The Block of Flats & Country Club

I wasn't quite sure where to put this information and have finally decided to make a separate page of it, in the Sales and Marketing section, though it would obviously fit equally well on the Exhibitions page.
There is an element of consistency in the use of the 'Block of Flats' model during the 1950s, probably more accurately dated from mid 1951, shortly before the launch of set #3X which converted the set #3 into a set #4.
Modern interpretation of the 'Block of Flats' model - with a little modeller's licence
There can be no doubt that the modeller [right], belatedly inspired by Plimpton's marketeers, has used a little "modeller's licence", but it is non-the-less a fine model...
...it also excellently demonstrates the success and longevity of this model and the contribution it made to really firing up the BAYKO market post rationing - and indeed it's obviously still doing so!
Information below shows just how widely these two models, the Block of Flats and Country Club, featured in the BAYKO hobby.
 
1951 B.I.F. BROCHURE

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Front Cover of the 1951 B.I.F. Brochure issued by Plimpton
Page 1 explanatary note from the 1951 B.I.F. Brochure issued by Plimpton

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Centre pages of the 1951 B.I.F. Brochure showing the Country Club model issued by Plimpton

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Photograph of the Block of Flats from the 1951 B.I.F. Brochure issued by Plimpton
Rear Cover of the 1951 B.I.F. Brochure issued by Plimpton

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Plimpton attended the 1951 British Industry Fair (B.I.F.) where this brochure was presumably handed out to the adoring public...
...well to the delegates anyway!
Comparison of the Block of Flats [above] and the one shown on the manual cover [below] will reveal some differences, starting with the number of bases!
Young builders who only had the image on the manual to support the Required Parts List [below] would be perfectly entitled to be confused...
...the image and the list don't match!!!
This is shown courtesy of Chris Reeve.
239 mm x 223 mm = 9.4 x 8.75 inches
 
Plimpton added a further line of attack by printing a flier, in February, 1952, which modellers could write in for, showing the parts required to build the 'Block of Flats', hoping people would have a go!
Why don't you [rather belatedly it must be admitted] have a go yourself!!!
The leaflet was presented folded into a 4 page format...
...and is shown here folded flat, and is...
227 mm x 146 mm = 8.95 x 5.7 inches
The 'Block of Flats' parts list was printed on the back page of the leaflet.
 

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 Front cover of the combined leaflet, rear cover with the Block of Flats parts requirements list F
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On the 2 inside pages is the parts list for another famous model which is also associated with the manuals from set #3X and set #4 - the Country Club.
I only wish I had a photo of the first 'Country Club' I ever saw - displayed by Malcolm Hanson at the Liverpool BAYKO exhibition in 1994 - and, very sadly, demolished [by accident!] at the end of the show.
This is a fairly complex model and demonstrates some innovative uses of several parts.
 
Country Club parts list from the leaflet dated February, 1952
 
Again I urge you to have a go - start collecting those bases!
 
I have two letters which were enclosed with copies of the above Parts List : -
 
The images [left and right, below] are copies of the 'Block of Flats' model and the 'Country Club' model from the front and rear covers, respectively, of the 1952 set #3X BAYKO manual.
Front cover of the 1952 Set #3X manual showing the Block of Flats model
Rear cover of the 1952 Set #3X manual showing the Country Club model
 
Below here are links to related info : -
 
Click on any of the links below for related information.
 
     
 
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Latest update - May 19, 2013