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…
Modern interpretation of the 'Block of Flats' model - with a little modeller's licence
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.
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!
The information below shows just how widely these two models, the Block of Luxury Flats and Country Club, featured in the BAYKO hobby.

1951 British Industries Fair BAYKO 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 that shown on the manual cover [below] reveals 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!!!
A small detail, and something of a personal obsession, but if you click on the images of the front cover and centrefold [above], you will see larger versions of the BAYKO Logos from those pages - actually two different ones on the centrefold! BAYKO throughout its life seems to have had a cavalier attitude to its Logos…
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 itself was presented with a single, vertical fold, thus creating a small, 4 page booklet format, which is actually shown here [below] folded flat.
The 'Block of Flats' parts list was printed on the back page of the leaflet.

Country Club and Block of Luxury Flats - Model Parts Required Lists

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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 two 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.

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Country Club parts list from the leaflet dated February, 1952
228 x 145 mm = 9.0 x 5.7 inches [open]

There is actually a second version of the above document, though perhaps it would be more accurate to describe it as a simple reprint, which is identical other than its date code which is for “8/54” - August, 1954.
Front cover of the 1952 Set #3X manual showing the Block of Flats model
These specific images are taken from the 1952, set #3X BAYKO manual…
…though, in fact, the same images were used in every version of this particular manual which was printed during the 1950s.
In the early days of BAYKO, grandiose models were clearly felt to create a very positive image for the [then] new product.
You could very well argue that the two models shown here were the last of the iconic models to be produced in the Plimpton era…
Rear cover of the 1952 Set #3X manual showing the Country Club model
Block of Flats Model
Front Cover
Country Club Model
Rear Cover
Again I urge you to have a go - start collecting those bases!
Finally, I have two letters which were enclosed with copies of the above Parts List : -
 
Below here are links to related info : -
 
Click on any of the links below for related information.

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