Japan - KKK (Marketed in States by Cragstan) Tin-litho Batt Op Greyhound Bus

I really like the looks of the Greyhound Scenicruiser split-level bus and had a larger tin-litho version in my collection until it got sold off last year. After finding out about this smaller sized bus made by 'KKK' of Japan and marketed here Stateside by Cragstan, I thought it would probably be just right for my 3-rail O-gauge toy train layout. Measuring 7" (17.78cm) L x 2 1/4" (5.71cm) W x 2 1/2" (6.35cm) H it fit the bill nicely as you can see by the photos. There is a battery compartment underneath which accommodates one 'D' cell battery. The lever on top is a simply Forward-off-Reverse switch. My sample sits a little wonky on its wheels but the motor works just fine and the bus ambles along in a nice slow fashion. Enjoy! Opa Fritz and Oma Bettina

Here's the Corgi Northland Greyhound bus at 1/50 scale next to the Cragstan.

he bus looks a tad big by these buildings only because they're underscaled. On my new (planned) layout it should look just fine

I don't get these digital cameras. Mine was able to correctly 'read' the lighting for all the other shots but simply pointing it overhead to get this view, the entire scene appears to be cast in a golden glow. I haven't figured out yet how to correct or compensate for that.

One 'D' cell battery feeds this toy

Japan - Unk Mfr Tin-litho USAF Boeing 707

Here's a nice little gem I picked up a while back, a small Boeing 707 in fanciful USAF markings by an unknown Japanese maker. Measuring only 5 1/2" (13.97cm) L x 5 1/2" (13.97cm) WS x 2" (5.08cm) H, it's now a part of The Small Squadron. Enjoy! Opa Fritz and Oma Bettina 

Japan - Sanko 'Y' Piasecki YH-16 USAF Helicopter

Here's a little gem I've had for a couple of years but just recently got around to taking pics of. I've attributed it to the Japanese firm of Sanko because that's how I've seen it listed but quite frankly Ican't be sure. There are a couple of websites which list Japanese maker's marks but the mark printed on the box of this toy appears nowhere. 

The cover art is a pretty decent depiction of the YH-16 helicopter but the toy itself is a caricature - it has been 'selectively compressed' into a much shorter version. The toy has a friction motor which makes the rotors spin when it is pushed forward. The fuselage measures 8 1/2" (21.59cm) L x  1 1/2" (3.81cm) W (the wheelbase = 2 3/8" 6.03cm) x 4 3/4" (12.06cm) H. The rotor span is 7 1/2" (10.05cm). Enjoy! Opa Fritz and Oma Bettina

Random shots of the helicopter and a few other aircraft on the New Layout. I've since changed the train layout around a bit and the airport space is gone - I'll have to figure out another way of photographing these things