Background
Hot Birds are die-cast metal planes released by Mattel Toys in 1971 as a spin-off of their wildly successful Hot Wheels cars. Hot Birds were not as popular and were discontinued after only one year. Two new models were announced for 1972. The Sky Diver and the Stratus Seeker. But they were never produced. Click on the picture to see larger images.
Information on Hot Birds is not easy to come by. They are rather obscure toys.
The Ultimate Redline Guide Volume 2 features them. It is gratifying that the authors included Hot Birds, and the pictures are great. The text is a bit perfunctory and doesn't cover as much detail as some diehard fans would've liked. But it's still a welcome reference. One of my models (since sold) is featured in the book, but I was not involved with it. Rather, it came to me indirectly from the person who did contribute to the book.
Models
There are six models: The Cloud Hopper is the only model with a propeller. It has dual opening canopies. The Maching Bird has an opening engine hatch. The Ski Gull, as you may surmise, has skis (which can be hard to come by) and an opening canopy. The Sky Scraper is my personal favorite and has operating airbrakes. The Star Grazer is delta- winged and also has an opening engine hatch. The Regal Eagle underwent some design changes as it appears differently on one of the blister cards. In this drawing, it resembles the Sky Scraper except for the butterfly tail. But it ended up as a delta-winged aircraft with operating stabilizers. Here's a great picture of the actual prototype model. Very rare!
Click on the picture to see a larger image.
Decals
I always "de-bone" my planes of add-on decals. I do not like add-on decals poorly applied by some kid 35 years ago on my plane. Q-tips, Goo Gone, tweezers, an Exacto knife and good old fingernails usually do the job quite well with no damage to the finish. The add-on decals consist of two sheets. There are two differents sets of these.
An old set and a newer set. When and why they were changed, I do not know. But the older set is relatively rare and harder to find. Click on a picture to see a larger image.
USA Versus Hong Kong
The Ultimate Redlines Guide states that "There is only one major casting difference between models for the two countries. The USA models have smoke-tinted cockpit canopies. The Hong Kong models have blue-tinted cockpit canopies." This is not true. Hong Kong Sky Scrapers and Maching Birds do tend to have blue canopies. But there is no consistency. And I haven't found any other instance of this in other models.
Fact is, there actually are casting differences. The most significant are on the Maching Bird. The tails on USA models are shorter and squared-off. The Hong Kong models are taller, rounded and pointed. Also, the wing lines on USA models are grooves. The Hong Kong models are ridges. See a picture here. On Sky Scrapers, the wing lines on USA models are ridges. The lines on Hong Kong models are grooves. On Star Grazers, the engine bulges on USA models are rounded. The Hong Kong models are pointed. Star Grazer USA models have paper decals. Hong Kong models are plastic film. Incidentally, Ski Gulls (always USA) sometimes have a plastic film over paper decals. Hong Kong Cloud Hoppers are very similar to USA, with different numbers beneath the horizontal stabilizer. Regal Eagles and Ski Gulls were never manufactured in Hong Kong.
Colors / Paint
Most collectors would say there are five colors: Red, Blue, Gold, Green and Magenta.
I maintain that there are in fact six colors which includes Yellow. Yellow is the Hong Kong version of Gold, but is indeed very different. It is almost an antifreeze color and the difference between USA Gold and Hong Kong Yellow is striking when models are placed side by side. Since Ski Gulls and Regal Eagles were not produced in Hong Kong, no Yellow examples exist of these two models. The finish on Hong Kong Yellow models is usually dull and somewhat grainy.
Blue seems the most susceptible to sunlight fading and can fade to an almost silver color. Aside from Hong Kong Yellow, Red seems most prone to graininess and I have several otherwise good models with that icky finish. Like the cars, occasionally there are some color aberrations. I saw an Orange Sky Scraper once. And I have three Hong Kong Cloud Hoppers that are definitely Purple, not Magenta. See for yourself in the pictures.
Toning does not discriminate and affects all colors. Apparently, Mattel did not plate or polish the models very well before painting. Nevertheless, there are some good models with a brilliant and bright shiny finish and it a joy to behold them. I am still amazed at the appearance of some of my models after 35 years. They sparkle like new.
The Green Regal Eagle is the Holy Grail of Hot Birds collectors. Does it exist? I haven't seen one yet. It is pictured on several accessory packages, so one assumes it was made. Yet the most diehard collectors don't have one. Including me.
Model Matrix and Grading System
The grading matrix is actually very simple. Each model is graded on four different parameters: Parts, Decals, Finish and Chips. Parts is the condition of canopies, landing gear, wheels and any other moving parts. Decals is the condition of only original factory-applied decals. Reproduction decals are downgraded to Fair. Finish is toning, fading, shine and overall paint. Chips is just that: chips. Grading is based on a traffic light theme. 1 = Poor (Red). 2 = Fair (Yellow). 3 = Good (Green). A model's score in each parameter is totaled. If it is between 4 & 6, it is Poor. Between 7 & 9 is Fair.
And between 10 & 12 is Good. Each grade has a 3 point range. It's that simple.
I will always downgrade a model rather than the alternative. In some grading cases, I "cheat" by using a zero instead of a 1. I do this to prevent, for example, what I consider a poor model from scoring as a fair model because of some outstanding defect. The grading system is not perfect and as in all such cases, it is subjective. I never liked the "C9" grading system, and find it an unfair comparison when used for the planes.
They're so much larger that toning and chips are much more prevalent than the cars.
It is interesting to note what is important to some collectors. Whether the gear lock can be an important issue to some who actually fly the planes and don't want the gear to collapse upon landing. Rivets are an issue mostly on Ski Gulls which are prone to loose rivets thus making for two wobbly fuselage halves. Other models are rarely affected,
but it does occur on occasion. Cloud Hoppers sometimes have loose tails. Overspray refers to any residual spray paint on the chrome engines of Maching Birds and Star Grazers.
Packaging
Like the cars, Hot Birds were packaged on blister cards. There are two versions. A Sky card and a Yellow card. The Ultimate Redline Guide claims that the Sky card was first and the Yellow card came later. I'm not so sure about this. I think the Sky card is for USA models and the Yellow card is for Hong Kong models. But I could be wrong. Because to be honest, I've never checked my own carded models.
Although it may seem blasphemous to certain collectors, I open the packaging of all my models. I know, I know... It devalues them... blah, blah, blah. I recognize this. But I do not understand the value of a toy trapped in a package that you cannot touch and hold. Collectors who want to own their toys in a sealed package can do so and behold them from afar. Myself, I want to touch that toy and enjoy it up close.
Here are the fronts and backs of the two Hot Birds cards. Note the difference in the Regal Eagle on the Sky card versus the Yellow card. Click on a card to see a larger image.
Buy / Sell / Contact Me
I want to sell a good part, though not all, of my collection. Transactions will be conducted on eBay. If you see a model you want, contact me and I'll put it up for auction on eBay for you. This is not an e-commerce site. I'm just a collector and fan. I am also open to buying very good models anytime. Do you have any questions or comments? Contact me and I'll be happy to answer anything at all. Click here to contact me:
Regarding factory applied decals, I definitely prefer originals. But often, a good model is ruined by poor decals. Glue stained, faded and tattered. In such cases, I've reproduced these decals. Some purists insist on original decals, others just want their planes to look good. If you are of the latter mindset and want to spruce up your planes, drop me a line.
