Reginald Mason RNZAF Prints

[Dave Homewood]

Earlier this week Mum was tidying up some of my late Dad's 'junk' as she calls it, and she came across an envelope with eight signed prints by aviation artist Reg Mason.

Mason used to work out of a studio at Rukuhia in the late 1970's, early 1980's according to what I can gather from old copies of NZ Wings. He was also the official artist for NZ Wings for some years in the 1970's.

I have no idea how Dad got these, if he bought them through Wings, directly from Mason, at an airshow or maybe he was given them. Who knows?

I am also unsure if they are originals, or photocopies. They look like very good photocopies for the time, but the signatures look real. As they are black pen drawings, perhaps this is how Mason produced them?

Anyway I thought I'd scan and share them for all to enjoy.I think they're rather neat, and they have now passed into my possession. Cheers Dad!

[corsair67]

Dave, they are really good drawings: I think I like the Venom, Vampire and Mustang (the ole' Red and Black - good to see!) best.

If that's a sample of the kind of 'junk'(!) your Dad collected, I'd love to see his treasure!

By the way: do you have copies of the prints that the RNZAF Museum sell of Conly's paintings? A couple of years ago I bought 4 copies of the Corsair print for $2 each!!!!

[Dave Homewood]

I do have those Conly ones somewhere. I bought them when i lived at Wigram, and at the time they were cheap and plentiful, so I actually trimmed two to fit in frames for my barrack room wall. They looked great framed but I regret not buying another set to keep whole. They're all put away in a box at the moment. Still, I have the book they came from and refer to it often. Conly is by far my favourite RNZAF artist, and I love the work of Ron Fulstow too.

An interesting thing is Reg Mason also made RNZAF decals for a while back in the 1970's or 80's. I don't think he's with us any more.

[corsair67]

Yes, Ron Fulstow has done some wonderful prints. I was doing a search for him on the 'net recently and I came across a Ron Fulstow who listed in the NZ Gazette as declared bankrupt in November last year: I wonder if it's the same bloke?

Maybe the aviation art business isn't so profitable after all?

[shorty]

Reg Mason was an instructor when I was a I TTS. Used to try and teach us trainees tech drawing. Think he was a Flt Lt. Last I heard he was at Tauranga, I have a signed copper etching of a Tiger Moth he did (no 20 of 100) He also made key rings etc I have his P 40 and his P3C ones. He also made half relief type wall plaques of RNZAF types. His business was called Aviation Graphics Ltd

[SEAN]

Just in case you wanted to see it, here is what the front of the envelope / folio looks like:



Ane here is inside it when you lift up the flap to where the pictures are:

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Sean. Dad mustn't have kept his folder, I have not come across it.

[kaylee]

Nov 25, 2005 11:53:49 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Earlier this week Mum was tidying up some of my late Dad's 'junk' as she calls it, and she came across an envelope with eight signed prints by aviation artist Reg Mason.

Mason used to work out of a studio at Rukuhia in the late 1970's, early 1980's according to what I can gather from old copies of NZ Wings. He was also the official artist for NZ Wings for some years in the 1970's.

I have no idea how Dad got these, if he bought them through Wings, directly from Mason, at an airshow or maybe he was given them. Who knows?

I am also unsure if they are originals, or photocopies. They look like very good photocopies for the time, but the signatures look real. As they are black pen drawings, perhaps this is how Mason produced them?

Anyway I thought I'd scan and share them for all to enjoy.I think they're rather neat, and they have now passed into my possession. Cheers Dad!

[kaylee]

Sadly reg mason has parst some years ago. I worked for him in the corner of the old hangar at tauranga airport when I was still at school. He is a great man who tort me lots. I still have the same set of prints. And some other prints and bits would love to get my hands on one of the Harvard engravings

[baz62]

Jan 29, 2017 14:05:42 GMT 12 kaylee said:

Nov 25, 2005 11:53:49 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I've got these ones and trying to recall how I got them. Might have ordered them or possibly from Air Force musuem back in the 80s.

[Ian Warren]

One really has to admire these old works, obviously I missed this post, there was an aviation art shop here in Christchurch, I dearly would have loved to visit, closed down years ago because simply was in the hidden area of the city.

[komata]

Can anyone please tell me the actual serial number of the P-40 in the print? Based on the 'cowling' number (-75) I would have thought that it was NZ3275, but have been told that the cowling number -75 (as in the picture) was actually carried by another aircraft that wasn't NZ3275.

Can anyone clarify this situation please and, if the aircraft in the print ISN'T NZ3275, exactly what serial number does the 'Print' machine carry?

And what 'cowling number' did NZ3275 carry when it was in the islands?

Thank you.

[nwrathall]

I am sorry for the late addition to this thread but I just found it while trying to research a painting that I inherited when my father died.
The painting is an original oil on wood depicting Sunderland NZ4115 - ZMZGQ which is on static display at MOTAT 2.
It was given to my father by Reg Mason as a commemoration of its last flight of August 9, 1966.
The crew on that flight were:
Fg Off G A Wrathall - pilot(later AFC recipient - my father)
Fg Off William Waterhouse - sadly killed in a helicopter crash in Aus in 1968.
There were other crew aboard -
Gp. Capt Mick Walker AFC.
Sqn Ldr K Milne O.C M.R.S.U
Air Cdre F Gill CBE DSO

Cannot find much info on R Mason.

[camtech]

Gary was also the author of an original 6 Squadron history. He was well known in the RNZAF. I came across him flying Dakotas and also Andovers.

[nwrathall]

Camtec. I didn't know that he was the historian of 6 Sqn.

Sadly his logbooks were badly damaged by flooding. Much history lost.

[nwrathall]

Sorry camtech.

[Dave Homewood]

That is very sad to hear about his logbooks.

[camtech]

Agree, Dave - they would have been very interesting. He flew Sunderlands, Dakotas, Andovers among others.
Spent some time with him during an Andover ferry trip from UK to NZ - quite a character. Earned an AFC in 1979 (announced New Years list Dec 1979) for a medevac mission to the Chathams, landing at night to uplift premature twins and delivered them to Christchurch after a turbulent flight, using crew oxygen when incubator oxygen ran out.

[tbf2504]

Agree with Camtech in that Gary was quite a character. You only have to mention his name to ex-5 Squadron Sunderland era guys and they will tell you many tales about him. Would appear that he
was a great practical joker.

[jramnz]

I have inherited a few brass plaques and one painting by reginald mason, does anyone know if they might have any value??