Collector's CornerThese are re-issues of 'old' kits...the originals of which were first released back in the 1950's.
All prices include 10% GST.....
overseas customers, deduct 1/11th. from the price
Prices are in Australian dollars!!
Unless marked 'O/S' all items listed are in stock!
See also 'Picture Gallery' with box tops and descriptions of original issues (kits not for sale!)
Eastern Express 1/72 Avro Shackleton Mk.3
Eastern Express 1/96 Bristol Britannia
Eastern Express 1/96 Avro Lancaster Mk.1
Glencoe 1/200 Convair manned Observation Satellite
Glencoe 1/32 McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane
Glencoe 1/35 Piasecki ZV-8P Airgeep
Glencoe 1/330 U.S. Navy K-class blimp
Glencoe 1/96 Vickers Viscount (Capital Airlines)
Glencoe 1/96 Vickers Viscount Air France/North Eastern (limited edition)
Glencoe 1/48 Spad X111 C.1 American & British aces
Glencoe 1/48 Spad X111 C.1 French aces
Glencoe 1/110 Spirit of St.Louis & 1/105 Wright Flyer
Glencoe 1/117 Sikorsky S-55 & 1/105 Spad X111
Glencoe 1/48 Austro-Hungarian Albatros
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman F11F-1 Tiger
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas X-3 Stiletto
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman F6F Hellcat
Lindberg 1/48 Republic P-47N Thunderbolt
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F4U Corsair
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F7U-1 Cutlass
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman OA-9 Goose
Lindberg 1/48 F-80C Shooting Star
Lindberg 1/48 Lockheed F-94C Starfire
Lindberg 1/48 Boeing/Stearman PT-17
Lindberg 1/48 N.A. F-100D Super Sabre
Lindberg 1/48 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F-8J Crusader
Lindberg 1/64 Chrome plated B-17G
Lindberg 1/96 Handley Page Victor
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman TBF Avenger
Lindberg 1/48 Snark SM-62 missile w/launcher
Lindberg 1/200 Mars probe communication satellite
Revell 1/40 Corporal missile w/transporter
Revell 1/32 Northrop Hawk missile battery
Revell 1/78 Fairey Rotodyne w/interior
Revell 1/118 PBM-5 Martin Mariner
Testors 1/72 Spirit of St.Louis
Testors 1/48 F-104 Starfighter
Eastern Express 1/72 Avro Shackleton Mk.3 @$20 Box top
This is a Frog original from the 1960s (all Frog moulds having gone to the Soviet Union in the 1970s in a deal that saw the creation of the 'Novo' brand for severl years). The Shackleton was the largest kit Frog made and came in for a lot of criticism because of rather heavy raised rivet surface detail (easily sanded). It featured moveable control surfaces (including flaps), opening bomb bay doors (but no interior bay detail) and an optional (extended or retracted) radome. There's minimal cockpit detail and no detail inside the wheel wells and there's no 'gears' provided to make the contra rotating propellers, contra rotate. The decal sheet has markings for one RAF Shackleton.
Eastern Express 1/96 Bristol Britannia @$20 Box top
Frog released a number of 1/96 scale kits in the mid 1950s...all were very basic and came with a rather large, swivel stand. This Eastern Express re-issue comes minus the stand! All you get are 53 injection moulded parts including a clear windscreen (there are no side windows...these are represented by black oval shapes on the decal sheet)...and a decal sheet with markings for an RAF Air Support Command Britannia. There is no interior detail what so ever and the wheel wells are deep enough only to accomodate the well doors. Surface detail is represented by fine raised panel lines.
Eastern Express 1/96 Avro Lancaster Mk.1 @$10 Box top
A typical, very basic Frog kit from the 1950s, re-issued by Eastern Express. There is no interior detail what so ever...the canopy sits over a 'hole' as do the turrets which do not move and contain bits of pointed plastic to represent guns. There are no wheel wells as such (not noticable if you assemble the kit with retracted landing gear... but the 'Frog' stand is no longer supplied!). About the only saving grace is the engraved panel lines but for 1/96 scale they are far too heavy and also there are engraved lines on the wing tops as a decal placement guide! The decal sheet does not represent the aircraft on the box top either...there are no 'shark mouths' or 'R' for 'Ropey' markings...just markings for an RAF Lanc. flown by a Polish crew.
Glencoe 1/200 Convair manned Observation Satellite @$25 Box top
This appears to be a re-issue of Hawk's 'Manned orbiting lab.' kit and it's still moulded in the same bright yellow plastic! A collegue of Werner Von Braun, Krafft Ehricke was a designer for Convair in the 1950s and of six of his designs have been made ionto model kits (mostly by Strombecker)...this being one of them. Like the proposed real thing, the kit consists of a number of tubular moduals which build up into the space vehicle. A stand and decals are included.
Glencoe 1/32 McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane @$25 Box top
Another ITC/Kleeware original...the XV-1 was an early VTOL being a cross between a helicopter and a conventional aircraft ... two were built. The original kit was moulded in silver/grey plastic but Glencoe has used a dirty looking off white with blue specks(!?). With such a large 'glass' house the kit needs more interior detail than provided (seats, instrument panel, control column and a pilot figure. The sliding side doors operate as do the ailerons, rotor blades and rear propeller. The decal sheet has markings for just one aircraft.
Glencoe 1/35 Piasecki ZV-8P Airgeep @$30 Box top
The 1950's was a great time for manufacturers to produce kits of the most unusual subjects...things that would only be done in resin nowadays. ITC was a leader in doing 'odd ball' stuff and that's probably the reason it went out of business in the 1960s. The 'Airgeep' (two Flymo mowers end to end...) was actually built and is still on display at an army museum in Virginia. This reissue by Glencoe is identical to the original except that is now also contains an additional six figures in various 'armed' poses. You still get the original three seated figures (as per the box top) and a 'base' on which to display your completed model. There are moveable control surfaces and propellers along with some cockpit detail. U.S. Army markings are included.
Glencoe 1/81 Curtiss Conder @$30 Box top
ITC/Kleeware released this kit in the 1950s in a bright orange plastic (to match the colour of the wings and save you the trouble of painting them!) and as a floatplane only. This Glencoe re-issue is identical to the original apart from the plastic (now a light grey), the inclusion of optional 'wheeled' landing gear, optional style engine cowls and the decal sheet which, as well as markings for the 'Byrd Antarctic Expecition 11' (floatplane) contains Argentine navy (1938) and American Airways (1933). There is no interior detail what so ever.
Glencoe 1/330 U.S. Navy K-class blimp @$30 Box top
Originally released by ITC and Kleeware this is a very simple to build kit but it comes with a base and mooring mast so despite it's 'odd' scale (1" = 28'), it looks rather impressive once completed (included are a number of 'figures' which give you an idea of just how big the real airship was). The only differences from the original release are the grey plastic (instead of silver/grey), very nice, thin decals and a steel rod (instead of plastic) for the mooring mast. The clear parts are also 'clear' rather than tinted blue as was the case with most ITC kits!
Glencoe 1/96 Vickers Viscount (Capital Airlines) @$20 Box top
This is a Hawk original and Hawk kits always fitted together beautifully! The scale is good too in that it nearly matches the 1/100 airliner kits from Japan and goes with the 1/96 range from Frog (not that any are available now). Frog also did the Viscount but the Hawk kit was superior. Glencoe has again used a grey plastic instead of the original silver/grey and the decal sheet now also includes markings for a BEA Viscount (as well as Capital...which were the markings in the Hawk kit). The kit includes a boarding ramp and four figues. The entry doors can be assembled opened or closed but if you choose the former, a 'blank' interior will be exposed (you don't even get cockpit detail)!
Glencoe 1/96 Vickers Viscount Air France/North Eastern (limited edition) @$30 Box top
Same kit as above but with a higher price tag (because it's supposedly a 'limited' edition) and new decals for North Eastern airlines and Air France.
Glencoe 1/126 Convair 880 @$20 Box top
Another Hawk original in the odd 1/126 scale. The only change is in the markings ... now TWA and Swissair instead of North Eastern and Delta (separate kits). The kit is rather basic in that there are no cabin windows (just 'black' squares on the decal sheet) and no clear parts for the windscreen (white glue is probably better anyway). There are wheel wells but they are too shallow and the jet engines are 'see throughs' ...they need to be 'blanked' off with plastic card. The CV-880 (and 990) was the best looking of the big three passenger jets of the late 50s early 60s (the 707 and DC-8 being the other two) and this is about the only kit availble now.
Glencoe 1/48 Nieuport 28c @$30 Box top
Not hard to tell this is an Aurora original... all Aurora WW1 aircraft kits were moulded in two colours of plastic (usually the main aircraft colour and black for the engine, guns etc.). Glencoe has chosen to mould the kit in a light tan and pale green plastic, for some reason but the usual parts are all there still... the 'earth' base with wheel chocks, a small name plate, a pilot figure and ground crewman. The kit comes with a 'turning' rotary engine, a seat, floor and control stick for the cockpit and a large set of decals with markings for five aircraft.
Glencoe 1/48 Spad X111 C.1 American & British aces @$30 Box top
Glencoe has moulded this ex-Aurora kit in olive drab and grey plastic...instead of olive and black as per the original. Features are the same as the Nieuport but there's no engine and cockpit detail consists only of a pilot figure and seat. Machine guns, fuel tank and cowling cover are all separate mouldings wnd the decal sheet has markings for four aircraft, including two flown by American, Frank Luke.
Glencoe 1/48 Spad X111 C.1 French aces @$30 Box top
Same kit as above (but moulded in light tan and grey plastic). The decal sheet has markings for five aircraft.
Glencoe 1/48 Albatros D.111 @$20 Box top
One of Aurora's first WW1 kits...and this is from the Aurora moulds and not the Merit moulds (which were copies and are now with Smer)...but Glencoe has removed the heavy, raised decal position markings from the wings and fuselage, making for a much easier to build kit (apart from all the heavy 'flash'!). Also added are an aditional two crew figures, for some reason...three standing and one seated. The kit features a detailed engine, two types of propeller, a reasonably detailed cockpit (seat, floor and instrument panel), and an optional position upper wing radiator. A full rigging guide is included while the decal sheet has markings for four aircraft...Von Richthofen, Voss, Allmenroder and Petzinnia.
Glencoe 1/48 Austro-Hungarian Albatros @$20 Box top
Same kit as above (you use the optional propeller and nose section) but with markings this time for three Austro-Hungarian aircraft.
Glencoe 1/110 Spirit of St.Louis & 1/105 Wright Flyer @$10 Box top
These have always been a 'double' kit, first released by Ideal Toy Co.(ITC) back in the 1950s....I guess the slight difference in scales was thought not to be worth worrying about... Both kits are rather basic with no clear parts or interior for the Spirit of St.Louis...but it does come with a stand and decals. The Wright Flyer is finely moulded and not that difficult to build but it does have a rather odd looking pair of propellers and lacks details eg: the chains from the engine to drive the propellers. That said, this would be a good 'first' (double) kit for a child.
Glencoe 1/117 Sikorsky S-55 & 1/105 Spad X111 @$10 Box top
Another ex-ITC double kit from the 50's but not as well moulded as the Spirit and Wright kits. The S-55 has a few windows 'cut out' (which could be filled with PVA glue) but the majority are 'solid' and would need to be cut out (not painted gloss black, as suggested!). There's no interior detail but there is a stand and decals. The Spad X111 also has a stand and decals but it comes with heavy engraved lines to represent wing ribbing...it also has engraved decal placement markings. Again, good for a child's first kit or for someone able to turn a very basic kit into a masterpiece!!
Hawk 1/245 Graf Zeppelin @$150 Box top
In the 1950s, America's 'oldest' model kit company, Hawk released a giant (nearly 1 metre long) kit of the Graf Zeppelin air ship. It was part vac form (the two halves of the main body) and part injection moulded (the main cabin, tail planes and engines etc.). J. Loyd International now owns the Hawk name and some of the moulds (Loyd also owns Lindberg now) and has re-issued the kit as an 'all injection moulded' product (new tooling, made in China) with the addition of 'lights' inside the cabin section (batteries included)! As well as lights, some interior detail is provided (for the cabin). This very impressive model (because of it's size) comes with a display stand, a set of historical notes and photos and of course decals for the Graf Zeppelin.
Lindberg 1/48 Curtiss P-6E @$20 Box top
The origins of this kit are a bit of a puzzle in that Lindberg never did the P-6E back in the 1950s...but Aurora did. However, this is not a re-issue of the Aurora kit which was actually 1/44 scale and this is right on 1/48... also Aurora had heavy raised decal placement mouldings on the wings and fuselage...this kit certainly doesn't (no Lindberg kit ever did). It would appear that at some time in the 1960s, Lindberg made a new mould for the F-11C-2 Goshawk (radial engine) kit using all the original Goshawk parts but with new inline engined fuselage halves, chin radiator, spatted landing gear and a three bladed propeller. This new issue comes with an excellent decal sheet (markings for just the one U.S. Army aircraft) and a length of thin 'rigging' wire. Cockpit 'detail' consists of an instrument panel, pilot figure and an 'L' shaped moulding that acts as a seat. All in all though, the kit is far cheaper than the Classic Airframes P-6E and a lot easier to assemble!
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas A4D-1 Skyhawk @$20 Box top
First released by Lindberg in the mid 1950's, this kit was based on the prototype A4D...hence the nose probe. It also includes the common Lindberg feaures...moveable control surfaces and an opening hatch in the fuselage, to expose a 'detailed' jet engine and afterburner. This re-issue now comes with a new 'optional', rounded nose and 'back pack' style fuel tank, which if used will prevent the opening of the engine hatch. Cockpit detail is just an ejector seat and pilot figure. Surface detail is raised panel lines and rivets. A centreline, under fuselage drop tank and eight wing mounted rockets are supplied. The decal sheet has markings for just the one U.S. Navy aircraft. There are wheel well openings in the main wing but the nose well is only deep enough to fit the door, let alone the landing gear! Unlike early Lindberg kits, no stand (with the little piece of 'bendable' aluminium rod) is supplied.
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas F4D-1 Skyray @$20 Box top
From the same era and probably the same tool maker as the Skyhawk, the Skyray has the same features...moveable control surfaces, an opening panel in the fuselage to expose the jet engine and afterburner, too shallow wheel wells and cockpit detail that consists of just a pilot and seat (or an 'L' shaped item that is used as a seat). Surprisingly, the hole in the fuselage and 'fitting' for the stand is still there but no stand is included. Under wing stores consist of eight rockets and two drop tanks. The decal sheet has markings for just the one aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman F11F-1 Tiger @$20 Box top
Again, the same tooling design as the Skyhawk and Skyray with moveable control surfaces, engine and afterburner, etc. The kit is based on the prototype but with a bit of work you can make it into a replica of the production aircraft. Cockpit detail is a bit better this time with a floor, control stick, instrument panel, pilot figure and an reasonable looking ejector seat. Eight rockets are supplied for under wing mounting while the decal sheet has markings for one U.S. Navy aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (Blue Angels) @$20 Box top
Apart from the Blue Angels decals (for just one aircraft from the team...#2)... this is the same kit as above...it's evewn moulded in the same white plastic...the original 1950s release was moulded in 'Blue Angels' blue plastic. You even get the 8 rockets, which were never fitted, so you have to fill in the holes in the wings (where the rockets are mounted).
Lindberg 1/48 Douglas X-3 Stiletto @$20 Box top
There were two kits made of the Stiletto...a 1/65 scale kit from Revell and the vastly superior 1/48 scale from Lindberg. Apart from moveable control surfaces, it has the same feature as the above kits (which probably came from the same mould maker)...detailed jet engines (two) and an opening hatch in the fuselage, so they can be seen. Cockpit detail is just a pilot and ejector seat but the wheel wells are 'boxed' in (though the nose well is far too shallow). As with the original, this re-issue is moulded in white plastic with the same decal sheet... U.S.A.F. 92892.
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman F6F Hellcat @$20 Box top
First released by Lindberg in the early 1950s, this kit is very basic but at the same time a really joy to build! The parts (just 36 of them, including a one piece canopy) in this latest re-issue are moulded in white plastic (originally they were navy blue), with raised panel lines and rivets. There are no wheel wells and the only cockpit detail is a pilot figure and a seat. Engine detail consists of cylinders, moulded in relief into the front of the engine cowl. Decals are for one U.S. Navy aircraft. This is an ideal 'first' kit for first time modelers but for those with experience, the wheel wells can be cut out and the sides boxed in...same with the engine cowling flaps and the control surfaces can be cut off and repositioned. As for the cockpit, unless you cut open the canopy, not much can be seen in there anyway.
Lindberg 1/48 Republic P-47N Thunderbolt @$20 Box top
Another very early Lindberg kit which was actually 'updated' in the mid 1950s to include raised rivets...the original just had some raised panel lines (at another point in time a motor was included so the propeller would spin when you connected a battery). Like the Hellcat, it's very basic with no wheel wells, a one piece cowl/engine moulding and a pilot and 'L' shaped seat. The original was moulded in silver/grey plastic...like all these reissues, white plastic is used this time. Stores consist of eight rockets and three bombs while markings are again for just one aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F4U Corsair @$20 Box top
Again, a very basic kit without wheel wells... and surprisingly, still without raised rivets (just fine raised panel lines). No improvements have been added so the cockpit still only has a pilot figure and 'L' shaped seat while engine detail is just a one piece cowling front section with cylinders moulded in relief. Stores consist of six rockets and a wing radar unit. The decal sheet has markings for one F4U.
Lindberg 1/48 A6M Zero @$20 Box top
As per the Hellcat and Thunderbolt...a very basic kit...no wheel wells and not even a separate engine cowl! Just 26 white parts (the original was moulded in green plastic) including a drop tank. Markings are for one aircraft, as usual.
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F7U-1 Cutlass @$20 Box top
In the 1950s Lindberg tried to be the first model company to produce kits of the latest aeroplanes, even if it meant basing the kits on the prototypes rather than the production aircraft. This was the case with the Cutlass which is a rather basic kit. It was originally moulded in blue plastic (and at one stage issued as a 'Blue Angels' aircraft!), but now, like all the Lindberg kits from J.J.Lloyd, it's moulded in white plastic. There are just 27 parts, including the one piece canopy. There are no wheel wells (but you do get landing gear and well doors!) while the cockpit has just an 'L' shaped seat and a crappy looking pilot figure. Surface detail consists of raised rivets and panel lines, The decal sheet has markings for one U.S. Navy aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman OA-9 Goose @$20 Box top
This is really one out of the blue in that it's an ITC original (look under the left hand tail plane and in raised detail it states "1961 Ideal Toy Company") that's been cleaned up considerably. ITC had it so that an electric motor not only turned the propellers but also enabled you to taxi the model across the floor at the press of a button. That's all gone now and what is left is a reasonable kit which also now has two pilot figures and two seats (ITC's release had a 'void' in the cockpit). The wheel wells are still too shallow and the engine detail is very basic but at least the clear parts are 'clear' and not tinted blue as with ITC kits. Markings consist of four stars and bars, a white stripe and four propeller insignia.
Lindberg 1/144 Rockwell B-1B @$20 Box top
This is a rather 'new' release dating back only to the mid 1960s and it shows in that there are no raised rivets (but you still get raised panel lines). The 'swing wings' operate (but not together), there are separate detailed jet engines and there's a separate cockpit assembly with two pilot figures. The wheel wells are too shallow as usual and there's markings for just one aircraft but the really amazing thing about this re-issue is the fact the stand has been included!!
Lindberg 1/48 F-80C Shooting Star @$20 Box top
This one dates back to before Lindberg...it was first released at the begining of the 1950s when the company was know as Olin...but there have been modifications over the years and now we get a basic kit that does have wheel wells (albeit too shallow) and a reasonably detailed cockpit (tub, instrument panel, control stick, pilot figure and seat). Two wing tip mounted drop tanks are included while the decal sheet as usual, has markings for just one aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Lockheed F-94C Starfire @$20 Box top
Never one of Lindberg's great kits in that it's very basic and the raised rivets and panel lines are far too heavy. There are no wheel wells and just two figures and two 'L' shaped seats for the cockpit. There is a separate nose section with some 'rocket' detail moulded in and the two wing tip tanks are supplied...along with markings for just one aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Curtiss Jenny @$20 Box top
Aurora also did a 1/48 Jenny in the 1950s but the Lindberg kit was superior...and still is even though it's no longer moulded in bright yellow plastic! Features include a detailed engine with removeable cowling, detailed cockpits with two crew, a wheeled tail skid dolly with a ground crewman, separate control surface horns, injection moulded windscreens and now (re-issue only) rigging diagrams and rigging wire. The decals sheet, which doesn't match the box top aircraft, has markings for a U.S. Navy Jenny.
Lindberg 1/48 Boeing/Stearman PT-17 @$20 Box top
This would have to be the oldest kit still in production being first released by Varney back in the late 1940s. Olin bought the moulds in the early 1950s and they have been with Lindberg ever since (the name change). Despite being rather basic, the kit is pretty accurate although the cockpits need more having just seats and pilot figures. The only upgrade on this re-issue is the inclusion of some rigging wire.
Lindberg 1/48 N.A. F-100D Super Sabre @$35 Box top
I used to love this kit in the early 1960s so I was rather disappointed to see it's been changed a lot for this re-issue. Gone are the moveable control surfaces (though the built model on the box top still has them!?)...althou the 'all moving' tail plane still moves and gone is the detailed jet engine and afterburner...as well as the opening hatch in the fuselage! What you do get now are a stack of weapons (bombs, rockets, drop tanks etc.), full main wheel wells with interior detail (the original had the doors moulded closed in the fuselage part of the wells) and a tail cone. The large decal sheet has markings and stencilling for one USAF F-100D.
Lindberg 1/48 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter @$35 Box top
Yet another 'rip off' ...gone is the removeable jet engine and afterburner and the trolly on which to display them! The fuselage still comes apart (unless you glue it together as recommended in the instructions) but all you get now is a tail cone. Lindberg's F-104 never had retractable landing gear (Hawk's Starfighter did...at one stage) so nothing has changed there and the nose wheel well is still too shallow. You do get the same stack of weapons as in the F-100D and a detailed cockpit (with the original's opening canopy) as well as an in flight refuelling probe. Markings are for one camouflaged USAF aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Vought F-8J Crusader @$35 Box top
Once again all the old 'goodies' have been replaced by a stack of weapons. Gone are the removeable engine and the 'ejecting' pilot (yes, with the touch of a button, the pilot and seat would eject from the model...Lindberg used this feature on both the Crusader and Hawker Hunter kits). You still get moveable control surfaces, hinged canopy and retractable landing gear, though. Also added to this re-issue are blanked off wheel wells and the two tail section 'fillets' (which had to be made from plastic card, if you wanted them, on the original).
Lindberg 1/48 XF-88 Voodoo @$35 Box top
This is the 'surprise' in the larger, more expensive series of re-issues in that it retains all the original fetures...moveable control surfaces, detailed twin jet engines with a hinged access panel from which to view them and the original Lindberg style stand. Landing gear is 'fixed' and the wheel wells are much too shallow but you do get a two part canopy (with only a pilot figure and ejector seat in the cockpit, though).
Lindberg 1/64 Chrome plated B-17G @$50 Box top
The Hawk model company was a pioneer of chrome plated kits, doing most of it's 1/48 scale models as 'chrome plated' in the 1960s. The F-104 was the first to be done and Hawk soon learned that you needed the various panels to be done differently to make it look effective, rather than having just a very glossy, all over chromed model. Hawk is now owned by J.Lloyd, the company that also owns Lindberg..hence the chrome plating of the B-17...but it's the old 'all over' effect and looks rather ridiculous. So why would you want a 1/64 chrome plated B-17 anyway, that is $20 dearer than the standard kit and is virtually impossible to build (how do you sand the joint lines without removing the plating?)...? The reason is that you would only buy it as a 'collector's' kit...how many of the old chrome plated kits do you see around nowadays? Naturally, this kit has all the same features as Lindberg's standard B-17G...raised rivets and panel lines, retractable landing gear, moveable control surfaces, some interior detail (with crew figures) and moveable guns and turrets. The decal sheet is new though...but still with markings for just the one USAAF aircraft.
Lindberg 1/64 B-58 Hustler @$35 Box top
Lindberg first released the B-58 in the 1950s as a 'remote control' model...in that the stand had a control stick which moved the model (and it's control surfaces) up or down and to the left or right (Lindberg's 1/96 H.P. Victor kit was also released with the same type of stand). That was soon removed (too difficult for the kids!) but the kit still retained it's moveable control surfaces, retractable landing gear, four detailed (removeable) jet engines and detailed cockpits with opening canopies. This latest re-issue retains all these features. Surface detail consists of fine raised lines while the decal sheet has markings for one aircraft. No stand is included (at one time Lindberg also did a reduced, 1/96 scale version of this kit...it's long gone!).
Lindberg 1/96 Handley Page Victor @$35 Box top
As Mentioned above, this kit was first released in the late 1950s with a 'remote control' stand. That has now gone (no stand at all) but the moveable control surfaces remain...there are also two opening hatches in the wings to display the four jet engines provided. As stated on the box top, included with the kit are a tanker truck with trailer and two ground crew figures. There's some detail in the wheel wells but they are far too shallow...cockpit detail consists of a 'tub' with two seats and two pilots. The parts are moulded in white plastic (as per ususal) with rather heavy (for this smaller scale) raised panel lines. The instruction sheet claims the kit is 1/100 scale but the box top correctly says '1/96'! The decal sheet has markings for one RAF Victor.
Lindberg 1/96 Avro Vulcan @$35 Box top
Compared to the Victor (both were originally released at the same time), this is a rather basic kit with heavy raised panel lines and a wing shape based on the early prototype rather than the production aircraft! There are moveable control surfaces (and the elevators move together) but that's all in the way of 'working' features. There's no detail in the 'too shallow' wheel wells and the cockpit has just two pilots and two seats. No stand is provided while the decal sheet has markings for one onl;y RAF Vulcan.
Lindberg 1/58 Junkers JU-88 @$35 Box top
When Lindberg first released this kit in the early 1960s, it was marked as being 1/64 scale (to fit in with the B-17 and B-58) and the price was around 10/- or 98 cents in the U.S.. It is now said to be 1/72 scale and the price has jumped to a massive $65!! The corrct scale is 1/58. A 'copy' of the kit was also released by Marusan in the 1960s and 'that' kit was issued in the U.S. by UPC. This new re-issue of the original is now moulded in the usual (for all Lindberg re-issues) white plastic (the original was green) but it still has all the 'working' features...fully retractable landing gear (with the main gear rotating 90 degrees to lie flat inside the wheel wells), moveable control surfaces and removeable engine cowling covers to reveal detailed engines. There are three crew figures, some cockpit detail and an external bomb load (4 bombs). Despite the claim of 'engraved detail' on the top of the now 'huge' box (three kits could easily fit in the box), surface detail is made up of raised panel lines and rivets. The decal sheet has markings for just one Luftwaffe aircraft.
Lindberg 1/63 Heinkel HE-111 @$35 Box top
Also incorrectly marked on the box as being 1/72 scale, the HE-111 was originally issued by Lindberg about the same time as the JU-88 and at the same price (in green plastic too). The kit was actually based on the Spanish built version of the Heinkel and is not an accurate HE-111. As with the Junkers, it has raised rivet and panel line detail, fully retractable landing gear, moveable control surfaces and removeable engine cowling covers to reveal detailed engines. There are three crew figures and minimal cockpit detail...despite the large 'glass house' nose section (part of which needs to be painted over...it's too large!). The decal sheet has markings for just one Luftwaffe aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Grumman TBF Avenger @$35 Box top
When this 'big' kit was originally issued it was the ultimate in kits with moving parts. Via a series of wires it was possible to move the rudder by moving the rudder pedals inside the fully detailed cockpit. By moving the control stick back wards and forwards you could raise of lower the elevators and by moving it from side to side the ailerons would move up or down. On top of all that, the landing gear was retractable and the four part bomb bay doors could be opened or closed. The turret, gun and tail hook were also all moveable. The wires have long since been removed (too difficult for kids) but all the other moving features are still retained...and there's a fully detailed engine as well as weapons (bombs and rockets) and a bomb trolly. Markings are for one U.S. Navy Avenger.
Lindberg 1/48 Snark SM-62 missile w/launcher @$40 Box top
Lindberg made the moulds for the Snark in the late 1950s but never released the kit! It finally saw the light of day in the 1980s when Craft House bought the Lindberg name and moulds. This new re-issue still has the (very big) Snark missile with it's removeable detailed jet engine, moveable control surfaces, wing mounted fuel tanks and two rocket booster engines. The missile itself goes together quite well with just a bit of filler but the launcher, tractor and 'all movable' stairs take a bit of patience and a close following of the writen instructrions to ensure all fits correctly and 'works' The moveable parts). As the decals provided by Lindberg are absolute crap (they are brittle, tend to break up and will not stick to any kind of surface) I would advise painting the missile overall white then masking off the 'white stripes' before painting the body and wings red. To persist with the decals is asking for trouble! A rather complext but very impressive model when built...it really does look good...and it's soooo big!!
Lindberg 1/32 Gee Bee racer @$20 Box top
Originally released by Pyro, Lindberg aquired the tooling about 30 years ago when it took over Life-Like (which had the Pyro moulds by then). The kit is a lot larger than 1/32...more like 1/26 scale but it's the only large scale Gee Bee now available since the demise of Williams Bros. Engine detail is pretty poor, but the cockpit, which includes a pilot figure isn't too bad and you get moveable control surfaces. Markings are included for just the one aircraft, as per the box top but you now get rigging wire, which was never supplied with the earlier releases.
Lindberg 1/200 Mars probe communication satellite @$50 Box top
Lindberg released four space related kits in the 1950s but all were around 1/96 scale so where this 1/200 scale 'Mars Probe' comes from is a mystery, although it might be the 'Rocket Satellite' kit (which could have been incorrectly listed as 1/96). The 'Mars Probe communications satellite' contains separate first and second stage rockets plus the communications satellite (third stage) which comes with a full interior (the fuselage halves 'snap' together so the interior can be displayed). There is no stand or display base, just four 'rocket supports'.
Revell 1/40 Corporal missile w/transporter @$38 Box top
Back in the late 1950s, Revell did several missile kits in 1/40th. scale (I guess the company felt 1/48 was a bit small and 1/32 a bit big...so they went halfway). Others in the series were the Talso, X-17, Little John/Dart, Terrier, Aerobee Hi, LaCrosse, Hawk and the Nike Hercules (which is also currently available). The Corporal is a rather large kit packed with parts...mainly for the transporter (as per the box top). Also included is a launching platform, a radar set and four ground crew. The missile can be mounted in the firing position on the launcher with the ground crew and radar set or on the (very detailed) transporter which has a number of moving parts...allowing the missile to be raised and lowered or removed. The decal sheet has markings for just the one U.S. Army Corporal missile.
Revell 1/32 Northrop Hawk missile battery @$30 Box top
This was one of four 1/32 scale missile kits released by Renwall in the late 1950s (it may also have been released in the U.K./British Empire under the 'Frog Deluxe' brand, along with a number of other 'Renwall Blue print' models). Considering 38 thousand Hawk missiles have been produced, it's surprising this kit hasn't been re-issued before this...Revell has owned the Renwall moulds for several decades now! The kit shows it's age only in the rather heave runners on which the parts are attached, otherwise the mouldings are clean and crisp. All up, ther are over one hundred parts (including four crew figures) in both white and dark green plastic (as per the Renwall original) and a set of decals with markings for one U.S. Army Hawk missile battery (3 missiles). Detail is excellent, each missile has moveable control surfaces, the launcher has adjustable supports and the missiles can be adjusted up or down from the 'towing' to 'firing' position.
Revell 1/78 Fairey Rotodyne w/interior @$40 Box top
Given that the Rotodyne never went into production, it was certainly well represented by model companies with 1/72 kits from Frog and Airfix, a small 1/141 kit from Lincoln and a beautifully detailed 1/78 kit from Revell. None are now available apart from this re-issued Revell kit which is certainly expensive given that it was under 10/- when originally released in the early 1960s (it's limited to just 7500 copies which apparently makes it more expensive to produce)! There are 152 crisp, clean injection moulded parts (including 26 in clear plastic) with fine engraved panel lines and rivets (yes, recessed, not raised!). As well as a detailed cockpit, you get a fully equipped cabin with floor, seats, passengers and crew figures. Rear and side doors are hinged and there are retractable boarding stairs. All control surfaces are moveable as are the propellers and rotor (the landing gear is 'fixed). The decal sheet has markings for the 'Fairey Rotodyne' prototype (as did the other three kits).
Revell 1/118 PBM-5 Martin Mariner @$35 Box top
The Mariner was originally released by Revell in the mid 1950s (when 'odd' scale or 'box size' was the norm) but it's now back from Revell Germany in a new 'baby blue' plastic (instead of dark Navy blue) and without the swivel stand. You still get a stand but it's just a small two part 'thing'. The rest of the kit is the same...engraved panel lines and raised rivets, no interior detail at all and markings for just the one U.S. Navy aircraft. The turrets do rotate and the guns are moveable...and you do get optional position bomb bay (two...one in each engine nacelle) doors with two bombs for each bay. There is no beaching gear supplied.
Revell 1/63 B-25B Mitchell @$38 Box top
Another 'limited' re-issue of a mid 1950's kit, the B-25 at 1/63 scale fits in well with the Lindberg 1/64 scale bombers (B-17, B-58, JU-88 and He-111). Not a 'great' kit and apart fromn the turrets and guns (moveable) nothing 'works', not even the control surfaces. You do get three crew members and a reasonably detailed cockpit but there is no wheel well or engine detail ... raised rivets and panel lines are the order of the day as far as surface detail goes. The decal sheet has markings for Jimmy Doolittle's 'Tokyo raider' (a one mission aircraft).
Revell 1/85 Martin B-57B @$42 Box top
First released back in 1956 by Revell at a time when the company felt 'fit the box' scale was the way to go! At 1/85 scale and with no 'working' parts, this rather expensive re-issue is really for interest sake only. The are 45 injection moulded parts (in black plastic) plus a clear canopy (gone is the original Revell 'swivel' stand) and a set of decals with markings for one U.S.A.F. night intruder. Cockpit detail consists of a one piece moulding of the floor, seats and pilot figures. The nose wheel well is deep enough only for the well doors while the main wells contain no interior detail and need to be 'boxed in'. The kit comes with optional underwing rockets, napalm and drop tanks.
Testors 1/48 Curtiss racer @$10 Box top
In the early 1950s, Hawk released a range of 1/48 racing planes...the Curtiss racer is one of a few still available. They originally came with a steel 'pin' to be used as the propeller shaft! Testors obtained the moulds when it took over Hawk in the 1970s. With just 19 parts, the Curtiss racer is rather basic but at least you do get a pilot figure (no seat though, just a flat 'bench'). Panel lines on the fuselage are engraved but raised lines represent wing ribbing detail. The decal sheet has basic U.S.A.A.C. markings.
Testors 1/48 Gee Bee racer @$10 Box top
Another of Hawk's rather basic racer planes, the Gee Bee has just 18 parts and not only does it have engraved panel lines but also recessed decal placement markings and painting demarcation lines (it does make painting easier though!). Engine detail consists of a one piece cylinder moulding while the cockpit has just a pilot figure. Decals are for Gee Bee NR210011.
Testors 1/72 Spirit of St.Louis @$10 Box top
Another Testors re-issue of a Hawk original from the early 1950s, the Ryan Spirit of St.Louis features all engraved detail...panel lines ... and decal placement markings (though I guess you could skip the decals and hand paint between the marking lines). The kit is very basic with no interior detail and rather poor cylinder detail on the cowling. A clear stand is included. Given the Frog Spirit of St.Louis is no longer available, this is the only game in town for 1/72 scale kit builders.
Testors 1/48 F-104 Starfighter @$25 Box top
A re-issue of the Hawk kit (see Hawk F-104 in 'Picture Gallery' section) but without 'retractable' landing gear. The under carriage can still be made to retract but gone are the parts to enable you to close the wheel well doors! The rest of the kit is the same...fine raised panel lines, separate air brakes, 'ejectable' cockpit section (with pilot figure), optional position canopy, moveable 'all moving' tail plane, boarding ladder with standing pilot figure and wing tip drop tanks. The decal sheet has markings for two U.S.A.F. aircraft.
Testors 1/48 ME-163 Komet @$25 Box top
When Hawk first released this kit in the late 1950s, the price was 49 cents ... it's amazing what 50 years of inflation can do! Despite the price and the fact there are far better Komet kits available now, it still builds into a rather nice model. There are just 25 injection moulded parts (including three in clear plastic) with a mix of raised and engraved panel lines (and some rivets)... plus a decal sheet with markings for four aircraft (and including swastikas). Cockpit detail consists of a pilot figure, a seat and an instrument panel with decal instruments. There are separate air brakes and leading edge slats, the landing skid is moveable (can be raised up or lowered down) and you get a 'take off' dolly. The nose 'propeller' is also moveable...it turns!
Testors 1/48 Ryan PT-20 @$25 Box top
Before Testors re-issued this in the late 1970s, the PT-20 was one of the most highly sort after Hawk kits from the 50s. The kit can be built as a float plane or a land plane and comes with a 'sea' base on which to mount the finished (float plane) model. There are 43 injection moulded parts (including two windscreens) with raised rivets on 'metal' surfaces and raised ribbing on 'fabic' covered surfaces. The only interior detail is two pilot figures. The wheels and propeller are moveable and there are 'beaching' wheels for the float plane version. The decal sheet has U.S. Army and Dutch airforce markings.
Testors 1/48 P-51D Mustang @$25 Box top
Back in the 1950s Hawk released a kit of the P-51H but it was only available for about ten years before being replaced by a P-51D... a far better and more detailed kit...despite the fact it had raised panel lines on the wings and engraved lines on the fuselage! The Testors re-issue of the P-51D still includes markings for 'Old Crow' well as for 'The Molly P' and still comes in two colours of plastic...black and grey (Hawk used silver/grey). Apart from the propeller (with separate blades and spinner) there are no moving parts. Cockpit detail consists of a floor, seat and instrument panel (no pilot figure though), with an optional position canopy... while under wing stores are a pair of drop tanks and rocket launchers. As per the box top, the kit can be build into a very attractive model.
Testors 1/48 Northrop F-5A @$25 Box top
One of the later Hawk kits, from the early 1960s this has no moving parts (apart from an opening canopy)...as opposed to the ITC F-5A (released about the same time) which fired rockets, dropped bombs, had an ejecting pilot and retractable landing gear. This Testors re-issue (of the Hawk kit) has 64 crisp, cleanly moulded parts with fine raised panel lines and a two part canopy. The decal sheet has markings for two U.S.A.F. aircraft. Cockpit detail consists of a seat, pilot figure and instrument panel. The air brakes are moulded separately while stores include bombs, Bullpup and sidewinder missiles.
Testors 1/48 Gates Learjet @$25 Box top
This kit first appeared in the 1960s under the IMC brand (the only other aircraft kit from IMC seems to have been a 1/32 Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, although Hawk released several kits under the 'Hawk-IMC'brand). Testors obtained the all Hawk (and IMC) moulds in the 1970s. The kit is very nicely done with fine raised panel lines, fully detailed interior (including the cabin), opening side door with boarding steps, moveable rudder and ailerons, rubber tyres, two pilot figures and detailed (top half) engines. The parts are now moulded in white plastic as opposed to the translucent stuff Testors was using back in the 1970s. The decal sheet has markings for just the one U.S. Civil aircraft...as per the box top.
Picture Gallery...original issues (kits not for sale!)
Airfix 1/72 Bristol Super Freighter
Aurora (Playcraft) 1/48 Sopwith Camel
Aurora (playcraft) 1/48 Fokker D-7
Aurora 1/41 Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver
Aurora 1/48 LTV A-7D Corsair 11
Comet/Kleeware 1/54 Grumman S2F Tracker
Kleeware 1/52 Grumman J2F Duck
Frog 1/96 Air France Caravelle
Hawk 1/48 Republic F-84G Thunderjet
Hawk 1/48 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee
Hawk 1/48 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
Monogram 1/72 SA-16A Albatross
Monogram 1/131 Lockheed Super Constellation
Airfix 1/72 Bristol Super Freighter Box top
From memory, the original issue of the Super Freighter came with a couple of model cars to sit on the nose loading ramps...this re-issue from the 1970s, doesn't have them. The kit does have the loading ramps and opening nose doors (to expose an interior void!). The only interior detail is a cockpit with two crew. All control surfaces are moveable as are the wheels and propellers. Surface detail consists of fine raised rivets. The decal shet has markings for a British United air ferry.
AMT/Frog 1/72 Avro Shackleton Box top
During the 1960s and early '70s, AMT issued Frog kits in the U.S. as AMT/Frog. The Shackleton was the largest kit Frog made and came in for a lot of criticism because of rather heavy raised rivet surface detail (easily sanded). It featured moveable control surfaces (including flaps), opening bomb bay doors (but no interior bay detail) and an optional (extended or retracted) radome. There's minimal cockpit detail and no detail inside the wheel wells and there's no 'gears' provided to make the contra rotating propellers, contra rotate. The decal sheet has markings for an RAF and a South Africa Airforce Shackleton.
Artiplast 1/50 Fiat CR-32 Box top
Released by Artiplast of Italy (the company was originally called 'Plastic Toy') in 1966, the CR-32 is still available under the Smer brand (Smer now owns all the old Artiplast moulds). As released by Artiplast, the Fiat is moulded in a very hard, glossy, tan coloured plastic with fine engraved and raised surface detail. A stand (in black plastic) with the name 'Plastic Toy' moulded on, is included. Cockpit detail consists of a seat and pilot figure. The main wheels are moulded separate from the landing gear spats and are designed to turn (as is the propeller). The decal sheet has markings for one Italian A/F CR-32.
Aurora (Playcraft) 1/48 Sopwith Camel Header
In the 1950s and early 60's, Playcraft (the maker of Corgie toys) was the British Empire's producer of Aurora kits (at that time, you couldn't buy U.S. made kits in the British empire). The Camel was one of six original WW1 aircraft kits from Aurora (the others being the Fokker D-7, Fokker DR-1, Albatros D.3, SE-5A and Nieuport 11c) that were sold in plastic bags with a header at the same price as Airfix series 2 kits (the same six kits were later 'copied' by Merit...whose moulds even later went to Plastic Toy and Artiplast in Italy and are now with Smer, in the Czech Republic. The original Aurora moulds went to Monogram in the late 1970s when that company bought all the Aurora moulds, so presumably they are still with Revell-Monogram in the U.S. ... unless they have been sold for srap...which is likely). The Camel kit, like most Aurora kits in the 1950s, featured raised decal placement markings (pretty stupid because decals will not stick over them!). Cockpit detail consists of a seat, instrument panel and pilot figure. The 'rotary' engine (labelled 'radial' in the instructions) does not turn with the propeller as it should (check the movie 'The Red Baron' to see real rotary engines workings!), but you do get a 'ground panel' with wheel chocks and a mechanic, as a sort of diorama and there are four under wing mounted bombs. The kit is moulded in olive drab and black plastic.
Aurora (playcraft) 1/48 Fokker D-7 Header
Moulded in green and black plastic, the D-7 also has raised decal placement marks but on the plus side it does come with a detailed inline engine. Once again, cockpit detail is just a seat, pilot and instrument panel. Armament consists of two machine guns and like the Camel, a ground panel with wheel chocks and mechanic is included. Naturally, the decals are for just the one aircraft. More than likely, the box art (header) would be banned nowadays...one wonders how many kids in the 1950s had nightmares of piloting a Fokker D-7 that was going down in flames!?
Aurora 1/48 Bristol F2B Box top
As with all Aurora WW1 aircraft kits, the main parts (wings, fuselage halves etc.) are moulded in one colour plastic while the smaller details (engine details, propller, seat, wheels etc.) are moulded in black plastic. The raised surface detail includes decal placement markings! There is minimal cockpit detail but you do get two seated crew figures (as well as a standing mechanic figure) and twin Lewis machine guns. There are no rigging instructions and no stand...just the usual 'piece of ground' with wheel chocks moulded onto it.
Aurora 1/41 Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver Box top
A 'typical' Aurora kit from the 1950s...very hard plastic with raised rivets and decal placement markings as well as heavy engraved panel lines. The plastic on the Helldiver is a very shinny silver/grey. All control surfaces are moveable, the cockpit is well detailed with two seated figures, the engine is also nicely detailed (two separate rows of cylinders and a separate cowling) as is the landing gear. Two bombs with under wing bomb racks are supplied. A clear stand with decal 'name plate' is also included. Markings are for one U.S. Navy aircraft.
Aurora 1/48 LTV A-&D Corsair 11 Box top
First released by Aurora in 1969, the A-7D was quite a nice kit (one of the few Aurora modern day jet kits that Monogram bothered to clean up and re-issue after obtaining the Aurora moulds) apart from the heavy engraved panel lines. Landing gear is fully retractable and the all moving horizontal tail plane is moveable. Engine intake and exhaust are blanked off while cockpit detail consists of a pilot figure, seat, instrument panel and control stick. A stack of under wing stores, side mounted rockets and a refueling probe are provided. The canopy is a one piece moulding. Decals are for just one U.S.A.F. aircraft.
Comet/Kleeware 1/54 Grumman S2F Hunter/Killer Box top
Comet was a producer of balsa flying models but in the 1950s also did a range of plastic kits, mostly in very small scales (various) and none with landing gear (you had to use the stand). Comet kits were also made in England by Kleeware (the Comet brand was used on the box top but on the side of the box it was stated "made in England by Kleeware") in the late '50s. In the early 1960s all the moulds were sold to Aurora. The 'Hunter/Killer' (Grumman Tracker) was also produced in 1/111 scale. The 1/54 kit is close enough to 1/48 scale to 'fit in' but of course there is no landing gear and no interior detail what so ever! You do get a moveable 'MAD' boom (slides in and out) and a moveable sonar dome (you can put it up or down) and the props. turn. The stand features a 'ball joint' so the model can be displayed in various positions. Decals are for one U.S. Navy aircraft...panel lines and decal positions are engraved. Very basic but never the less, a nice kit...if you can get hold of one!
Kleeware 1/52 Grumman J2F Duck Box top
In the late 1950s'/early 60s', most U.S. kit manufactures had agreements with English companies to have their kits produced in England, for sale to countries in the British Empire (there was a free trade agreement within the 'empire' to which the U.S. was excluded)...therefore Aurora kits were produced by Playcraft, Lindberg by Modeltoys, Strombecker by Sebel, Hawk by Lincoln International, Comet and ITC by Kleeware etc.. The Duck was an ITC original and featured one of the best 'retractable landing gear' systems of any kit...in that it worked beautifully without breaking! The kit has also been re-issued by Glencoe (but is no longer available) and for 'builders' (rather than collectors) this is the version to get because Glencoe got rid of the heavy raised decal placement mouldings on the wings and fuselage. The Kleeware kit is moulded in white plastic and has raised surface detail (rivets on the fuselage and ribbing on the wings and tail plane). Cockpit detail is rather basic with a floor, two seats, rear bulkhead, instrument panel and two 'figures' (without arms or legs though!). On the other hand the engine is beautifully detailed (and comes up a treat with 'dry brushing')..it also has a separate exhaust collector ring. As well as the retractable landing gear, the tail hook and tail wheel are moveable. A clear stand, in the shape of 'waves' (!?) is provided. The decal sheet has markings for one U.S. Navy aircraft, as per the box top.
Frog 1/96 Air France Caravelle Box top
One of a number of 1/96 scale aircraft (and mainly airliner) kits made by Frog in the 1950s...and they were very basic. This 'original' release has just 37 parts including a four part swivel stand. There is no interior detail and no wheel wells (but you do get landing gear). Surface detail is comprised of fine engraved panel lines and the engines are 'blocked' off so you can't see straight through. Markings are for one Air France aircraft (Lindberg did a far better 1/96 Caravelle with a full interior and a clear fuselage half so it could be seen...it also had retractable landing gear).
Frog 1/99 H.P. Hampden Box top
Among Frog's small scale range in the 1950's were three British WW2 bombers...Blenheim, Wellington and the Hampden. This original issue has just 33 black plastic parts plus a clear stand. Surface detail is made up of engraved panel lines and engraved decal placement markings. There is no interior detail, no wheel wells (but landing gear is supplied) and the turret and guns do not move. The decal sheet has markings (off centre) for just one RAF night bomber.
Fuji 1/48 F-86D Sabre Dog Box top
Fuji (which made the Zero during WW2 and now makes the Subaru) made plastic kits in the 1970s but they were all re-issues of Marusan originals (and Marusan did a lot of 'copying'). Surprisingly, the F-86D wasn't a copy of the Lindberg kit, but it does have a lot of Lindberg style features...removeable tail section and detailed jet engine, retractable landing gear and moveable control surfaces (although Marusan went one step further and included moveable leading edge slats). Two drop tanks, a rocket pack, three ground crew figures, an engine stand, a boarding ladder and a weapons trolly are included. Raised rivets and panel lines make up the surface detail. The decal sheet has markings for three Japanese and one U.S.A.F. Sabre Dog.
Hawk 1/48 F-104 Starfighter Box top
Nearly every kit manufactuer in the 1950s did a model of the Starfighter but only Hawk and Lindberg did it in 1/48 (Revell's was 1/64, Aurora's was 1/96 and Comet's was 1/62). Of the two, Hawk's was far better...and it featured (original issue only) fully retractable landing gear, moveable (all moving) tail plane, ejecting pilot and seat, hinged canopy, boarding ladder was standing figure (as well as the seated pilot) and separate air brakes. Surface detail consisted of raised panel lines on the fuselage and wings and raised rivets on the tail plane (!). Decals are for just one U.S.A.F. aircraft. Hawk later re-issued the F-104 without the retractable landing gear, for some reason. It was also issued as a fully 'chrome plated' kit... again without retractable landing gear.
Hawk 1/48 Lockheed T-33 Box top
First issued in 1958, the T-33 was the only Hawk kit (apart from the Sea Star...the naval version of the T-33) to feature a removeable tail section and fully detailed jet engine (something Lindberg did on several kits). The kit also has a reasonably detailed cockpit with two seated figures (there is also a standing figure of a mechanic), a hinged canopy and wing tip tanks. The wheel wells lack detail while the surface detail is made up from raised panel lines and some raised rivets. The decal sheet has markings for one T-33 U.S.A.F. air training command...as well as stenciling and instrument panels.
Hawk 1/48 Republic F-84G Thunderjet Box top
The box top proudly states the kit contains '35 gleaming plastic parts'...and so it does...moulded in a glossy silver/grey plastic with no flow lines what so ever...no wonder kids back in 1957 (when this was first released) never felt the need to paint their models! As well as fine raised panel lines, the wings and fuselage mouldings also have raised decal placement markings...which really have to be sanded off because decals will no adhere to them! As far as detail goes, there is very little...the wheel wells are there but they are not boxed in and there is no internal detail. There's no cockpit opening, just the head and shoulders of the pilot, the top of the seat and top of the instrument panel moulded onto the fuselage. Two wing tip tangs and two under wing mounted drop tanks are supplier along with a standing ground crew figure.e's no engine intake or tail pipe so from the front, you can look clean through the model, once built...not a difficult problem to fix with some plastic card though. It is also possible to build the kit with retractable landing gear. The decal sheet has markings for one U.S.A.F. aircraft, as per the box top.
Hawk 1/48 McDonnell F2H-2 Banshee Box top
Released in 1956, the Hawk Banshee is basic but surprisingly quite good. Wheel wells are moulded into the bottom wing half (but not into the fuselage for the nose gear, though) and the cockpit is open (but just enough to fit in the pilot figure). On the negative side, the engine intakes and exhausts are not blocked off so you can see straight through and there are raised decal placement markings on the wings and fuselage. Separate wing tip tanks and a tail hook (not moveable) are supplied while the decal sheet has markings for the one U.S. Navy Banshee, as per the box top.
Hawk 1/48 Lockheed U-2 Box top
With a 20" wing span, this is a big kit! It was released by Hawk (although the instructions have the brand as 'Hawk-IMC') in the 1960s so thankfully there are no decal placement markings moulded on. Surface detail consists of fine raised lines. An instrument panel, seat and pilot figure are provided for the cockpit. The engine intakes are blocked off but not the tail pipe. Wheel wells are moulded onto the well doors and are far too shallow. The wing tip landing gear (which dropped off after the U-2 took off), snaps into wing placement holes. Air brakes can be displayed opened or closed and a display stand is supplied. The small decal sheet has markings for one NASA aircraft.
Hawk 1/48 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Box top
Hawk, America's oldest model producer was a pioneer of chrome plated kits. First they tried covering all the parts in chrome but it didn't look right so then they came up with the 'multi-textured' plating look...various panels had a different texture so that it looked like different metal panels...and it did look rather good...except for the fact you couldn't sand any joint lines without removing the plating, so the model had join lines that stood out like dog's balls! The P-47 (in either the plated or non plated version) could be built as a 'razor back' or bubble canopy Thunderbolt. Cockpit detail consists of just an instrument panel and pilot figure, while the wheel wells are just cut outs in the bottom wing halves. Smaller 'detail' items like drop tanks, bombs and the propeller are moulded in non plated black plastic. The decal sheet has markings for two U.S.A.A.F. aircraft.
Heller 1/50 Etendard 1V Box top
Back in the 1950s Heller released two 'all working' kits of French naval aircraft...the Alize and the Etendard 1V ...both contained spring loaded pulleys that resulted in the landing gear being retracted or lowered and the wings folded or unfolded when the tail hook was lowered or raised. The system was rather complicated and didn't work for long so it was dropped from the kits but they still retained folding wings and retractable landing gear. This is one of the later releases (1970s) without the pulleys. There are fine raised panel lines and rivets... a basic cockpit (seat, instrument panel and tub) and a hinged canopy. The kit comes with rubber tyres and a decal sheet with markings for just one aircraft.
Lindberg 1/48 Curtiss Jenny Box top
As with the SE-5A, the original issue of the Jenny was moulded in a bright yellow plastic and as with all Lindberg kits, there are no raised or engraved decal placement markings. The kit has a detailed engine, detailed cockpit with two crew figures, a ground crewman figure with a tail skid dolly and a clear stand. The engine cowl can be removed to expose the engine. The decal sheet has markings for one U.S. Army aircraft and the instruction sheet has two photos of a fully rigged model (but no rigging guide as such).
Lindberg 1/48 Republic XF-91 Box top
Lindberg first released the XF-91 in the 1950s but this is a 1970s re-issue from the period when the company decided 'huge' boxes looked better! With raised rivet and panel line surface detail, the kit is basic in the extreme with no wheel wells and no cockpit detail apart from a pilot and seat. There's also nothing to block off the fuselage so looking through the nose intake enables you to see out the tail pipe! Two large drop tanks and some under wing mounted rockets are provided, along with a basic looking display stand. U.S.A.F. markings are included.
Lindberg 1/48 Hawker Hunter Box top
In the late '50s Lindberg decided to go all out with 'working' models and both the Crusader and Hawker Hunder had these features:- fully retractable landing gear, moveable control surfaces, removeable tail section with detailed jet engine and ejecting pilot and seat (rubber band powered). The original issue of the Hunter also came with a towing tractor...this re-issue from the 1980s, doesn't. Fine raised panel lines comprise the surface detail. The decal sheet has markings for one RAF Hunter (the original had markings for three aircraft...including Swiss. A version, moulded in black plastic was also issued with markings for the Black Arrows display team.
Lindberg 1/51 Saab Draken Box top
This was not a Lindberg original (the moulds were purchased from another company) and it shows...raised panel lines on the fuselage...engraved panel lines on the wings and tail! The landing gear is fully retractable but the control surfaces are fixed and the only cockpit detail is a seat and an under scale pilot. The kit features an under fuselage mounted rocket pod from which 'rubber band' powered rockets can be fired! There are also six 'non firing' under wing mounted rockets. The decal sheet has markings for one Swedish Draken.
Monogram 1/48 FW-190A Box top
Mattel (the toy company) bought out Monogram in the 1960s and re-boxed all the existing kits...so this is the second issue of the FW-190 that first appeared in the early 60's. Despite fine 'raised' rivets and panel lines, it is still a nice kit with a reasonably detailed cockpit (including a pilot figure), separate flaps, optional position landing gear, optional open or closed canopy and optional wing mounted canons, bombs or drop tanks. The decal sheet has markings for six aircraft.
Monogram 1/41 Cessna 180 Box top
Unfortunately not the original issue but rather the 2008 Revell-Monogram limited SSP re-issue featuring the original box art. The kit was first issued in 1960 in two versions...as a floatplane and as per this re-issue...as a land based aircraft. The features include a fully detailed cabin with opening doors and a fully detailed engine with removeable cowling. The wheels and propeller turn and there is a standing figure with a 'ground' base. Surface detail is made up of rised rivets and panel lines. The decal sheet has markings for just one aircraft.. U.S. civil registration.
Monogram 1/72 Grumman SA-16A Albatross Box top
Once again, not the original issue but this time the 1999 Revell-Monogram re-issue featuring the original box art. This rather large kit from the early 1960s has fully ratractable landing gear but no interior detail (apart from a cockpit floor and two crew figures moulded onto their seats) despite having an optional position side door with a standing crew figure. There's basic engine detail moulded into the cowling but you do get two under wing mounted drop tanks, a boarding ladder, a life raft with 'water' base and two figures. Surface detail consists of raised rivets and some engraved panel lines. The decal sheet has markings for one U.S.A.F. and one U.S. Coast Guard aircraft.
Monogram 1/131 Super G Constellation Box top
This kit was first issued in 1957 but this is the 1975 Mattel re-issue. The parts are moulded in white and silver/grey plastic and have heavy raised rivets and engraved panel lines. There's no interior or wheel well detail and the only moving parts are the propellers. The decal sheet has markings for a U.S.A.F. transport aircraft.
Revell 1/55 F-94C Starfire Box top
Despite being 1/55 scale, the kit is almost identical in size to the Lindberg 1/48 F-94C(?). It's one of the very first Revell kits from the mid '50s and it shows in the fact there are raised decal placement markings as well as raised rivets and panel lines. There are no moveable parts, no wheel well detail and the cockpit detail is just a one piece moulding with two crew figures, floor, seats and instrument panels. The kit comes with Revell's excellent clear, swivel stand with decal name plate.
Revell 1/80 F-89D Scorpion Box top
The 'Academy' series was an early 1960s re-issue of kits from the mid 1950s but without the swivel stand! As with the Starfire, the Scorpion has raised decal placement marks, raised rivets and engraved (!) panel lines. Cockpit detail consists of the same one piece moulding as with the F-94C (despite the difference in scales!)...two crew on a floor/seat/instrument panel unit. There are no wheel wells, just recessed mouldings, deep enough for the wheel well doors, if you choose to build the kit with wheels retracted. Decals are for the one aircraft, as per the box top.
RSL 1/58 JU-88 Box top
In the 1960s, the Japanese company, Marusan copied dozens of kits from Lindberg, Aurora, Hawk, Monogram and others. The copied moulds were also used by UPC in the U.S. and RSL in New Zealand. The JU-88 (labelled 1/50 on the box top) is a copy of the Lindberg kit (which was marked as being 1/64 scale when first released but is now labelled 1/72 scale by J.J.Lloyd...the current owner of Lindberg moulds!). The kit is moulded in olive drab plasic and features raised rivets and panel lines, retractable landing gear, moveable control surfaces, two detailed engines with removeable engine panels and two crew figures in a sparcely detailed cockpit. Four under wing mounted bombs are supplied while decals are for just the one aircraft.
UPC 1/74 Martin MB.2 Box top
UPC stood for 'Universal Powermaster Corp.' and that name says it all...what a sham! I mean, what on earth does 'Universal Powermaster' mean anyway? In it's 1969 'collector's guide', UPC claims all it's kits are moulded, packed and assembled in New Oxford P.A. USA. It also states "Our moulds are also sent to various other hobby nations and at times moulded in various countries." Absolute bull shit! UPC was the U.S. importer of kits made in Japan by Marusan. All UPC did was produce boxes and English language instructions for the Japanese made kits...most of which were 'pirated' copies of kits made by many other companies including Lindberg, Monogram, Revell, Adams and Frog! Marusan did produce a number of it's own kits (F-86D, 'Jake', Ki-46, Oscar etc.) but with the copies, none were 'exactly' the same as the originals. For example, the Lindberg JU-88 (see RSL above) was reduced in size slightly (you cannot fit a Lindberg wing half to a Marusan/UPC/RSL JU-88 wing...it's too big). In most cases too, the scale stated on the box was wrong (very few of the 1/50 claimed kits were 1/50...the MB-2 is actually 1/74...a long way off 1/50 scale!). Marusan and UPC vanished in the early 1970s but some of the Marusan moulds were bought by Fuji and Nichimo (and some of the kits released in the U.S. by Entex). Compare the Nichimo (ex-Marusan/UPC) 1/48 P-38 to the original Aurora P-38...it's the same except for the addition of drop tanks and the cockpit has been 'cut out' with a pilot and seat replacing the 'moulded on' pilot's head.
The Martin MB.2 was originally produced by ITC and later released by Kleeware, Ringo and finally Glencoe....and if you ever want to build the kit, the latter is the one to get (Glencoe removed all the 'raised' decal placement mouldings). The UPC kit (made in Japan by Marusan) is of course a copy of the ITC Martin bomber...including the raised decal placement mouldings! Surprisingly, the parts are crisp and clean ... making it look like a direct copy rather than one that has been slightly reduced...though missing is the stand that ITC provided in all it's kits...the instructions are also laid out differently. Still, a nice kit...if you are not worried about having a 'pirated' copy in your collection!!
