Old Model Kits :: Plastic model info and howtos

A Brief History of Revell Plastic Model Kits

September 4, 2007 – 4:37 pm

In the early 1940s, Lou Glasser, a California entrepreneur, founded an injection molding company. Precision Specialties performed contract work for other manufactures. In the early 1950s Gowland and Gowland designed the famous 1/16 scale “Highway Pioneers” line of 34 cars, which were the first mass-produced plastic automotive kits. Glasser marketed these for 69 cents through Woolworth Dime Stores and they sold well. Glasser realized that Revell should sell children’s toys, specifically plastic model kits.

The first Revell-made mold was the 1953 USS Missouri, first issued in the narrow box.

 

The first three aircraft kits followed quickly in one-piece boxes. The F-94C, F7U-1 and F9F-6 were molded Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Plastic Model Kit History

A Brief History Of Monogram Plastic Model Kits

September 4, 2007 – 12:07 pm

The name Monogram is synonymous with quality in model kits. The founders, Jack Besser and Bob Reder, had a clear vision of what constitutes an excellent model kit and how to transform that into mass production. Not surprisingly, Monogram proved to be a profitable company for many years.

Early Wood and Plastic Kits

In 1945 the company was producing stick/tissue aircraft kits and solid wooden kits of ships and cars. The ship line consisted of a US Battleship, Destroyer, Cruiser, Aircraft Carrier and Landing Craft.

Monogram seized the initiative in plastic early and produced what we would call multi-media kits. The flying and non-flying kits were called Read the rest of this entry »

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A Brief History of Aurora Plastic Model Kits

September 4, 2007 – 12:04 pm

Aurora was one of the most prolific names in American Modeling from 1952 to 1977. The line was very diverse and included aircraft, ships, tanks, missiles, figures (monster and many others), science fiction, automotive, animals, guns, totem poles, HO train items, electronic kits, “Coppersmith” sets, prehistoric scenes and more.

The Early Years
In 1950, Abe Shikes and Joseph Giammarino created Aurora as an injection molding job-shop. Injection molding was booming and business went well. In 1952, they hired a salesman named John Cuomo. The plastic model kit business was just beginning, as the three decided this was the future of Aurora.

Brooklyn Era
Kit production started in the Brooklyn Plant in late 1952. These kits were in one-piece flip-top boxes and carried the circular logo and the “U-Ma-Kit” slogan. The first two kits were the 1/48 F9F Panther Jet (kit #22) and 1/48 Lockheed F-90A (kit #33) with no landing gear or missiles and minimal rivet and panel line detail. Box art was simple and used one or two colors. There is no price extension after the kit number.

Issues exist with the instructions printed on the inside of the box and with the instructions printed on a separate piece of paper. If you have the early Hawk releases of these kits, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Plastic Model Kit History

Save Those Old or Yellowing Plastic Model Decals

August 19, 2007 – 4:02 am

by Ken Friend

Nothing is more discouraging than watching decals yellow with time after they have been applied to one of your favorite models. Well, maybe there is something more discouraging; spending your valuable allowance on an older model kit only to find the decals are almost useless from discoloration. The following article might help. Discolored decals can be used to generate new decals that stand a much better chance of maintaining their true colors and clarity.

The example below shows the original decal sheet from an AMT XB-70 kit released in 1995. The clear film between colored segments is discolored. Obviously, this will show dramatically Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Plastic Model Kit How To's