1/72 PA96 Monogram Curtiss P-40B Tiger Shark Test Shot - Bagged
Plastic Model Kit
This kit came from the collection of one of Monogram's finest and talented Chief Designers, the man who created the original B-52 kit, B-17, B-24J, P-36A, P-39 Airacobra, P-61 Black Widow, DH Mosquito, at least one if not all of the 1/8 scale Ford cars, A-1E Skyraider and numerous other famous kits. In his collection were boxes (usually Four-Star armor that had been damaged on the box-assembly machine) labeled 'TEST SHOTS' and some with his name on it. After designing the model, he was still responsible for the entire program, at least up to the point of mass production. Test Shots were made near the end of the design process for the Chief Designer of that kit to inspect; if something was wrong, he ordered changed. If not, he would clear the kit for production. Test Shots were usually made in whatever plastic was loaded into the silo at the time and in some cases reground plastic (from defects) was even used. This is one of those kits. Ever notice that all Monogram P-40s were molded in olive-drab plastic? Well, not in this case! This test shot is molded with most of the parts in a chocolate brown plastic, some in silver and the few remaining ones in green and clear plastic. This is a pre-first issue. It has never been started. The model is inventoried with all parts and instruction present. The Four Star issue instructions are mint and may have come with the test shot for his approval or they may have been added later. I have included them because they were in the same 'TEST SHOT' box as the kit. As a note, the test shots of the Monogram Four Star Helldiver were molded in silver and clear - clear dive brakes and many other clear parts! Some test shots of the Hawker Hurricane were molded in gloss gray with a little bit of white added so the designer could see exactly how the plastic moved into and filled the cavities.
$36.00