1/40 2151-250 UPC M-40 155mm Self-Propelled Gun - (ex Adams)
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
Universal Powermaster's 2nd reissue of the 1957 Adams 'Action Model' that is amazingly well detailed for that time. Features rotating, elevating and recoiling gun, working track and hatches, hinged platform that opens and closes, working extension ramp, crew and much more. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bag and includes decals and instructions. This kit has a fascinating history. After Adams became disillusioned with plastic model kit production (perhaps partially due to interaction with Revell's founder), they sold most if not all of the molds to Athearn, the famous craftsman HO train kit manufacturer. Athearn reissued many of the kits under the SNAP name. This name sometimes caused confusion. Many people thought they were snap-together kits; they couldn't have been more wrong. Athearn did a simple modification to each mold; where it would say ADAMS (usually on a part or area that did not show), they machined that away and put the SNAP logo. At some point Athearn stopped production and eventually sold the molds. However, during this time in the 1960s, UPC decided to reissue many of these kits. Evidently Athearn did the molding or a job shop did, while UPC produced their own boxes, instructions and decals. UPC stood for Universal Powermaster Corporation which was based out of New York City, NY. UPC did not cut their own molds, but bought kits already molded from other manufacturers (many in Japan) and re-boxed the kits in the USA. Scott Eidson, the famous artist best known for his artwork with Revell, also did UPC box art in the 1960s. However, the famous Roy Grinnell did the 2nd issue UPC artwork for the ex-Adams AA Gun, M-40 (this kit) and perhaps others. All UPC production ended in the 1970s. NOTE: instructions are SNAP instructions. I have seen this before and evidently UPC used up Athearn's stock of instructions in their kits. Given the cost of printing back then, this would have been a wise move.
$55.00