| 1953 issue, the first year for the 'Series Three' Highway Pioneers. The box is excellent, and the inside has never been started. It is still factory sealed in the 'krinkle' bag. Complete with instructions. Molded in deep burgundy plastic. Before the 1950s 'model building' as a hobby did not even make the top 10 list of boy’s activities. Hobbies were nothing new to America in the 1930s/40s, but they were not mainstream. Shortly after the turn of the century, many dedicated modelers built flying or static airplanes, ship, train, automotive or other subjects. Basic kits existed, but the majority of these models were built from scratch, which demanded a high talent level developed from years of experience. That changed in the early 1950s. The phenomenon of the Revell/Gowland & Gowland ‘Highway Pioneers’ car kits was a significant mover in proving that model building as a hobby could have mass appeal, provided that the kits were easy enough to build and finish. They could be built in an hour after dinner and looked like the real car. The 'Highway Pioneers' series helped lead to the production of other subjects in plastic. The effect was revolutionary. By the early 1960s, 'model building' was the # 1 past time of American boys. |
