Hudson Miniatures 1913 Mercer Raceabout Lil Old Timers - Quickie Kit, 1/32
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM++
$46
Rare and in investment-grade 'near mint++' condition inside and out. This is old hobby shop stock that has not been sold retail until now. Molded in bright yellow plastic. Never started and inventoried 100% complete with all parts and instructions. These kits have a very interesting history. When the Gowland/Revell 'Highway Pioneers' burst upon the hobby scene in 1951, they started a hobby revolution. Plastic model kits were not new in 1951, but successful mass marketing of plastic kits was new. The sensation swept the country, and Gowland & Revell could not make the kits fast enough. The fact that the public was buying these models shocked the successful hobby establishment. One such manufacture was Hudson Miniatures. In the 1940s, Hudson had established a name in making 1/16 scale 'Old Timer' models of automobiles. These were excellent kits with wood and metal parts, but a high degree of skill was required to carve and finish the wood parts. In the late 1940s, they added some injection molded plastic parts (usually acetate wheels) to the series but did not consider a completely plastic kit. When Hudson saw what was happening with the Highway Pioneers, he began to design his own 1/32 scale line called 'Lil Old Timers', which hit the stores in 1954. An early paper fold-out catalog shows 18 models including some real gems like the 1910 International Harvester Passenger Car, 1911 Brush Delivery Truck and 1906 Columbia Electric Car just to name a few. The line was bought by Revell a short time after it's release, and Revell did reissue some (but not all) of the kits. As you would expect from Hudson, this is a nice kit with excellent moldings and detail for the time. The Mercer was perhaps the most famous sports car of it's day, and it can be successfully argued that it was America's first sports car. The 30 horsepower 'T' head 4 cylinder engine sped it along at over 80 miles per hour. A 1914 Mercer clocked 112 mph at Daytona Beach - no mean feat for that age.
Revell 1929 4 1/2 Liter Bentley Highway Pioneers - US Antique Series, 1/32, H63-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$48
Original issue dated 1954 in 'excellent+' condition inside and out. The US Antique series was the first one to have real box art for the exact kit inside. This kit is from old hobby shop stock and has never been sold retail until now; but the box does has light wear as shown. Inside the box, it has not been started. All the parts are still factory sealed in the original 'krinkle' bag. Includes instructions. This is from the issues produced with Gowland & Gowland as it carries their 'balloon' logo on the box top a the lower right. Not long after this, the Gowland logo would disappear completely, leaving only the Revell logo. It is also worth noting that this is one of the first non-generic Highway Pioneers boxes. Earlier boxes were all the same, with the kit number and car stamped on the side, usually with a red or black rubber stamp. This box is completely dedicated to the Bentley kit, and even has advertisements for very early Pre-S issue Revell 1954 ship and aircraft kits on the long sides. Before the 1950s 'model building' never made 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 force in proving that model building as a hobby could have mass appeal, provided that the kits were easy enough to build and finish. These 1/32 scale vehicles could be built in an hour after dinner and looked much like the real car. The Highway Pioneers series lead to the production of other subjects in plastic and the effect was revolutionary. By the early 1960s, model building was the #1 past time of American boys.
Classic Miniatures 1900 Bank Building - HO Scale Craftsman Model, 1/87, CM-18
Wood and Metal Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$24
Quality model kit with wood, metal and other materials. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes decals and instructions.
Campbell Ore Bin - HO Scale Craftsman Model, 1/87, 438
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$55
Very high quality wooden model kit. Never started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes instructions.
American Model Builders Cumbres Station - HO Craftsman Model, 1/87, 112
Wood and Metal Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$29
Very high quality laser cut wooden kit with plastic and metal details. The kit has never been started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes instructions.
Frog Supermarine Spitfire Mk14 and V-1 - (RAF or SEAC Kai Tak), 1/72, F194
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$29
Final logo issue from the late 1970s. Well molded kit like most all Frog models. Includes V-1 and Spitfire. Spitfire has optional markings for 'Punjab' Sq RAF Dienst Belgium 1945 or No.132 Sq RAF SEAC Kai Tak Hong Kong 1945. This kit has not been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Frog is considered the father of injection molded model kits. The Lines Brothers opened Frog in 1932, capitalizing on the fever caused by Lindberg's solo transatlantic flight. Almost overnight the western populations became 'Air-Minded', and anything aviation was in high demand. Frog created a quality line of stick and tissue rubber powered aircraft and gliders as well as innovative ready-to-fly rubber powered aircraft that required no assembly. The box even contained a built-in rubber motor winder and fuselage holder. Model airplane flight competitions were popular in Great Britain, and one category was 'Rise Off the Ground', or ROG. By changing this to 'Flies Right Off the Ground', the FROG name was born. In 1936 Frog created a line of injection molded plastic models, the first such kit line in the world (Hawk sold a line of injection molded aircraft models in 1934 but they were factory assembled and painted). Named 'Penguin' after the bird that does not fly, the kits were innovative beyond the means of production. At a time when models were simply built by wingspan, the Penguin line was a constant 1/72 scale. Furthermore, a large 1/72 Short S.30 Empire class flying boat contained a full interior and lights! A line of accessories such as AA guns, tractors, hanger, ambulance, sound locator, searchlights and lighting kits were quickly added to the line. WWII caused a pause in production. After the war the box color changed from silver to green, and Penguin kits were also marketed in the USA. Production ended in 1950. Frog quickly expanded and released the Red, Blue, Orange, Black, Green, Gold Token, Spin and Comet series as well as Trail Blazers and several others. It is noteworthy that while most manufacturers in the 1940s/50 were making toy-like models, Frog attempted to make very realistic models. For example, 'detailing' kits with excessively large rivets was once very popular. Frog ignored this trend and continued to mold aircraft with fine panel lines and no rivets. As a result, Frog kits can be built into very realistic replicas. Production ended in the late 1970s, but Frog molds are still in use around the world.
Hawk De Havilland Comet IV BOAC with Interior - and Ground Support, 1/153, 507-100
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$95
Rare. Great hardbox kit from 1958 with interior and Bill Campbell artwork. The fuselage has a long flip-up panel to show full interior with all seats, bulkheads and even passengers. Also includes detailed landing gear, scale fuel truck, air conditioner truck and airport transport bus as well as full color BOAC decals and Mobilgas decals for the truck. This kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Airmodel North American AJ-1 Savage - Bagged, 1/72, 161
Vacuform Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$26
Basic vac kit with main airframe parts and clear canopy. Very crisp and well detailed moldings with recessed panel lines. Complete and never started. A certain degree of modeling skill is required to build vacuform kits. They are not recommended for beginners.
Tamiya Aichi M6A1 Seiran With Eduard Mask Set XF071, 1/48, 61054-2200
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$29
Includes never used and compete Eduard mask set for the canopies and beaching dolly wheels. The actual kit is very high quality and has never been started. The parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes decals and instructions.
Tamiya North American Mustang III - RAF No. 315 (Polish) Squadron / No. 112 Squadron, 1/48, 61047-1300
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc
$27
Still factory sealed. Dated 1996. Very well detailed kit. Includes decals for both aircraft listed.
Pegasus Ryan FR-1 Fireball - Bagged, 1/72, 2002
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc
$24
Early US Navy operational propeller driven + jet engine dual propulsion carrier-based aircraft. Limited run injection molded kit with all very fine recessed panel line detail. Cleanly molded and well detailed. Includes cast metal detail parts and full decals. Never started. Factory sealed bag or inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Life-Like Civil War Field Piece - With Rope and Metal Chain - (ex-Palmer), 1/24, 09694
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$38
Still factory sealed. Nicely detailed model originally from the early 1960s. Includes accessory pail, ramrod and turning bar.
Comet Boeing 707 Jetliner 367-80 Dash 80, 1/300, PL16-29
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$55
Very rare. Civil version of the 707 prototype. In the 1950s Comet made a beautiful line of small scale aircraft and missile models with colorful boxes. When Comet went out of business, these molds saw action for years with Aurora. This is the one-piece flip up box of the '707 - Dash 80.' And it is a nice kit of the famous prototype, the world's first commercially-successful airliner. Well molded with fine recessed panel lines in 'In-Flight' configuration with stand and prototype decals. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Kader Boeing 707 BOAC, 1/190, 399
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$42
From the 1960s. Nicely molded for that time and features very fine raised and some recessed panel line detail, display stand and very colorful and complete decals. Decals are in amazing 'near mint' condition. Never started. The parts that were factory sealed are still in the factory sealed bag; the larger parts that were never sealed have been inventoried complete and includes instructions.
Revell F-105B Thunderchief - 'S' Issue, 1/75, H285-89
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$79
1958 first issue with dramatic hardbox artwork. The box has excellent color and gloss. Features optional position landing gear, movable wheels, four bombs, pilot figure and hinged cockpit canopy and refueling probe. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions.
Revell Douglas DC-9 KLM, 1/120, RH4221
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$32
Revell Lodela issue, probably from the 1980s. From the original issue molds from 1966. This is not a stretch DC-9 but an original early 'short' DC-9. Nicely molded for that time, featuring optional position landing gear, movable wheels and very colorful and complete KLM markings. The kit has never been started. Internal factory sealed bag including decals and instructions.
Revell Boeing B-52 Giant Stratofortress - Pre 'S' Kit, 1/175, H207-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$79
2nd release of this classic Pre 'S' kit from 1954. Features the higher profile box (1.5" high) with great artwork. Inside the kit has the four piece stand and the revised instructions showing it. NOTE: this kit has two parts neatly assembled- the fuselage halves have been assembled to 'near mint' quality. There is no other assembly and zero painting. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Airfix Fokker F-27 Friendship Aer Lingus, 1/72, 583
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$79
From the late 1950s. Type two logo kit with full Aer Lingus markings on two decal sheets. Features full cockpit, moving rudder, elevator and ailerons, retracting landing gear, optional position cabin doors and rotating propellers & wheels. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Airfix BAC-111 (One-Eleven) Braniff Airlines - Craftmaster Issue, 1/144, 2-88
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$54
Hard to find Craftmaster issue. Features optional position landing gear and working airstair rear door. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. Braniff decals look 'excellent' but please always take precautions before using any older kit decals. There is an article (on this website) on how to save old decals.
Aurora Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1/270, 494-49
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$145
Very rare and even rarer in this condition. First issue and with the one-year only rectangular logo. Dramatic Jo Kotula box art with 1956 date. The box is the finest I have seen. It has like-new color and gloss, four solid corners, no repairs, no tape or tape marks, no tags or tag marks, no fading, and no tear or missing litho. The only flaws are the light edge and corner wear shown at the bottom right and other (even lighter) shelf wear that probably not even visible in the photo. Molded in correct silver and clear with correct rectangular clear stand. A nice kit for that time, it features full centerline landing gear and outrigger struts and gear doors as well as clear cockpit canopy, outboard slipper fuel tanks, display stand and decals. It has the correct early rectangle-base clear Aurora stand, which is also shown on the instructions. Molded in the correct gloss silver and clear. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Instructions are mint and the decals are 'near mint.' It is interesting to note that this is not a reissue of the Comet molds - the two models are not even close to the same size or scale. This kit is original to Aurora, was made before Aurora acquired the Comet molds and also varies in a great many details. It appears that Aurora never even re-issued the Comet B-52, probably because they had a superior model already in the same low price range.