California Model Co Featherette Microfilm Indoor Airplane - 18 inch Wingspan Airplane for Class B Competition
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+++
$65
Probably from the 1940s. Stick and tissue flying model kit to a constant 1/16 scale with very nice quality. Made by California Model Company out of Long Beach, CA USA. Kit uses rubber for power. Features required wooden parts, instructions and full size plans. The model has not been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts and instructions. From Bill Baker Jr - "California Model Company originated in Long Beach, Calif in the late 1940's or early 1950's. My grandparents, William (Bill) Loyal Baker and his wife, Ruth (Tripp) Baker were the founders. The company started out as primarily balsa based model aircraft but later, in the late 50's or early 60's, branched into the model RR craft kits and Cub Scout craft kits. They even had a balsa speed boat kit powered by a model airplane gas engine adapted to fit. When they retired, around 1968 or 1969, they sold the business and the "shop" in North Long Beach they built to house their business. I have many fond memories as a young child "working" with them in the shop, assembling kits. I have a few unbuilt kits today!"
Siedlce Bocian Glider, 1/72
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$18
Cleanly molded and nicely detailed glider kit. Features some cockpit detail, clear canopy, display stand and decals. From Dusty Rhodes - The SZD-9 Bocian ("Stork") was a notably successful design, exported to 33 countries. 620 aircraft were produced between 1952 and 1966, including a highly modified high altitude research version. The kit manufacturer Siedlce often printed PZW on their boxes. These kits and PZWPT and are all from this Polish company. They are no longer in operation.
Aurora Bristol F.2B Brisfit - (F-2B), 1/48, 113-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$69
From 1963 with classic John Steel artwork. The hardbox is in excellent condition with nice color and gloss. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Aurora Sopwith Camel, 1/48, 102-100
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$38
Still factory sealed and in investment-grade 'Mint' condition. This is the 4th known issue of this classic kit, and the second one to share the 102-100 kit number. The blue oval logo dates from the early 1960s. This is only the second box artwork used for this kit, and John Steel replaced Cox for the 'new look' from Aurora. This is part of the famous Aurora WWI series of 1/48 scale aircraft. The series began in 1956 and Aurora added new kits into the early 1960s. The line proved incredibly popular, so these kits were included in the 'mold upgrade' in the 1970s before Aurora went out of business. Even Monogram released a few of these kits after purchasing Aurora's molds.
Premiere BAe Hawk T.Mk 1A Red Arrows, 1/48, P3102
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$26
Large scale 1/48 Hawk. Features colorful decals for any of 11 (10 flying aircraft and a spare) of the Red Arrows Display Team, detailed cockpit, optional position landing gear, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and optional gun pack. The model has not been started. Factory sealed bags with decals and instructions.
Aurora Convair F-102 Dart - (YF-102 Delta Dagger), 1/121, 290-39
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$49
Hardbox issue dated 1957, but from the mid 1960s due to the oval logo with the blue outline. Small scale kit with dramatic Jo Kotula box artwork is nicely molded with clear canopy, full landing gear and display stand. This is a model of the very early YF-102 prototype with the straight (non-area rule) fuselage. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. Around this time, Aurora issued a series of inexpensive (usually 29 cent) small scale kits that were designed to sell at almost any type of retail location. The line was successful and further expanded - when Aurora purchased the Comet molds, they fit in nicely with this established line.
Airfix Cutty Sark Clipper With Sails Bagged - Type One Logo
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc++
$85
Still factory sealed. Very rare first issue dating from the 1950s and has no part number. The header is in amazing 'excellent' condition and is still factory stapled to the original plastic parts bag. Well molded, small-scale waterline model features full sails, clear printed ratlines and a water display stand. Measures just about 5 inches in length when built.
Aurora A-37 Strike Jet, 1/43, 147-100
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$46
1968 hardbox issue with the box top in beautiful 'Excellent++' condition. John Steel artwork was new that year and inside, the kit features detailed cockpit, pilots, full landing gear and extensive under wing loadout. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts decals and instructions.
Frog Westland Wallace Red Series, 1/72, F167
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$30
1960s Red Series issue that is well molded and detailed for that time and builds into a realistic model. Never started and the parts are still in the internal factory sealed bags and includes decals and instructions.
Airfix The Great Western Ocean Liner Bagged - Type One Logo, 1397
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed VG+
$79
Still factory sealed. This is the very rare 1950s first issue with the original Airfix logo. The factory header is in 'very good' condition and is still factory stapled shut to the original plastic parts bag. Like most small scale Airfix ships, this one is very nicely molded and features a full hull, display stand, ratlines and more. Measures just over 6 inches in length when built. The Great Western was the first ship specifically built for the Atlantic Ferry Service and was designed by I.K. Brunel (who designed the Great Eastern). When launched in 1837, she carried 120 first class, 20 second class, and beds could be set up for an additional 100 if needed. The crew was 60 men. The first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was in April of 1838 and took just over 15 days. After crossing the Atlantic 64 times, she ran for 10 years between Southampton and the West Indies before being broken up in 1857.
La Belle D&RG Baggage Car Narrow Gauge HOn3 - HO Scale Craftsman Kit, HO, HOn3-22
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$30
During the golden era of realistic train models, La Belle Woodworking Company created perhaps the very finest scale kits of early American passenger equipment. Features die cut hardwood parts (no balsa), carved clerestory roof, clear clerestory window material, complete underside details, metal castings, building instructions and full size plans. I have built these models and they look identical to the real prototypes. The kit has not been started and is complete with all parts, sealed smaller details and plans + instructions. Please read the article on this website about older HO train kits and the modeling revolution they caused in the late 1930s/1940s.
Kader Douglas DC-7 - BOAC, 1/150, 395
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$44
Ex-Lincoln molds. Very close to 1/144 scale. Good detail and complete decals including all pin stripes. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Pyro USS Chicago CA136 Heavy Cruiser, 147-129
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$39
Very rare. Pyro's first ship kits were the BB Missouri, CA Chicago, CV Shangri-La and DD Sumner in the early 1950s. The one-piece box is complete but has wear as shown and a closed tear on one long side. It is molded in dark gray and black plastic. The scale is not listed, but the built model is about 12 inches long. NOTE: the main turrets have been snapped (not glued) in to the deck. There is no other assembly. NOTE: missing display stand. Otherwise inventoried with all other parts and instructions. Please note that the three larger ships all came in the same box. Pyro placed the kit contents on the side of the box.
Marusan Nautilus SSN571 Nuclear Submarine Commemorative Issue - (ex-Revell), 1/305
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$69
Very rare. This is a special issue by Marusan commemorating their very first kit - the Revell Nautilus. The contents are worthy of some detail. First, there is a 'Commemorative Booklet' which tells a fairly long story across many pages (in Japanese). The final page shows illustrations of the first Marusan print advertisements to promote the Nautilus, as well as a Marusan catalog page and a Revell/Marusan catalog page. The actual kit contains a copy of the original instruction sheet with "Marusan Plastic Model Kit" inside the Revell logo design, the older "SAN" logo and the special stand. The model parts are beautifully presented against white cardboard and factory sealed in clear bags. The special stand is included as well as the gold and black stand sticker. Complete and never started, with all paperwork and parts bags in mint condition.
Air Lines Airspeed Oxford Trainer - (ex Frog), 1/72, 7906
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$24
Issued in the 1960s. This is a well molded kit from the original FROG molds features separate ailerons, rudder and elevators, basic cockpit, pilot figures, painting guide and full color decals. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. Box art is by the famous Jo Kotula who did 1930s covers for the magazine 'Model Airplane News' and later the Aurora box art of the late 1950s. Air Lines kits are all Frog molds that the Lines Brothers imported to the USA between 1964-1966. The kits, decals and instructions were made in England, then imported to the USA where Testors created the boxes with the colorful trading cards on the back. There are two trading cards on each box which show the boxart but not the advertising/logo. Some kits contain a Testors color painting guide also, but it is not specific to any model.
Hasegawa P-40E Warhawk - Maj. E.F. Rector 76th FS 23rd FG China July 1942 / 'Bob's Robin' Lt. R.H. Vaught 9th FS 49th FG Australia Summer 1942, 1/48, JT86
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc
$36
Still factory sealed. Excellent kit dated 2005 from new molds. Features 109 parts, one PE fret, all fine, recessed panel lines, excellent cockpit and wheel well detail, optional position canopy, drop tank and more. Includes decals for the two aircraft listed.
Comet Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, 1/62, PL500-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$64
Hard-to-find 1950s issue. Shortly after this release, Comet sold all their model molds to Aurora. Comet had made two F-104 kits - this is the larger scale one. Inside, the kit is like new and molded in gloss silver and clear. Includes the Comet Model Hobbycraft catalog mailer. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals in amazing 'near mint' condition and 'excellent' instructions. This is the second issue with one instruction sheet. The first issue actually had two instructions sheets - the standard one, and the Supplement. The first draft of the instructions left out the stand ball retainer, and the supplement includes that omission.
Aurora Cutty Sark Clipper Ship, 1/260, 432-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Fair
$45
Excellent builder kit. Nicely molded, smaller scale full-hull kit. Kit features molded rat lines, detailed deck and fittings, display stand and rigging instructions. Molded in green, wood tan and black. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts including flag sheet and instructions. NOTE: the smallest yard has 1/3 of the tip broken off and that tip is missing.
Aurora Wall Bracket Display Stand
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$55
Factory Sealed Aurora Line logo from about 1954.
Frog Blackburn Shark Torpedo Bomber - FAA RNAS Ford (1940) / Portuguese Navy Lisbon 1936 / 820 Sq FAA HMS Courageous 1937, 1/72, F179
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$32
Final logo issue from the late 1970s just before Frog ceased production. Nicely molded kit contains parts and decals for all three versions. Features extended or folded wings, separately molded control surfaces, prop, wheels, optional floats or wheeled version and torpedo and bomb loads. With color painting guide and decals for the three aircraft listed. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes 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.