By Alan Bussie
I would like to thank John Burns and numerous KCCers. Without them, it would have been impossible to compile this information.
This article was updated on 27 May 2025. –ab
In the early 1940s, Lou Glaser, an entrepreneur from California, established an injection molding company called Precision Specialties, which provided contract services to other manufacturers. In the early 1950s, the design firm Gowland and Gowland created the well-known 1/32 scale “Highway Pioneers” line, consisting of 30 cars that were the first mass-produced plastic automotive kits. Glaser marketed these kits for 69 cents at Woolworth Dime Stores, and they sold successfully. This success led Glaser to conclude that Revell should focus on selling children’s toys, particularly plastic model kits.
The first mold created by Revell was the 1953 USS Missouri, which was initially released in a narrow box.
The first three aircraft kits were released quickly in one-piece boxes. The F-94C, F7U-1, and F9F-6 were molded Continue reading “A Brief History of Revell Plastic Model Kits”