1/40 K157-149 Adams USMC Winnie the Whale LVT(A)(4)
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
Very rare 1958 high-quality model and the original issue from Adams. Features working bogies, flexible tracks, crew of two, four soldiers and more. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. The box displays better than the 'very good+' grade but is rated as such because there is a small, narrow litho tear on the left short side. These molds must have had a very interesting history. The molds were cut in the late 1950s, either at Adams or by one of Revell's contractors. It appeared to be part of the Adams/Revell 1/40 line but only Adams issued the kit. UPC (Universal Power Master) had use of these molds in the 1960s are perhaps the early 1970s; however, the molds were probably in Japan as most if not all the UPC production occurred there. Around this point, SNAP plastics of Hillside, New Jersey acquired this kit along with many of the other ex-Adams military molds. While the UPC issues say 'Made in Japan' the SNAP issues say nothing of the origin of the manufacture; so perhaps they were made in New Jersey. Things get even more interesting with the Life-Like issue. How Life-Like came across the molds is unfortunately unknown but it may have been in a bulk-purchase of molds from SNAP since there were in the same general part of the country. This is simply conjecture, however.
$135.00