1/16 B16-298 Sterling Chris Craft 21' Cobra Boat - Motorized
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
Very rare, large true-scale model from 1956 and one of the few (probably just two) injection molded plastic ship kits produced by Sterling. For the mid-1950s, this model and it's sister kit, the Chris Craft 42' Express Cruiser, had zero competition. In an age were models were crude, simple and non-operating affairs, these were nothing short of a revelation. This large (~ 16' long) kit is designed for static display or motorized for free running or radio control. Well detailed and features bitts, bow, port & starboard 'lights', vents, step pads, gas cap, jack & flag staffs, detailed cockpit with instrument panel, shift lever, throttle, steering wheel, horn ring & clear windshield, captain & bathing beauty figures, rudder & drive shaft stuffing boxes, battery box, motor mount, hardware pack (steel shaft, bronze contact strip, U-joint & more), removable rear turtleback for motor & battery access, and more. Includes a stylish clear display stand. Molded in beautiful brown swirled, yellow, white and clear plastic. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, full instructions and color decals, both of which are in 'near mint' condition. Sterling did not furnish a motor with this kit - it was available separately. The Sterling 'Beaver' is recommended and this was a common electric motor, similar to the pre-assembled Lindberg motors issued with their kits. While Sterling was incredibly famous for their line of wooden personal sport boat kits, evidently they only made two powered plastic kits - the Chris Craft 42' Express Cruiser and this Chris Craft 21' Cobra. They were also issued as a 'Boat Gift Set' which included both kits. Due to Sterling's deep background in research, detail & operational design, these two kits were in a class by themselves. However, at a time when most model kits sold for between 29 cents and one dollar, the very high cost of $1.98 and $2.98 kept them from being big sellers. Sterling never made any more plastic civil ships but continued to expand the world's finest line of scale model wooden pleasure vessels.
$275.00
Sale Pending