To Hans Von Hammer

I didn't say it as a negative... After Monogram, Revell kits are my kits of choice...  Revell of Germany has the majority of "International" symbols to the point of silliness IMHO, but I've built so many of them,  know that the parts are named anyway..  It wasn't until the 80's that Revell started really going "International".   Usually, I buy my Revell and Monogram kits offa Ebay... AMT too...

But yeah, half of what I know about aircraft & cars came from building models that actually had the names of what the part or asembly was...  I miss that... Guess that's why I recently read a reviewer call a bore evacuator and "gun fume extractor"...  Models are definately nowhere near as educational as they once were...   Since I can't read Japanese or Korean, I dunno if anyone still does it, but I read the reviews and they talk about "watch the alignment on part A-24 to Part A-10", instead of "watch the alignment on the gun mantlet to the coax"...

If there's a kit of something that any manufacturer puts out that has been done in the same scale as Revell or Monogram, and I can get it,  I'll take those over any of the new stuff any day...  Same way with the 80's Tamiya and Testor's/Italeri armor... I'll take Tamiya's 22.00 T-62A over Trumped-upeter's 50.00 one, or Italeri's Katyusha for 25.00 over ICM's 60.00 truck in a heartbeat...  "Newer" doesn't mean "better" in my world...  It usually just means "over-engineered" from what I've experienced with Dragon, ICM, Trumpeter, etc...

Besides, if I'm gonna drop 150.00 in the LHS, I'm coming home with more than one or two models... Sheet & Strip styrene is cheap...

Talk about prices my son who is graduating in may bought me a B17g for Christmas in 1/72 scale two reason one for size and price.

 Man, I had forgotten about those instructions that labelled the parts by what they actually were. If not for those, the pitot tube was just an unimportant pointed thingy, ailerons were turny things and so on. That was great for a kid. For my 4th grade science fair(1984!!!), I did a project on airplanes and flight (with a couple models, of course) the majority of the information came from those instructions.

 Thanks for the trip down Memory lane!!!

I'am in total agreement with you Hans detail is one thing  price is another. I'll go back to what I grew up with Revell and Monogram thanks for putting it in perspective

I was perusing my ebay Searches the other day (and I wish now I'd have book-marked it), there was a seller that was offering the original instruction sheets from Monogram models that were printed in the 60'-70's and although I wasn't interested in buying any (they were listed @ 2.99, right now, I have my search limited to 1/48th Monogram Airplanes --.99 to 5.99), they were of a good enough quality to read the couple paragraphs on the first page that was always about the subject being modeled... It's history, users, etc... Tamiya used to do a couple pages of background & development of it's subjects as well.. 

I miss that too...

During the 90's, Monogram released a bunch of it's kits in their original 60's "Blue Boxes" too, complete with re-prints of the instruction sheets.. Some folks bought them, thinking they'd found an over-looked deal on a collector's item in their LHS but they didn't look for the second copyright date printed opposite the original date... I disappointed a couple folks that approached me with their "incredible finds"...

     I think that my favorite one was always that Corsair painting with the armorer walking out carrying the ammo belts... Although it was an odd painting, being an F4U-4 on a South Pacific Island wearing the Navy's post 1947 National Insignia and the ammo was .50 cal (the "dash 4" had four 20 mike-mikes)..   Revell's 1/32 kits were the hands-down winners in box art though...

     Revell's re-releasing the old Monogram kits has been a real treat for me...  I hope they eventually resurect all of them,  armor & cars too... They're a scratchbuilder's dream... And if you're a frugal modeler like me (ok, cheapskate), then you have a plethora of kits offering years of enjoyment... 

Speaking of cars... So far, I've got "Rommel's Rod" again, as well as "The Red Baron" & "Cop-Out"  car kits...  Hoping to see others like the "T'rantula", "Garbage Truck", "Boot Hill Express", "Beer Truck",  and "Paddy Wagon" in my stash someday soon... (BTW, the 1/72 Dr 1 that comes in the "Red Baron" kit had found it's way into one of my shadow box dioramas.. Nuthin' wrong with that little gem, either...)

I'm with you Hans, Fermis,

I like seeing that intro text explaining the model and actual part names within the instructions are great, especially for a beginner - it is a great way of understanding more about "what makes it go", whether you're talking aircraft, armour, cars. I wonder if the manufacturers thinking is that the people building these all have an immense library of info? I suppose a lot of us do, and the internet is filled with more info... but a beginner doesn't have that archive. And there is something more personal about having it all in one spot. You can really understand what certain parts are used for when you've got your hands on them.

Vance

I wonder if the manufacturers thinking is that the people building these all have an immense library of info?

I think it had more to with printing space and the "necessary evil" of multi-lingual instruction sheets...  

You have to remember, Monogram was the first to bring out the complete century series of aircraft.  They are now considered outdated but how many times have you seen or heard someone say they wish they would re lease them again.  Sure the F-100 from the 70's is outdated but compared to other kit makers, the old Monogram kit is still a great bargain and a nice kit.

Every one cuts down their A-6E and EA-6A kits as not being accurate but for years I have heard people comment they wish Monogram/Revell would release them again.  Where else can you get a F-101B, F-102A, F-105D/G or F-106A in 1/48 scale.  Even their F-104 isn't up to par with the latest releases from other kit makers, but look at the price.  Sure they don't have all the detail other kit makers have but as HVH said, do some scratchbuilding and don't worry about all the resin and PE parts other kits include. 

I have seen some of the old R/M kits built up that would put other more expensive kits to shame.  How many have you seen at contest with first, second, third or best of show awards.

Hey guys... I loved the old instruction sheets to..! I am one of those that saved all my instructions sheets, including a bunch of those Shep Paine diorama inserts..

I also saved the box tops, and when I built my house in 92, and added my Man Cave, I wallpapered the walls with the box tops...

I know.. I know.. I need therapy...

We need to see that photo. I got the bug to go out and get a monogram model I should finish the one i have now. Can't do two things at once.

plumline

We need to see that photo. I got the bug to go out and get a monogram model I should finish the one i have now. Can't do two things at once.

Plumline: which photo do you mean??

The photo of you in your box-top decorated man cave.

No cats though, they scratch cardboard.

MEOW!

Chalk it up to being a freshman-veterans of the forum know that Hammer is king of the nostalgia builders

Hey, Hammer, check again in eBay.  Just last night, I saw a number of auctions for instruction sheets, in my Revell search.

Every so often, an original Shep Paine brochure comes up, too...

VanceCrozier

The photo of you in your box-top decorated man cave.

No cats though, they scratch cardboard.

MEOW!

Ok,, pic of man cave to follow... its been upgraded since I took this pic.. new 17" flat screen.. ( took up less space , more room for sprue).. new bench on left of desk for plastic stash accumulation...

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/

:550:0] you get the drift of the wallpaperin.. it goes all around the room..

Hey you weren't kidding, box-top wallpaper - what does the fire department say about that!?  Nice camo job on your cat - I can't see it at all...

he's under the desk...

I'll try to get an actual cataction photo...lol.