"Remembering Revell Model Kits"

I have been looking for this book for some time here in the UK - it sounds very interesting.
Haven't seen it so far so I assume it hasn't been published here yet.

There is a very similar book on the history of Airfix, published by Harper Collins, which is fascinating
to read, although it does tend to concentrate more on the box-art rather than the models themselves at times
(the author is obviously a kit collector rather than a modeller!). It deals with the history of Airfix right
from their beginnings making assorted moulded plastic items, through their first kits, to the 60s/70s "golden era"
of Airfix, and up to the present day. There are some interesting facts - the first ever Airfix kit was a Ferguson tractor
(now VERY collectable!) and they next did a range of small-scale sailing ships (remarkably the moulds for these are
still in use, and you can buy them at hobby/toy shops in the UK.. they're actually not too bad for their age). The first
aircraft was a Spitfire and with the success of this item, their aircraft kit range very rapidly grew!
Another interesting thing is that the name Airfix has nothing to do with either aircraft or with "fixing" plastic kits
together. I can't remember the exact details, but I think the "air" refers to air-moulding plastic (a technique they used
in their early pre-kit days) and the "ix" was chosen simply because it sounded up-to-date (company/product names ending in "ix" were apparently popular at the time)

Is this book available in the US? It can be bought quite cheaply now in the UK as it's been out for quite
few years now.

I have both books & they are great for the nostalga if nothing else. Kinda fun to leaf through every once in a while.

Reagrds, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by Drawde I have been looking for this book for some time here in the UK - it sounds very interesting. Haven't seen it so far so I assume it hasn't been published here yet. There is a very similar book on the history of Airfix, published by Harper Collins, which is fascinating to read, although it does tend to concentrate more on the box-art rather than the models themselves at times (the author is obviously a kit collector rather than a modeller!). It deals with the history of Airfix right from their beginnings making assorted moulded plastic items, through their first kits, to the 60s/70s "golden era" of Airfix, and up to the present day. There are some interesting facts - the first ever Airfix kit was a Ferguson tractor (now VERY collectable!) and they next did a range of small-scale sailing ships (remarkably the moulds for these are still in use, and you can buy them at hobby/toy shops in the UK.. they're actually not too bad for their age). The first aircraft was a Spitfire and with the success of this item, their aircraft kit range very rapidly grew! Another interesting thing is that the name Airfix has nothing to do with either aircraft or with "fixing" plastic kits together. I can't remember the exact details, but I think the "air" refers to air-moulding plastic (a technique they used in their early pre-kit days) and the "ix" was chosen simply because it sounded up-to-date (company/product names ending in "ix" were apparently popular at the time) Is this book available in the US? It can be bought quite cheaply now in the UK as it's been out for quite few years now.

I think I have seen a book about the history of Airfix on a couple of occasions. There's also one about Aurora.

I remember buying many a Revell kit at the local drugstore, or else when I could get to a department store. But Jim Barton, if I remember correctly, that Saturn V kit was Monogram, not Revell. I remember that kit very well, including its unfortunate demise - it was so tall it had to stand on the floor, and one day it didn't survive an encounter with Mom's vacuum cleaner. . . [:0]

That Saturn V kit sure brings back memories. I was given it as a Christmas present one year and I still remember thinking how huge it was. I must have spent months putting it together in dad's garage.

My strongest (and fondest) memory of modeling when I was a kid (circa 1975) was going to K-Mart once a week with my pocket money and buying a Matchbox 1:72 kit for a dollar. Man those were the days, no paint required because of the multi coloured plastic, just build and decal. Then it was of to dogfight with my brothers in the back yard. Sighhh.

Darren

QUOTE: Originally posted by darson My strongest (and fondest) memory of modeling when I was a kid (circa 1975) was going to K-Mart once a week with my pocket money and buying a Matchbox 1:72 kit for a dollar. Man those were the days, no paint required because of the multi coloured plastic, just build and decal. Then it was of to dogfight with my brothers in the back yard. Sighhh. Darren

I remember that feeling.

Every Friday I used to get my pocket money and head down to my LHS, which is still my LHS 20 years later, and pick up a Matchbox kit for 75p, which left 25p for the tube of glue.
Then it was back home, build the kit on a sheet of newspaper on the floor, before charging around the house with my latest acquisition.

Karl

My fondest Revell memories are all those trips to "Gibson's" (kind of a coastal Georgia K-Mart) in the late 70's to pick up the 1/32 aircraft series...Corsair, Mustang, Stuka, Wildcat, Me-262, P-40, P-38, P-47 (Razorback and Bubbletop)...even the ol' F-4J and Mirage III.

Still got 'em all, too!

We just helped my parents move into a new house. They hadn't thown a thing away in over 40 years. My brother and I collect catalogues and dreamed of owning the 55 Chevy, or the 74 Suzuki TM400, or the Coastguard Cutter Cambell. This summer, my mom presented me with all those catalogues, along with the boxtops of every model we built. She even had many of the models, minus a few pieces, wrapped up in Kleanex and stored in some boxes.

Talk about a nostalgic find. She had my borthers USS Independence built in 1964. His 1st place State Fair winning Honda Trail 80. And his USS Arizona.
Then there was my USS Enterprise that I took 1st in the St. Fair in 1978, the old Mig 15 I painted with house paint, and a 55 Chevy that the doors kept falling off on.

Talk about a find.

OH MY GOD!!! the Revell 1/32 corsair. Sheesh, I remember going to KMart, and begging for the thing. Me and my dad both got one and we sat at the coffee table putting them together watching Ba Ba black sheep. I found one a while back, someone was selling their collection. I imeadiatly bought it and it is still in the box. Maybe some day I will get the black box update set for it and do it justice.

Other than the first kit I ever built, the box scale USS Missouri, circa 1954 (turned 10 at the end of that summer), the other Revell kit I really remember was the release of their 1/40th Sherman the summer of 56 - we were on vacation in LA and I spotted it in a hobby shop. Mom wouldn't let me buy it because I had already bought a plastic Strombecker Sea Dart (wish I still had that kit) and that was my allowance for that trip. We got home about 1 in the afternoon (a Saturday) a week later. Despite the 100 degree plus weather, I insisted on riding my bike 5 miles out to the hardware store that served our little town as a hobby shop to see if they had it. They did and I got it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by armydogdoc OH MY GOD!!! the Revell 1/32 corsair. Sheesh, I remember going to KMart, and begging for the thing. Me and my dad both got one and we sat at the coffee table putting them together watching Ba Ba black sheep. I found one a while back, someone was selling their collection. I imeadiatly bought it and it is still in the box. Maybe some day I will get the black box update set for it and do it justice.

Man , I did the same thing with my dad. Of coarse the plane only survived a few straffing missions on the sofa and against the cat before the wings fell off. In fact, Mom gave me the pieces of it during my last visit home. I just built a Revell Germany 1/32 Corsair, but it was a POS kit. Nothing fit and the plastic was really soft. Nothing like the old dark blue/grey kits of the 70's.



Scott

The first kit I ever built was a Monogram FW-190 when I was 7 back in 1980. It was Dec.23 and my dad caught me really eyeing some presents under the Christmas tree. I just couldn't wait two more days so he let me open one. I spent the rest of the evening putting it together and watching It's A Wonderful Life on TV (Corny but true!). I got glue everywhere and I haven't been right since. The other small presents were a Zero and a P-40. I still have them all.

The first kit I remember building was the USS Intrepid. That was about 1970ish.

QUOTE: Originally posted by paulnchamp I remember buying many a Revell kit at the local drugstore, or else when I could get to a department store. But Jim Barton, if I remember correctly, that Saturn V kit was Monogram, not Revell. I remember that kit very well, including its unfortunate demise - it was so tall it had to stand on the floor, and one day it didn't survive an encounter with Mom's vacuum cleaner. . . [:0]

No, it was a Revell kit (the kit is even mentioned in "Remembering Revell Model Kits") that I built (which probably didn't survive Close Encounters of the Feline Kind). Later, Monogram also did put out the Saturn V; I suspect they may have even used re-tooled Revell molds. So both Revell and Monogram put out the Saturn V.

In regards to your Saturn V's unfortunate encounter with the household appliance, I guess that brings new meaning to the term "vacuum-formed kit." (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!)

QUOTE: Originally posted by darson That Saturn V kit sure brings back memories. I was given it as a Christmas present one year and I still remember thinking how huge it was. I must have spent months putting it together in dad's garage. My strongest (and fondest) memory of modeling when I was a kid (circa 1975) was going to K-Mart once a week with my pocket money and buying a Matchbox 1:72 kit for a dollar. Man those were the days, no paint required because of the multi coloured plastic, just build and decal. Then it was of to dogfight with my brothers in the back yard. Sighhh. Darren

Ahhh the old matchbox kits, my first model was a matchbox 1/72 Lysander when i was about 10,never did get them wings on straight......

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jim Barton In regards to your Saturn V's unfortunate encounter with the household appliance, I guess that brings new meaning to the term "vacuum-formed kit." (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!)

Enough years have passed so I can laugh at that one, Jim!

The one Revell kit I distinctly remember, and would definitely build again (even though now I model 1/72 and 1/48) was the 1/32nd Seafire...got it (in all places) at a store in Aspen CO when we were there on vacation, I was thirteen (1969) and watched my siblings while my parents had a night out (it was probably their only vacation:)so my Dad took me to the shop and bought it for me. Built and decaled it (why paint????) in one day when we got back home. I've seen the book at a couple of LHSs, may pick it up. I did pick up the Airfix book, as I built a lot (and I mean A LOT) of Airfix kits in the late sixties, and early seventies. Borders Books ordered a used but extremely clean copy; very inexpensive. Now if I could only get BAe Hawks in Worldwide Service from someone here in the states...sigh

Any one remember the Revell "Master Modelers Club" They had a goofy little newsletter that came out bi-monthly? As a kid I thought it was the coolest thing and looked forward to every issue. While I can't remember my first kit (Im sure it was a car) I do remember the Revell Corsair as being a hudge deal. I remember brush painting it with testors bright blue paint and thinking what a pro job I had done. Oh, to be young again.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kirk4010 Any one remember the Revell "Master Modelers Club" They had a goofy little newsletter that came out bi-monthly? As a kid I thought it was the coolest thing and looked forward to every issue. While I can't remember my first kit (Im sure it was a car) I do remember the Revell Corsair as being a hudge deal. I remember brush painting it with testors bright blue paint and thinking what a pro job I had done. Oh, to be young again.

I remember it well. I belonged to it, Monogram's "Young Model Builders" and one sponsored by Estes Rockets.

My parents had made me drop them after a year because many of them required me to purchase a kit every month. I was cool with it, until my allowance couldn't keep up with the kits.

hi Jim , i have in from of me the revell "catalogue" 1962/1963 (revell authentic kits) if you can call it that, it's from front to back 16 pages long only 4 armour pieces in there

when i was about 11 i found a revell me109 at the dime store downtown and they let me put it on layaway. every now and then i'll see it re-released and it's gone from $2.00 to at least $20.00 now. revell was like the magic genie that showed me a whole new world and it's possibilities. i've gone on to armor and other companies but who could forget that first find.

QUOTE: Originally posted by kirk4010 Any one remember the Revell "Master Modelers Club" They had a goofy little newsletter that came out bi-monthly? As a kid I thought it was the coolest thing and looked forward to every issue. While I can't remember my first kit (Im sure it was a car) I do remember the Revell Corsair as being a hudge deal. I remember brush painting it with testors bright blue paint and thinking what a pro job I had done. Oh, to be young again.

I recall being a member of that in the 1970's. The magazine was kind of cheesy but fun, but that little red plastic sprue full of "tools" was a joke! They were next to utterly useless!