Revell 1/56 Yacht America 1851

Thanks Jake- a very high compliment from you...

And yes- space is always the problem- but I sell a lot of models and give some away so the collection is always fluid!

-Len

Len,

Please take this a compliment.  Your rigging skills are getting much better and neater.  That happens everytime you build another model, you learn as you go.  She looks great.  At the rate you are building, you gotta b close to running out of room soon, Yes?

Jake

Yup, the original sails were much better than the later vacform sails, so here is a 'word to the wise' for those looking for one of these on ebay.... Find an old kit!  It looks better (and sails better too!).... This is a kit I can strongly recommend!!

I built a copy of the kit around 1970  or so-- I think that was the original release -  I was 11 or so at the time. 

That version of the kit was "Adaptable to sail in water!".   The kit included a removable triangular keel, and came with working sails.   The sails were some sort of water proof mylar-like material with the seams and panel lines printed on them in a dark color.  They looked much, much nicer than the standard vac-formed plastic sails.  

The kit was re-released in the late 1980s,  in one of those yellow-striped boxes.  That version had vac-formed sails instead of the working sails.  It still had the (unused)  triangular fin keel parts on the sprue.

I had several free-running sailboats way back then, and the America was the best sailing and fastest  boat in my fleet. 

I now have a copy of the display-only version of the kit.  I also have a copy of the original sails in my stash.  A seller on ebay was selling the leftovers from a kit-- someone had built the hull and then lost it. I got the masts, sails, instructions, and a box, all for $5.

-Bill

I've only done one "America", it was a 1/96 Marine Model kit, that I added some Northeastern Scale Lumber sheet, and stripwood "replacement parts" to, and used the Model Shipways rigging plan to rig it(see avatar). She's a pretty ship, and you've done a sweet model. Hope you get her in a case soon.

Very Nice!

-Len

This is one of the builds of the Revell 'America' I did about 8 years ago....

 

As you can see, I did not follow the historical paint job, but added a white stripe to the bulwarks (looks better to me eye!)......

This is a photobucket test....

Sterling Models used to produce an 'America' suitable for RC, and there is one of these on Ebay right now going for cheap money.  It is a wood kit, but builds up nicely (i have one almost finished).  Check it out at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-STERLING-MODELS-YACHT-AMERICA-RC-BOAT-KIT-WOW_W0QQitemZ190277311437QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item190277311437&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I have often wondered in the past why Revell, or some other model producer doesn't do a big version of this specifically for RC, in say, 1/35 scale.  Because of the very simple rigging and sail plan of this ship (with a self-tending jib), it really would be a very easy to build as an RC kit, not to mention the fact that the classic beauty of the lines, and historical importance are undeniable world-wide....

Beautiful job! I'm glad to see you used the sails.

I remember reading that before the race where America trounced the competition, the people in England said of America, "If they are right, all of us are wrong" regarding the radical design. Yup. I've always wanted to do a model of America for R/C. I have plans for her but have not yet gotten up the courage to start building her.

As always nice model Len. I've started this kit but haven't been able to finish it.I could say that about  alot of my kits.

Rod

Yup, this is one of my favorite kits (I've built three of 'em over the years!), and it really does build up into a very nice model.  I just wish Revell would update and re-release it!

Hi Rick thanks-

Lucky I was to grab on ebay for Buy-It-Now price of only $40!! I have seen them for twice that.

Nothing added except for rope coils- I used different line diameters- the kit only came with one crappy roll of tan line- I used 3 different kinds from my rigging box.

Colors- the instructions give you a little but not much. Considering the boat was nicknamed the "low black schooner" in race accounts- I went with black.
Standard testors brown bottle for some of the furniture and a dark tan for the masts. Flat white out of a spray can for the white sections.

I very enjoyable kit- get one of you can...

-Len

Hi Len,

Beautiful!  Did you do any scratch-building or other modification of the kit? Any comments or tips on how you painted?

Also, in terms of kit availability, did you get this on e-bay, or was it one from your stash?

Thanks much for sharing!

Cheers, Rick