Old Model Kit

The one I had was given to me in the early 1970's so it must have been around for awhile when I got it

Again, my memory may be faulty, but I believe Ideal made comparable kits of several ocean liners and an oil tanker, possibly a subchaser as well. I don't know how many of these made it to the "Elizabethan" boxes in the early 1950s, but I have seen them from time to time on Ebay in their original "plain brown wrappers" from the late 1930s/late 1940s. For the time, I guess they were mid-priced kits, though still beyond the reach of my finances as a kid. Ideal also produced a series of smaller-scale sailing shiips in 1950s boxes decorated with a seaport/shipbuilding scene. They were relatively simple kits, among them Constitution, Essex and a "pirate brig" (which I did try to build).

Ah, the days when I could walk to a local hobby shop from my home.

Did they make any other kits ?

Thank you Voyager  I think that would be the one. Thank s to all who contributed  ___ Joe

I think the kit in question may have been an "ocean going tug" produced by Ideal. It would have had a semi-carved balsa hull and a minimal set of metal (probably lead) fittings. At the age of 64, my memory may be faulty, but I remember looking longingly at the boxes with the Elizabethan sea dogs that you mention -- kits beyond the scope of my allowance as a kid visiting the local hobby shop.

Thank you but I dont think it was the Taurus, the Taurus is a waterline model this one was full hull--- Joe

The size would be way off, but the old solid hull kit that comes to mind is the old Model Shipways tug- I believe it is the Taurus.  That kit has been around forever- I believe at least thirty to forty years. It is about half the size you mentioned, however.

It was a solid hull  basswood I think.

Was it solid hull or planked?

I believe ,(don,t quote me here) that what you built was one of the FEW tugs done in kit form by either AMATI or COREL back years ago . I still have both a COREL and an AMATI  fish trawler type models .They were done according to the boxes in 1956.  I hope this helps a little . tankerbuilder