I Do Read model Books, I do, Honest!
I just finished a very fine group of Books By the Author Thomas Graham. Aurora-Monogram and Revell Model histories. Now granted they were printed in the early 2000s I have a hard time equating the Collectors pricing to what's being asked today. First, Some have been Re-Released. Two, Some though indicated as one year kits were around three years or more before finally disappearing from the marketplace.
My research has shown the last asking( Note: asking) price for a boat I would love to have was $545.00 for the Aurora Wheeler Cruiser kit minus the small lifeboat on the cabin roof. That was E-Bay! Now even though the price should"ve climbed over the years. From $80.00( Pristine in sealed Box) to $545.00 with parts missing seems illogical to me.
So it was with great satisfaction I dusted off my model and shined her up again. NO, It is NOT the Aurora version. It is mine-Same Scale-Carved lovingly by hand, routed out for the Cabin Interiors and Engine rooms and using Real wood for the rest of the boat too. Including Microscope slide glass for the windows!
Real brass props with Stainless Shafts. But, even with the clinker built little boat on the cabin roof, Most folks recognise it as a Wheeler that was once a plastic model. Oh I would love to find one as I did build one back in the day. Prettiest smaller scale motoryacht around. Lindberg's kits ( The Connie and Sport Fisherman) were larger.Revell's were smaller.
Note: don't confuse these with the poor attempts to re-market Lindberg's Owens and Capri Motorboats. Those kits have way to many problems just getting them to work out right! The biggest thing about them being wrong, is the Roof/Cabin structures being to big for the hulls and the Hull pieces NOT fitting well.