SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Have you EVER bought a kit just because the BOXART *DAZZLED* your eyes???

8487 views
36 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2007
Have you EVER bought a kit just because the BOXART *DAZZLED* your eyes???
Posted by KAYSEE88 on Saturday, June 27, 2009 2:29 AM

i know i have.....and will CONTINUE to do so in the future

so, HOW ABOUT YOURSELF???

which kits were they??....AND are they still sitting around the home taking on dust???

hehehehe ;)

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Saturday, June 27, 2009 5:26 AM

Actually, it was box art that sold me most of the time... Especially as a kid..  When Monogram and Revell started putting photos of the completed models on the box-top, I was sorely disappointed... Even wrote Revell about it and they answered with something like "We feel that the majority of people want to see what the model looks like when completed."...  Heh... Right...

The Revell and "Blue Box" Monogram box art of the 60s and early 70s (before they went "white-box and photos") was top-notch in my book... Always some action going on...  I cut the box art out and taped it to my bedroom walls back then, lol... Good times, they were...

 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Saturday, June 27, 2009 6:52 AM
yeah, guilty as charged officer!! the art is definately one of those "attention grabbers"! Big Smile [:D]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    November 2008
Posted by deadhead on Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:18 AM
No.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:22 AM
Yes, the old Aurora kits; tanks, dinosaurs, monsters or superheroes. They had eye-catching artwork and many of them were bought because of the box.
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: hamburg michigan
Posted by fermis on Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:41 AM

 Absolutely, when I was a kid, and knew nothing of the kit itself. Fit issues didn't mean a thing! I'd put the whole thing together in one night, no paint, no sanding, 1/4 inch seem gaps. But in my minds eye, I saw that awseome bird that graced the box. Like Hans, I'd cut out the plane, and set it on the shelf behind my build........"WOW, it looks just like it!!!"

 Little confession.......I still cut em out and save em!!!! And , to this day, have never bought a kit that had a photo of the completed model on the box top. I have aquired a few, never paid for em though.

                 FERMIS

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Saturday, June 27, 2009 2:52 PM
Thats the reason I save all my trumpeter and Bandai kit boxes, the box arts are very nice.

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:34 PM

 Hans von Hammer wrote:
  I cut the box art out and taped it to my bedroom walls back then, lol... Good times, they were...

Sign - Ditto [#ditto] I love collecting all the box art, hopefully I'll have enough soon to cover an entire wall. Hey, it looks better then that modernist crap they call art.Wink [;)]

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

  Photobucket 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Fly57 on Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:48 AM
Guilty............Tamiya box art can open my wallet. But i also remember some of the old frog kits...when i was very young....just something special. 
Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Never regret anything that made you smile.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:13 AM
yes,maybe as a kid,but definitly not now,kits cost too much not research before putting out your hard earned bucks based on artwork.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Posted by bilbirk on Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:56 AM
Absolutely! I still do it now!
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Denver
Posted by tankboy51 on Monday, June 29, 2009 2:49 PM

Sure did as a kid when the box art was all I knew about the subject. Steeles work for Revell was great stuff.  Always liked Revells art over Monogram.  Although Monogram did have some neat art.  Tamiya has always been way cool!  Now the question is have I bought a kit with crappy box art?  Yes I have, Dragon has had a couple of armor kits, but I think Trumpeter has some of the wierdest art.  Their big T-34s remind me of Stalinist propaganda posters.  Some of the ship art is really mediocre.  The 1/350 San Francisco and North Carolina are not attractive at all.  A brown sky on the N.C. kit does nothing for it.Yuck [yuck]  Bought them both just because I like the subjects.  Ron Volstads work has alwas attracted me.  I think I buy the Dragon figure sets just because of the box.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, June 29, 2009 4:02 PM

John Steel did some fantastic work for Revell back in the sixties. The box art was meant to be cut out and framed. Here is a sample:

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, June 29, 2009 8:07 PM
Yes indeed!You have to admit that Hasegawa has some beautiful artwork on their boxes.Trumpeter and Revell aren't bad  either!
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by a6m5zerosen on Friday, July 3, 2009 4:19 PM

All the time! The last kit I bought JUST for the box art was the new Dragon 1/32 scale Messerschmitt Me110 C-7.  Hasegawa has great box art, and it has sold them many a kit to yours truly.  I loved the old Aurora box art as a kid, and the Monogram blue bordered box art.  Airfiz had some good art as well.

"no, honey, of course that's not another new model. I've had that one for a long time..."

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by 130Fan on Friday, July 3, 2009 10:45 PM

Make a Toast [#toast]I'm guilty as well.

The last run Airfix C-130 Boxart was so nice, I bought 4.

The AMT C-135 Series (NKC, EC, KC-A and R and RC) Great art work.

The large scale Trumpeter 109s and 190 are very good as well.

Cheers

Real men fly props
  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: USA
Posted by TOW gunner on Saturday, July 4, 2009 8:57 AM

Let's see . . . you betcha!  Growing up, box art was the main influence in grabbing a Revell, Airfix or Frog kit at the local drug or toy store (we were not blessed with a LHS in Mount Prospect, other than the Squadron shop in Des Plaines).  And of course any kit that was blessed by Shep Paine for Monogram.

Even today most of the Dragon box art is an inticement.  If the cover protrait does not get me, the side and bottom "kit features" panels are usually enough to seal the deal (when I have money for the purchase, that is).

Don't get anything stuck where it does not belong!

TOW - 21" of penetration out to 3750 meters

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Joplin, Mo
Posted by figure freak on Saturday, July 4, 2009 12:42 PM
I tape all my boxart to my wall especially the accurate miniatures bow art
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 4, 2009 1:59 PM

I did when I was a kid, thats for sure. I think Revell had some of the greatest box art back then, especially their 1/32 aircraft series. Ones that were bought would have to be the F4F (Coral Sea box art) UH-1D Slick ("Headhunters" landing in a rice paddy) and Gunship (two rolling in hot on a downed river bridge), AH-1G Cobra , JU-87 (Desert Snake), P-40E Flying Tiger, P-47D bubbletop (candy striped tail strafing a rail yard), and Ki-61 Tony.  I had the Ki-61 Tony up on my bedroom wall (along with a movie poster for "Midway"- great one there) until I left for the Army. I still have the poster but the Tony is long gone....

I dont think I will buy anymore based on box art alone.... But I still do appreciate it. Roden has a great print that came with their OV-1A

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: California
Posted by rabbiteatsnake on Friday, July 10, 2009 3:03 PM
Did anyone see Revell's 1/72nd "Memphis Belle" box and not, absolutly HAVE to own it>
The devil is in the details...and somtimes he's in my sock drawer. On the bench. Airfix 1/24 bf109E scratch conv to 109 G14AS MPC1/24 ju87B conv to 87G Rev 1/48 B17G toF Trump 1/32 f4u-1D and staying a1D Scratch 1/16 TigerII.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:34 PM

I STILL have the box art from my first Revell 1/32nd P-51B (Gentile's "Shangri-La"). Maybe the best boxart ever, IMHO.

Greg

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Monday, July 13, 2009 9:02 AM

That one and the Revell box featuring Ira Kepford's Corsair are the two that I liked the most...

 

  • Member since
    February 2009
Posted by Karst451 on Monday, July 13, 2009 12:20 PM

Absolutely!  When Revellogram was doing the SSP's, I would load up right at the time that Hobby Lobby was having their 1/3 off sale.  Also bought some Aurora WWI fighters in an antique store - just for the boxart.  It's funny how an action scene with a Pfalz flying overhead breaks down all resistance and your hand and arm start working in conjunction and tell your brain, "Resistance is futile!"  Banged Head [banghead]

 max

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: The Great Canadian West Coast
Posted by Rudi35 on Thursday, July 16, 2009 8:03 PM
Yeah I have!! To me the box art is a big part of the enjoyment of a model. I hated when many of the manufacturers started putting photos of the finished model no the box top. It's great to have it on the sides, but the box top should be as impressive as possible.
  • Member since
    December 2008
Posted by KGsoloman5000 on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 6:38 PM
 I haven't finished a model in years! But a few years ago when I saw a Squadron flyer showing the new VFS 1/24 P-40, I had to have it! Still haven't touched it, but at least I have one. Since then I've bought numerous Hasegawa FW109's and 190's, some Tamiya Zero's, and a few others, all still untouched. And recently, I was once again dazzled by the glorious new VFS 1/24 P-47! Yes, I bought one. Opened the box the other night and was so impressed by the quality and size of it, that I immediately jumped online to find another one (you never know when a second one might come in handy)! I haven't modeled in so long, I'm actually afraid to start any of these kits. But from my point of view, half the fun is tracking these things down and buying them, and then looking at your shelf and seeing that sweet kit just waiting to be built! Unfortunately for me, my kits will be waiting a while.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:28 AM

I did as a kid. Loved the 1/700 Japanese ships. I will say that I still love the Tamiya box-art the best and used to keep the tops. I do have a couple that I really like and intend to frame. Thanks wing_nut for the Pz IV! Also like the Volstad Dragon box-art.

Actually Hans, it was Shep's Monogram armor box-tops that excited me as a kid to build them. I had pretty much all of the Monogram German armor, and most of the American. God, I got so sick and tired of the PZ IV wheels though! I arguably had more fun building them as opposed to today's more detailed kits, because accuracy wasn't an issue. It goes both ways sometimes on detail I guess.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: England
Posted by P mitch on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 4:41 AM

I havent but I'd like to thank all who have and then sold them later on Ebay, you have all saved me a fortune.

My personal best is a Dragon SD.Kfz 250 the Stukka version for £12.00 and the resin engine for the same which has only just come out for £5 - that retails at £15 or so

Again thanks and keep up the good work

"If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls." R J Mitchell


  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:39 PM

If I had the moiney, I would so get this kit just for the boxart

 

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: SLC, Ut.
Posted by Batosi420 on Thursday, August 6, 2009 7:58 PM

A better question for Me is...

Have you ever NOT bought a model because of eye-catching boxart??Big Smile [:D]

Shinny things and bright colors are my weakness.  Everyday is a challenge, just remember...  baby steps.

"Artificial Inteligence is No match for Natural Stupidity" -Woody Paige

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Friday, August 7, 2009 11:47 AM
 smeagol the vile wrote:

If I had the moiney, I would so get this kit just for the boxart

Now that is some beautiful box-art, I love the fact their's so much happening in the pic.Cool [8D] Their's a fire burning in a house, some war-weary German soliders walking down a muddy street, a Russian orthdox church all the way in the background, and in the side-car a pig that the Germans are taking for food. It tells a story, and inspires the modeller to build the motorcycle the best he/she can.

I think Dragon/Cyber-Hobby can learn a thing or two from Zvezda's stunningly detailed box-art.

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

  Photobucket 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.