My Rant To The Powers That Be...

stikpusher

The P-51 is a good basic canvas to start with. The only working features on the B are the prop and a removable top cowling panel. Landing gear is fixed, not workable.

Here is the original D kit

and the later 1980s vintage Smithsonian re-issue

The Revell 1/32 line was something to behold.

After moving a stash of over 500 kits at the beginning of this month I am not planning on adding any more to it, but I sure am tempted...

It sure was disappointing when Revell and Monogram went from their box art too an actual picture of the built kit , for me anyway . Those paintingsfor the box art were a work of art .

Sprue-ce Goose

bondoman:

 

Sprue-ce Goose:

 

I appreciate the re-pop Rommel's Rod better this time 'round.

Makes a nice base for customizing

 

I put the rear end of a 251 under her, chopped and channeled. Better performance in the standing quarter mile- in 6' sand!

 

 

LOL ! What scale is the kit ? !/35th would open up all kinds of possibilities ................

The P-51 is a good basic canvas to start with. The only working features on the B are the prop and a removable top cowling panel. Landing gear is fixed, not workable.

Here is the original D kit

and the later 1980s vintage Smithsonian re-issue

The Revell 1/32 line was something to behold.

After moving a stash of over 500 kits at the beginning of this month I am not planning on adding any more to it, but I sure am tempted...

bondoman

 

Sprue-ce Goose:

 

I appreciate the re-pop Rommel's Rod better this time 'round.

Makes a nice base for customizing

 

I put the rear end of a 251 under her, chopped and channeled. Better performance in the standing quarter mile- in 6' sand!

 

Shellback

 

 Rommels Rod, the repop

 

 

I miised this one when it originally came out . Looks like a descent kit. Always liked these what ifs . I remember FSM did an article on it as a collectable back in the 90's i think .

The re-pop is an easy to build kit and has the advantage of a separate frame.

Perfect for customized stuff.

Been contemplating a Manny's Rod version but will need to make a larger frame and tracked suspension like Bondoman.

The stock body isn't large enough to accommodate a wet bar and brass frame bed......

I almost got one of those last year, but the  Revell corsair in 1/32 had left a bad taster in my mouth.  I wish SOMEONE would make a metal wing hinge for that bird...  5 kits, 5 snapped sets of hinges, badly fit wings and a lot of frustration.  I was afraid the P51 would be as bad.  Are they a decent kit?  Maybe I'll pick one up someday if I see a good deal on eBay.

stikpusher

 

Hans von Hammer:

 

although I don't think Revell ever did a 1/32 D-model. Just the P-51B and the Mustang Mk III,

 

Actually they did do a P-51D long before they merged with Monogram... they originally released it in bright yellow Bob Hoover air racer markings.... later it came out as part of their Smithsonian collection....

I've got one of those BF110s sitting here for when I can get to it for the Secret Santa and Too Many Props builds.  It's detail is pretty good for the age of the molds.  Definitely one of the better Axis kits from the era.  I usually don't worry too much about interior detail unless I plan on an open cockpit.  And with the cockpiy closed, it is more than adequate.

Rich

[quote user="Sprue-ce Goose"]

Hans von Hammer

 

Shellback:

 

... 1/32 Revell kits .... , not much for accuracy except for the basic shape...

 

 

I wouldn't say they "weren't much for accuracy", at least not the ones I've built (I missed out on the Tony and George, but got the rest, several of them I've built several times, and I still have a few in the stash).. I'd give them a solid 7.5 on a scale of 0-10, which is "Above Average"  for any manufacturer...

/quote]

...was just sifting thru my FSM collection: 1988 to 1995.

Two articles on super detailing or  converting Revell 1/32 Bf-110 commented favorably  on the generally accurate outline, though acknowledged their age meant a less detailed interior than available on newer kits.

bondoman

The Revell 1/32 aircraft kits are beyond criticism. At the time there were no other kits in that scale of those subjects, on the market. I built them all except for the "George" which I do not even remember.

Because they had to cater to market pressure to have movable features, there were certain compromises in detail. The Corsair is a case.

The 262 was not so good either, but I built three Spitfires and two Hurricanes, a Wildcat, a Tony, two Corsairs, at least two -38s and so forth.

Funny thing- it was all about the box art.

As for that Rommels Rod, the repop is just fine.

I miised this one when it originally came out . Looks like a descent kit. Always liked these what ifs . I remember FSM did an article on it as a collectable back in the 90's i think .

Hans von Hammer

 

 

 

There was one, sorta.... Monogram's F-51D (along with the "Phantom Mustang, first released in 1961), although I don't think Revell ever did a 1/32 D-model.

BTW the Phantom is my next contribution as a made fella.

Sprue-ce Goose

I appreciate the re-pop Rommel's Rod better this time 'round.

Makes a nice base for customizing

Hans von Hammer

although I don't think Revell ever did a 1/32 D-model. Just the P-51B and the Mustang Mk III,

Actually they did do a P-51D long before they merged with Monogram... they originally released it in bright yellow Bob Hoover air racer markings.... later it came out as part of their Smithsonian collection....

The Revell 1/32 aircraft kits are beyond criticism. At the time there were no other kits in that scale of those subjects, on the market.

There was one, sorta.... Monogram's F-51D (along with the "Phantom Mustang, first released in 1961), although I don't think Revell ever did a 1/32 D-model. Just the P-51B and the Mustang Mk III, although they did release the Monogram kit in a Revell box at one time, after the Revell/Monogram merger...  Monogram's other 1/32 scale birds were the F3F/Gulfhawk (1961), and the Piper Tri-pacer (1967)

The box art on those Revell 1/32 kits were the best aviation artworks ever done for kits, IMHO... Each one showed it "doing it's thing"... The Spitfire attacking Me 109s in the BoB, the Jack after the B-29s, Corsair over the beach at Okinawa, etc...

IMNSHO, they're still among the best kits ever produced, and still are contest-winners about every time one's entered...   I've won with the Wildcat and the P-40 (2nd and 3rd, respectively and I admit it was over 20 years ago) in the diorama categories (did dioramas of a ditched Midway 'Cat, a take-off of Shep Paine's TBD dio) and an AVG P-40 engine-change)...  I think if I were to re-do those two, and given that I've gotten much better at scratch-building than I was 20 years ago, I could still place pretty well...

Speaking of the P-40, that was the first time I ever did any major RTV-resin casting, having to cast another Allison engine for the Warhawk's replacement mill... It was also my largest dio (to date) with 7 figures converted from Tamiya figs.  Wish there had been digital photography back then...  I took very few pictures in the 70's, 80's, and 90's because all I had was a Kodak 110 and film processing was too expensive if I took as many detail pics as I do now with a digital camera..

Sorry for rambling.. I'm waiting on the cement to dry on the flap detail I just put into a Monogram Zeke... It's about ime to start the details for the cockpit though... Got the "tub" done already..

I appreciate the re-pop Rommel's Rod better this time 'round.

Makes a nice base for customizing

The Revell 1/32 aircraft kits are beyond criticism. At the time there were no other kits in that scale of those subjects, on the market. I built them all except for the "George" which I do not even remember.

Because they had to cater to market pressure to have movable features, there were certain compromises in detail. The Corsair is a case.

The 262 was not so good either, but I built three Spitfires and two Hurricanes, a Wildcat, a Tony, two Corsairs, at least two -38s and so forth.

Funny thing- it was all about the box art.

As for that Rommels Rod, the repop is just fine.

[quote user="Hans von Hammer"]

Shellback:

 

... 1/32 Revell kits .... , not much for accuracy except for the basic shape...

 

I wouldn't say they "weren't much for accuracy", at least not the ones I've built (I missed out on the Tony and George, but got the rest, several of them I've built several times, and I still have a few in the stash).. I'd give them a solid 7.5 on a scale of 0-10, which is "Above Average"  for any manufacturer...

/quote]

...was just sifting thru my FSM collection: 1988 to 1995.

Two articles on super detailing or  converting Revell 1/32 Bf-110 commented favorably  on the generally accurate outline, though acknowledged their age meant a less detailed interior than available on newer kits.

Shellback

... 1/32 Revell kits .... , not much for accuracy except for the basic shape...

I wouldn't say they "weren't much for accuracy", at least not the ones I've built (I missed out on the Tony and George, but got the rest, several of them I've built several times, and I still have a few in the stash).. I'd give them a solid 7.5 on a scale of 0-10, which is "Above Average"  for any manufacturer...

The basic problem with them now is their being a bit heavy with rivet detail.. In Revell's defense, that's what modelers of the day were clamoring for, saying they were more accurate with 'em, and Revell listened... Now modelers complain about it..   Same thing happens now... Modelers scream for recessed panel lines, and the manufacturers gave 'em to us, regardless of their being accurate or not (although it DID succeed in adding considerably to the expense of the kit)...    

Bockscar

Shellback:

My son never took up building aircraft models even though i built a couple with him he never got hooked on the hobby , but he did join the airfoerce and now has 18 yrs in ! He gets to work around the real thing while i'm still just putting the plastic ones together ................ hmmmmm

 

Well, model building did 'encourage' my niece to love airplanes, and we have mentioned the services, . Many who've served have taken up the practice, so to speak....you're doing something right, alright.....

Thanks , maybe the model building in the blood will jump a generation and show up in my grandaughter ....but she's really into all of that girly stuff right now .................

Shellback

My son never took up building aircraft models even though i built a couple with him he never got hooked on the hobby , but he did join the airfoerce and now has 18 yrs in ! He gets to work around the real thing while i'm still just putting the plastic ones together ................ hmmmmm

My son never took up building aircraft models even though i built a couple with him he never got hooked on the hobby , but he did join the airfoerce and now has 18 yrs in ! He gets to work around the real thing while i'm still just putting the plastic ones together ................ hmmmmm

Good posts people...

Hmmmm....all those years ranting about airplanes and building kits paid off....my niece is going into aeronautical engineering....maybe just enough time for one more kit before classes begin in the fall....

Hans von Hammer

I fear that my status as the "curmudgeonly but lovable" Monogram Nazi (MonoNazi) would be endangered...

Seriously though, I'd submit articles were I so inclined, but my kit choices are and the techniques I use of the "Old School" type, and I don't think that the general readership is all that interested in going "backwards in time", lol..   But, many of the techniques I use are quite satisfactory and easy to do, rather than the current trend of "re-inventing the wheel", and the materials I use are available without a trip to the hobby shop or on-line store... Many are as close as the junk-drawer, garage, and dumpster... The rest is at the grocery, hardware, and auto parts stores, and craft stores sell paints that will match "model" colors, and cost about 1/3rd the price for three times the quantity... 

FSM's advertisers wouldn't like me much... I'm just sayin'...  I'd hate to lose a mag that I still find a useful tool...  

On the other hand, I have this dream (admittedly a pipe-dream) of all the kit manufacturers dropping into a dark chasm, forever entombed, and Monogram/Revell, HAWK, and Lindberg, like the Phoenix, rising from the ashes with a plethora of new 1/48 and 1/32 scale aircraft kits, all priced between 12.00 and 20.00 for the 1/48th and 20.00-30.00 for the 1/32... AND, that Revell discovers a spare set of the J2M3 Jack, Ki-61-I Tony, and the N1K1-J George molds in some storeroom floods the market with new copies of 'em for around 25.00 per... Just to slam-dunk the collectors' prices one has to pay for them these days right in the toilet... That'd learn 'em to quit hoarding the kits...  Man, If I had those three kits again and the TamigawaDragonTrumps had a feather up their collective azzes, we'd both be tickled...

Still, I managed to grab a Monogram Fw-190A "White box" (that means Hakenkreuz on the box photo and decal sheet) along with a Ju 87G-1, and Hurricane... Got the Fw for 3.31, the Hurri for 7.00, and the Ju 87 for 10.00.. Total with shipping- 30.95...  Makes six classic Monograms in the last three weeks, the three mentioned, plus a P-51B, A6M5 Zeke, and the Me 109E... Scored those last three from a single seller too.. 25.00 and 10.50 shipping...  I fat with Monogram kits for a spell...

Maybe I'll write them articles anyway, lol... "How to Build and Super-detail a Model for the Price of the Kit-Part One" maybe? "Detailing the Monogram Stuka for a Dollar"? Zero Kit, Zero Money for After-market"?

 

I've got alot of kits, but my faves are the 2 Lindeberg F-90's, and Aurora Thunderceptors (so much aluminum in the plastic, it doesn't need painting), and lots of Mongram stuff from the days when you could build a model after dinner....cost you a week or two's salary....lol....but I'ld rather scratch even if I buy the AM stuff.

I think you've got an idea, a real point, well, at least one i resonate with, to make it accessible again to youngsters and not just noobs trying to break into a mature and hi-end market. I'll throw in a kit to that result, for sure....

I'd like to see those old 1/32 Revell kits re-issued , not much for accuracy except for the basic shape but fun for old times sake to have around .

Hans von Hammer

 

 

Well, the Rommel's Rod miraculously re-appeared via new molds....

,

 

Yeah maybe.. But that was a Monogram kit...

Are Monogram kit re-births more likely than Revell?

Might have just been re-tooled due to kit size and a larger potential buyer base.

Yet, Revellogram re-issues do seem to follow either kit announcements by rival companies or high collector prices on e-bay.

Well, the Rommel's Rod miraculously re-appeared via new molds....

Yeah maybe.. But that was a Monogram kit...

Hans von Hammer

Maybe someone from Dragon'll see this Jack's instruction sheet and say, "Ah HAA!!! I GET it now!"

Hans von Hammer

Here's what I read about them... Take it FWIW..

"A legend in model aircraft lore is the story of George, Jack and Tony Revell, a trio of 1/32 Imperial Japanese fighters: Jack, the Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Thunderbolt),  Tony, the Kawasaki Ki-61-I Kai Hein (Swallow) and George, the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning)...

Revell created and released these for the Japanese market via their Revell-Japan subsidiary in the early 1970's. After several production runs the trio's molds were shipped ( by ship ) to another Revell subsidiary. The ship sank, the molds lost at sea! We can only hope they are enjoying Model Valhalla with the Aurora molds bought by Monogram and destroyed in a train wreck."

Well, the Rommel's Rod miraculously re-appeared via new molds....

Maybe someone from Dragon'll see this Jack's instruction sheet and say, "Ah HAA!!! I GET it now!"

Here's what I read about them... Take it FWIW..

"A legend in model aircraft lore is the story of George, Jack and Tony Revell, a trio of 1/32 Imperial Japanese fighters: Jack, the Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Thunderbolt),  Tony, the Kawasaki Ki-61-I Kai Hein (Swallow) and George, the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning)...

Revell created and released these for the Japanese market via their Revell-Japan subsidiary in the early 1970's. After several production runs the trio's molds were shipped ( by ship ) to another Revell subsidiary. The ship sank, the molds lost at sea! We can only hope they are enjoying Model Valhalla with the Aurora molds bought by Monogram and destroyed in a train wreck."