I remember them from when I was a kid, had pretty complex tank models IIRC, gone out of business I suppose, but why, and did anyone pick up the molds and continue with them?
Just curious
The Renwal molds were picked up by Revell. Many of the old 50s Renwal kits were reissued by Revell in the 80s. Many of the Revell re-issue kits are now rare
Rounds Complete!!
I remember the Renwal kits were the models that the “big kids” built when I was a child. They were more expensive, more detailed and had many more parts that the Lindberg and Aurora tank models that I got to build. The M41 and M42 even included metal springs for the road wheel suspension arms.
The first Renwal kit I got to build myself was the Revell reissue of the M50 Ontos recoilless rifle vehicle. I picked it up in 1983 or so and still have it today. Revell reissued the M50 Ontos, M47 Patton, M41 Walker Bulldog, M42 Duster and the 5 ton Wrecker all around the same time (1983 or so). I bought all of them around the same time.
Revell also reissed some of Renwal’s bigger kits as part of the Revell History Maker’s series at the same time. I picked up the Mace missile with Terracrusier around 1988. They also reissued the Corporal Missile, Atomic Annie and Hawk Missile Battery.
After Matchbox went under and was acquired by Revell of Germany, Revell of Germany reissued several of the kits (M41, M42, M47) under the Matchbox label. I know Revell of Germany also released the M47 kit in Europe under the Monogram label too.
Neither the Revell or Matchbox reissues include the metal suspension arms for the original M41 or M42 kits. I still have several of the Renwal kits and Revell reissues on hand.