Hi:
Does anyone know of a list of older models, preferably with pictures? I’m trying to figure out the first kit I ever made with my father. It probably would be around 1957-8 time frame. I remember it was a jet, but here things get a little fuzzy - because I may be confusing 2 kits. I remember a working ejector seat, and a working bomb drop - just not sure if it was one plane or two. If anyone can suggest any resources where I could research this, it would be appreciated.
Ed
oldmodelkits.com and scalemates.com might be of some help…
Well, in that date range, my first thoughts are of the first generation of Monogram, Revell and Aurora kits. If you visit those sites that BlackSheep suggested, you might want to search on those brands.
Thomas Graham wrote a book on each of those makers, covering their origins, and including lists of kits for the years in which they were in business as independent companies (Aurora went out of business in the early 70s, and Revell and Monogram were merged in the early 80s). I have them, and I can look and see if I find anything there.
Lindberg is another classic plastic kit maker, but offhand, I don’t know if they produced any kit with features such as you describe. However, such operating features were de rigeur at the time, because the prime consumer of model kits was a kid anywhere from 5 to his mid-teens, generally speaking.
Best regards,
Brad
A working ejector seat was a feature of an old Monogram F-105. A dropping bomb was a feature of somebody’s (I can’t remember whose-Revell maybe?) A-5 Vigilante. I remember a friend of mine having the Vigi kit and I though that the working tunnel bomb was the coolest thing. But neither of those kits would have existed in the timeframe that you mention.
Hi:
Monogram f-105 - issued in 1958, with working ejector seat. Found a picture of the box - and I’m sure that was the one. Now, to try to find the one with the working bomb.
Thanks for the help.
Ed
Monogram’s box-scale B-58 fits that time frame for a dropping bomb. It also has opening crew hatches.
Hi:
Looked up Monogram 1958 U.S. Air Force B-58 Hustler - 4 star kit. Seems to fit the memory well. I knew this group could help me fill in a piece of my childhood memories. Thanks to all.
Ed
Old model kits is where I would look
This kit was reissued by Revell-Monogram in 1996. Fun kit.
I had the Vigilante kit molded in light grey and seen to recall having a Crusader molded in white. with a working ejection seat. 1/48 scale I believe.
I had the 1/48 Crusader, pretty sure it was a Lindberg, but not sure. It had the working ejection seat.
John
I’m don’t really know old kits. My oldest ones are from the 80’s. Well, unless you count my current WIP which is a repop from the 70’s. I’m interested though. Sounds like a really cool model.
Here’s it’s listing in the original Monogram catalog :
http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Model-Kit-Catalogs/Monogram/Monogram-1958/mon_58_09-960
The source of the page is from a site that has old catalogs and the images within, plus other info regarding old kits such as instruction sheets and boxart :
I had this same kit! I remember it also had a motor inside that rubbed against a thin piece of metal to create a whining sound to simulate a jet engine. The working ejection seat worked off of a rubber band and a “trigger” on the bottom that also released the canopy. It was made by Lindberg.
I still have that old Lindberg Crusader kit with the motor and the piece of tin to make the jet sound.