A friend unpacked some boxes he had in storage for 20+ years. He found a vacu-form kit by “Archer’s Hobby World” Also marked as “Nova Models” Of a KC-135 in 1/72 scale. It is still sealed in the orginal plastic bag! It still has the instructions and decals with it.
Trying to locate more information on this kit as well as any hints/tips on building it. I have never heard of Archer’s hobby world/Nova models.
He also found a 1/72 scale airmodel conversion kit for a KC-97 that was bagged with an old airfix 1/72 scale B-29.
His Father was aircrew on the KC-97 and later on the KC-135. We would like to build these kits to represent his fathers planes.
Well, they are relics of time passed. Interesting, but difficult to build. And in the days when there were no other choices, they were the only choice. But since then we enjoy much better kits, injection-molded, with good details, sturdy landing gear, and fine decals. If time is money, you will not be saving yourself anything by trying to build these kits. Look for the AMT/Ertl/Italeri/Heller boxings of the KC-135 variants, and the Academy KC-97 – and step boldly into the 21st Century!
I built one of those back in the early 80s. Archer sold their vacuform kits out of their production office here nearby in Fountain Valley, CA. At the time they were the only game in town for many of the subjects that they made. IIRC, they had white metal landing gear struts, good decals, and reasonable exterior surface detail. I am pretty sure that Archer models went away when the owner/operator of the company either retired or died in the mid 80s. I left for the Army in fall of '83, and by one of my leaves around '85 or so, their shop was gone.
Thanks all. I found some info as well. While there are easier (21st century) versions, I have built vacuform kits in the past. I do not mind spending the time building them.
Anyhow, Nova Models was an English company and Archer’s Hobby World was their U.S. distribution point. Found out they did a 1/72 TU-22, C-141, and an XB-35 Flying Wing as well.
Would really like to get a hold of the Flying Wing. Would look great next to my 1/72 B-2!