With current world events I have been learning more about this bomber. I just missed out on getting one at a somewhat reasonable price on Ebay. Under $200.
My LHS had the latest limited run version for a long time and I knew I should have bought it.
How likely is it that Revell may do another “Limited” run on this 1/48th kit?
I’ll keep looking but I am in the market for kit # 04900 or #04560 .
I’m a builder not a collecter of kits, per se. I would build this.
If anyone has built this I would love to hear about the experience.
This is the huge 1/48th scale one, right? I remember getting the Monogram one my freshman year in college, but seeing the huge one around the same time. I know the Revell kit has been reissued by Revell, Revell-Monogram and Revell of Germany. The 1/72 scale one was big but the 1/48th one must have been huge.
Had a quick look on Amazon and see they are going for crazy money.
The likelihood of Revell re-issuing the B-1B kit is directly related to the likelihood of you and others requesting it! Have you emailed Revell to let them know that you want it?
I have one of these monsters too. I was wondering if there are two different versions of this by Revell (ie. different kit numbers). I seem to remember when I got the kit and did some research that there was one that was significantly more expensive.
In 1999 it was released as a limited edition of 5000 kits as 85-4900. I think the high original price was perhaps a Revell Germany issue of the same kit as 04900. I have an original kit 4725 and the limited edition 85-4900.
I have never heard that there was any difference in one issue to another other than decals.
I just dug mine out of the heap and the box says Revell/Monogram and made in USA! (except for the rubber tires which were made in Japan). It has a copyrite date of 1998 and is 4900.
And all these years I thought I got screwed cause it was a spendy bird!
Revell reissues that kit every so many years. New boxings, new decals, same sprues. I picked up mine about 15 years ago for around $60. If you don’t have to have it now, look around and you’ll eventually score one for a decent price. When Revell does re issue it, the bottom will fall out of the eBay market and prices will drop because of availability. And yes, that kit is huge. The box is as big as their 1/48 B-29 and PBY boxes, yet the fuselage is molded in three sections, if that gives you an idea of size. The main reason that I have not built mine yet is that I simply do not have the room for such a giant bird once built!
I have two of the Revell Germany B-36’s. The kit with the extensive wing walk decals. One built and one in the box as new. I have the decals in acid free sheet protectors and covered with glassine which is a stamp collectors product for expensive stamps. So no air will get at them. I had thought the B-36 was the biggest injection kit, but the B-1B may be bigger.
My B-36 is displayed vertically on the wall . It’s the only way really.
That is the way Ebay goes, as you say, when a re-issue hits… the bottom falls out on Ebay.
I don’t mind paying a little more but some prices are absurd. I’ll let you know how my search goes.
I’m glad to hear that. There were a couple items that I wanted at one point or another, and certain individuals on eBay had cornered the market there so to speak, and then were charging ridiculous prices for each item that I wanted. So I was patient and when each was re issued, I had a good laugh buying them for less than the gougers paid to get the items in bidding wars with me and then turned around for sale with much higher prices. Then saw those items sit… and sit… and sit…
Monogram touted the B-36 as their largest kit, but the B-1 was originally molded by Revell pre merger so…
They had already been thinking about another release/run of the B-1B 1/48, presumably because the bomber is back in the international news. They said they just need to see when they can do the run and that it was a good idea to do it.
So anyone thinking about one, it shouldn’t be too long relatively speaking.
Maybe they will update the decals to the planes on Guam.
Spendy if you do it all, but Barracuda Studios has some real nice resin updates for the Revell 1/48 and the Monogram B-1B kits which allow you to bring them to a more accurate and current standard. Cutting Edge also had exhaust update resin.
WW, there are no B-1’s permanently based on Guam. These are TDY from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (tail code EL); or the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas (tail code DY).
Yes, Rich I know they are rotating through. If I get one I would like to do a current version.
And John I’ve seen the terrific AM stuff. I think the late nozzles are a must and would really add to the kit. The intakes look good as well. And the Eduard sniper pod.
Read a couple of build reviews. Kind of scary. 5 months. 1/2"(!) seams.
I suppose I would build the 1/72 if I were so inclined.
The big one also doesn’t have JDAMs or whatever they now carry.
What is deceiving about this type of huge kit is that you think, well 1/48 is about twice the size of 1/72, right?
Wrong. Using the rule of cubes, it’s about eight times as big. One reviewer made the obvious point that it was not a realistic a/b kit, he used spray cans.