Pics of my Revell Yacht America 1851 in progress. Anyone know the backgound on this kit? I know it is a bit rare and was not produced for long. I got it on ebay from a gentleman in Germany. My uncle built this kit long ago and I have always wanted to pick it up.
It is a very good size and tall! I am working on the sails now…
jtilley, big jake- any info on this old beauty of a kit? What’s wrong with it jtilley? I’m sure you have the inside scoop 
Thanks
Len
This kit is one of my beloved Revell models. It fits together real easy and can become a very nice, well detailed model with some scratchbuilt and aftermarket parts. I think I like it for all the sail area it covers. I bought a few of them when Woolworth’s went out of business in 1992 and built them as gifts to a few relatives. I have one left that has become my wifes favorite.
Scott
I don’t have much recollection of this kit. I vaguely remember buying one and starting to build it, but I don’t recall finishing it. I remember it as a reasonably accurate, reasonably well-detailed kit. I think it was simplified “for beginning modelers,” but the America was by nature a relatively simple subject in terms of hull, deck, and rigging.
The bible on Revell kits, Thomas Graham’s Remembering Revell Model Kits, says the kit was originally released in 1969, and describes it as being on 1/56 scale. The book gives the following data: “Black, tan plastic. Paper flag sheet. Rigging thread. Flexible, tough paper sails that allowed the model to be sailed on ponds. ‘Simplified’ series. Two-feet long. Reissued as H-372 Blockader (1974).”
When I was working at the Mariners’ Museum I did a little research on the America (not much) in conjunction with an exhibition about the history of the America’s Cup. We had some fragments of the ship, including a big skylight. (The hinges on it were missing. I remember driving all over Tidewater Virginia looking for acceptable replacements - and eventually giving up and having a machine shop make a set, at hideous expense.) I do recall that there are quite a few sets of plans of the America that disagree with each other in minor ways. The museum had a couple of original drawings of her by Donald McKay, who had her in his Boston yard for repairs sometime after the famous race. We also had a half model of her; on its backboard was a silver plate inscribed to indicate that the model had been made by the ship’s designer, George Steers, for presentation to Queen Victoria.
I know of no reason why this kit couldn’t be made into a nice model. From the photos in this thread I gather at least a couple of Forum members have done it, or are well on the way.
It does strike me that Revell’s little plastic stand doesn’t do the beautiful lines of the America justice. She really deserves a pair of nice pedestals, or some other decorative base that would bring her waterline horizontal. Unfortunately it’s sometimes difficult to make such a mounting system for a plastic hull - unless you’ve planned for it well in advance.
There’s an excellent book entitled “The Low Black Schooner: Yacht America 1851-1945” by John Rousmaniere. ISBN # 0-939510-04-9. I have a copy and I consider it to be the bible for any information you could need. A lot of drawings, artwork and photo’s of the hull “or what was left of it” I too have built the model and consider it to be a “eye pleaser”. The lines of the sail area look just perfect in the den. If anybody has an extra I would like to buy it. Contact me off BB.
Jake
Len,
Are you going to build her as when first launched or the last alteration in 1887?
Maj. Ben Bulter ( yeah, That One! Remember I’m from New Orleans) had her painted white below the top rail and added some sail.
Here are possibly two qoutes that are attribitted to Queen Victoria who watched the race.
“Who is second in the race?” the Queen asked. “There is no second” was the reply
or this version
“Is the America first?” the answer comes “Yes”, “What’s second”? Comes the reply, “Nothing”
What a great way to put it.
Jake
Thanks everyone for your replies- I do appreciate it.
I plan to build it as per instructions which I assume means 1851 period- I have not been able to find much on the boat in my net searching so all I have to go by are a few paintings and the instructions…
Thanks again…
Len
Well the Schooner was painted black up to the top rail, when first launched. So you might want to think about re-painting her, but your version looks well done.
Jake
This was my favorite model as a lad. I bought the original issue in 1969, and built it as a pond sailer. It was the fastest boat in my fleet-- a great sailer, and it also looked good on the mantel.
I didn’t see the kit again until it was re-released in the late 1980s, in the yellow stripe-topped box. That version of the kit had regualr vac-formed sails, instead of the nicer “working” sails of the original…
-Bill
Thanks Jake!
Len