There’s been a lot of talk in the past about the ol’ Monogram/Revell P-61 Black Widow kit, and what a POS it is. But, aside from some fit issues, especially the canopy and it’s associtated panels, it’s still quite a doable kit in this modeler’s eyes… That said, and I know I’ve brought it up before, the absolute worst kit to me is the Aurora 1/48th P-61… From what remember , it was typical Aurora, with molded-on engine fronts (Kinda engine-like would be a better description), molded-on national insignia and serial number locators (in raised lines), molded-shut gear doors, with holes in the fuselage and booms to stick the struts into, gun barrels the size of sprue, and over badly shaped parts… It also scaled out quite a bit largr than 1/48th, I’m about 1/40 or so, and the cockpits were horrid affairs, with molded-on pilot, gunner, and RO heads & shoulders…
Anywho, I was browing the net and ran across a site that actually is selling this thing, and the price is listed at 75.00… Definately must be a collector thing…
Here’s the box-art…
There’s really no point to this, other than to prove that there was/is indeed an alternative to the Monogram kit… And you don’t want it for a build-kit…
[:D]
Here’s the site though, if you’re inclined… There ARE some definate keepers there though, if you got the scratch…
Well it looked like a P-61! LOL! I built one of those as a kid back in the day and it was as you described. And also less costly to my allowance than the Monogram offering. Back then kits were built and painted in a day pretty much… although they may have revamped the molds on the one I bought/built, like Aurora did, especially in regards to the surface decal markings.
I built Aurora’s B-25 Mitchell… (1/48) It had ZERO interior! The cockpit glass simply went in place over flush bulkheads. Yes, the decal locators on the model… HA! RAISED LINES! He, he, he… not only that, the surface to mate them to was TEXTURED as to ensure massive silvering.
I built IT in a day when I was 8. T’was the biggest B-25 on the block.
This will date me. The Aurora and Monogram kits do leave a lot to be desired. However, you should try building the solid wood kit which was produced by Strombeck.
Having built the Revell-Monogram P-61 the only issue I had was the canopy however, there are aftermarket goodies for the Revellgram P-61 Canopy. I have seen vac-form canopy kits for this kit available at Squadron. Other than that the kit went together fine for me.
Yes, I remember the day when I saw a friend’s Spitfire. The molded on roundels and head/shoulder pilot molded onto the fuselage. I also remember other Aurora kits, with their very colorful plastic, large rivets, and panel lines. They indeed were the one day glue and play type of models. My friend and I only got a couple of the Aurora kits. I had relatives that got some Aurora kits, but they never kept up with the hobby. I would rather have had the Revell/Monogram or Airfix kits. My friend did blow up his old Aurora kits or use them for target practice with his pellet gun. The one I did get sort of disappeared (probably ended up in the trash pile as i was not a very good kid about picking up my stuff). If we had only known…
I remember having the 109. I used to play wth it in the back seat of our car. Back then the cars were bigger and there were no seat belts so you could move all over the place.
Working control surfaces and flaps, retractable undercarriage and doors (a scale 6" thick…), wheels that turn, removeable rear fuselage to view the engine (looks nothing like any RR Avon I’ve ever seen), tow tractor (Lindberg boxing only) underwing pylons for four AIM-7s (yes, really!), and, the piece de resistance - a working, rubber-band-driven, ejector seat!
I have three more of the Monogram/Revell Widows still… This time, I’m vacuforming the canopy instead of shimming the kit part, lol… Same with the cowls, so I’ll have matching sets with open flaps and I’m casting the engines as well… The last one, I robbed another kit of it’s cowl and engine…
The Revell 1/72 B-26, and in close formation their A-20 in the same scale. I’ve got a love/hate relationship with the 1/48 Widow. It can be made to behave, and It’s wicked when complete.
One thing you’ve got to give those Aurora monstrosities credit for was when they fell from the fishing line that held them to the ceiling and onto the floor, you could just tie them back it up there with no repairs needed. Rugged ol’ POSes, that they were. Just one notch above a toy.
AHH, the good old days. No one mentioned the Lindburg JU-88, ME-262, HE-111. Awesome detail with working retracts, flaps, bombbay doors and if I remember right the 262 had engines and cannons too. I too remember the Strombecker and early Monograms which had balsa bodies, plastic props and canopies, etc. My Monogram SBD sank many Bismarks with its droppable bomb too. Rick M
For all the kits out there I am still drawn to the Monogram kits even though they are now Revell/Monogram (Revell-O-Gram) because they are inexpensive and have great detail and now their newest releases (Not re-releases) are recessed panel lines that make them even more desirable for my stash I counted the Monogram kits I have currently its about 200 + or - 5 or 6, then it’s Academy in second for the count but like some else said building a Monogram kit is like coming home.
Hold on a sec !!! Squadron has vacuform canopys for the P-61 now ??? I have two Monogram 1/48 P-61s, getting ready to build one of them. Be right back gotta check out Squadron !!!
Oh I did score a resin cowl and engine on evilbay so I can have open cowl flaps on this build.
Terry Dean (of nose weight fame and Certifiable P-61 Nut) has a few goodies to dress-up the old Monogram 1/48 kit, as well as a school-of-skinned-knuckles tutorial on getting the most out of the old girl. E-mail him at nightiemission@aol.com.
Serge of Vector Resins has released (or is very close to releasing) a clear resin canopy set. He vends through Sprue Brothers, and they may know more: http://www.spruebrothers.com/.
As for the old Aurora Black Widow … good riddance! What a waste of good styrene.
Hans von Hammer I got this resin set off ebay for $5.85 including shipping. Its a cowl engine and firewall. Didnt figure I could go wrong with that deal. And I still have 2 complete kits tuhboot.
