Revell’s 1957-59 ‘Space Age Model Kits’

This page published by "We are the Mutants", (I haven't explored to much of this site, but it does look interesting and it seems worthy of a romp through), offers some fanciful late- fifties spacecraft models from Revell. The short and interesting article mentions the space race and Revel’s motivations for manufacturing these designs during that time period.

Revell's 1/72 Sopwith Triplane

Revell's #04187 1/72 scale model aircraft is modeled after a British WWI aircraft that was first introduced in France in 1917.

The box indicates that this model is for a skill level 3 modeler, which according to the literature on the box means the kit has 100 or more parts and is geared for an advanced modeler. However, with only two spree and approximately 25 parts this model could be built by any modeler with some kit experience.

The parts are well formed and the instructions, with its illustrations and building symbols are straight forward and easy to understand. The only down side to this particular model is if you want to depict the aircraft in an authentic livery you will need twelve colors of paint.

Included in the kit is a pilot figure. Figures are always a plus when trying to create a realistic prototype or scene. There is also a set of decals that identifies the aircraft as one belonging to the Royal air force.

1/72 Revel Pirates of the Caribbean Ship

I was rummaging through a box of my un-built scale models and came across a copy of Revell’s Caribbean Pirate Ship. What caught my attention about the kit was its scale. Although I hadn’t purchased this kit because of its scale, the kit is modeled in 1/72 scale. 1/72 scale? That got me thinking. I wonder if there are any 1/72 pirate figures available to complete a scene.

Well there are, but before I mention where they can be found let me mention what I found out about the model. First of all Revell has its own product page, which includes a picture of a completed and painted model, and a downloadable instruction sheet.

In addition there is a YouTube video that introduces the view to the model and takes you through the process of building (through a time lapse video) and painting the model. I like Revell’s treatment of the model better. I will let the video do the introduction; the video will do a more thorough job than I can.

As far as 1/72 figures, although there seems to be couple options for pirate figures (Mars and Germania Figuren) there is only one set that meets my needs and are readily available, that is Germania Figuren’s , 72-8003, their Pirates of the Caribbean Set 3. There are six figures that are posed like they are doing something on deck. This set of figures has been reviewed by the Plastic Soldier Review. The only source for these figures that I could find was the Michigan Toy Company.