Revell Information

Plastic model kits for sale, rare and vintage airplane models, R/C, ship models and car models. Over 6000 different kits in stock. All-plastic model kits got their start in 1936 when FROG in England produced the first in a series of kits known as 'Frog-Penguins.' Frog had previously made flying models, so this was a reference to the 'birds' that will not fly. The line was successful and expanded, but WWII ended production. After the war, Frog resumed production and soon had competition from Airfix and others. In America, Frog's progress had been noted. In 1946 two US companies released all-plastic models -- Varney's tenite/plastic U.S. Fleet Submarine and Stearman PT-17 trainer and Hawk's Curtiss R3C-1 in black acetate plastic. The kits met with a very cold reception at hobby shops that were not sure what to do with them. Predictably, existing modeling experts were very negative on the kits because of the lack of carving and '¦real skill' needed to make the model. Gordon Varney was discouraged enough gave up on plastic model kits and sell the molds in about 1947 to O-Lin. Meanwhile Hawk, already firmly entrenched in the model business with their line of wooden kits, approached toy stores with the plastic line and had more luck. O-Lin's first kit was the P-80B Shooting Star in 1947. O-Lin, of which little is known, was at least partially owned by Paul Lindberg, who was known for his stick-and-tissue flying aircraft designs. In 1948 Hawk was encouraged enough to expand the 1/48 scale line to four racing aircraft. For 1949 Hawk began using polystyrene plastic and added the Lockheed Constellation and F-84. In 1948/49 O-lin added the Piper Cub, Republic Seabee and six small racers. Sales continued to improve but slowly. At this time they modified the old Varney molds for the PT-17 and Fleet Sub and modified the wood-and-plastic PT Boat and LST to make them all plastic kits. But by 1951 the Mates brothers (owners of Hawk) could see that plastic kits were the future and discontinued all wooden models. This was a ...