T is for Toy Fair '18 Reports - Revell - Model Kits

After a look at Mr Lucas' movie franchise kits yesterday, we move to the general model-kits Revell have been offering-up for the longest time, (well, since 1951 at least!)

To be honest, most of the models on display WERE the Star Wars stuff, but there are a few drawn from elsewhere in the wider kit-range, and I've added some other bits and bobs from the catalogue.

You can't go far wrong with a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane going round-and-round on a mirrored disc! Available now (but not when I saw it!) I think it depicts the RAF Memorial flight? But I'm not sure.

More interesting is the MTB in the background . . .

. . . which is the same Elco-type 'PT-Boat' modeled by various makers back in the 1960/70's(Revell listed more than ten versions, Lindburg a similar amount and Tamiya at least five, but in an odd scale; 1:126th), PT-109, which was the one captained by a future President - JFK, but this is an entirely new tooling with the levels of detail missing on some of those old kits, or at least I assume it has!

There are several versions of PT109 and some of them have only two [open-rack] torpedoes and no anti-tank gun lashed to the bow-deck? Again, this is just me presenting what was displayed at the show, and I'm sure the marine-modelling experts will know what's what - and why!

My Known Listing - Revell 'figure scale' High-Speed Motor Boats

? - Hemi Hydro - Civilian water-skiing tow- boat/racer - 1:25

? - PT-73 (see H-323?)

? - PT-109 / 167 Torpedo Boat - Torpedo Boat, 2 torpedoes, open-racks not tubes, two variants buildable? - 1:72

? - PT Boat 211 / 212 - Twin kit/two variants? Motorized, 1975 - 1:97

? - Vosper M.T.B. -  Motor Torpedo Boat, 2 tubes - 1:72

H-302 - Chris Craft Flying Bridge Cruiser - Civilian pleasure craft, reissued as H-387, 1953? - 1:56

H-304  - PT-212 Torpedo Boat - American WWII Higgins-type PT boat, moulds brought/bought-in from (?) in the late 1950’s, some sources state issued 1953? Later supplied to/copied by AHM as PT-207 - 1:98

H-306 - Mosquito Boat PT-207 - Issued 1965, same hull as Tamiya kits? Re-issue of H-304 (PT-212)? 1966 - Some sources give1:126, some sources state 1:98

H-310 - Historic PT-109 (JFK markings) - WWII American Elco-type PT boat, 2 torpedoes, racks not tubes, 'Jack of Diamonds'; Kennedy’s vessel - 1:72

H-312 - PT-190 - WWII American Elco-type PT boat, 2 torpedoes, racks not tubes - 1:72

H-323 - McHale’s PT Boat - From TV series 'McHale’s Navy' PT-73, actually a Vosper MTB - 1:72

H-342 - PT-167           - WWII American Elco-type PT boat, 2 torpedoes, racks not tubes - 1:72

H-387 - Sport Fishing Boat - Reissue of Chris Craft pleasure cruiser (H-302) - 1:56

H-464 - PT-211 - American WWII Higgins-type PT boat, moulds brought/bought-in from (?) in the late 1950’s, re-issue of  H-304 (PT-212), 1975 - 1:98

5104 - Swift Patrol Boat          - PCF -1:48

5105 - UDT Boat - With Frogmen - 1:32        

05048 - PT-117           - WWII American ELCO-type PT boat, 2 torpedoes, racks not tubes, re-issue of H-342, 1990's - 1:72

05051 - S-100 - WWII German Schnellboot MTB/Channel raider, 2002 - 1:72

05084 - Vosper MBT - reissue of old kit - 1:72

05147 - Patrol Torpedo Boat PT-109 - 4 tubes, 37mm A/T gun lashed to the deck, Kennedy's vessel, new tool - 1:72

While on the subject of 1:72nd scale vessels, the ex-Matchbox Flower Class Corvette is announced as a 'New' model, but you'll know it's a re-issue, back as HMCS Snowberry

Oh Lord! From the catalogue comes this piece of idiocy . . . still I suppose it will complement the equally idiotic figure sets from Evo/HYTTY/Kervella/LW/Odemars or whoever ended up with their moniker on the packets. So long as you treat it as a bit of fun, it's probably fun, but if you think the Nazis had a secret 'Dr. No' base in the Arctic (or Antarctic) you're an idiot, who spends too much time reading the wrong websites, find the porn and get real!

If you want Sci-fi (instead of porn) this is more like it, and three of them are compatible with 54mm/1:32nd scale figures; Bargain! Technically two of them are 50mm/1/;35th but who's rivet-counting - not me! Although, how? How the f**k do you get three scales in a line of four kits! Mind-boggling really - they didn't even get the two UNSC AFV's the same size!

And - proving there's nothing new under the sun; the UNSC Pelican is clearly the bastard child of a Hind D which has been raped by a clone-army Republican Gunship!

Another Build & Play (the future of kits?), but I was rather taken with it, highly detailed for a 'no glue needed' model, and sadly not a Massey 135, but similar! Porsche Diesel with a steel bucket-seat - you made your own cushion from a seed-potato sack (big sandbag!) half filled with straw, but your arse still hurt by lunchtime, especially if you were harrowing!

I also shot these two simply because it was a nice juxtapostion to see the two sizes built-up and side by side. The smaller one is another of the Build & Play clip-together range, but the larger one is a proper kit.

Not much on the figure front, we may well return to these depending on what images turn-up elsewhere, but in the meantime; in 1:72nd scale the 30 7-Years War figures have turned-up in double sets. Originally a poor seller they were quickly withdrawn (back in the 1990's) only for Peter Bergner at PB Toys to commission a re-issue, then they re-appeared a few years ago briefly - I think - only for these doubles to be announced. . . a while ago?

While in the 1:16th range (same as the old Airfix personalities) there's a SWAT-team 'heavy' and a US Marine Sergeant (in formal Dress Blues) joining the four existing ceremonials in a line which is shaping-up to be quite interesting.

I wonder if anyone's built the British Guardsmen from both companies and placed them side-by-side yet? 60-years and only the rifle's changed - They keep a supply of bulled ammunition-boots (hob-nail studded 'cobbly-wobblies' or 'cobble-wobblers') for ceremonial duties.