CPNGROATS Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 (edited) For years I have been fasinated by the box art found on model kits...as a lad, the more realalistic the more I wanted to have the model....marketing at it's best I suppose, but it worked on me. Box art styles have come and gone and currently they have a large dose of PC applied... In any event, here to start a discussion are some of my favorites collected over the years: This vintage FROG b/a for the Me-110G, appears to show the 110 and other german a/c over London...a bit fanciful eh..? but, a striking scene nontheless. Here is a vintage Fujimi 1/48 FW-190D9 b/a. This depicts 190's flying cover for Me-262 flight/ops. The kit didn't live up to the b/a, unfortunately..! Perhaps my favorite, found on a prehistoric 1/48 Aurora Me-109 kit. The b/a appears to portray a Me-109F (w/wing cannons) and an interesting mauveish paint scheme.I'm not sure what type of allied a/c is hot on Fritz's tail, the under wing radiators remind one of a Spitfire..??.. Aurora had many kits with inspiring b/a over the years...most w/o the sanitizing effect of PC... [bTW] the model contained in the box in no way looked like the a/c on the box top..it was a crude 109E molded in metallic red plastic.... Comments please....... Cheers, ggc Edited August 7, 2008 by CPNGROATS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahut Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Good question. Im impressed by most box art, actual art that is. Truth be told, I collect the kits as much for the art, as anything else. I like most of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 David: I know what you mean...some b/a just has that gotcha factor... Here is a vintage Monogram Me-110E 1/72 kit w/cool b/a frameable too..! This kit circa 1968. Reissued at the same time (1968), was Monograms ME109E in 1/48. The b/a is executed in similar fashion. For many years this was the best 109 kit in 1/48 scale... Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Matchbox presented many of their kits with inaction type of b/a. Again, this type of b/a being more appealing to the history buff in us or the action attraction for the young lads and lassies...: Here is a selection of some of these kits from the 1970's and '80's. Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Revell kits had many interesting b/a portrayals on many types of models, a/c kits being no exception. Here are a few examples: The Memphis Belle b/a from the Revell kit of the 1960's in 1/72. Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 FROG model kits were very popular and affordable. Very simplified and sometimes inaccurate they did and still do make up into very nice models. Especially if one adds/adapts some of the aftermarket resin/p/e and decals available today. Their b/a was often outstanding and offered that 'gotcha" factor. Here are a few examples: Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Some more Revell classic b/a clipped from the box tops over the past years. Some of these are from issues where three different kits were included in one box. one of many reissues of the venerable 1/64 B-25B circa 1960's A "box scale" [approx 1/90] B-24J circa 1960's reissue Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darson Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 I'm not generally influenced to purchase based on cover art but I must admit that this one from Eduard certainly did nudge me in the direction of their Hellcat combo On the other hand really bad or cheap looking cover art can put me off purchasing a kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Darren: That Hellcat looks sharp in FAA colors... Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Generally I prefer historical action scenes on a models b/a giving interesting context. There was a trend with mfgrs. to show an actual picture of the completed model. This perhaps a sop to the idea of "truth" in adverising. Aurora models are known for their dramatic box art esp. for their WWI a/c kits in 1/48. Aurora also went to the b/a showing a completed kit prior to their demise. The later kits had their tooling cleaned up including removal of engraved and raised national markings. Here are pics of both styles of presentation: Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 The next group of b/a pics are of ships. Again the dramatic scenes of the vessel in action are often inspiring..: Revell 1/450 Hornet: Launching the "Dolittle Raid" Lindburg 1/300 (approx) LST Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Back in the 1970's some really nice Japanese a/c kits were produced by MANIA. (Later Hasegawa aquired the tooling). The b/a for these kits was colorful and somewhat evocative: Ki-15 Ki-51 Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 7, 2008 Author Share Posted August 7, 2008 Monogram, for a period of time in the 1960's/70's issued a number of 1/72 & 1/48 scale kits with frameable b/a. This wasn't a new idea as Revell had done this earlier esp. with ship models featuring the art of artist John Steel. (he also did b/a for Aurora and Lindburg)..: These Monogram b/a pictures have survived the passage of time while some of the completed kits entered the sky bin some time ago... F7F-3 1/72 Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodrigo Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Ohh this is a truly nostalgic theme.............I still own the´77 Airfix catalogue from my father. When I was a child I uesd to see and enjoy every art on this catalogue and imagine myself flying the planes or building the kits....I specially remember the Short Sunderland´s one. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Well, I could almost be persuaded to buy any model in a box that has the artwork painted by Shigeo Koike (the Hasegawa 'house' artist) even if I wasn't interested in the kit! His work is absolutely outstanding - some of the best aviation art anywhere! Keef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Rodrigo: Yes, nostalgia does describe the trip down the b/a memory lane... ...eh? Keef: I like S. Koike's art as well. I'm certain I have some of his work on some Hasegawa kits in the stash... I'm pleased that you both enjoy this b/a thread... Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Let's look at some more vintage FROG b/a......... How cool is this, late war scene, taking off from the Autobon... Keep your head down..Charlie..! Cheers, ggc Edited August 8, 2008 by CPNGROATS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Continuing w/FROG kit b/a..: Card art from the FROG bagged kit series... An Aussi Spitfire...... love that shark mouth...! A hot Soviet ride......LavLa7 Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Wow some great memories of old Frog & Revell box art here. I agree that the box art on some kits can actually deter a purchase - especially if it shows a picture of a rather poorly constructed version of the contents! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 That Frog OV-10 box-art is soooo cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Anyone seen the Hobbycraft F-117 boxart? It has GBUs with afterburners!!!! Not holding out much hope for the kit accuracy!!! lol Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 As I started modelling right after the demise of Frog, I missed those nice box arts. However those were the years when matchboxwas doing new kits every year, and I loved some of theirs ! The one I loved most was the Harrier one, with the jet taking off vertically from a hide. As a young kid that painting told everything about airpower ! And as a young kid I couldn't really understand how bad was the kit inside the box... BTW, anyone who loves Shigeo Koike'art should give a look at these pictures of some more or less known subjects: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/airplane/museum/Ecl-pln2.html Giorgio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancient mariner Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Box art has always been a great inspiration to buy and build....alas many of the kits dont live up to expectations...but in my youth I just built and was happy to have the latest offering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 (edited) Graham T. Yes, there was a period of time where many mfgrs. used pics of built models for their b/a. Often less than inspiring....although this Skyraider isn't too bad.. Obi-Jiff: [may the FORCE be with you ] The Viet Cong feared the OV-10, and with good reason..!! Stuart: I haven't seen the Hobbycraft F-117 kit.. Giorgio: Thank's for posting the Koike-San link. What a talent..! Ancient M. Those are some cool b/a memories. Thanks for sharing...That Monogram B-25H has been issued and reissued for some 40+ years. Your pic looks like a more recent SSP reissue...here is an earlier b/a from the "frameable b/a" period..: Cheers, ggc Edited August 8, 2008 by CPNGROATS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPNGROATS Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Don't want to leave out the Armor b/a: These were issued as Revell kits, although the howitzer began life as an ADAMS kit in 1/40 scale. This Sherman is one of the first plastic kits of this venerable tank. Listed as 1/40 scale it is closer to 1/35. The box art shown is from a 1970's reissue. Featuring a pic of the completed model. This Sherman model has a mix of cast and welded hull features with the late HVSS suspension... The Revell T-34/85 in 1/40. This b/a comes from an issue that featured motorization and dates from 1he 1960's...evocative b/a I think..from the "frameable" school of b/a: Cheers, ggc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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