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A NOSTALGIC TRIBUTE TO FROG MODEL KITS


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What a simply superb topic for a thread, great memories too!!

Frog kits were available here in Oz for ever, my elder brother had a lot of 'em. No problems with availability, I had one of the best hobby shops in Sydney nearby Mum's (Berg's Hobbies has been in Parramatta for 50+ years) and they kept a superb range of kits, Airfix, Revell, Frog, Hasegawa, Fujimi, Heller, etc etc, a lot of my existing models were purchased there, I took my Christmas money from the wife and kids last year and splurged on Airfix kits at Berg's. I even bought Frog kits in other state capitals, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brizzy, never knew they were hard to get. I was still able to buy Frog kits in shops years after the closure, last ones I think were the Kawanishi Emily and a Beaufighter at Hobbyco in Sydney CBD around 1983/4.

Frog kits were different, odd subjects, nicely moulded, great decals and colour box-art. Some kits had . . . . issues, the worst horrors being the Ju 88 and the awful He 219 that Revell re-released in 2010 instead of their own superior 1966 H-112/H-160 mould.

I've built a few Frog kits both for myself and for mates, went and had a dig around and I've come up with a list of Frog models I've owned.

The Built List-

My first Frog kit (that I know of) is F.268 F-104 Starfighter in 1970, then in no particular order with photos if possible,

F.167 Westland Wallace - 1970,

F.390 Thunderbolt P-47 Fighter Bomber (P-47D-20) - 1976,

F.198 Westland Wyvern - 1977,

F.154 Sea Fury X - 1975,

F.170 Northrop Black Widow P-61 - 1975,

F.173 Bleriot XI - 1974,

F.172 Avro Shackelton - 1975 - full of short shot bits, my Dad showed me how to use balsa to correct the faults,

F.203 Canberra Mk.8/12 Low Level Bomber - 1977,

F.171 Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIc - 1978 - to be repaired,

F.126 HMS Undine Anti-Submarine Frigate 1/500 scale NOVO - 1978 - very badly damaged along with F.125 HMS Torquay NOVO, rebuilt as a WHIFF and still in the collection,

35687511550_41cefcdbca_o.jpgDSC04890 3. F141s by Neil, on Flickr

35907540512_5ba80b6447_o.jpgDSC04899 12. F141s by Neil, on Flickr

F.124 HMS Hero Destroyer 1/500 scale NOVO - 1978,

F-125 HMS Torquay Anti-Submarine Frigate 1/500 scale NOVO - 1978 - donated bits to Undine,

F.228 Fairey Gannet A.S.1/14 - 1974,

F.161 Fairey Barracuda Mk.II - 1977,

F.228 Fairey Gannet A.S.1/14 - 1978 - to be repaired,

F.420 Westland Lysander Mk.1 or Mk.3 "Spy Plane" - 1978,

F.170 Northrop Black Widow P-61 - 1978 - to be repaired,

F.359 Avro Lancaster Heavy bomber 1/96 scale NOVO - 1979 - a blow-up of a photie from a newspaper article my collection and I was in,

35859385230_9a3f06cc2c_o.jpgFrog-Novo Lancaster by Neil, on Flickr

F.169 DH60G Gipsy Moth Biplane NOVO - 1979,

F.163 Vickers Vimy Mk.IV - 1979,

F.175 Fokker - Southern Cross NOVO - 1979,

F.328 Hawker Sea Hawk F.Mk.1 NOVO - 1980 - still in the collection,

36155350286_6b35cec90c_o.jpgDSC06277 11. WF163s by Neil, on Flickr

36062680471_0dce708f44_o.jpgDSC06205 6. WF163s by Neil, on Flickr

F.330 Supermarine Attacker F.Mk.1 NOVO - 1980 - still in the collection,

36097843755_8fdf5bfa81_o.jpgDSC05050 1. 101Js by Neil, on Flickr

35289378473_fe1a086cc8_o.jpgDSC05065 16. 101Js by Neil, on Flickr

F.223F Fokker D.21 - 1972,

F-236F Ta 152H - 1979 - to be repaired,

F-202 Messerschmitt Me 110G - 1979 - still in the collection,

35587267310_1620c78e17_o.jpgDSC06835s by Neil, on Flickr

35934939006_31c0d54fb5_o.jpgDSC06843s by Neil, on Flickr

 

In the Stash and Started;

F.142 HMS Tiger 1/415 scale NOVO - Started 24Feb1982, almost unbuildable, badly miss aligned parts the main gun turrets the worst, not sure I can go back to it,

F.273 Hawker Harrier Mk.1 NOVO,

F.229 Bristol Beaufort Mk.II Frogspawn in a plastic bag witha photocopied header, translucent green plastic,

F.161 Fariey Barracuda Mk.II NOVO,

F.247 Westland Wessex Mk.1 or Mk.31 NOVO,

F257 Fairey Firefly F.Mk.1,

F.295 DeHavilland Sea Venom FAW Mk.21/53,

F.227 B-47E Stratojet,

F.198 Westland Wyvern,

F.203 Canberra Mk.8/12 Low Level Bomber.

 

I'm proud to say I'm a bit of a Frogaholic, gotta track down the models I had that are no longer with us,

Regards all:smile:

Neil B)B)

 

 

 

 

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im thinking of buying this kit, just for the grand harbour background (i am maltese)

 

 

16 hours ago, Aardvark said:


It is ingenious!

As I haven't guessed at once!

It is NOVO released already pre-painted the Vampire models in camouflages RAF pink and RAF PRU blue!

:):)

B.R.

Serge

 

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Here's a Frog Spitfire kit. I can still remember the little appliance store where I bought this. As you can see, I started painting it it with some unknown enamel 50 years ago...

What year would this boxing be from?

Dave G.

 

Frog Spitfire

 

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On 19/01/2018 at 11:27 PM, Chillidragon said:

then moved again as Antics.  I don't know where exactly; I don't go home anymore.

 

Last time I was in Cardiff they were on the street (don't know its name) that runs parallel to the front of Central Station and the site of the old bus station, now redeveloped into flats or somesuch. 

 

On 19/01/2018 at 11:27 PM, Chillidragon said:

Before 1980 Swansea Models and Hobbies was a more frequent source, also long gone.

 

And sadly missed. John Matthews, the owner, was a founder member of what is now IPMS West Glamorgan, and for a while we had our meetings in the rooms above the shop. Could be very painful on the wallet as he 'opened for business' a half hour or so before the meeting! He did provide tea & choccie biscuits as recompense though...!! I worked in the shop for a short while in the early 90's when between  IT jobs. Much preferred working in a model shop than IT...!! :D

 

Keith

 

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3 minutes ago, keefr22 said:

 

That even beats my 34 year long Airfix Vulcan 'work in progress' ....:D

 

Keith

I recently finished a 40 year old Boeing Clipper "work in progress" delighted to be beaten with a 50 year one ! :worthy:

 

cheers Pat

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18 hours ago, SledDawg said:

Here's a Frog Spitfire kit. I can still remember the little appliance store where I bought this. As you can see, I started painting it it with some unknown enamel 50 years ago...

What year would this boxing be from?

Dave G.

 

Frog Spitfire

 

Love the art and design of that box top. 😀

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On 21/01/2018 at 9:51 PM, SledDawg said:

Here's a Frog Spitfire kit. I can still remember the little appliance store where I bought this. As you can see, I started painting it it with some unknown enamel 50 years ago...

What year would this boxing be from?

Dave G.

 

Frog Spitfire

 

I bet the decals still work perfectly unlike the Novo one half their age :clif:

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15 hours ago, JOCKNEY said:

I bet the decals still work perfectly unlike the Novo one half their age :clif:

As a Novo kit owner whose decals disintegrated within about a second of touching water I wholeheartedly agree. 

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I photographed

http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_4453_start_1280.html

these is NOVO/FROG models in our local
hobby shop:

 

PC090404.jpg

PC090405.jpg

PC090406.jpg

PC090407.jpg

PC090408.jpg

PC090437.jpg

PC090438.jpg

PC090439.jpg

PC090440.jpg

PC090442.jpg

PC090443.jpg

PC090445.jpg

PC090446.jpg

PC090447.jpg

PC090457.jpg

PC090458.jpg

PC090459.jpg

PC090460.jpg

PC090461.jpg

PC090462.jpg

PC090463.jpg

PC090464.jpg

PC090465.jpg

 

...and private house collection:

PC090471.jpg

PC090475.jpg

PC090476.jpg

PC090477.jpg

PC090480.jpg

PC090481.jpg

PC090482.jpg

PC090483.jpg

PC090487.jpg

PC090488.jpg

PC090489.jpg

PC090490.jpg

PC090491.jpg

PC090492.jpg

PC090494.jpg

PC090496.jpg

PC090498.jpg

PC090499.jpg

PC090507.jpg

all models made in late 80, mixed modellers and painting not modelers paint.

 

B.R.

Serge

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Good grief Faaman - Bergs Hobbies , and it is still going! Wow - I remember visiting it when Ross Davis worked there, and what a great list of kits , many of which I remember building, and some which I still have!! Ah , memories, thanks for revising them.

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Great collection Serge, well done B) The Fortress is my fave but it's funny how most everyone gets the over wing staining incorrect :smile:

Horatio you really should come down from the Western Slopes and go and have a visit at Berg's, Peter and the other gents still love a chin wag. Look up their new address in the Queensland Arcade Church St. Parramatta.

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1 hour ago, FAAMAN said:

but it's funny how most everyone gets the over wing staining incorrect :smile:

Naturally, we then in the eighties had no idea of coloring shades. Model enamels were rare therefore models were painted proceeding from names of enamel, 
stirring a color from automobile enamels, and sometimes even the real aviation enamels with which painted real planes. Nevertheless it didn't prevent to do models as on those photos that I have placed.

 

B.R.

Serge

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On 21/01/2018 at 21:51, SledDawg said:

Here's a Frog Spitfire kit. I can still remember the little appliance store where I bought this. As you can see, I started painting it it with some unknown enamel 50 years ago...

What year would this boxing be from?

Dave G.

 

Frog Spitfire

 

Hi Dave, your FROG Spitfire Mk II artwork is from the first issue of this kit which dates from the period 1959 - 1964.

 

The next artwork depicted pilots running to their Spitfires during a scramble. This was packaged in their Black Series box.

 

In 1968 FROG started calling it a Mk 1A/ Mk V and the artwork changed again to show a Spitfire shooting down an enemy aircraft ( as on Page 8 of this thread ). These were packaged in a clear plastic bag with a card header.

 

cheers, Adrian

Edited by adey m
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On 1/21/2018 at 10:54 PM, keefr22 said:

 

Last time I was in Cardiff they were on the street (don't know its name) that runs parallel to the front of Central Station and the site of the old bus station, now redeveloped into flats or somesuch. 

 

 

And sadly missed. John Matthews, the owner, was a founder member of what is now IPMS West Glamorgan, and for a while we had our meetings in the rooms above the shop. Could be very painful on the wallet as he 'opened for business' a half hour or so before the meeting! He did provide tea & choccie biscuits as recompense though...!! I worked in the shop for a short while in the early 90's when between  IT jobs. Much preferred working in a model shop than IT...!! :D

 

Keith

 

I shopped in that Antics myself up to about 4 years ago.  The location's Wood Street.  They moved there from St Mary Street.

Edited by JosephLalor
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Sorry, but I have found out some more the old photos!


It is SB-2 from a hobby shop, them was two. One was FROG/NOVO and the second
there was MPM. I don't remember which of them who therefore I place both models. 

PC090387.jpg

PC090388.jpg
There was an Ar-2 from Pavla, but his photo doesn't enter a framework of it a topic. 
Still NOVO/FROG photo from a private house collection, which subject "Pacific war" The black Lightning is Revell and a number of NOVO/FROG. 
PB140327.jpg

PB140328.jpg
PB140330.jpg

PB140331.jpg

PB140334.jpg

PB140335.jpg

PB140336.jpg

PB140337.jpg

PB140338.jpg

PB140339.jpg

PB140342.jpg

PB140343.jpg

PB140344.jpg

PB140345.jpg

PB140351.jpg

PB140352.jpg

PB140353.jpg

PB140359.jpg

PB140360.jpg

I also don't remember whether B-25 conversion FROG/NOVO  is; or it is the model
Italeri. By the way, pay attention on Devostator! It is not Airfix, it is his 
the copy, in the eighties such did a vacuform in the USSR. 

These photos I   made nearly three years ago. Since then models from a hobby shop have moved to an interior of local military and historical club, serving surroundings for modern models which are exposed on local model hobbies shows.

https://s10.postimg.cc/8dclc3qbt/20170909_142935.jpg

 

Happens that they meet the same NOVO/FROG models made by 
modern children, as these the Vampire and the Hunter made children at the age of about 12 years.

https://s10.postimg.cc/prwtkcd61/20170909_142425.jpg

 

The Vampire and  Hunter I have made photos on a local model hobby show in September, 2017. 

In general, despite specialized group building which pass on model Russian websites, quantity of the constructed 
models
FROG/NOVO is very insignificant, but at the same time very high-quality buildings of FROG/NOVO as this Lightning F.6:

http://scalemodels.ru/articles/8409-novo-FROG-1-72-BAC-Lightning-F-6.html

 

 

 

B.R.

Serge

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On 23/01/2018 at 10:50 PM, Aardvark said:

I photographed

http://scalemodels.ru/modules/forum/viewtopic_t_4453_start_1280.html

these is NOVO/FROG models in our local
hobby shop:

 

PC090404.jpg

PC090405.jpg

PC090406.jpg

PC090407.jpg

PC090408.jpg

PC090437.jpg

PC090438.jpg

PC090439.jpg

PC090440.jpg

PC090442.jpg

PC090443.jpg

PC090445.jpg

PC090446.jpg

PC090447.jpg

PC090457.jpg

PC090458.jpg

PC090459.jpg

PC090460.jpg

PC090461.jpg

PC090462.jpg

PC090463.jpg

PC090464.jpg

PC090465.jpg

 

...and private house collection:

PC090471.jpg

PC090475.jpg

PC090476.jpg

PC090477.jpg

PC090480.jpg

PC090481.jpg

PC090482.jpg

PC090483.jpg

PC090487.jpg

PC090488.jpg

PC090489.jpg

PC090490.jpg

PC090491.jpg

PC090492.jpg

PC090494.jpg

PC090496.jpg

PC090498.jpg

PC090499.jpg

PC090507.jpg

all models made in late 80, mixed modellers and painting not modelers paint.

 

B.R.

Serge

Hmm they show their age but the lighting looks good ...not sure about the RN serial no thoughh😆

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2 hours ago, polo1112 said:

Hello,

I have been very surprised to see (photo 10) an SBD Dauntless with folded wings !

How is this possible ?

I have become interested in it too. There was very rough and primitive mechanism from the ingate having actually nothing in common neither with the copy, nor with reality. But nevertheless it works still, 30 years later!

 

B.R.

Serge

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Thanks for posting those photos Serge.

 

There are some wonderful FROG/NOVO conversions amongst them.

 

Cheers,  Adrian

Edited by adey m
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10 minutes ago, adey m said:

Some of them are not FROG/NOVO though.

am not a claim on comprehensive knowledge because a subject of my collection are "The jet fighter in 72", of them I can speak much and long. But to have still knowledge the expert on the propeller aircraft? You too want from me!
However, I have also constructed many of the FROG/NOVO models at children's age being a child and in spite of the fact that for me they then were no more than toys, but the Shark from Swordfish I can distinguish!

11 minutes ago, adey m said:

The P-61 is not the FROG one as it is too detailed and has a gun turret which the FROG one did not have.

No, you are mistaken! It is conversion of NOVO/FROG! First.

Models in this collection became to order, that is the owner of a collection didn't collect them, and paid their work! Then the owner of this collection was the student of the medical university, and students aren't always able to afford a lot of things! He was able to afford to pay work on assembly of this P-61, but to here allow buy P-61 from Dragon he couldn't any more! Secondly.
Here work of the same author, DB-2.

PC090410.jpg

PC090411.jpg

PC090412.jpg

PC090413.jpg

PC090414.jpg

PC090415.jpg

PC090416.jpg

PC090417.jpg

PC090418.jpg

PC090419.jpg

PC090420.jpg

PC090421.jpg

PC090422.jpg

PC090423.jpg

PC090424.jpg

DB-2 is a military option of the record plane

ANT-37 "RODINA"  (Homeland). The model of this plane in the world is done by nobody! Before you deep conversion of single-motor ANT-25 (which has made flight from Moscow to the USA, through the North Pole) not just in two-engined ANT-37 and in his military DB-2 option!!!! Really you think that the modeller who has made it, won't be able to finish so FROG/NOVO P-61 as the fact that he is presented on a photo made me?

 

B.R.

Serge

 

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