Avgas Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 (edited) 21 hours ago, Neil.C said: That's a very unusual box illustration for a military aircraft. Normally they have a wartime background but that one has the peace sign and flowers which I guess are reminiscent of the summer of love? Probably, it's of that general era. My thinking didn't go that far though. As usual, it was more a case of 'ooooo, bright colours, shiny things..' 🙉 Edited May 12, 2020 by Avgas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 I missed this thread when it started, but I love box art, so here's my favourites (in no particular order)... I'll start with the early ones that encouraged me to part with my meager pocket money and produce thick polystyrene glue covered plastic abominations. Airfix's 1/72 Spitfire IX. Johnnie Johnson naturally. OK, Hang Packet art, but very nice. And the dastardly adversary to hang near the Spit on the ceiling. Who were the artists I wonder? I'm a fan of naval aviation art, dramatic action as a Fairy Firefly takes off for a strike in the Korean War; More drama on deck, the power of Phantom jets being launched off N.Vietnam Moving on, FROG did some wonderful box art; Though I was a bit disappointed not to find a V1 'Flying Bomb' in the box! Had to wait until they released the Spitfire XIV. A lovely picture, FROG's Bleriot XI arriving at Dover Castle on 25 July 1909; Back to the deck again. FROG really caught the action with this super picture of Sea Furys taking off from HMS Glory off the coast of Korea. The artist (who was it?) researched the subject well; the attendant destroyer to rescue the pilot in the event of a failed take-off and the Sea Fury is very accurate, more than can be said for the contents of the box. I've got to include some of the work of Koike Shigeo, one of the greatest aviation artists. From Hasegawa, his excellent rendition of a JV44 Fw190D-9 attempting to protect Me262s in 1945. Another of Koike Shigeo's Then and now 1969. An early Airfix Harrier. The ground crew don't look too confident in the pilot's ability to land it! By 2013 things were looking a bit more professional. The contents of the box had improved as well. And my favourite? Got to be Roy Cross' KL-B that adorned the 1/24 Spitfire kit in 1970; a piece of exceptional art taken from a larger picture; 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G10ap Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 (edited) I really like the art from Revell’s Phantom F4 J 1/32 scale from I think 1972 (no image of it sorry 😀) the revell x5 looks pretty cool to Edited March 25, 2023 by G10ap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil.C Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Great selection of box art there @Johnson I think we may be of a similar vintage. 😉 I remember buying the Phantom from Woolies in the '60's (for just over 3 shillings?) and loving the box art. Funnily enough I bought an old Airfix selection box with half a dozen older kits in it from a boot sale last year and building the Phantom brought back old memories. It had a choice of Kitty Hawk or Forrestal markings - of course it had to be the Forrestal! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 4/6 for the Phantom. Series 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 5 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: 4/6 for the Phantom. Series 3 I'd better not say what I just paid King Kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 It was a world long ago and far away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 5 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: It was a world long ago and far away... Certainly was Graham, and so is the kit I made. Presumably buried in landfill somewhere near London. Being plastic it will last 1000+ years and one day someone (or something) may dig it up and notice the decals were poorly applied. 4s 6d in 1965 would (according to the Bank of England's Inflation Calculator) be worth £3.53 now. Not quite what I paid last week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Being oil based, plastics have risen more in price than inflation. Even allowing for that, the BoE's inflation calculator does not appear to match everyday experience in other matters as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHx Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 My general rule of thumb for critiqueing box art - the bigger the number of things on fire, the higher the score 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 8 minutes ago, IanHx said: the bigger the number of things on fire, the higher the score The American Airfix Buccaneer box qualifies there then. With a Zero on fire! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 13 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said: The American Airfix Buccaneer box qualifies there then. With a Zero on fire! That would surely get the prize for most bizarre box art. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Well, there is also this one.... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnson Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Good Grief!!! Did he survive? The Sunbeam driver doesn't seem too bothered... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 1 hour ago, Johnson said: The Sunbeam driver doesn't seem too bothered... In his defence, he's a bit busy applying full opposite lock to control the raging 78 bhp under the bonnet. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 One of my favourite childhood box art selections is the good old Matchbox P-51, with Dooleybird rising confidently into the air, tucking up her gear as she goes. That, and the Harrier GR.1, shown doing the vertical thing in a forest somewhere. Actually, many of Matchbox's boxes were good. Certainly they inspired me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G10ap Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 my favorites 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfisti Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 10 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Well, there is also this one.... Frantically leaving the scene of a road rage incident???🤔 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHx Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 11 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Well, there is also this one.... Ah... the inspiration for the naming of "Hot Wheels" ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted March 26, 2023 Share Posted March 26, 2023 The US Airfix box art all seemed a bit naff to me. Not as well drawn as their British equivalents, and seemingly a bit heavy handed in the 'action'. I wondered how much it reflects some cultural differences between the expectations of their target audiences. A read of Bill Brysons' (a near contemporary, age wise) 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid', whilst not history, portrays a childhood and adolescence way different from that of late 50's/eatly 60's Britain. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 On 3/26/2023 at 8:30 AM, Pete in Lincs said: The American Airfix Buccaneer box qualifies there then. With a Zero on fire! The only rational explanation of that box art, is the types and quantities of mind-altering drugs that were being consumed in the "swinging" 60's. Some serious impressionist artwork there! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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