Lesser Known Classic GB: 28 Jun - 25 Nov 2025

[JOCKNEY]

Having been "volunteered" for this by @Mjwomack, @Black Knight and others this is a suggestion for a 2nd Classic GB in 2025 that includes the other kits from the past that were not as popular, numerous as the previous manufacturers we have covered in this series of Classic GB's.

 

As we have had very successful Matchbox, Frog, Revell / Monogram as well as the current Airfix one, this is an opportunity to build something from your stash from the same era.

 

Feel free to suggest / recommend manufacturers that you would like to include as well as a cut off date, which I'll include here:

 

Cut off date 1990 ish / over 30 years old  ?

 

Aeroclub
Aerovac
Airmodel
AMT

AML

Arii

Artiplast

Artmi

Atlantis Models 

Aurora
Aviation Usk
Beechnut Models
Biltezi
Blue Max
Blue Rider

Bobcat

Broplan
Classic Airframes

Classic-Plane
Condor
Contrail
Czech Model
DG
Dynavector
Eaglewall

Emhar
Entex
Esoteric

Eurokit
Execuform
Falcon
Faller
Formaplane
Glencoe
Halcyon
Hawk
Heljan
Historex
Hobbycraft

Huma
ID Models
Imai

Inpact (Inpact Models) 

Janusz makowski 
Jo-Han
Joystick
Keil Kraft

Kovozávody Semily
KP
KR-Models

Libramodels

Life Like
Lindberg
Merit
Merlin
Micromodels
Minicraft
MPC (now revived by Round 2)
Mushroom

Nakotne

Nitto
Otaki
Peco
Pegasus

Phoenix
Polistil

Premiere
Project-X

Protar
Pyro
Rareplanes
Renwal

Replica
Rosebud Kitmaster

Sierra
Skillcraft
Smer

South Eastern

Tomy

Tower Models
Trimaster

UPC
VEB Plasticart
Veeday

Warhammer
Welsh Models
Williams Bros
ZTS-Mikro

 

 

I've put the above list in alphabetical order to make it easier to find them and add new ones 

 

List of Fame below for potential participants 

 

1. @JOCKNEY Host

2. @Jb65rams

3. @bianfuxia

4. @Mjwomack Co-Host

5. @Richard Humm

6. @Black Knight

7. @Pin

8. @Corsairfoxfouruncle

9. @Paul821

10. @Caerbannog

11. @Listel

12. @Marklo

13. @stevehnz

14. @Mr T

15. @TonyW

16. @Adrian Hills

17. @2996 Victor Co-Host

18. @48-Alone-Is-Great

19. @CarLos

20. @vppelt68

21. @IanC

22. @jimmaas

23. @Ray S

24. @rob Lyttle

25. @Grandboof

26. @PattheCat

27. @AdrianMF Co-Host

28. @heloman1

29. @RC Boater Bill

30. @TonyTiger91

31. @Beardybloke

32. @zebra

33. @JWM

34. @Dave Klaatu

35.

36.

 

 

 

 

Depending on whether this is popular we can approach the boss @Enzo the Magnificent about a spot in the 2025 diary

 

Cheers Pat

[Jb65rams]

Just had a look at my stash list on Scalemates, only have one kit from a manufacturer that possibly meets the criteria.

 

Williams Brothers, their website suggests they been around for 60+ years. https://www.wmbros.com. Not a prolific producer but have a small range of interesting kits.

 

I have built a few of their kits and have the 1/32 Curtiss Sparrowhawk in the stash. Originally produced around the mid 70s. They need a bit of work but turn out nice.

 

 

 

 

 

[bianfuxia]

How about KP? Maybe not a wide catalogue but I'd bet they were many people's introduction to kits from the old East. 

[Mjwomack]

1 hour ago, JOCKNEY said:

Having been "volunteered" for this by @Mjwomack, @Black Knight and others this is a suggestion for a 2nd Classic GB in 2025 that includes the other kits from the past that were not as popular, numerous as the previous manufacturers we have covered in this series of Classic GB's.

 

As we have had very successful Matchbox, Frog, Revell / Monogram as well as the current Airfix one, this is an opportunity to build something from your stash from the same era.

 

Feel free to suggest / recommend manufacturers that you would like to include as well as a cut off date, which I'll include here:

 

Rareplanes

Contrail

Lindberg

 

List of Fame below for potential participants 

 

1. @JOCKNEY

 

Depending on where this is popular we can approach the boss @Enzo the Magnificent about a spot in the 2025 diary

 

Cheers Pat

You're a top man Pat! I'd suggest that  pretty much any of the vac-form manufacturers would qualify. Personally I'm keen to get hold of something from the Rosebud Kitmaster catalogue that wasn't taken on by Airfix in their railway range - including some surprising omissions, but equally some where you think, 'what were they smoking if they thought there was a market for that?!"

I think AMT were also mentioned which should entice some to play.

Merit could be another one, but a lot of those went into Peco, maybe Keil Kraft trams (don't think they're still in production)

 

You know I'm in, I'm a sucker for an older model!

[Richard Humm]

I'm in, though I'm not sure with what. A few more names for the list - Eaglewall (UK 1958-62), Jo-Han (USA c.1960-1995), MPC (USA 1964-1985, now revived by Round 2), Historex (France 1963 onwards), Polistil (Italy 1970s), VEB Plasticart (East Germany late 1950s to 1980s), Faller (West Germany late 1950s onwards) and Heljan (Denmark 1957 onward).

[Black Knight]

I'm in

 

Other oddities may crop up so lets not make a fixed list

Basically, everything except the usual mainstream kits

 

Mushroom (models) anyone?

[Richard Humm]

Yes, saying anything not made by Airfix, Matchbox, FROG, Heller, Revell, Monogram, ESCI, Italeri, Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi, Bandai or Aoshima and released before 1985 (which is the usual sort of cut-off date for the classic GBs) might be the way to go.

[JOCKNEY]

4 hours ago, Richard Humm said:

I'm in, though I'm not sure with what. A few more names for the list - Eaglewall (UK 1958-62), Jo-Han (USA c.1960-1995), MPC (USA 1964-1985, now revived by Round 2), Historex (France 1963 onwards), Polistil (Italy 1970s), VEB Plasticart (East Germany late 1950s to 1980s), Faller (West Germany late 1950s onwards) and Heljan (Denmark 1957 onward).

 

Thanks Richard, if we are successful it will be really interesting how many different manufacturers we can cover.

 

6 minutes ago, Black Knight said:

I'm in

 

Other oddities may crop up so lets not make a fixed list

Basically, everything except the usual mainstream kits

 

Mushroom (models) anyone?

 

Completely agree Fred, the list was to inspire people to have a look in their stash for something unusual that fits the bill 

 

Cheers Pat 

[Pin]

Aerovac

Esoteric

 

Meaning that I am interested

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Whoa Pat @JOCKNEY You didnt add me already ? Tsk Tsk Tsk   

[JOCKNEY]

5 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

Whoa Pat @JOCKNEY You didnt add me already ? Tsk Tsk Tsk   

 

I didn't want you to think you had been taken advantage of 

 

Great to have you with us mate 

 

Which reminds me, we could include Aviation Usk to the list as a nomination from your side of "the pond", do you have one in the stash ?

 

Cheers Pat

[JOCKNEY]

42 minutes ago, Pin said:

Aerovac

Esoteric

 

Meaning that I am interested

 

Inspired mate, I'll add those and yourself thanks 

 

Cheers Pat 

[Black Knight]

I do hope this goes ahead

I have literally dozens of kits to choose from

 

I think 1990 should be the cut off

 

Aeroclub

Mushroom

DG

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

39 minutes ago, JOCKNEY said:

 

I didn't want you to think you had been taken advantage of 

 

Great to have you with us mate 

 

Which reminds me, we could include Aviation Usk to the list as a nomination from your side of "the pond", do you have one in the stash ?

 

Cheers Pat

No you wouldn't be taking advantage.
 

Thanks 👍🏻

 

No as for the Aviation Usk, but Im pretty certain I can find an old AMT, Lindberg, or this kit ? My only vintage vacuform kit in the stash. I would just need to find an old scrapped or unbuilt 1/72 Airfix D3a val for parts to finish that kit. 
 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/the-eagles-talon-inc-et102-79-kawasaki-ki-32-mary--167693

[JOCKNEY]

The cut off date will be interesting as I have this unfinished build from a previous GB which according to Scalemates is from 1990

 

Picture from Scalemates 

 

So might just make the cut and give me an excuse to finish it 

 

Cheers Pat

 

[Mjwomack]

11 hours ago, Pin said:

Aerovac

Esoteric

 

Meaning that I am interested

I read that as Aerobic because they were esoteric, then I remembered that esoteric were another manufacturer

[Paul821]

As 

Peco

Rosebud Kitmaster

Merit

Keil Kraft

 

are all in the list, I should be able to spare a model or two from the Railways 200 GB for this one. As I am also a card modeller how about: Biltezi and Micromodels to be added to the list?

[Caerbannog]

If you want esoteric then why not include esoteric subjects as well: Comet Miniatures

 

Searching my stash:

 

Depending on the cut off date: Blue Max? Classic Airframes? Dynavector? Czech Model? Halcyon?

 

Aurora (how could you forget? 🙂)

Minicraft

Hobbycraft

Otaki

Smer

ID Models

Falcon

Glencoe

Entex

Project-X

Execuform

KR-Models

Trimaster

Condor

Skillcraft

Imai

[Paul821]

As I have already suggested making this wider than plastic - pre-1980 was the true golden age for model railway white-metal kits. As with card - perhaps these could be added if someone comes forward to join the GB with one such kit.

[Listel]

Hi,

 

I'm also joining the GB!

 

We can probably add:

Veeday

Formaplane

Renwal

ZTS-Mikro

 

Cheers,

François

 

 

[JOCKNEY]

If we get as many participants as we have potential manufacturers we are sorted 

 

Cheers Pat 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

I forgot a possible for me. The old “1/48th” or is it 1/50th Grumman Duck. 
 

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/glencoe-models-04101-grumman-j2f-2-duck--239110

 

I buiot 2-3 of these back in the late 80’s early 90’s and would love to make a better one than I did then. 

[Marklo]

Count me in I have one contrail and at least one Glencoe in the stash.

[stevehnz]

Definitely. Probably several candidates tucked away.

Steve.

[Mjwomack]

On 9/11/2024 at 12:38 PM, Paul821 said:

As I have already suggested making this wider than plastic - pre-1980 was the true golden age for model railway white-metal kits. As with card - perhaps these could be added if someone comes forward to join the GB with one such kit.

Looks across👀 at @Enzo the Magnificent because I'm sure he said he's got some absolute GEMs

It was also good for white metal buses, and I've never built one of those!