The Union Memorial Collection - what's the big deal?

[Neddy]

Every so often I come across mention of this collection when one of them turns up on FleaBay.  It's hard to find out much about them but they seem to be mentioned with the proverbial baited breath and are offered for anything from stupidly high to insane money.

 

After a good hour's research I've ascertained that they apparently originated from Japan back in the day and allegedly some were made by Heller and some by IMC but that's all I can ascertain for now.

 

Are they particularly high quality, particularly rare or both?  I've just found a couple at sensible money and ordered one simply because it's a model I can't find reproduced anywhere else - it hasn't arrived yet but I'll post details in the relevant section when it does.  I'm curious simply because of the aura that seems to surround them and the daft prices they seem to be offered for.

 

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Dave Swindell]

They all appear to be repackaged IMC or Grip kits

https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=Kits&fkCOMPNAME[]="Union Model"&ssearch=mem

I wouldn't think of them as being anything special as builders kits so presumably there's a collectors market for them?

[SnøMotion]

Now I’ve had a look at the Scalemates link, I’m excited to see what you’ve bought, @Neddy 

 

Martin

[Neddy]

Patience good sir, patience...

[cmatthewbacon]

A triumph of packaging over content. None of them are original — just sometimes a cheap way to buy Heller or IMC or 70s vintage Japanese motorised kits in nice boxes. There’s zero added value over the original releases, so if you have a yen (see what I did there? ;-P) for and IMC Lola T70 Spider or a Heller McLaren or Brabham, and the Union box is cheaper, go for it. But don’t pay a premium for a chi-chi brown sleeve with a hole cut in it…

best,

M.

[triumphfan]

Some of the Union boxings of the old Heller F1 kits are very nicely done. I have the Lotus 49B in the white box (the one with the press stud clasp) and it includes a nice set of decals and pre made suspension springs, instead of the piece of wire that Heller provided - wind it around a suitably sized nail type. 

The McLaren and Brabham are similarly done, the major pull for me was the superior decals. 

My intention is to build them all, until that happens, they are very pretty additions to my stash 😀

 

Atb, Steve.

[Spiny]

EDIT: Not sure how, but I managed to quote from a different thread into here by mistake

Edited May 11 by Spiny

[cmatthewbacon]

8 minutes ago, triumphfan said:

I have the Lotus 49B in the white box (the one with the press stud clasp)

Ahh… mine are all the chocolate brown box with gold ish text, which didn’t seem much different to the Hellers. Mind you, I actually rather like the original Heller painted box art…

best,

M.

[Flintstone]

The 1969 Porsche 917 model is not particularly good. It was simplified for motorisation and the wheels and tyres are completely wrong. If you have spare 917 wheels from another kit, it would look much better, but the proportions of the body seem a little off.

[cmatthewbacon]

19 minutes ago, Flintstone said:

The 1969 Porsche 917 model is not particularly good. It was simplified for motorisation and the wheels and tyres are completely wrong. If you have spare 917 wheels from another kit, it would look much better, but the proportions of the body seem a little off.

That's worth knowing, because you might think you're getting the Heller 917. If you do your research, that one can be made into an excellent model, for a lot less than a Fujimi (reboxed by Revell) kit and an aftermarket engine. You need to fix the interference between the engine and body that stops the clamshell closing properly. Some combination of reducing the height of the (non-existent in real life) bracing under the engine, adding a millimeter in height at the horizontal closing edges (about 0.7mm strip on the 45 degree seams...), and putting in some magnets to hold it all positively in place will do the job...

best,

M.

 

[Neddy]

Thanks hugely for the information everyone, Matt especially.  I've watched with amazement a Lola T-70 kit on the Bay hurtle pricewise up to £40 within hours and stop because it hadn't reached its reserve (!) and seen another couple from the "Memorial collection" on sale for £107 and £110 respectively.  Thankfully the one I was after only cost me £30 carriage inclusive!

 

I was going after the Lola T-70 but from t'sound of it it's over-priced already.  I can only assume collectors are prepared to pay far more than a kit builder would for something that'll just stay in it's box for years before being sold on again.  I buy to build so collecting for its own sake doesn't blow my frock up.

[cmatthewbacon]

8 minutes ago, Neddy said:

I was going after the Lola T-70 but from t'sound of it it's over-priced already.

Well, if you want the full blow-by-blow, it’s here:

You can decide how much you’re prepared to pay knowing what you’re going to have to do! Me, I paid very little, knowing very little (but having developed a liking for Lolas…) I mostly blame @JamesP…

best,

M.

[Neddy]

Blimey!  Thanks again Matt.  Like you I have a fondness for T-70s that goes back to my youth but I don't think I want to pay silly money for that amount of trouble.  I think I dodged a bullet there.

[Six97s]

As mentioned, many are repops of the old, ultra-fiddly IMC kits.  I have the T70 (not bad, but the engine is undersized) and years ago I built the '46 Ford convertible.  The latter had some nice trim options, but the fit of the multi-piece body parts was a bit iffy.

 

A few months ago, there was a built-up/dismantled T70 on Ebay for ages with a BIN of £16...  it sold eventually.

[Neddy]

Just as an amusing footnote, the Lola T-70 kit mentioned above failed to reach it's reserve today, the highest bid being £40.  It has been immediately re-listed, apparently still with a hefty reserve on it but a Buy Now option of £52!  I think he's living in a world of his own... 

[Blacque Jacque]

10 hours ago, Neddy said:

Just as an amusing footnote, the Lola T-70 kit mentioned above failed to reach it's reserve today, the highest bid being £40.  It has been immediately re-listed, apparently still with a hefty reserve on it but a Buy Now option of £52!  I think he's living in a world of his own... 

Ebay reserve always used to be £50 minimum, not sure if it's been reduced ?
There are plenty of sellers on there asking astronomical sums for things in every category, they seem content for them to sit there being relisted endlessly.

Then again, "There's one born every minute...." as they say.

[Neddy]

15 minutes ago, Blacque Jacque said:

"There's one born every minute...." as they say.

...and there's one in every village. 😁

[Dave Swindell]

2 hours ago, Neddy said:

...and there's one in every village. 😁

And if you haven't found one in your village, it's you!

[Neddy]

On 10/05/2025 at 18:14, SnøMotion said:

Now I’ve had a look at the Scalemates link, I’m excited to see what you’ve bought, @Neddy 

 

Martin

...and your patience is now rewarded - see the appropriate thread. 😁

[SnøMotion]

1 hour ago, Neddy said:

...and your ;patience is now rewarded - see the appropriate thread. 😁

Yes, I saw! Very interesting 

 

Martin

[Bozothenutter]

On 5/10/2025 at 10:37 PM, cmatthewbacon said:

That's worth knowing, because you might think you're getting the Heller 917. If you do your research, that one can be made into an excellent model, for a lot less than a Fujimi (reboxed by Revell) kit and an aftermarket engine. You need to fix the interference between the engine and body that stops the clamshell closing properly. Some combination of reducing the height of the (non-existent in real life) bracing under the engine, adding a millimeter in height at the horizontal closing edges (about 0.7mm strip on the 45 degree seams...), and putting in some magnets to hold it all positively in place will do the job...

best,

M.

 

The ex nitto 1969 car is in 1/20 (supposedly)

The ex Heller 1970/71 cars are 1/24.

Pretty hard to mix up I'd say. 

[cmatthewbacon]

5 minutes ago, Bozothenutter said:

Pretty hard to mix up I'd say.

True, if you know the Memorial Collection 917 is 1/20… I’ve only ever come across 1/24 kits in the range, though…

best,

M.

[Spottedlaurel]

The only Union Memorial kit I have any knowledge of is the VW Beetle,which can be built stock or as a dragster. I got one for a decent price off a friend, who despite doing amazing rebuilds of 1/64 HWs etc doesn't do kits. I had to promise not to build it as stock, maybe I'll go for some sort Cal Look?

 

My recollection is that it looked a decent kit, will be interesting to compare it to the Tamiya offering when I eventually get round to it.....

[cmatthewbacon]

On 5/14/2025 at 8:50 PM, Bozothenutter said:

The ex nitto 1969 car is in 1/20 (supposedly)

The ex Heller 1970/71 cars are 1/24.

Pretty hard to mix up I'd say. 

 

Well, it looks like Union did both:

 

best,

M.

 

[Bozothenutter]

9 hours ago, cmatthewbacon said:

 

Well, it looks like Union did both:

 

best,

M.

 

Hence the 'ex' used, this is a thread on Union kits......

And a '69 looks different to a K......