Aurora, Revell Monogram: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBgCRQ2wIvw
Tamiya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evm_59y2S0o
Airfix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjxaJgxXavc
Jo Han https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA6KvM7YXWc
Model kits of the USSR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5ticIELm1Y
Italeri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1xyjVwzYQ
AMT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZmqZAn1rGU
MPC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPuv5nsFw7U
Hasegawa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u_Oh6nykik
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Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Found these recently myself. Really fascinating stuff. Highly recommended.
Sweet find! Thank you
I watched the Aurora/Monogram/Revell and Tamiya videos, as well as a video for AMT (it was one of those side videos YouTube throws at you). One thing I learned, is that growing up, we (apparently) were pronouncing “Revell” and “Tamiya” wrong - Revell was pronounced “Rev-ell” - like it rhymed with “rebel”. And Tamiya, we said “Tuh-my-ya”, not “Tuh-me-ya”. Interesting to note how Tamiya’s 1/35th scale was developed!
I think Revell kits were a bit better than Monogram, even though Monogram had a slightly larger offering. But like it was said in the video, Monogram had some kits in 1/32nd scale, and others in 1/35th. And of course, if you wanted to build a tank and a jeep (for example), one would be in the 1/32nd scale and the other in 1/35th. Not that it would be that noticeable a difference, but still.
I remember getting a Monogram kit of an American 37 mm cannon, with 3 figures. I don’t think the kit came with a jeep, to pull the cannon around.
I remember Aurora came out with a line of armor in 1/48th scale. One nice little thing about those kits, they sometimes came with a molded “street scene” base - I think it was a King Tiger model I bought and it came with a base resembling a small bridge of some sorts.
As for AMT, I liked their 1/25th scale vehicles - I had all 3 fire trucks, plus the bulldozer, and several tractor-trailer kits. Unfortunately, the AMT instructions really sucked, and the fit of the parts wasn’t all that great. I still have a GMC “General” truck (as well as the box lid!), and I think I have another kit in the basement of a Freightliner cabover truck (it might be partially built - it was donated to me).
Ahhh, memories!
Thanks for sharing. These are great. I watched the one about Jo-Han a couple months ago. I love the histories of senior and expired model companies. I’ve only watched the one but want to watch them all.
How a model is made at the factory.
Monogram Diorama sheet history
Model Industry History IV: Monogram Diorama Sheets | KitMaker Network
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History of model scales
What is a scale model — a beginner’s guide to building great scale models | FineScale Modeler Magazine
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Heller models: a brief history (youtube.com)
Guillow model company, a brief history (youtube.com)
FROG models: a quick look (youtube.com)
Atlantis models: a quick overview (youtube.com)
Minicraft Model Kits (youtube.com)
Lindberg Line models history (music) (youtube.com)
Renwal: a quick history (re-upload) (youtube.com)
Zvezda: a quick overview (youtube.com)
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Trumpeter Models, a brief overview (youtube.com)
Lodela: The Mexican model company (youtube.com)
Hobbycraft Canada, a quick review (youtube.com)
ARII kit model company history (youtube.com)
Aoshima : Brief history (re-upload) (youtube.com)
Nitto kit model company: a brief overview (youtube.com)
Fujimi model company overview (youtube.com)
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Verlinden Productions: a quick overview (youtube.com)
Matchbox Models: a brief overview (youtube.com)
Academy and Accurate Miniatures: Version 2.0 (youtube.com)
Bandai and Gundam: a quick history - YouTube
Hobby Time Models a brief history (youtube.com)
Cleveland models company (youtube.com)
HAWK/Testors Model company (youtube.com)
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ESCI model compant: a brief history (youtube.com)
Estes model rockets: a brief history (youtube.com)
Topping Models, a brief history (youtube.com)
Sterling model company (youtube.com)
Comet Models: A brief history (youtube.com)
Plasticart a quick overview (youtube.com)
KSN Midori: a brief history (youtube.com)
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Nichimo / Nichimoco, a brief overview (youtube.com)
The Aurora Files: Military aircraft mold costs (youtube.com)
The Aurora Files: Monster mold costs (youtube.com)
The Aurora Files Episode 2 (youtube.com)
ERTL model company history (youtube.com)
Dragon Models Limited (youtube.com)
The Max, Peerless-Max, Schrieber-Max model company (youtube.com)
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Interview with ICM Models management.
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A great little 1:35 model from Monogram I always felt was their rendition of the Little John missile:
Prompted by the memories above(!)
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Inside Amusing Hobbies
MBK on Tour #026 - MBK on Tour # 026 - Visit at Amusing Hobby, production site Humen, September 2019 (youtube.com)
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Where did you find that kit??? I’ve been looking for one for years.
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Well, good luck Fred as they are indeed pretty rare! I’m pretty sure I got it from the Old Model Kits site - at the time I think they had 2.
Mind you, I had to sell my wife, car and house (I kept the dog) to fund it.
The plan is to replace the Jeep with a better version, and finish it as the prototype missile - which it is. As you probably know, the in-service version was a different beast. It does have a certain charm in that it was quite small (for a nuke), and is a neat little model. I doubt we’ll ever see many more or even a newer version, though one never knows.
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