Mike, thanks for the shout outs and the wonderful videos. I love all of your choices. Jack’s Revell 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk I will always be my favorite.
How true/ Box art sold the kit. I remember several of these kits. My favorite in this lot is the Neptune. When I first saw it in the store I bought it. That deep blue and bright orange colouring sold me. Even today I still love it. Never did get mine to look like the one on the box. I always have like the look of the aircraft; props and jet engines, and of course those skis.Thanks for another trip down memory lane.
My favorite Revell box art that lead to purchases were the Vigilante launch off of the carrier, the Nautilus under the ice, and the carrier Ranger. Honorable mention to the TFX kit and B-58 zooming into the night sky! I really enjoy your explanations on "artistic license". The main point of a painting or illustration versus a photograph is to provide an impression and possibly evoke an emotional response. The modification to the KC-135 and the impossible approach on the Ranger were perfect examples of sacrificing "accuracy" to produce a dramatic/dynamic painting.
Used to go to Jaye & Jaye hobby shop in East Cleveland with a dollar and be transfixed by the box art of all those kits. This was also the era of car dealerships with racks of colorful and beautifully illustrated car brochures. Simple pleasures.
Glad John Steel made the list. I always loved his atmospheric naval illustrations and, as you put it, the painterly nature of his art. The gray steel sharks, cutting through storm tossed seas. I was admiring one of his battleship illustrations on a kit at Hobby Lobby just this week. I almost bought the kit just for that art just as intended! And what a life the man had.
Found a tee shirt with that image maybe 20 yrs ago. AA DC-7 was my first airplane ride, circa 1959. Tee shirt wore out way back. My regret is not buying the entire stock so I could still have fresh ones today.
I believe we all have had this amazing attraction for box covers glancing at our favorite hobby shop showcase. I still have the F4-U Corsair (1/32)and the United DC-8 you showed, all Revell, in my kit stash! Thanks for the amazing video and the outstanding analisys Mike!
Those are all great box art examples. I am not a ship builder, but I was really impressed with John Steele. He did ship box art for Revell and I can remember my eye being drawn immediately to a Revell ship. His art work did exactly what it was supposed to do --stand out in the crowd and attract your eye. You and Max have great channels.
My first look at the Revelle B-57 box convinced me to buy it. It was a wonderful, black model, and I still remember futzing around with all those red line decals. Great presentation, Mike !!
Great choice for top ten of Revell box art. You certainly described my childhood & purchasing that new kit. I remember my father worked out in construction @ JFK. His office/trailers were located in back area. When my mother used to pick him up I used to see a couple of WV-2s parked on the ramps. So I had to have that kit on one of my many trips to the local hobby shops in Queens NYC. Back then models were sold everywhere.
Interesting…you see many technical quirks and oddities on these box-tops. From the perspective of a nube, I only see beautiful artwork that makes me say “Oooh…ahhh”.
I have always loved that 1/32 P-40E flying tiger by Revell fantastic. Downing that Betty Bomber ! I also lusted after the Revell Neptune P2V-7 love that box art. And not to forget the B-17 memphis belle box art as well. Bought and built alot of those.
I got to say my favourite box cover of all time is the Lynwood Revell 1/32 F4U-1 Corsair. I bought that kit a few times because of the artwork. Just couldn’t leave the department store without that model in my hands.
My most memorable Revell kit was the Air Power display of multiple USAF aircraft of the 1960s. Each plane was suspended on wires anchored to a dark blue square base. I forget the actual number of planes (all were small scale) but everything from the B-52 to a T-33. Next was a Convair 880 in white plastic and a B-58 Hustler. Great comments on what makes box art so compelling for selling. I went through about two B-36 kits. At least one kit showed the plane high over the Arctic Circle. -- Kurt Burgess
...my late brother, Ray, had the Ranger model and I loved that boxart from the get-go...$2.50 was a lot of money in those days...IIRC he got it for his birthday...
What a wonderful subject, and fantastic presentation as always. Yes, I am a glue trooper and Max's channel is great. So it's yours! Yup, it would have to be the H19 you showed as one of your favorites! Something about that orange was irresistible! All of them are great. I'm working on a Hobby craft Canada X1, and it has good box art. It's an older kit from the 90's. Thanks again for a wonderful video. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for all you do! Take care always!
Mike, I would have wagered your number one was the first issue of the C-130…can’t remember if it’s a Kishady or a Leynwood. My favorite is still the first issue of the Revell Convair Tradewind and close after is the Revell Lacrosse missile and Revell Atlas Missile. But to be honest, all the 1950’s Revell boxart are favorites and why they are the focus of my kit collection.
That box art is so evocative of the era, who could resist spending their pocket money? Here in the UK it was usually the exciting Airfix box art of Roy Cross which tempted us to part with our shillings and pence, usually at the dedicated plastic kit counter at Woolworths. Your choice of the Rotodyne as favourite is interesting. The aircraft was assembled and test flown at White Waltham airfield, Berkshire, about 10miles West of Heathrow. It's been my flying base for 50 years and where I've based my Porterfield for the past 39. It's a historic airfield, a busy home to many interesting types, including, from this month, a two seat Hawker Hurricane which you can buy a ride in. Nothing remains of the Fairey hangars or the Rotodyne's dedicated test facilities. It is said that the tip jets were so noisy that you could hear it operating miles away, one of the reasons the government and potential operators lost interest in it despite the fact that the prototype was completely successful and development was in hand to suppress the noise. The Rotodyne has always fascinated me, a large pencil drawing of it has pride of place in my living room.
Great video and love the box art review. That Fairey Rotodyne would have been great for transport from LaGuardia to JFK to avoid the Van Wyck Expressway (Van Stick!)
Thanks, and agreed 100% on that Rotodyne from LGA! New York Airways had provisional orders for them, but went with the Boeing-Vertol 107s instead. Thanks for watching!
A wonderful top ten countdown! While not a dramatic in-flight image, I was intrigued by the Fairchild F-27 boxtop. Always thought the plane looked so "approachable" due to the perspective of the plane on the ramp and the size of the passengers walking out to board it; the most interesting feature to this young kid was the propeller blades in the feathered position! I later realized the people boarding the plane through the rear door, were drawn the same height as the guy at the front cargo door! Always thought that was an interesting "perspective anomaly."
I just looooove old classic box art, never get tired of looking at it, so many happy memories.... Grew up with old Airfix, Matchbox, Esci, Italeri, Heller.... I don't remember seeing much of old Revell, Aurora etc., I did see some of the old plain Monogram though.... As much as I love Airfix and Matchbox, Heller had a few crackers.... I'd love to see you do a series of your Top 10 Airfix, Matchbox, Heller, Aurora etc., I'm sure that it'll be appreciated! Wish you all the best from Glasgow, Scotland....
Just had to dig out one of my Heller favourites, their 1/72 Nieuport-Delage Ni-D 622, kit number 80224.... That box art with the two aircraft over Paris.... I must admit that I'm a taildragger guy....that being said, that century series, F-8 Crusader and few other jets....weren't aircraft much more beautiful....back in the day? 🤨🤔😎 Thoroughly enjoy your (and Max's) videos, keep up with the phenomenal work!
Box art has always been my favorite part of the kit. Thank you for taking us thru the artistic elements and techniques, very interesting and informative. I am happy to say I still have my “Connie” kit, my favorite overall. Looking forward to you next video. Thank you again, stay safe and “Model On”.
Growing up in the 1960's, models meant so much to us young guys, it was our form of artistic expression, reinforced by the fact that Hollywood was still making lots of movies about WW2 and the Korean conflict. We would watch the movie The Hunters and immideatly want to build models of the F-86 or the Bridges at Toko-Ri, and start looking for F9F panther models, and yes when we made up our mind what we wanted, the box top art work really helped sell the model.
The Revell 1/32 kits in the late 60's were the ultimate kit for me, a kid on a budget. Probably my favorite box art was the Revell 1/32 Spitfire(s) climbing into the fight with contrails going in various directions. I built the Corsair last year and had to chuckle when comparing it to the modern Tamiya 1/32 kit. Model engineering has gone a long way since those Revell kits came out. But, I am still captivated by box art, new or old, as I was as a kid.
You put this video together like fine box art Mike! Well done! I came into modeling as a kid in the 70s when the box art was turning over to box pictures. I was fortunate to catch the end of this golden age of box art…seeing some on the shelves next to the box pictures at the hobby shop-the box art always made me want those models! My favorite was the USS Ranger!
The effort placed in the kit's boxes are similar to that put on the covers of magazines in order to capture the attention of the customers to encourage their buying decision. So, the results are fantastic color artwork.
Awesome video. Man, I know what you mean - when I was a kid in the early '90's, our local toy store had a basement that was completely lined with model kits and model cars. The entire wall full of kits was always a sight to behold. Back then I could never afford the huge kits, not that I'd have the skill to build them anyway... but I always loved looking at the boxart, both in the store as well as the catalogs. Some of those artists are truly amazing.
Excellent presentation on a wonderful subject that is my very favorite of the modeling hobby. Vintage box art is so evocative and the artistic stars of that era like Jack Leynnwood, Richard Kishady, and John Steel, not only created some of the best art pieces of the genre, but also left an indelible impression on model buyers that has lasted a lifetime. Some of my favorite Revell covers are the same as yours: Lockheed Eastern Airlines Constellation, Lockheed Electra and Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star Constellation. Some others are the Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune, both the original "S" version and the Famous Artist/Aircraft version, and the "Pre-S" Boeing B-29 and B-24. I love them all, but these are the ones that I really treasure. Thanks for the shout out and look forward to future model discussions and more videos on this subject.
...the KC-135 looks like what an artist friend explained to be about 'contrapassto'...the impression of movement in a static figure (Michelangelo's 'David' being a prime example).
I bought that Corsair because of the cover. 1/32 Corsair was fun to build and huge compared to other models. I usually built 1/72 scale as a kid with a few 1/48 aircraft. And I was a sucker for carrier models, from WWII to Nimitz-class.
Good choices all...but ...my all time favorite was the F-100C landing on the snowy runway with mountains in the background. The box art on the 1/72 Warbird kits always got me to buy them, F4U, P-51, P-47, Spitfire, Ki-61 and others. I would suggest a video about these covers. Thanks for the post and as someone else says...MODEL ON!
I loved those 1/72 Revell warbird kits, even though a few of them (like the red P-51D) were bad models with ridiculous paint schemes. On the Hawker Hurricane box art, there were barrage balloons depicted down below the Hurricane. I didn't know then that there were barrage balloons, so I thought that the artist--Jack Leynnwood, I think--had mistakenly put WWI observation balloons in the picture.
I remember having the Revell Hawker Hurricane and it being a pretty good kit. I just looked at the box art on Box Art Den and remember it as if it were yesterday. Yes the Revell P-51 was terrible but I still built a couple of them more than 50 years ago! @@RANDALLBRIGGS
Mike, great watch---thanks. My three would be the Revell B-17 Memphis Belle, Revell Lockheed Electria----"on the tarmac" and the Revell S style TWA Lockheed Constellation "CUBABA" How about some cover art for WWI aircraft. Thanks again for your time and hard work.......
The John Steel cover with the Furies landing on the USS Ranger also made me buy the kit. In a previous video of yours, you made me realise that they approached coming in from starboard instead of from port side. Just one of the masterful subliminal dramatic tension cues in that unforgettable art work. Definitely my number one.
I used to cut off the box tops to save. Then in my early teens, I became conscious of how I was destroying the value of the model by mangling the container. It was early pangs of an emerging collector versus the kid who wanted to build and play with the kits.
GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS,TOOK ME BACK TO WHEN MY UNCLE OWNED A H-19 .I LOVE FLYING IN IT AS A KID IN THE 50S. MAYBE ONE DAY YOU DO TOP 10 ON ARMOR KITS OF THE 50S AND 60S.TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS FROM A OLD OLD GLUE TROOPER.
When I started building models ca. 1963, the Revell kits in long boxes with graphics and the corporate logo on the covers were the older generation that were being phased out. I started out with the Revell 1/72 scale WWII fighters that had "frameable box art." Spitfire, Hurricane, Me-109, P-40, P-39, P-51, F4U and F4F, plus the 1/72 scale B-17 "Memphis Belle." Also Revell's WWI fighters like the Albatros D.III, Nieuport 17, Nieuport 28, Spad 13, Sopwith Camel, and Sopwith Triplane.
My personal favorites would include USS Forrest Sherman, M4 Sherman Tank, M-20 Armored Combat Car, B-17 Memphis Belle, Douglas AD-6 Skyraider w/LSO platform, PT-212, PT-109, A-3J Vigilante, Battle of Midway Carrier, etc.
I enjoy watching your videos. I don't build model airplanes, I do cars and motorcycles but I do work in the aerospace industry. Like you, I come from L.I., N.Y. I grew up about 5 miles from Grumman Aerospace and got my 1st job out of college there. I started there in Jan '77 as a Tool Design Engineer. Been through many layoffs but I've been working at Lockheed Martin for the past 12 years in Marietta, GA. They have an annual IPMS contest at the LM Union Hall where there are all sorts of categories of models. I enter my models there and have won a number of plaques and I get to oogle over the models I don't build. Also the hobby shops I remember from L.I. were Larry's Hobbies, Dave's Hobbies, Willis Hobbies and a few others that I can't remember the names of. Dave's was in Freeport and he had collections of old kits. Dusty boxes. You had to wash your hands after leaving that store, so much stuff to browse at.
Thank you for an interesting video. Doesn't it look like the canopy is open on John Steel's painting. Was it okay to land a jet with the canopy open? None your top 10 interested me when I was a kid, but I learned a lot from the video. I, too, was largely influenced by the box art. Not including ships and tanks, my favorites from the 1960s include: Revell's 1/72 P-40E, P-51D, Zero, Me-262, and PB4Y. Jack Leynnwood did most of my favorites, but Knight made many good ones as well, e.g., Ki-43. John Steel was like impressionism. I like it today, but not so much then. He also had harsh lighting: white highlights, dark shadows, indistinct colors. But many of his covers were dramatic, e.g., Aurora Tiger tank. Keep up the good work.
Navy flight regulations during that era actually called for landing with canopies open in case the jet went over the deck and into the water. Prevented the pilots from being trapped in the cockpit. Thanks for watching!
I always liked John Steel's artwork. Most the work you featured was slightly before my time but I remember well the 1/32 Revell fighters, and built a couple of them. Thanks for explaining why the switch to photography in the comments, really a damn shame.
I certainly bought the Rotodyne on the basis of that fabulous cover. I had no idea what it was, but had to have it. I tried to learn more about it but not too many resources I could find at the time. So disappointed was I that I never saw one flying for LA Airways!
My favorites were prop airliners and “rocket ships”. Moon rocket(fuel tanks and crew compartment on beams), moon land rocket with delta wing and skid landing gear for earth landing, early capsules etc. I guess I was always a space cadet.
...do you remember a Revell issue of a 5 aircraft model kit ca. 1957 or so??? IIRC it contained the RB 67 and F-101Voodoo...dunno how to Google that...
Greetings from Missouri ! @6:27 Needs more cow bell \m/ I liked ALL of the 1/32 Warbirds but usually could only afford 1/72 fighters; not bombers Thanks again, Mr. Machat ! 66 thumbs UP #ModelOn PEACE
Three comments. One, as a kid, being able to send 10 cents to a big company on the other side of the country and getting decals back in the mail made you feel like an important big shot, part of the rest of the world. Two, I would argue that the 4-engined airliner in the bottom of the Rotodyne painting is a Convair 880, however out of place that would be. The shape of the vertical tail, but more importantly the position of the vertical tail so far forward of the horizontal tail is a Convair layout. Also, I'd say the straight inboard trailing edge of the wing is more pronounced than it was on the DC-8's. Finally, as to angles and other geometric deviations within the paintings, I'm sure that many of them were intentional, but might others have been the result of a human hand versus a computer creating the image? In other words, not always planned, but instead "happy accidents" that worked, as Bob Ross used to say? BTW, my favorite box art is Jack Leynnwood's 1/32 P-51B, Don Gentile's Mustang. Great video.
Great video. I would have picked a few of those also. How about a video on the early flying machines. Don’t see much about them. I’ve built a some of the Pyro and Life-Like kit. Pretty good models and interesting cover art work on them. Keep the videos coming. I’ll be watching. Model on!
Thank you for another great presentation, Mike. As a Brit, I always enjoyed the artwork of Roy Cross on Airfix box tops. When box artwork was “sanitised” and any hints of violence removed, it definitely lost some of its context and effect.
#4, the FDR … tell me true Mike, the ship is twisted, right? The aft end is heeled over more to starboard than the bow? Again for effect, correct? And now that I’ve got the hang of it, is the tail of the Connie twisted a bit also, not only that but it’s yawed a little to the left like a fish? Amazing.
Mine was Revell's small scale B-52 with X-15, it wasn't the box art it was that you get two planes in one kit, another was Aurora's small scale F-107 I thought that was cool. I also had a small scale aircraft carrier with F7U Cutlasses but I don't remember who made it.
Both Revell and Aurora made kits of the entire USS Forrestal-class of "super carriers" back then, and F7U Cutlasses were featured on the decks of both brands. 'Loved the B-52 and X-15 kit, and that small Aurora F-107 really looked like the rel jet. Thanks for watching!
I really love the Revell USS Pine Island, and the USS Salisbury Sound (if you can even find a picture of one!), and the USS Norton Sound. I think I talked to you about these models in a live chat you had for a premier of one of your vids. The image of the Rocket being launched on the back of the Norton Sound is just so compelling. Why are they launching it? was it just a launch and target test? or was it actually being launched at an enemy target? You'll never know I suppose.
The seamaster has to be the favourite , sadly i have the history makers edition from 82 in blue sprue and not your lovely cover ,did you buy them at the time or we're you able to pick them up still till maybe the late 70s?
While I've always liked the box art for Revell and almost to a degree various kits for Monogram, AMT/MPC, my favourite box art from the 60's up to the 80's has to be Airfix's and Aurora's boxes. . Now-a-days, Trumpeter, Hobby Boss, and many others also have great art work for their boxes but I'll always put Airfix and Aurora first.
Great question, and that change actually occured as a result of "Truth In Advertising" legislation in the late 1970s. Parents began complaining that the models when built did not resemble the spectacular cover paintings. Jack Leynnwood told me he once had to repaint a battleship because there were no tiny crew figures of the men shown on the deck inside the kit! Many cover photos came with disclaimers on the box like "This model was professionally built - yours may look different." Quite a change from the 1950s, and thanks for watching.
I think the most disturbing box art for a Revell Kit is that of the Arado AR555 at 1:72 scale. Look at the city they are flying over. Thank goodness they didn’t get that far.
Thank you for this video. When Im looking at the red helicopter (No6), the wheels are tilted by a an angle that looks way more aggressive than the top of the helicopter. Would you agree?.
Thanks for the video, maybe I missed the reason why, but why have you left out all the Japanese artists? specifically, Shigeo Koike? I love his work. He pretty much sparked my interest in aviation Art..I am also an ASAA member.
Appreciate the comment and fair question on Koike's box art. Answer is, I would need his and Hasegawa's special permission to use any of those copyrighted images, especially within the bounds of RUclips strict rules. I'm able to use the images in the video because they were either personally given to me by Jack Leynnwood, or were used by companies that are long out of business. Thanks for watching!
"European wet look", haha ! Is rainy London actually located in Europe? Whenever there is fog over the Channel, the English say that "the continent is isolated" or "cut-off".
WOW...I had the Monogram B-66 with the dropping bomb!!!
.And the winner is...all of us that got to see this great video !!!
Mike, thanks for the shout outs and the wonderful videos. I love all of your choices. Jack’s Revell 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk I will always be my favorite.
Thanks for the memories Mr. Machat!
How true/ Box art sold the kit. I remember several of these kits. My favorite in this lot is the Neptune. When I first saw it in the store I bought it. That deep blue and bright orange colouring sold me. Even today I still love it. Never did get mine to look like the one on the box. I always have like the look of the aircraft; props and jet engines, and of course those skis.Thanks for another trip down memory lane.
Hi Mike, came over from Max's Models, and yes I'm a Glue Trooper. Mostly cars but love airplanes as well. Glad to be here.
My favorite Revell box art that lead to purchases were the Vigilante launch off of the carrier, the Nautilus under the ice, and the carrier Ranger. Honorable mention to the TFX kit and B-58 zooming into the night sky!
I really enjoy your explanations on "artistic license". The main point of a painting or illustration versus a photograph is to provide an impression and possibly evoke an emotional response. The modification to the KC-135 and the impossible approach on the Ranger were perfect examples of sacrificing "accuracy" to produce a dramatic/dynamic painting.
YUP!!! Great memories from my yout'...grew up in the 50s & 60s!!!
Yea, I remember the Revell B-17 Memphis Bell. That was my favorite model.
Used to go to Jaye & Jaye hobby shop in East Cleveland with a dollar and be transfixed by the box art of all those kits. This was also the era of car dealerships with racks of colorful and beautifully illustrated car brochures. Simple pleasures.
Glad John Steel made the list. I always loved his atmospheric naval illustrations and, as you put it, the painterly nature of his art. The gray steel sharks, cutting through storm tossed seas. I was admiring one of his battleship illustrations on a kit at Hobby Lobby just this week. I almost bought the kit just for that art just as intended!
And what a life the man had.
Agreed!
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 46 yo and still doing it to this day. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
For me it was the Revell American Airlines Dc-7 landing at night.
Found a tee shirt with that image maybe 20 yrs ago. AA DC-7 was my first airplane ride, circa 1959. Tee shirt wore out way back. My regret is not buying the entire stock so I could still have fresh ones today.
I believe we all have had this amazing attraction for box covers glancing at our favorite hobby shop showcase. I still have the F4-U Corsair (1/32)and the United DC-8 you showed, all Revell, in my kit stash! Thanks for the amazing video and the outstanding analisys Mike!
Those are all great box art examples. I am not a ship builder, but I was really impressed with John Steele. He did ship box art for Revell and I can remember my eye being drawn immediately to a Revell ship. His art work did exactly what it was supposed to do --stand out in the crowd and attract your eye. You and Max have great channels.
My first look at the Revelle B-57 box convinced me to buy it. It was a wonderful, black model, and I still remember futzing around with all those red line decals. Great presentation, Mike !!
I guess i didn't realize how these boxes sucked me in and made me buy models back in the day. Thanks again for teaching us .
Great choice for top ten of Revell box art. You certainly described my childhood & purchasing that new kit. I remember my father worked out in construction @ JFK. His office/trailers were located in back area. When my mother used to pick him up I used to see a couple of WV-2s parked on the ramps. So I had to have that kit on one of my many trips to the local hobby shops in Queens NYC. Back then models were sold everywhere.
Interesting…you see many technical quirks and oddities on these box-tops. From the perspective of a nube, I only see beautiful artwork that makes me say “Oooh…ahhh”.
Great post, thank you Mike, OH the memories !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have always loved that 1/32 P-40E flying tiger by Revell fantastic. Downing that Betty Bomber ! I also lusted after the Revell Neptune P2V-7 love that box art. And not to forget the B-17 memphis belle box art as well. Bought and built alot of those.
I wish i hade all of these framed on my wall. Thank you, as always, Mike!
Yes that was me ,Saturday after delivering papers ,right to the hobby shop. I'm 84 and still model and have three of the ten kits you showed.
I got to say my favourite box cover of all time is the Lynwood Revell 1/32 F4U-1 Corsair. I bought that kit a few times because of the artwork. Just couldn’t leave the department store without that model in my hands.
My most memorable Revell kit was the Air Power display of multiple USAF aircraft of the 1960s. Each plane was suspended on wires anchored to a dark blue square base. I forget the actual number of planes (all were small scale) but everything from the B-52 to a T-33. Next was a Convair 880 in white plastic and a B-58 Hustler. Great comments on what makes box art so compelling for selling. I went through about two B-36 kits. At least one kit showed the plane high over the Arctic Circle. -- Kurt Burgess
...my late brother, Ray, had the Ranger model and I loved that boxart from the get-go...$2.50 was a lot of money in those days...IIRC he got it for his birthday...
What a wonderful subject, and fantastic presentation as always. Yes, I am a glue trooper and Max's channel is great. So it's yours! Yup, it would have to be the H19 you showed as one of your favorites! Something about that orange was irresistible! All of them are great. I'm working on a Hobby craft Canada X1, and it has good box art. It's an older kit from the 90's. Thanks again for a wonderful video. As always God bless you and yours and thanks again for all you do! Take care always!
Mike, I would have wagered your number one was the first issue of the C-130…can’t remember if it’s a Kishady or a Leynwood.
My favorite is still the first issue of the Revell Convair Tradewind and close after is the Revell Lacrosse missile and Revell Atlas Missile. But to be honest, all the 1950’s Revell boxart are favorites and why they are the focus of my kit collection.
That box art is so evocative of the era, who could resist spending their pocket money? Here in the UK it was usually the exciting Airfix box art of Roy Cross which tempted us to part with our shillings and pence, usually at the dedicated plastic kit counter at Woolworths. Your choice of the Rotodyne as favourite is interesting. The aircraft was assembled and test flown at White Waltham airfield, Berkshire, about 10miles West of Heathrow. It's been my flying base for 50 years and where I've based my Porterfield for the past 39. It's a historic airfield, a busy home to many interesting types, including, from this month, a two seat Hawker Hurricane which you can buy a ride in. Nothing remains of the Fairey hangars or the Rotodyne's dedicated test facilities. It is said that the tip jets were so noisy that you could hear it operating miles away, one of the reasons the government and potential operators lost interest in it despite the fact that the prototype was completely successful and development was in hand to suppress the noise. The Rotodyne has always fascinated me, a large pencil drawing of it has pride of place in my living room.
Over here in Canada, we appreciate Airfix's artwork as well!
Memories!!!
Thanks.
Well presented.
Great video and love the box art review. That Fairey Rotodyne would have been great for transport from LaGuardia to JFK to avoid the Van Wyck Expressway (Van Stick!)
Thanks, and agreed 100% on that Rotodyne from LGA! New York Airways had provisional orders for them, but went with the Boeing-Vertol 107s instead. Thanks for watching!
I guess my favorite Revell box cover was the American Airlines Boeing 707 with the retro livery! The American 727 would be a close second for me!
A wonderful top ten countdown! While not a dramatic in-flight image, I was intrigued by the Fairchild F-27 boxtop. Always thought the plane looked so "approachable" due to the perspective of the plane on the ramp and the size of the passengers walking out to board it; the most interesting feature to this young kid was the propeller blades in the feathered position! I later realized the people boarding the plane through the rear door, were drawn the same height as the guy at the front cargo door! Always thought that was an interesting "perspective anomaly."
Love the KC-135 art showing all four engines on fire...
Love-em Mike, keep up the variety because your history comes through.
I remember in the late 60s and early 70s I worked part time at a hobby shop nearby. Revell`s box-arts were all amazing. My pick is the 72nd B-17F
I just looooove old classic box art, never get tired of looking at it, so many happy memories....
Grew up with old Airfix, Matchbox, Esci, Italeri, Heller....
I don't remember seeing much of old Revell, Aurora etc., I did see some of the old plain Monogram though....
As much as I love Airfix and Matchbox, Heller had a few crackers....
I'd love to see you do a series of your Top 10 Airfix, Matchbox, Heller, Aurora etc., I'm sure that it'll be appreciated!
Wish you all the best from Glasgow, Scotland....
Just had to dig out one of my Heller favourites, their 1/72 Nieuport-Delage Ni-D 622, kit number 80224....
That box art with the two aircraft over Paris....
I must admit that I'm a taildragger guy....that being said, that century series, F-8 Crusader and few other jets....weren't aircraft much more beautiful....back in the day? 🤨🤔😎
Thoroughly enjoy your (and Max's) videos, keep up with the phenomenal work!
Box art has always been my favorite part of the kit. Thank you for taking us thru the artistic elements and techniques, very interesting and informative. I am happy to say I still have my “Connie” kit, my favorite overall. Looking forward to you next video. Thank you again, stay safe and “Model On”.
...good list, my friend...
Growing up in the 1960's, models meant so much to us young guys, it was our form of artistic expression, reinforced by the fact that Hollywood was still making lots of movies about WW2 and the Korean conflict. We would watch the movie The Hunters and immideatly want to build models of the F-86 or the Bridges at Toko-Ri, and start looking for F9F panther models, and yes when we made up our mind what we wanted, the box top art work really helped sell the model.
The Revell 1/32 kits in the late 60's were the ultimate kit for me, a kid on a budget. Probably my favorite box art was the Revell 1/32 Spitfire(s) climbing into the fight with contrails going in various directions. I built the Corsair last year and had to chuckle when comparing it to the modern Tamiya 1/32 kit. Model engineering has gone a long way since those Revell kits came out. But, I am still captivated by box art, new or old, as I was as a kid.
You put this video together like fine box art Mike! Well done! I came into modeling as a kid in the 70s when the box art was turning over to box pictures. I was fortunate to catch the end of this golden age of box art…seeing some on the shelves next to the box pictures at the hobby shop-the box art always made me want those models! My favorite was the USS Ranger!
The effort placed in the kit's boxes are similar to that put on the covers of magazines in order to capture the attention of the customers to encourage their buying decision. So, the results are fantastic color artwork.
Give me a ✔️ if you are a Gluetrooper!
Nice work as always, Mr M!
Awesome video. Man, I know what you mean - when I was a kid in the early '90's, our local toy store had a basement that was completely lined with model kits and model cars. The entire wall full of kits was always a sight to behold. Back then I could never afford the huge kits, not that I'd have the skill to build them anyway... but I always loved looking at the boxart, both in the store as well as the catalogs. Some of those artists are truly amazing.
Excellent presentation on a wonderful subject that is my very favorite of the modeling hobby. Vintage box art is so evocative and the artistic stars of that era like Jack Leynnwood, Richard Kishady, and John Steel, not only created some of the best art pieces of the genre, but also left an indelible impression on model buyers that has lasted a lifetime. Some of my favorite Revell covers are the same as yours: Lockheed Eastern Airlines Constellation, Lockheed Electra and Lockheed WV-2 Warning Star Constellation. Some others are the Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune, both the original "S" version and the Famous Artist/Aircraft version, and the "Pre-S" Boeing B-29 and B-24. I love them all, but these are the ones that I really treasure. Thanks for the shout out and look forward to future model discussions and more videos on this subject.
I loved that F-4u Model! Along with all of the other four 1/32 scale models from WWII
could not pick one cause all of them are amazing, though my secret love for the P-2V would make a decision wich kit to buy.
...the KC-135 looks like what an artist friend explained to be about 'contrapassto'...the impression of movement in a static figure (Michelangelo's 'David' being a prime example).
I bought that Corsair because of the cover. 1/32 Corsair was fun to build and huge compared to other models. I usually built 1/72 scale as a kid with a few 1/48 aircraft. And I was a sucker for carrier models, from WWII to Nimitz-class.
Good choices all...but ...my all time favorite was the F-100C landing on the snowy runway with mountains in the background. The box art on the 1/72 Warbird kits always got me to buy them, F4U, P-51, P-47, Spitfire, Ki-61 and others. I would suggest a video about these covers. Thanks for the post and as someone else says...MODEL ON!
I loved those 1/72 Revell warbird kits, even though a few of them (like the red P-51D) were bad models with ridiculous paint schemes. On the Hawker Hurricane box art, there were barrage balloons depicted down below the Hurricane. I didn't know then that there were barrage balloons, so I thought that the artist--Jack Leynnwood, I think--had mistakenly put WWI observation balloons in the picture.
I remember having the Revell Hawker Hurricane and it being a pretty good kit. I just looked at the box art on Box Art Den and remember it as if it were yesterday. Yes the Revell P-51 was terrible but I still built a couple of them more than 50 years ago! @@RANDALLBRIGGS
Like Norman Rockwell or Alberto Vargas these model box artists have made indelible memories from my childhood.
Mike, great watch---thanks. My three would be the Revell B-17 Memphis Belle, Revell Lockheed Electria----"on the tarmac" and the Revell S style TWA Lockheed Constellation "CUBABA" How about some cover art for WWI aircraft. Thanks again for your time and hard work.......
The John Steel cover with the Furies landing on the USS Ranger also made me buy the kit. In a previous video of yours, you made me realise that they approached coming in from starboard instead of from port side. Just one of the masterful subliminal dramatic tension cues in that unforgettable art work.
Definitely my number one.
Glue Troopers Unite!
I remember really liking the Airfix Sm79 box art as a kid.
I used to cut off the box tops to save. Then in my early teens, I became conscious of how I was destroying the value of the model by mangling the container. It was early pangs of an emerging collector versus the kid who wanted to build and play with the kits.
GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS,TOOK ME BACK TO WHEN MY UNCLE OWNED A H-19 .I LOVE FLYING IN IT AS A KID IN THE 50S. MAYBE ONE DAY YOU DO TOP 10 ON ARMOR KITS OF THE 50S AND 60S.TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS FROM A OLD OLD GLUE TROOPER.
When I started building models ca. 1963, the Revell kits in long boxes with graphics and the corporate logo on the covers were the older generation that were being phased out. I started out with the Revell 1/72 scale WWII fighters that had "frameable box art." Spitfire, Hurricane, Me-109, P-40, P-39, P-51, F4U and F4F, plus the 1/72 scale B-17 "Memphis Belle." Also Revell's WWI fighters like the Albatros D.III, Nieuport 17, Nieuport 28, Spad 13, Sopwith Camel, and Sopwith Triplane.
48 years (or so ) later, I still remember the Revell F-4E Hey Jude box.
My personal favorites would include USS Forrest Sherman, M4 Sherman Tank, M-20 Armored Combat Car, B-17 Memphis Belle, Douglas AD-6 Skyraider w/LSO platform, PT-212, PT-109, A-3J Vigilante, Battle of Midway Carrier, etc.
I enjoy watching your videos. I don't build model airplanes, I do cars and motorcycles but I do work in the aerospace industry. Like you, I come from L.I., N.Y. I grew up about 5 miles from Grumman Aerospace and got my 1st job out of college there. I started there in Jan '77 as a Tool Design Engineer. Been through many layoffs but I've been working at Lockheed Martin for the past 12 years in Marietta, GA. They have an annual IPMS contest at the LM Union Hall where there are all sorts of categories of models. I enter my models there and have won a number of plaques and I get to oogle over the models I don't build.
Also the hobby shops I remember from L.I. were Larry's Hobbies, Dave's Hobbies, Willis Hobbies and a few others that I can't remember the names of. Dave's was in Freeport and he had collections of old kits. Dusty boxes. You had to wash your hands after leaving that store, so much stuff to browse at.
Thank you for an interesting video. Doesn't it look like the canopy is open on John Steel's painting. Was it okay to land a jet with the canopy open? None your top 10 interested me when I was a kid, but I learned a lot from the video. I, too, was largely influenced by the box art. Not including ships and tanks, my favorites from the 1960s include: Revell's 1/72 P-40E, P-51D, Zero, Me-262, and PB4Y. Jack Leynnwood did most of my favorites, but Knight made many good ones as well, e.g., Ki-43. John Steel was like impressionism. I like it today, but not so much then. He also had harsh lighting: white highlights, dark shadows, indistinct colors. But many of his covers were dramatic, e.g., Aurora Tiger tank. Keep up the good work.
Navy flight regulations during that era actually called for landing with canopies open in case the jet went over the deck and into the water. Prevented the pilots from being trapped in the cockpit. Thanks for watching!
I used to buy my models when I was a kid at McCrory's or Gibson's Discount Center. 👍🏻
I always liked John Steel's artwork. Most the work you featured was slightly before my time but I remember well the 1/32 Revell fighters, and built a couple of them. Thanks for explaining why the switch to photography in the comments, really a damn shame.
My "personal" favorite...
The Lindberg B-70
I certainly bought the Rotodyne on the basis of that fabulous cover. I had no idea what it was, but had to have it. I tried to learn more about it but not too many resources I could find at the time. So disappointed was I that I never saw one flying for LA Airways!
The WWII mustang Shangrila in battle with a German fighter has to be my favorite all time model memory...it was just cool lol
My favorites were prop airliners and “rocket ships”. Moon rocket(fuel tanks and crew compartment on beams), moon land rocket with delta wing and skid landing gear for earth landing, early capsules etc. I guess I was always a space cadet.
Mike,
If you're open to suggestion, do another a follow up with 100 favorites, better yet 200. Bet there's an eager audience there!
...do you remember a Revell issue of a 5 aircraft model kit ca. 1957 or so??? IIRC it contained the RB 67 and F-101Voodoo...dunno how to Google that...
That was my childhood every week in Alaska.
Greetings from Missouri !
@6:27 Needs more cow bell \m/
I liked ALL of the 1/32 Warbirds but usually could only afford 1/72 fighters; not bombers
Thanks again, Mr. Machat ! 66 thumbs UP #ModelOn PEACE
Three comments. One, as a kid, being able to send 10 cents to a big company on the other side of the country and getting decals back in the mail made you feel like an important big shot, part of the rest of the world. Two, I would argue that the 4-engined airliner in the bottom of the Rotodyne painting is a Convair 880, however out of place that would be. The shape of the vertical tail, but more importantly the position of the vertical tail so far forward of the horizontal tail is a Convair layout. Also, I'd say the straight inboard trailing edge of the wing is more pronounced than it was on the DC-8's. Finally, as to angles and other geometric deviations within the paintings, I'm sure that many of them were intentional, but might others have been the result of a human hand versus a computer creating the image? In other words, not always planned, but instead "happy accidents" that worked, as Bob Ross used to say? BTW, my favorite box art is Jack Leynnwood's 1/32 P-51B, Don Gentile's Mustang. Great video.
Great video. I would have picked a few of those also.
How about a video on the early flying machines. Don’t see much about them. I’ve built a some of the Pyro and Life-Like kit. Pretty good models and interesting cover art work on them. Keep the videos coming. I’ll be watching. Model on!
Thank you for another great presentation, Mike. As a Brit, I always enjoyed the artwork of Roy Cross on Airfix box tops. When box artwork was “sanitised” and any hints of violence removed, it definitely lost some of its context and effect.
#4, the FDR … tell me true Mike, the ship is twisted, right? The aft end is heeled over more to starboard than the bow? Again for effect, correct? And now that I’ve got the hang of it, is the tail of the Connie twisted a bit also, not only that but it’s yawed a little to the left like a fish? Amazing.
How about a video on the box art on Japanese aircraft models, such as that of Shigeo Koike. Some of those covers are spectacular!
IJN Akagi and Hiryu had island on the left side, for to allow the planes to land with right-hand patterns
Mine was Revell's small scale B-52 with X-15, it wasn't the box art it was that you get two planes in one kit, another was Aurora's small scale F-107 I thought that was cool. I also had a small scale aircraft carrier with F7U Cutlasses but I don't remember who made it.
Both Revell and Aurora made kits of the entire USS Forrestal-class of "super carriers" back then, and F7U Cutlasses were featured on the decks of both brands. 'Loved the B-52 and X-15 kit, and that small Aurora F-107 really looked like the rel jet. Thanks for watching!
I really love the Revell USS Pine Island, and the USS Salisbury Sound (if you can even find a picture of one!), and the USS Norton Sound. I think I talked to you about these models in a live chat you had for a premier of one of your vids. The image of the Rocket being launched on the back of the Norton Sound is just so compelling. Why are they launching it? was it just a launch and target test? or was it actually being launched at an enemy target? You'll never know I suppose.
Is that F111F Tiger flying with the canopy open?
Love your presentations, Mike.
Be well.
I sooo agree with your nr 1 pick!
The seamaster has to be the favourite , sadly i have the history makers edition from 82 in blue sprue and not your lovely cover ,did you buy them at the time or we're you able to pick them up still till maybe the late 70s?
Mike, some of Max's guys and gals aren't quite that age :) They are from the 70's and younger too :)
While I've always liked the box art for Revell and almost to a degree various kits for Monogram, AMT/MPC, my favourite box art from the 60's up to the 80's has to be Airfix's and Aurora's boxes.
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Now-a-days, Trumpeter, Hobby Boss, and many others also have great art work for their boxes but I'll always put Airfix and Aurora first.
what are your thoughts on model kits that do away with painted box art and opt for photography of the completed model?
Great question, and that change actually occured as a result of "Truth In Advertising" legislation in the late 1970s. Parents began complaining that the models when built did not resemble the spectacular cover paintings. Jack Leynnwood told me he once had to repaint a battleship because there were no tiny crew figures of the men shown on the deck inside the kit! Many cover photos came with disclaimers on the box like "This model was professionally built - yours may look different." Quite a change from the 1950s, and thanks for watching.
I think the most disturbing box art for a Revell Kit is that of the Arado AR555 at 1:72 scale. Look at the city they are flying over. Thank goodness they didn’t get that far.
16:15….also looks likes Leynnwood added a third vertical stabilizer to the Rotodyne!
Thank you for this video. When Im looking at the red helicopter (No6), the wheels are tilted by a an angle that looks way more aggressive than the top of the helicopter. Would you agree?.
Thanks for the video, maybe I missed the reason why, but why have you left out all the Japanese artists? specifically, Shigeo Koike? I love his work. He pretty much sparked my interest in aviation Art..I am also an ASAA member.
Appreciate the comment and fair question on Koike's box art. Answer is, I would need his and Hasegawa's special permission to use any of those copyrighted images, especially within the bounds of RUclips strict rules. I'm able to use the images in the video because they were either personally given to me by Jack Leynnwood, or were used by companies that are long out of business. Thanks for watching!
"European wet look", haha ! Is rainy London actually located in Europe? Whenever there is fog over the Channel, the English say that "the continent is isolated" or "cut-off".
Good point, but that's what Jack Leynnwood called it. Thanks for watching!