Rarvs Plasticvs

[StephenLawson]

Greetings all;
Please pardon the ancient Greek simalors. Since some of us are collectors as well as builders I would like to offer a thread for those who through no fault of their own (as it is not a fault) who seem to have a simulated hobby shoppe in their basement-dungeons.

What would be the 'holy grail' of WWI aviation kit modeling? As we are a group that loves and celebrates differences (even though most of us avowed to scale specific limitations by choice) feel free to cast off any limitations and drink from the fountain of youth. Dream nay perchance to hope that you will have something that is trade-able to acquire said chalace to add to thine treasury.

Allow me then to begin. The rarest kits I have seen are specific to the USA. Though probably common in Europe and Japan They seem to be almost unavailable here.

First the Italeri re-issue of the Dragon Fokker D.VII kit #5608. None here in the states but I found five on a Belgium hobby shelf thanks to Scimitar. None anywhere else in Europe were to be found by my spies.

The second was the Hawsegawa Fokker D.VII second issue utilizing the DML plastic. Kit # SL6-2900. The first was with the Aurora - Revell plastic and I have seen several of these. The second issue had fewer decal choices and was only available for about 6 months here in the USA.

[davecww1]

Rarest thing I have come across was a Meikraft 1/72 scale Caproni bomber, actually I picked up 2 of these at a local hobby shop that was selling off someone's collection a few years back. Got them for a steal at $10 each, they commonly go for $50-75 on ebay if you can find one. Loaded with extras like 2 sheets of photoetch & thin wood veneer. issued in the late 1980's-early 1990's.
Dave

[davecww1]

Another hard to find kit is the Copper State 1/48 scale Hansa Brandenburg W.12 floatplane, kit #1008. I think this was one of the highest priced kits done by Copper State (except for the Gotha) so it didn't sell as well as the British fighters Eric issued. It was only available for a short time, and then discontinued. But it's a great kit, with photoetched details, resin, metal engine & detail parts and a few additional Copper State items such as the Spandau gun kit & German instruments. Too bad retail price was around $99.00. I was able to trade for one of these for my collection. I'm sure as soon as I start to build it, Eduard will come out with one for about $35.00!
Dave

[WarrenD]

So far as I know, the rarest one is the Airfix Avro 504K in Quantas markings. 500 (?) were produced, and handed out to boarding passengers on the day of the airline's 50th anniversary. I'm sure a lot found their way to a child at home, some hit the trash, but I doubt if many of the passengers that day said "Wow! A limited edition Airfix kit of a WWI type! I'm putting this in my collection!"

I think one recently went for something like $400-500 US on evil-Bay.

Warren

[WarrenD]

"Rarest thing I have come across was a Meikraft 1/72 scale Caproni bomber, "

I used to have two of these, I got them from John Meikraft when he released them back in the early 90's, one to build, and one to keep back for "tradin' material". One of the first kits that I used to start my WWI stash.
I sold one on evil-Bay, and traded the other to another WWI Modeling List member who wanted to tackle it. I figured with all the releases coming out, it would only be a matter of time before Roden, or somebody else, releases one.

Warren

[StephenLawson]

Anyone else?

[buzz1941]

Uh ... I have a couple half-built Glencoe Albatrosses ... and they're likely to stay that way ...

[Barker]

Anyone else?
I have the original bust of the Red Bare One and it has a place of honor on the dining room table.

I also have approximately 60-some odd silver cups.

don't tell anyone.

:huh:

[Hans]

Hmm...should I state what is the rarest kit in my possession or what I am missing...?

The Aurora Fokker D VII in 1/19 scale is somethning like the holy grail for me. I know that it is a re-constructed round-the-pole-flyer with not a large amount of detail, but it was a dream for me when I was young...

My rarest kits in my possession are some real old Auroras, like a S.E.5 with a rectangular Aurora-Logo, dating around 1957. Also I have all the Aurora-Kits with Aurora-Logos which where only available with K&B-Logos in the US, but Aurora in Europe ( around 1972).

The definite Holy Grail at all should be the very first WWI kit, the Avro 504 by Frog Penguin in 1/72, dating 1938. This is of course an absolute collectors item, it would be a sacrilege to built it...

Hans

P.S. This is only for injection moulded kits...resins, vacforms and white metal kits are generelly limited from the start on, so I don't include it her. F.e. what's about an Fokker Dr I by Atkins...? ( Whitemetal-Kit).