Dornier Do 17Z-2

1971

January saw the anouncement of the FROG Fly-Hi Control Column kit. This was another idea to put more play value into a plane kit after it had been made up. The user attached small hooks to the wing tips and front and back of the fuselage top. A thin nylon cord was then connected from each of these to the hand-held Fly-Hi enabling the plane to be "flown". As the Fly-Hi was rolled, so the plane responded by rolling. User tests were very encouraging and the Fly-Hi itself was only 20p. However FROG lacked the finance to advertise the product properly and it has to be classed as a failure. The combination of Fly-Hi with Spin-a-prop was actually most effective and greatly enjoyed by the children who took part in the tests.

FROG were continuing to push forward with design work and patterning of new models but were held back from tooling by the stringent rules on capital expenditure. The toy industry was going through a very difficult time, so much so that the parenl Tri-ang Company was forced to call in the Receiver in August after a rescue offer by the wbacco company Gallagher fell through. The Tri-ang Subsidiaries were dragged into receivership by cross guarantees held by the bank. The Rovex Receiver's first action was to hive down the company and create a new one which was able to continue operations under the name Pocketmoney Toys Ltd. This company, in turn, was bought by Dunbee-Combex-Marx Ltd. in January 1972 whereupon its name was changed to Rovex Ltd. The transactions were complicated but had little effect on the trade of Rovex. Throughout the bad times the Margate part of Rovex Tri-ang Ltd. had kept its nose above water.

As it was the practice to print packaging welt before a new kit was released it is not thought that any kits ever came out with Pocketmoney Toys on the box. The name did appear on some leaflets.

The Receiver agreed to the continuation of work on all new projects and thus there was no real interruption to the flow of these from the viewpoint of retailers or consumers. The year's products were not dramatic but the Dornier 17Z added another good sized plane.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Congost/Revell
Luis Congost, S.A., Travesia Industrial 247. L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Period: 1980?-1983?

One of several Revell subsidiaries to use the former Frog moulds, Congost is unusual in that they are believed to have used two of the moulds not used by Revell elsewhere, namely the FW 190A and Bf 109F. The kit numbers for these two were presumably allocated locally. All other numbers were the same as used by Revell in other countries but lacked the usual H-prefix.

Artwork etc. was similar to that used in Germany but Congost in some cases provided new decal sheets; e.g. the He 115 came with a selection of Luftwaffe, RAF and Norwegian markings.

Congost is no longer involved with Revell, the Spanish market now coming under the German factory.

+ Project only, never released
* Existence probable but as yet unconfirmed
** Existence possible, information uncertain
*** Existence unlikely but not totally impossible

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Kikoler/Revell
A. Kikoler Com. e Ind. de Plasticos S.A., Rua Francisco Portela 175. Rio de Janeiro. RJ. Brazil
Period: 1979? to date?

Kikoler is one of the major Revell branches in the world and has, at one time or another, produced a high percentage of the Revell kits released over the last thirty years. This includes the normal assortment of ex-Frog kits. Recent economical problems have caused Kikoler to reduce their kit range and it is possible that the ex-Frogs are not presently in production. However, chances are that they will be reintroduced later on.

Packaging is similar to that used by Revell (GB), except for the Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410, which have boxes similar to those used in the USA (albeit larger).

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Lodela/Revell
Plasticos Lodela S.A., Berlin 34, Col. del Carmen, Coyoacan, Mexico 21, D.F., Mexico
Period: 1979? to date

Lodela was started in the 1950s to manufacture Revcll kits for the local market. In 1986 a number of Heller kits were added to the range, but until then the company handled only Revell kits. Like all other Revell companies, Lodela have also handled the ex-Frog kits. Even if only a few have been positively identified to date, it is probably safe to assume that the normal eleven-kit assortment has been produced at one time or another.

Packaging does seem to follow US practice for some kits, European practice for others and a unique Mexican standard for the rest. It is not impossible that certain kits have been issued with more than one style of box. Numbering follows usual Revell standard. However, in 1985 an R was added to the kit numbers on all lists and catalogues. So far, only the Ta 152H has actually appeared with this on the box, but others may follow in due course.

Incidentally, Lodela took its name from the founder and present manager, Sr. Apolo Lopez de Lara.

* Existence probable but as yet unconfirmed

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Revell (GB)
Revell (Great Britain) Ltd., Cranborne Road, Potters Bar. Hertfordshire, England EN6 3JX
Period; 1977-1981?

Once the most important Revell branch outside the USA, the Potters Bar factory was closed down at the end of 1980. However, the company still exists as a distributor of German-made kits.

In the final years, Revell (GB) produced - among other things - the former Frog kits listed below. The British and German Revell branches co-operated closely and it is therefore not surprising that most of their issues are very similar to each other. The Bf 110, Do 335 and Me410 did, however, have boxes and decals more like the US than the German issues.

It should also be noted that the Rufe (and possibly also one or two others) were sold in two different size boxes.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom

Revell (Germany)
Revell Plastics GmbH. Postfach 2609, D-4980 Bunde 1, West Germany
Period: 1977 to date

Since the closure of the British and Spanish branches, this is the only Revell production plant left in Europe. It is also handling all sales to Africa and the Middle East.

Together with Revell (GB), the German branch was the first to use the former Frog moulds. It is also the only one to have issued the kits in different box styles and under different kit numbers.

The first issues - except for the Fiat and Ar234, which used retouched photos of the actual models - all had the old Frog artwork and also decals similar to the Frog ones. The He 115 was an exception since no artwork or decals had been prepared for Frog. All kit numbers had an H-prefix.

In 1982, all kit numbers became computerized and the prefix was deleted; H-80 thus becoming 0080 etc. By this time, the Fiat and Rufe had already been dropped. Also, the Me 410 never went through this stage.

Beginning in 1983, the current system was introduced. In this, all aircraft kits get a number starting with 4. The Me 410 was first, followed by the Ta 152, Bf 110 and He 111 in 1984, the Do 335 in 1985 and the Ar234 and Do 17 in 1986. Remaining kits have been dropped, and the Me410 was also discontinued by 1986. In 1987, only the Ar234, He 111 and Bf 110 remained in production. The kits reissued 1983-1985 got completely new boxes while the 1986 ones remained more-or-less unchanged. The 1984—1985 reissues also sported the new Ceji-Revell logo.

Further changes will no doubt be carried out in the future.

FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom