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.
| H-98 | Nakajima A6M2-N (Rufe) |
FROG model aircraft 1932-1976, R. Lines, L. Hellstrom
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MODEL ENTHUSIAST
There are more ways than one...!
From Revell comes Rufe
Since the untimely demise of the Frog marque, many of its kits have been manufactured in the Soviet Union and issued by Nova, but conspicuous by their absence from Nova's offerings have been ex-enemy aircraft from WW II — apparently, the powers-that-be in the Soviet Union refused to accept any of these moulds, some of which, at least, have been acquired by Revell which is issuing them under its own catalogue numbers but still bearing the original Frog parts references on the clusters. For the most part, Revell's ex-Frog kits are re-issues, but there is at least one that was listed by Frog but never issued by that company, this being the Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe float fighter version of the Mitsubishi Zero-Sen. This is a typical Frog kit, accurate and neat, but by no means super-detailed. At the modest UK retail price of 40p, however, it is a very worthwhile purchase. It comprises 24 parts moulded in a medium-grey shade of plastic, plus a nice clear canopy and a three-part stand. The fuselage and central float are moulded integrally, and the wings have inset lower panels giving fine trailing edges. Surface detailing is of a high order. The cockpit interior is no more than rudimentary, but a good pilot figure comes with the kit. The decal sheet is quite good, but the shade of red employed for the Hinomaru is much too bright. Appropriate finishes for the aircraft sporting the two sets of markings provided are included in the instruction sheet.
F.J. Henderson
Air International 1978-02, Vol.11, No.2
Revell
Ex Frog kits reissued. 1/72nd scale. Prices vary.
ALTHOUGH the Russian manufacturer Novo has re-issued many of the Frog kits, it has refused to touch models of anything connected with Germany, Italy or Japan. Happily this state of affairs has improved of late as Revell has released eleven of the old Frog kits under their banner. These include two kits that Frog never generally released to our knowledge, the Nakajima Zero RUFE floatplane and the Heinkel He115C-1 both quite good kits and to form the subject of larger reviews in a forthcoming issue.
The other kits will be more familiar to our readers and they are the Heinkel He162A-2, Focke Wulf Ta152H, Fiat G55, Messerschmitt Me Bf110G-4, Messerschmitt Me410 A-1/U-4, Arado Ar234 "Blitz", Heinkel He111 H-1 and Dornier Do17Z.
No attempt has been made at cleaning up the models as far as we can gather; decals - remain the same and the poor box art is also retained, which could have been improved upon. Gone too, lamentably, is the familiar Frog full colour painting guide but these are well laid out on the detailed instruction leaflets which are indeed an improvement on the originals.
Reviews of most of the reissued kits have already appeared in post issues of SM so we resist the temptation to reiterate. These modellers to whom the kits will be new may care to look up the following references. We reviewed the Ta152 in the February 1971 issue, the Do17Z in the October 1971 issue, the Me110 in the September 1971 issue, the Heinkel He111 in the September 1972 issue and the Do335 in the July 1975 issue. Current prices range from 40p for the He162, Ta152, Rufe and Fiat G55, 80p for the Me110G-4, Me410, and Do335 to £1.15 for the Ar234, He111, He115and Do17Z. Interesting to reflect that the He111 was 81p six years ago, so the enthusiast has little to grumble about.
Someday, someone will sit down and write the history of the Frog kit right from its inception, via Penguins and up to the seventies- and it will make fascinating reading ...
Edward Torre.
Scale Models Vol. 9 No. 101 February 1978
NEW TO YOU?
KITS
Revell
Nakajima Mitsubishi A6M2-N "Rufe". 1/72hd scale. Price 40p
ONE of the recent reissued Frog kits which was never generally released before their demise is the Nakajima "Rufe", the formidable float mounted version of the Zero fighter. The type entered service in 1942 and was used to good effect in the Pacific theatre. Armed with two 20mm wing mounted cannons and two 7.7mm machine guns, the Rufe, despite the cumbersome float, could notch up 270 mph and was superior to US Navy carrier aircraft.
The Frog/RevelI kit is a reasonable model, though lacking, perhaps, the finesse of detail inherent in others included in the Revell range. There are few parts, just over 28 in fact, making assembly easy but requiring considerable filling around the wing root joints.
Cockpit details are rudimentary and will need adding to, especially in view of the large transparency. Plastic card should be used to add new floor, instrument panel; armour plate and side consoles, and the interior painted with a mixture of silver and ANA611 which represents the elusive Aotake interior colour.
Engine detail is poor and some extra work is required in this area even though the large spinner hides most of the "cylinders". Filler may also be required around the edges of the cowling where it fits the forward fuselage. Cockpit transparency is moulded integrally with the forward cowling housing the guns for some strange reason, and should be carefully masked while painting. Watch the instructions, though, for they show the canopy aerial mast fitted raked rearwards, whereas, in actual fact, the opposite was the case.
To mount the model, an unobtrusive transparent cradle is provided which slots into the float, perhaps a proper beaching dolly would have been preferable.
Decals are rather poor; the red is far too bright and unless using Letraset insignia, should be repainted in Humbrol HS216. Rust to be really accurate. Scheme shown is fairly typical and Humbrol Authentics were used throughout. One useful source of photos is Aircam No. 16 dealing with the Zero series.
Edward Torre.
Scale Models Vol7 No 78 MARCH 1978
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