FROG Rovex Tri-ang ltd; 1969/1970

Modelling world
by James Goulding

It is disturbing to note a continuance of inaccuracy in Frog-designed kits, and there is clearly much room for improvement I can list many recent kits in which there are incorrect features of one sort or another—some difficult to correct, and others impossible. The Ju 87D has several outline errors that are impossible to correct. The Bf 109F could have been a delightful model, but is spoilt by entirely inaccurate nose contours. The Mosquito is a disastrous model throughout. The Hurricane has many inaccurate outlines. The Lysander has a prototype tailplane which bears no resemblance to the production type. The Beau-fighter is generally a very nice model, but again has some errors, as mentioned in my review in the October issue. The Blenheim I is a pleasing model, and the only serious inaccuracy, the turret shape, could be excused on the grounds of moulding difficulty—although Frog's earlier, smaller, Blenheim I had a much better shaped turret. But none of the errors to be found in the other models could be attributed to moulding problems, and could have been avoided if sufficient attention had been paid to detailed shapes. It seems a pity to spend all the time and effort on producing a kit, which is a long and involved process, only to spoil the resulting model. It can be doubtless be argued that it does not matter if a model is inaccurate as long as it sells, and it is probably true that the majority of those buying kits are possibly not aware that there is anything wrong with the particular model. But there are thousands of specialist model makers, all of whom take a great pride in their carefully-built and finished models. It is for them that accuracy is essential. It is just as easy to produce a model kit without serious outline and detail errors as it is to produce a bad kit. There is clearly a need to take a long look at the problem of avoiding errors.

On the other hand, those models which have originated from the Hasegawa team, and issued here under the Frog label, have been superb. Their standard of outline accuracy, attention to detail, and moulding have been excellent. Obviously much thought and careful study of the full-sized subject has gone into each kit to obtain such quality, and judging from two new kits that I have recently built their standard is still improving. Very few serious faults get by their careful scrutiny, and they impress by the way in which difficult shapes to mould are tackled and successfully produced. Their general attitude seems to be that accuracy comes first, even if the moulding of a shape presents formidable problems. There does not seem to be any evidence of the usual excuses for inaccuracies—"That shape cannot be moulded" or "if we moulded the correct shape the kit would cost twice as much".

I am sorry if my criticism of the Frog-designed kits sounds harsh, but it is made in a spirit of wishing to see them reach such a standard that we will be able to look forward to each new model without fear that it may be spoilt by some unfortunate and non-correctable error. If that is achieved, it can only be to the advantage of Frog in the long run.

One item in all Frog kits that deserves the greatest possible praise is the standard of the transfers. These have reached a quality that places them supreme in the kit field, and it is to be hoped that other manufacturers will try to raise theirs to the same level.

AIRCRAFT Illustrated, December 1969

NEW to YOU?
MONTHLY REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTS CONDUCTED BY BOB JONES OF I.P.M.S.

Two Toy and Hobby Fairs were running concurrently during February - that at BRIGHTON and another in London. Taking the TRIANG TOY FAIR first we made a beeline for the ROVEX INDUSTRIES (FROG) Stand and were not disappointed in either the models on display, which included several prototypes for which kits will appear during the coming months, or the variety of kit subjects shown.

Certainly one of the most eagerly awaited of all kits must be that for the 1/72 Scale Armstrong Whitworth Whitley. The kit includes alternative parts to enable the modeller to produce either a replica of the B.Mk. V as flown by Leonard Cheshire when he was serving as a Pilot Officer with 102 'ceylon' Squadron R.A.F. Bomber Command, November 1940, in which he won his D.F.C., or a Mk. VII A.S.V. Radar equipped aircraft of 502 'county of ulster' Squad-ron coastal command. The models were made from prototype moulds and looked to be magnificent. We shall be reviewing this and all the other kits mentioned in this feature as and when they become available. Unfortunately, these models do receive a lot of handling at these fairs, and thus the Whitley suffered from broken and missing wing mounted radar arrays, etc., but for all that the model as shown certainly has the characteristic 'sit' of the original. Release date is about March. Also in March, FROG will hope to be releasing their kits of the Hawker Harrier F-100D and Convair F.102 Delta Dagger and RF.101C Voodoo. These are similar to the kits of the same aircraft as produced bv HASEGAWA of Japan but will include new decals, the Super Sabre being in alternative French or Danish Air Force insignia. The Harrier in Operational R.A.F. Squadron markings, the F.102 in those of the 32nd Fighter Interception Squadron or Turkish A.F., while the Voodoo is in those of 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron U.S.A.F. For April release there should be the Gloster Meteor Mk. IV in alternative markings for 263 (F) Squadron R.A.F. or 323 Squadron Royal Netherlands Air Force. With the Meteor should also appear a kit of the Vultee A-31 Vengeance, this with markings for Number 24 Squadron RAAF and 84 Squadron RAF in SEAC. For May release there should be a kit of the Me110G Night Fighter, complete with nose radar arrays, etc., in the markings of Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, leading Luftwaffe night-fighter ace, with an eventual total of 121 kills, and with his kit should also appear one for the Westland Wyvern naval Strike-Fighter in markings of Numbers 827 and 830 Squadrons Royal Navy. June should see the kit of the North American Mustang P-51A in insignia of 311th Fighter Group, U.S.A.A.F., Burma, and an R.A.F. Mustang II of a Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Europe 1944. The last of the forthcoming aircraft kits announced by FROG and due for release in July is that for a D.H.100 Vampire 5 in markings of 502 Squadron R.A.F. and alternatively those for a Swedish Air Force machine.

FROG did point out that the above release dates are only approximate, but we feel sure that our readers will feel that any additional waiting will be well worth the while just to have so many completely NEW model kit subjects to add to their collections . . .

FROG also showed made up models of warships, these were to 1/450 scale and looked to be excellent models, with some very fine detailing. The first four are the U.S.S. Missouri, the Bismarck and Tirpitz and H.M.S. Vanguard.

Another new idea from FROG is a pair of small electric motors sold boxed complete with all fittings except battery, which are designed to be built into such models of twin engined machines such as the Junkers Ju.88 and Beaufighter. These will sell under the name of 'SPIN-A-PROP' and are as made for the Meccano 'Stuka', with asymmetric design eliminating the need for a switch.

FROG 'SPIN-A-PROP' unit with obvious potential for two single engined machines or one two engined aircraft. All parts included except battery.

A. A. HALES LTD., a division of the Triang Group had so many new items from their Bandai, Fujimi, Nichimo and other agencies we shall be dealing in depth with examples under review. Musical Instruments, a Royal Crown and Japanese Temples add variety to the plastics field and should expand interest in the family.

Scale Models No.7 1970 APRIL Vol.1 No.7

Modelling world
by James Goulding
So you think today's kits cost a lot of money!

The other day, while browsing through some old magazines, I became interested in a model shop advertisement in the Aeromodeller for December, 1947. Similar in content to the familiar lists of 1 /62nd scale kits seen today, this advertisement, for Frog Penguin plastic kits, was noteworthy for the prices charged. If you are tempted to grumble about prices of today's kits, just compare them with those of 1947. An Airfix Spitfire IX costs 2s 11 d today but in 1 947 a Penguin kit of the Spitfire I or XII cost 6s 9d. A Frog Tempest V today costs 3s, but the 1947 Penguin kit cost 8s 3d. Or perhaps you are a Beaufighter fan ? Today it will cost you 6s 9d, if you buy Frog's excellent multi-version kit, but 23 years ago the Penguin kit would have cost you 13s 9d! Other 1947 prices were a Mustang 6s 9d, a Hellcat at 8s 3d, a Bf 110 at 9s 4d and a Mosquito and P-38 Lightning at 10s 1d.

Consider that the national average wage was probably about £5 per week compared with about £18-£19 of today's figure, and some idea of the cost of kits in those days can be gauged.

Frequently one hears people say that kits today are not as good as "those wonderful old Penguins", but memories are notoriously unreliable and paint legendary pictures of how splendid things were in the "good old days"-—when in fact there is no comparison between kits in those days and the high standard and low prices of the models of today. Penguin kits, especially the pre-war samples, were very remarkable for their day, at a time when most 1 /72nd kits consisted of balsa or other wood parts, which had to be shaped, and die-cast engines, wheels, and other accessories. But some Penguin kits had accurate outlines and others not so good. I have seen several of these models in recent times, and have a number of engines, fins, or other components from them. I also have a post-war Penguin Vampire I which is crude by any standards today, and a number of Skybirds die-cast parts. None of these items stand any comparison with the very high standards of moulding of today's kits, and despite the vastly improved standards, we now pay a mere fraction of the 1947 cost in real terms.

AIRCRAFT Illustrated, May 1970

SCALE TOPICS
What's new at the Fair?

Revelations at the 1971 Trade Shows in London and Brighton enable us to give the following production programme for exciting new products. At Tri-ang House, new FROG l/72nd aircraft are to be released in this order. D.H. Hornet, Skyhawk, Hellcat, Vampire, Me 110g, Corsair, Do 17Z, Heinkel Helll and Buccaneer.

'Spin a prop' versions of the Sea Fury and Corsair will appear in the autumn. Beaufighter, Beaufort and Ju 88 'Spin a prop' kits are to come in different markings.

Also, two ship kits Missouri and Bismark are now scheduled for release in October to support Vanguard and Tirpitz.

Scale Models No.18 1971 MARCH Vo2. No.3

FROG Rovex Tri-ang ltd; 1973

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973

KIT COMMENT
ROVEX REVIVAL
JAPANESE IMPORTS NOW STOPPED

THE almost remarkable change in the fortunes of Frog kits marketed in the UK by Rovex Ltd at Margate were echoed by Lord Westwood, chairman of Dunbee-Combex-Marx Ltd, the parent group now responsible for the company, when he opened a new 1,600,000 cu ft warehouse there recently. From a " thumping great loss of £1 million to a substantial profit of £300,000 in 18 months was an achievement second to none" he commented. Speaking at a Press conference later in the day, Mr R. P. Butler, the new managing director, announced policy changes in Frog's link up with the Japanese Hasegawa company whereby many of the Japanese kits are marketed in this country under the Frog label. Similarly Frog kits are available in Japan but due to a 40 per cent increase in the cost of Japanese kits, due to the revaluation of the yen, they will no longer be imported by Frog.

The last of the line will be the Hasegawa Neptune model shortly due for release and then the sole import rights will go to A. A. Hales Ltd of Hinckley, Leicestershire who already import Hasegawa models direct from Japan without reboxing them.

Instead of adding to its line of models by importing kits, Frog will go ahead with many new models of their own manufacture. We announced several of these in our issue after the New Year trade fairs but the company assure us that future production, including a number of reissues of older kits, will be stepped up for 1974/5. The aim is to produce at least one new model a month with the total being as high as 18 in one year if plans now in hand materialise. Naturally no subjects were discussed but from what we heard there will be a number of entirely new aircraft modelled and those that follow kits already in existence from other sources will be made to represent a different mark variant of the aircraft concerned.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973
KIT COMMENT
ROVEX REVIVAL
JAPANESE IMPORTS NOW STOPPED

Открывая недавно новый склад компании Rovex Ltd в Маргейте объемом 1 600 000 куб. футов., лорд Вествуд, председатель материнской группы компаний Dunbee-Combex-Marx Ltd, отозвался на примечательное изменение в судьбе бренда Frog, под которым компания продаёт сборные модели в Великобритании. Он отметил, что результат от "огромного убытка величиной в 1 миллион фунтов стерлингов до существенной прибыли в размере 300 000 фунтов стерлингов за 18 месяцев стал никем непревзойдённым достижением.» В тот же день, выступая позже на пресс-конференции, новый управляющий директор г-н Р.П. Батлер объявил об изменениях в политике Frog в отношениях с японской компанией Hasegawa, чьи многочисленные модели японского производства продаются в этой стране под лейблом Frog. Точно так же наборы Frog доступны в Японии, но из-за 40-процентного подорожания японских товаров вследствие повышения курса йены они больше не будут импортироваться Frog.

Последней из линейки станет модель Hasegawa Neptune, которая вскоре должна быть выпущена, а затем исключительные права на импорт перейдут к A. A. Hales Ltd из Хинкли, Лестершир, которая уже импортирует модели Hasegawa напрямую из Японии без их переупаковки.

А Frog, вместо увеличения своей линейки моделей в результате импорта комплектов, переключится на выпуск множества новых моделей собственного производства. Мы уже аннонсировали некоторые из них в нашем выпуске после новогодних ярмарок, но компания уверяет нас, что будущее производство, включая ряд переизданий старых комплектов, будет увеличено в 1974/5. Целью является производство как минимум по одной новой модели в месяц, а общее количество таких моделей достигнет 18 в год, в случае, если планы, имеющиеся в настоящее время, будут реализованы. Естественно, никакие конкретные модели не обсуждались, но из услышанного нам стало понятно о планах изготовления ряда совершенно новых моделей самолётов и выпуска уже существующих в вариантах маркировки представляющих другие марки рассматриваемых самолётов.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 2 8-21 June 1973

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 19 15-28 February 1973
KIT COMMENT
BRIGHTON 1974

Just before this issue went to press, UK model manufacturers previewed their wares lor the current year at the Brighton Toy Fair. Frog, Lesney, Airfix and Revell have a long list of new releases, indicated by either box art or test shots.

The following 1:72 scale subjects are scheduled for release by Frog, with their decal sheets in paren-thesis: Hunter FGA.9 (No 54 Sqdn and No 1 Survellance Wing, Swiss AF); Spitfire VIII/IX (No 72 Sqdn RAF and No 457 Sqdn RAAF); Javelin FAW.9 (Nos 5 and 54 Sqdns RAF); P-47-25 Thunderbolt (FAF and No 615 Sqdn RAF); Phantom FGR.1/2 (No 31 Sqdn RAF and RN deeals); Dornier Do 335 A-6/A-12 (Luftwaffe and captured RAF); Mirage IIIE; Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe (901st and Yokosuka Air Corps); Lavochin La 7; Lockheed PV-1 Ventura (Aero navale and No 13 Sqdn RAAF); Jaguar T.2/GR.1

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 19 15-28 February 1973

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 20 1-14 March 1973
KIT COMMENT
MASTERLY MARAUDER
New models shown at Nuremburg

OCCASIONALLY a new kit is released whose subject, while duplicating the efforts of other manufacturers, is a vast improvement on those hitherto available. Such a kit is the B-26 Marauder by Airfix, which is the best plastic model of this aircraft to date. While that fact may be bad news for all those who have persevered with the Frog kit, perhaps combining the best parts of the Revell offering to make a decent Marauder, the 1:72nd scale newcomer means that many replicas of this famous WW2 medium bomber can be built, virtually straight from the box for 55p.

The kit comes as 146 well moulded parts and the detail included in areas such as the bomb bay and doors, cockpit, bulkheads and so forth is extremely good, the whole making up into a very accurate model. However, Airfix seem to have got a touch of 'Frog-itis* in regard to the wing trailing edges, which are of over scale thickness. Construction also takes considerably more time than some kits in this range, as the need for filling and rubbing down is considerable.

Filling is especially needed around the nacelle-to-wing junctions, there being large gaps where the tops of the nacelles fair into the underside of the mainplanes. Of course, the nacelles themselves can be "fitted" and pared down a little prior to cementing, although any amount of dummy runs and checking of fit can go awry when actual glueing takes place and this certainly happened on our review kit. A further point also concerns the wings; the instructions indicate complete wing, nacelle and gear assembly before attaching the wings to the fuselage, but the approach to the oleos is such that the writer preferred to fit the wings and obtain the correct dihedral angle first, as the recommended method can result in a lop-sided undercarriage if the wings do not align correctly.

The foregoing is not intended to indicate that the parts themselves are at fault, far from it, as the shape of all components is good and with a convincing look when assembly is complete.

The fully detailed bomb bay, with a roof, three bulkheads and eight 500 lb bombs on vertical racks, is excellent and the hard-to-fabricate folding forward bomb doors are a neat inclusion. The observation windows in the rear doors are also there. The engines are particularly good, Airfix having sensibly moulded the characteristic twin intakes on top of each cowling as separate parts, unlike other Marauder kits. Humbrol have now added 'Gunmetal' to their ever-increasing range of tinlet enamels and this is useful for cylinders and crankcase parts.

The Marauder cockpit includes a central console with three throttle levers, which are obviously over-scale, but it, is the thought that counts! With all the cockpit parts in place, however, there is little room for weights, which are certainly needed for the model to three-point. The only place where any weight can be crammed is under the instrument panel sill and in the nose, unfortunately forward of the bulkhead, although a disc of lead, such as that included with old Frog kits, is not over-obtrusive here when the nose cone is attached.

Criticism can be levelled at the guns of this B-26, which Airfix have seen fit to detail with 'cooling slots'. These are raised and as they come, are of at least 20-mm cannon dimensions and need attention with the wet and dry. Compare these guns with those of an Airfix B-17 or B-24 and you'll see what we mean. Only nine of the 12 machine guns carried by some В-26s are included and modellers can add the extra weapon firing through the nose transparency and the two lower waist guns, if desired, these positions being moulded closed on the kit. Still pertaining to armament, the instructions indicate assembly of the rear turret and its transparency before sticking the fuselage together, in the usual Airfix way. However the turret framing looks much better if it does not end where the curvature of the fuselage comes up to meet it, so leave this until last and slot it over the guns after painting. Correct positioning is not difficult using this method, the turret sitting squarely when gentle pressure is applied.

A good decal sheet provides markings for two 9th Air Force aircraft, a B-26B-55 of the 597th BS, 397th BG, 42-96124, X2-A "Dee-feater" and a B-26B-25 of the 450th BS, 322nd BG, in camouflage finish, 41-31819, DR-X "Mild and Bitter". A small error in the decals for the former, natural finish aircraft, is that the name decal appears as "Deeifeater", with the hyphen (as it should be) replaced by an "i". So many photographs have appeared of this particular aircraft that this small oversight seems odd. In fact, both machines depicted by Airfix are very well documented, as is the Marauder in general, so any model using the kit decals should look like the real thing as far as possible. It cannot be said of all kits that good photographs of the actual subject abound, but they do especially in the case of the 597th BS aircraft, so have a go at matching the scruffy finish.

A feature of 9th AF Marauders was the bulged observation window on the starboard side forward of the wing, which is only moulded as a flat transparency in the kit and should be added by the connoisseur. Optional parts extend to either a transparent dorsal observation dome or flat cover and closed bomb doors and undercarriage door parts.

As for B-26 references, some of the best are: Wings April '73, Airpower May '73, Scale Models May '73, Profile No 112, Camouflage & Markings No 14 and US Bombers of WW2 Vol I from Hylton Lacy.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 20 1-14 March 1973

FROG Rovex Tri-ang ltd; 1974/1975

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 19 15-28 February 1973

KIT COMMENT
BRIGHTON 1974

Just before this issue went to press, UK model manufacturers previewed their wares for the current year at the Brighton Toy Fair. Frog, Lesney, Airfix and Revell have a long list of new releases, indicated by either box art or test shots.

The following 1:72 scale subjects are scheduled for release by Frog, with their decal sheets in paren-thesis: Hunter FGA.9 (No 54 Sqdn and No 1 Survellance Wing, Swiss AF); Spitfire VIII/IX (No 72 Sqdn RAF and No 457 Sqdn RAAF); Javelin FAW.9 (Nos 5 and 54 Sqdns RAF); P-47-25 Thunderbolt (FAF and No 615 Sqdn RAF); Phantom FGR.1/2 (No 31 Sqdn RAF and RN deeals); Dornier Do 335 A-6/A-12 (Luftwaffe and captured RAF); Mirage IIIE; Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe (901st and Yokosuka Air Corps); Lavochin La 7; Lockheed PV-1 Ventura (Aero navale and No 13 Sqdn RAAF); Jaguar T.2/GR.1

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 19 15-28 February 1973

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 20 1-14 March 1973

KIT COMMENT
MASTERLY MARAUDER
New models shown at Nuremburg

OCCASIONALLY a new kit is released whose subject, while duplicating the efforts of other manufacturers, is a vast improvement on those hitherto available. Such a kit is the B-26 Marauder by Airfix, which is the best plastic model of this aircraft to date. While that fact may be bad news for all those who have persevered with the Frog kit, perhaps combining the best parts of the Revell offering to make a decent Marauder, the 1:72nd scale newcomer means that many replicas of this famous WW2 medium bomber can be built, virtually straight from the box for 55p.

The kit comes as 146 well moulded parts and the detail included in areas such as the bomb bay and doors, cockpit, bulkheads and so forth is extremely good, the whole making up into a very accurate model. However, Airfix seem to have got a touch of 'Frog-itis* in regard to the wing trailing edges, which are of over scale thickness. Construction also takes considerably more time than some kits in this range, as the need for filling and rubbing down is considerable.

Filling is especially needed around the nacelle-to-wing junctions, there being large gaps where the tops of the nacelles fair into the underside of the mainplanes. Of course, the nacelles themselves can be "fitted" and pared down a little prior to cementing, although any amount of dummy runs and checking of fit can go awry when actual glueing takes place and this certainly happened on our review kit. A further point also concerns the wings; the instructions indicate complete wing, nacelle and gear assembly before attaching the wings to the fuselage, but the approach to the oleos is such that the writer preferred to fit the wings and obtain the correct dihedral angle first, as the recommended method can result in a lop-sided undercarriage if the wings do not align correctly.

The foregoing is not intended to indicate that the parts themselves are at fault, far from it, as the shape of all components is good and with a convincing look when assembly is complete.

The fully detailed bomb bay, with a roof, three bulkheads and eight 500 lb bombs on vertical racks, is excellent and the hard-to-fabricate folding forward bomb doors are a neat inclusion. The observation windows in the rear doors are also there. The engines are particularly good, Airfix having sensibly moulded the characteristic twin intakes on top of each cowling as separate parts, unlike other Marauder kits. Humbrol have now added 'Gunmetal' to their ever-increasing range of tinlet enamels and this is useful for cylinders and crankcase parts.

The Marauder cockpit includes a central console with three throttle levers, which are obviously over-scale, but it, is the thought that counts! With all the cockpit parts in place, however, there is little room for weights, which are certainly needed for the model to three-point. The only place where any weight can be crammed is under the instrument panel sill and in the nose, unfortunately forward of the bulkhead, although a disc of lead, such as that included with old Frog kits, is not over-obtrusive here when the nose cone is attached.

Criticism can be levelled at the guns of this B-26, which Airfix have seen fit to detail with 'cooling slots'. These are raised and as they come, are of at least 20-mm cannon dimensions and need attention with the wet and dry. Compare these guns with those of an Airfix B-17 or B-24 and you'll see what we mean. Only nine of the 12 machine guns carried by some В-26s are included and modellers can add the extra weapon firing through the nose transparency and the two lower waist guns, if desired, these positions being moulded closed on the kit. Still pertaining to armament, the instructions indicate assembly of the rear turret and its transparency before sticking the fuselage together, in the usual Airfix way. However the turret framing looks much better if it does not end where the curvature of the fuselage comes up to meet it, so leave this until last and slot it over the guns after painting. Correct positioning is not difficult using this method, the turret sitting squarely when gentle pressure is applied.

A good decal sheet provides markings for two 9th Air Force aircraft, a B-26B-55 of the 597th BS, 397th BG, 42-96124, X2-A "Dee-feater" and a B-26B-25 of the 450th BS, 322nd BG, in camouflage finish, 41-31819, DR-X "Mild and Bitter". A small error in the decals for the former, natural finish aircraft, is that the name decal appears as "Deeifeater", with the hyphen (as it should be) replaced by an "i". So many photographs have appeared of this particular aircraft that this small oversight seems odd. In fact, both machines depicted by Airfix are very well documented, as is the Marauder in general, so any model using the kit decals should look like the real thing as far as possible. It cannot be said of all kits that good photographs of the actual subject abound, but they do especially in the case of the 597th BS aircraft, so have a go at matching the scruffy finish.

A feature of 9th AF Marauders was the bulged observation window on the starboard side forward of the wing, which is only moulded as a flat transparency in the kit and should be added by the connoisseur. Optional parts extend to either a transparent dorsal observation dome or flat cover and closed bomb doors and undercarriage door parts.

As for B-26 references, some of the best are: Wings April '73, Airpower May '73, Scale Models May '73, Profile No 112, Camouflage & Markings No 14 and US Bombers of WW2 Vol I from Hylton Lacy.

Aviation News Vol 2 Num 20 1-14 March 1973

FROG Rovex Tri-ang ltd; 1975/1976

Aviation News Vol 3 Num 19 21 February - 6 March 1975
KIT COMMENT
BRHIGTON BLUES
FEW NEW MODELS ON SHOW AT TOY FAIR

THIS year's Brighton Toy Fair, unlike any previous one we can remember, was significant in that the major manufacturers had few new kits to show. Probably caused by the national reticence of manufacturing industries to invest money during these inflationary times, the trade seem to have cut back on all new projects, prefering an optimistic caution to announcing hard and fast programmes.

Even our old friends Airfix who always make a big splash at the national toy trade fair had cut back considerably. There were no special gimmicks to attract the attention this year and announcements of new models only covered the forthcoming six-month period and not for the whole year as in previous shows.

The reasons given were various. The shortage of materials, lack of sales and general reticence of the retailer to stock up were heard in different forms from a number of stands. Some thought that their sales returns would be better than last year—others thought the opposite and were prepared for a thin time. Frog for example have only three new kits to show in their 1975 range and two of those were announced for production in the 1974 releases.

FORTY EIGHT MODELS

We thought that Frog's presentation at the Toy Fair was not up to the standard set on previous occasions. There were no made-up models on display and it seemed to us that the kits were taking a back seat in comparison to other Rovex Industries products. As we were only able to have a day at the show we were not able to speak to the Frog representatives mainly responsible for kit manufacture and therefore could not get any definite information about their attitudes to production during the next twelve months.

The only really new model we could see on the stand was the Westland Lynx helicopter plus the Gloster Javelin and Dornier Do. 335 announced last year. When we asked what had happened to the Ventura shown in 1974 nobody had even heard of it!

Not having had complete answers to our questions on the stand we telephoned Frog later in the week to see if we could find out why the range had been restricted and also to ask a number of questions on readers behalf about the supply of Frog kits to the shops.

Many readers write to Aviation News expecting us to know the answers but this is not always so. We have, like so many who have written to us, had difficulty in buying Frog products in the local model shops and it seems that demand has outstripped supply. The root cause of the trouble we were told lies in the fact that Frog have changed their marketing policy. Previously they sold direct to the retail trade in small quantities of perhaps a dozen of each kit. This ideally suited the shop keeper as he could not hope to sell a large quantity of Frog Shackletons for example, and his stock would remain on the shelves, money would be tied up and he might, as a result, go out of business. No retailer, apart from the largest half dozen, are going to stock the minimum quantity of 72 kits of each type required by Frog after they went solely into the wholesale selling business. Consequently the numbers of Frog kits available in the model shops have dwindled whilst the new system has come into force.

There is also another problem. Frog's Margate factory only has a certain production capacity which is large enough when you see it but still not enough to maintain all of the many kits they have marketed over the years. The warehouse has been cleaned out of certain models faster than production could be maintained because one must remember that Frog have a world-wide sale.

In view of all this Frog have therefore taken the decision to restrict the number of kits on the home market this year to a maximum of 48. A much larger range will however be available on the export market because, it was explained, the company will deal with one large importer in each country who will take thousands of each model and then distribute these to the retail trade. You will for example be able to get the Ventura in Germany later this year and indeed all the models advertised in the Frog catalogue recently released.

By having only a restricted number of models available, Frog say they can guarantee supplies to the UK wholesalers, and although the number of kits will be restricted, they will be able to save costs and have the most popular ones still available.

Whilst recognising the needs for economy we can see that Frog are going to need a massive publicity campaign to keep their name in front of the enthusiast market. We modellers are a fickle lot and whereas many owe a great alleigance to the Frog title it can change.
Aviation News Vol 3 Num 19 21 February - 6 March 1975
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Air International, 1977-04"
MODEL ENTHUSIAST

Грустно осознавать, что имя «FROG» ушло в историю, так как оно восходит к самому началу появления пластиковых наборов в 1938г, когда появились первые сборные модели FROG «Pinguin», и каким открытием они стали для нас, ненавистников бальсы, в те далёкие дни! FROG применил масштаб 1/72, приступил к наполнению каталога моделями самых новейших самолётов RAF и FAA того периода - Spitfire, Hurricane, Blenheim, Wellington, Hampden, Shark и Skua, бывших лишь немногими самыми известными из обширного ассротимента точных и хорошо деталированных наборов, включавших декали или "переводилки", как их тогда называли. Конечно, в то время ещё не был создан полистирол и поэтому использовалась ацетилцеллюлоза. Детали из неё склеивались клеем для бальсы, а детали большого размера часто деформировались под собственным весом.

После паузы военных лет, FROG выпустил ещё некоторое количество моделей, но предвоенный импульс уже не восстановился и эти модели вскоре исчезли. После того как в начале 50-х появились модели из полистирола, FROG вскоре приступил к созданию совершенно новой линейки сборных моделей, которая снова особенное внимание уделяла британской авиации, она включала Meteor, Venom, Javelin, Canberra и Hunter, а так же безальтернативные на многие годы модели такие как Attacker и Scimitar. Изначально, FROG снова применил масштаб 1/72 в качестве стандарта, но был вынужден внести некоторое разнообразие. Например, трио V-бомбардировщиков RAF и ряд авиалайнеров, включая Comet, Britannia, DC-7C и Viscount, были выпущены в масштабе 1/96. Однако, преобладал масштаб 1/72 и на протяжении многих лет в этом масштабе были выпущены замечательные, ранее никем не выпускавшиеся модели, такие как Oxford, Proctor, Master and Hotspur. Было заключено успешное соглашение с компанией Hasegawa из Японии, что привело к значительному расширению ассортимента FROG, в котором после этого впервые появились модели в масштабе 1/32.

Крах группы компаний Lines Brothers в 1972-м году стал опасной угрозой продолжению существования бренда FROG, но подразделение Rovex Plastics Division, а вместе с ней и марка Frog, выжили в составе группы Dunbee-Combex-Marx, постоянный, если не на потоке, выпуск новинок продолжился, сохраняя высокие стандарты качества и желание создавать модели прототипов, которые избегали другие производители. Многие модели выпускались впервые, иногда исключительно компанией FROG, вспомним в качестве выдающихся примеров модели Shackleton и Whitley. Исключительность, на самом деле, была характерной чертой марки FROG и одной из наших любимых серий была серия Trail Blazer, включившая такие прославленные исторические типы, как Vickers Vimy, de Havilland Gipsy Moth, Westland Wallace и Bristol 138, серия предоставлявшая чудесные возможности и предлагавшая несколько прекрасных моделей, но пострадашая от преждевременного прекращения производства из-за неадекватной поддержки модельного сообщества.

Модели FROG никогда не относились к супер-деталированному классу, но модели этой марки всегда достигали приемлемой точности, а беглый взгляд на прошлые и последние каталоги открывает незаурядную степень риска и предприимчивости. Уход этой марки вызывает глубочайшие сожаления, оставив, как и в прежние времена, всего два основных британских производителя - Airfix и Lesney. Но наша утрата - это приобретение Советского Союза, значение которого мы сможем оценить, когда первые наборы Novo появятся на полках наших магазинов.
F.J. Henderson

Air International, 1977-04