Life-size or larger models of frogs seem to be surprisingly popular model subjects. In addition to the Renwal Leopard Frog, there was also a kit by another US company, Palmer Plastics Incorporated, of Brooklyn, New York.
The Visible Dissecting Frog Assembly Kit was a Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Female. As with the Renwal kits, the educational aspects of the kit were emphasised in advertising 'This authentic model will be of interest to high school and college age students, children, adults, and educators'. I do not think they left anyone out.
The box top was packed with information: From Skeleton to Skin - Assemble, Remove - Replace All Organs. Compete with dissecting tweezers and illustrated booklet. Larger than life size with 50 pieces, the model was 10 1/2 inches long. $1.98.
According to Scalemates kit number 800-198 was released in 1963, although some listings say 1950s. The scale is given as 1:1 - life size - but this directly contradicts the box top, which states it is larger. No re-issues are mentioned.
The frog body was moulded in translucent green plastic, so the skeleton and internal organs could be seen, with the remaining parts in creamy white plastic.
Several photos of the kit - note, some parts have been painted.
THE VISIBLE DISSECTING FROG Vintage Box Model Parts Instructions Palmer #800-198 - $20.00 | PicClick
I also found a few other modern Dissecting Frog kits, some with pre-coloured parts. The Revell X-ray Frog kit looks to be the same as the 4D Vision Frog.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Don't X-ray your pet frog kids, unless you are a qualified radiologist.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I've got a Revell X-Ray Giraffe, which I picked up in a supermarket near Brother Cadfael's garden! How many subjects did or is Revell still making?
ReplyDelete4D Master makes a large number of these pre-finished kits, human and animal anatomy kits, aircraft, spacecraft. They appear to have been sold under a number of different company names, including Revell Germany. I have no idea how many there were in total, or if they are still being sold by Revell Germany. NZ supermarkets do not have items like that, perhaps toy shops, but they are not really the sort of thing you see in model shops either. At least, not in NZ.
ReplyDeleteUpdate. I have just discovered that the Palmer Dissecting Frog kit was also sold by another US company, Natural Science Industries Limited, of Far Rockaway, New York. The boxes are the same as the original Palmer kits, except for the NSI logo in the upper right corner of the box top, and the different company address. The body of the frog was moulded in clear plastic.
ReplyDeleteI do not know if the Palmer moulds went to NSI at some point, or if Palmer just made the kits for them. NSI was a maker of educational and scientific toys, such as an ant farm, rock tumbler, and wood burning set. Kits were a bit of a departure for them. They also did the two Palmer prehistoric skeletons, the Mastodon and the Brontosaurus.