Rampaging Scorpion, the fourth model in the Gigantics diorama line featured a giant Scorpion - an arachnid rather than an insect. Over the years it has been released by Fundimensions, Airfix, and AMT/Ertl.
Fundimensions, 1-0504, 197x
Airfix, 05851-5, 1976
AMT/Ertl, 8390, 1996
Scalemates give the date for all these kits as 1973, but the boxes (and at least some of the instruction sheets) say 1975. This site has shots of an assembled model, and includes a rather blurred photograph of a copyright date moulded in to one of the parts - 1974.
MPC 1975 Catalogue, from the Box Art Den
The setting is again typical of a 1950s monster-on-the-rampage movie. This time we have a giant Scorpion attacking the centre of an American city, surrounded by tall buildings, which are not faring too well. The streets are filled with crushed cars and fleeing people. It was most likely inspired by The Black Scorpion (1957).
The Daily Press newspaper headline reads 'Thousands Flee From Rampaging Scorpion !!'. However the AMT re-issues changed this to 'Rampaging Scorpion Terrorizes City !!'.
When assembled the Scorpion model is 7 inches long. Scorpions vary greatly in size, depending on the species, but some really are that big.
There is again a stand on which to assemble the model, ensuring that all the feet are actually in contact with the ground once the cement sets. One side of the box emphasises the detail and accuracy of the model as a display piece in its own right, the other side shows the diorama being put together.
The printed card background provides a crowded city skyline, and intersection. An item on the Hobby Talk site mentions something I had not spotted - the card background in the AMT/Ertl re-issue is different to the original.
While the building types are similar in size and type, a 1st National Bank branch, and skyscrapers, those in the AMT kit are of a more modern design.
Those in the old Fundimensions/Airfix kit look more suitable for the 1950s or 1970s.
This seems to be the only kit in the series where the AMT/Ertl version has a different background.
The remaining parts include a couple of moulded plastic buildings in the foreground, both showing signs of damage. These seem a little under-sized compared to the figures in the set - there would be very little headroom inside.
Three cars (two of them crushed); and a selection of people, including some duplicates. There is also a sheet of signs for the buildings - I am not sure if these are paper or decals. Again, the signs would be changed for the AMT re-issue.
The kit, and its three companions, were first released by Fundimensions in the mid-1970s.
In 1976 Airfix re-issued two of the kits in Series 5, including the Scorpion, but they were only included in the 13th and 14th Edition catalogues. The catalogue description reads 'Factual models in a fictional setting summarises these dramatic kits.
Science fiction dioramas with the star being a rampaging Scorpion and a colossal Mantis loose in a city brings the horror film scene to the model world. Each kit includes an easy-to-assemble full colour background with miniature figures and vehicles'.
Both kits re-used the original Fundimensions box art, with a few changes, such as the Airfix logo. The instruction sheet from the Airfix Scorpion can be downloaded from the Vintage Airfix site.
Vintage Airfix kit entry.
Airfix Catalogue, 13th Edition, from the Box Art Den
In the 1990s, AMT/Ertl re-issued three of the kits, including the Scorpion. All the kits had new box art, with the Scorpion probably being the closest to the original.
The Daily Press headline was changed, putting the name of the creature first. They carried the copyright date 1996, which refers only to the boxes, not the kits inside. As already mentioned, the Scorpion also had a different card background, and the decals were different.
Box Photos
Showing the revised decal sheet in the AMT kit.
Built models
Eight photos from Worthpoint.
That wraps it up for the Gigantics series; hope you enjoyed it.
Have you got any?
Paul Adams from New Zealand
