BACHMANN'S ANIMALS OF THE WORLD BY PAUL ADAMS

The third series of Paint-by-Number kits made by Bachmann was the Animals of the World. The line ran to eight kits, although nine were announced. One was not produced; and two underwent significant changes between their first appearance in the 1961 Paint-by-Number catalogue, and their arrival in the shops.

Again, these were simple snap-fit kits, and came with paints; a jar of Bachmann Styrene Painting Fluid and Glue; and a brush. All were moulded in the same pinkish plastic. Half the kits came with clear plastic eyes that were inserted in to the head, like the Birds. The other sets had eyes moulded as part of the head, which needed to be painted, like the Dogs.

This time there were no small, $1.00 kits, although the numbering system clearly allowed for them. If any had been released, they would have had catalogue numbers in the 7000 series. The kits produced were in the medium price range at $1.49, with numbers in the 7100 series (6 kits); and the large price range at $1.98, with numbers in the 7200 series (2 kits).

Both the Bird and Dog kits had a simple painting of the subject on the box top, without a background, but the Animals all had paintings that showed the them in their natural habit. That included a farm for the farm Animals.

The kits were described on the box top as Scale-Size, but the scale was not given. I do not know if all the kits were to the same scale, but that seems unlikely as the Squirrel Monkey would have been a lot smaller than most of the other animals in the range.

Most of the kits included a green plastic display base, with an irregular edge, and a textured top. The exceptions were the Squirrel Monkey, which sat on a man-made perch in a mottled brown, taken from the Bird range; and the Deer, which had its own sculpted base, in the same colour as the rest of the kit.

7100-149 Tiger - moulded eyes

7101-149 Lion - moulded eyes

7102-149 Squirrel Monkey - clear eyes

7103-149 Panda - clear eyes

7104-149 Zebra - clear eyes

7105-149 Deer - moulded eyes

7200-198 Morgan Horse - moulded eyes

7201-198 Cow and Calf - clear eyes for the Cow, moulded eyes for the Calf

The Panda was first shown in the 1961 catalogue, and on the front of early instruction sheets. It was to be Available Later in 1961... The painting used to illustrate this model is rather strange. The creature is very cat-like, and has a long thick tail. It is more like a Red Panda, but with normal black and white Panda markings. Later catalogue illustrations, and box tops, showed a normal, bear-like Giant Panda, and that is what was in the box.

The Deer was first announced, in the 1961 catalogue, as a Deer and Fawn, with no mention of a number. The illustration shows a Doe and Fawn. However this family set never appeared. The 1962 catalogue lists it simply as a Deer, and it has become a lone Stag, with a planned Fall Release date. The box top, when it appeared, was different to the artwork shown in the catalogue. The kit was unique in that it that it had its own scenic base. This was the last of the Animal kits to be produced.

A Leopard was also shown in the 1961 catalogue, and on early kit instruction sheets. This is listed on Wikipedia and a few other sites as having been among the kits released by Bachmann, but I doubt it was ever produced. It was not included in any of the later catalogues, and I have not found any sales listings or examples of the kit on-line. I would assume that with two Big Cats already in the Animals range, that a third might have been considered excessive, and the idea was dropped. If it had been produced, it would likely have been a 7100 series kit.

The Cow and Calf was the only double kit released, although the Deer and Fawn was obviously planned as a double kit. Since no number is mentioned in the catalogue, it is uncertain if this would have been a $1.49 or $1.98 kit.

I have not seen any special edition versions of the Animal kits, such as the 3-D plaques or Blister-packed sets. According to the 1961 catalogue there was a three-piece Banded unit (perhaps a paper or cardboard sleeve around the boxes ?) consisting of the first three kits released, number 7305. This had a retail price of $4.96, but it is not illustrated.

Bachmann seem to have launched most of their Paint-by-Number ranges with an initial three kits, followed by a steady flow of new releases throughout the year. The first Animal kits were the Tiger, Lion, and Morgan Horse. These were also the longest lived models in the range. Next came the Squirrel Monkey, set for release in February 1961. Either the first three kits came out in very early 1961, or perhaps late 1960 ?

Some of the other kits did not last very long. All eight kits were shown in the 1962 catalogue. But the 1963 catalogue shows only six models, with the Squirrel Monkey and Panda no longer being listed. I do not have any information on the 1964 range, but the 1965 catalogue is down to four Animal kits, the Zebra, and Cow and Calf, having also disappeared. Was it just a coincidence that all the retired kits had clear plastic eyes, while the remaining kits all had moulded eyes ? Again I have no information on the 1966 range, but the Animals were not included in the 1967 catalogue.

In 1971 part of the range was revived under the name Bachmann Nature Craft Kits. There were 12 models in the line, only one of which was from the Animals of the World series. The Morgan Horse received a new number in the Nature Craft series: 6506:150, and a new box without the background painting. The price was dropped to $1.50, to bring it in to line with the other Nature Craft kits. These kits had their own short leaflet, and a couple of pages towards the back of the general 1972 and 1973 Hobby Catalogs (US spelling). I do not know if the line was included in other editions.

This seems to have been the last time any of the Animal kits appeared.

12 photographs from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand