At an Auckland collector's fair I picked up several kits, including a 1/72nd scale Monogram North American P-51B Mustang fighter. Judging just by the box, this appeared to be a 1960s-vintage kit, but when I looked more closely, it turned out to be a 1980s re-issue.
The copyright date on the side of the box is 1967, Monogram Models Inc., Morton Grove, Illinois, USA. The kit number, on the box end, is PA143.70 - the suffix to the number meaning a retail price of 70 cents.
It certainly looks like a vintage kit. But once I got it home, and looked inside the box, I found the instruction sheet has the copyright dates 1967 & 1988 at the bottom, and the model number is now 5005-0200. The style of the Monogram logo has also changed.
Older, classic, and desirable kits, die-casts, toys, and books are often re-issued in vintage-style packaging, matching that of the original issue. Usually there will be a modern copyright date, or bar code, which tells you the item is a re-issue rather than an original.
But not in this case. Buyer beware - but it was not too expensive, and I am still happy with the vintage artwork, so no harm done.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Great that you brought this up, Paul, as this is a common problem with kits, especially Japanese ones. Many an auction I have shied away from, uncertain of the year of issue.
ReplyDeleteIf someone has some advice on how to make distinctions between issues, I for one would be very grateful.
Thanks, Arto. Thinking about it further, it is possible that the box is 1960s, but the kit in the box is a 1980s version. Apart from the fine print, with company name, copyright date, address, and perhaps a modern barcode, many modern kits are made in China, or somewhere else in the Far East, rather than in England, USA, or somewhere in Europe.
ReplyDeleteThe colour of the plastic may also be different, as many modern kits are moulded in the same monotonous light grey. The original kit might have been moulded in white, silver, yellow, or some other colour. Original Matchbox kits from the 1970s and 1980s were moulded in two or three different colours, but once Matchbox were bought by Revell they switched to single-colours. The modern kits, in Revell boxes, are also single-colour.
This means you really have to know the kit, and do a lot of research. That is OK if you are sitting at home, and can look things up on the internet, but not if you are out at a fair.
The descriptions on internet sales sites are often total rubbish, written by people with no knowledge of the subject, or deliberately trying to deceive. In the 1980s/1990s Matchbox re-issued several of their 1950s vintage die-casts as Matchbox Originals, for collectors. Often these are described on-line as though they were 1950s when they are clearly marked with a modern date, the Matchbox name (1950s models would say Lesney, not Matchbox), and Made in China.
Details matter, but no one can be an expert on every single kit or toy. Good luck.
Cheers Paul, great insights. I believe though the inaccuracies in descriptions are more often due to sheer ignorance than ill will.
ReplyDeleteScalemates is a great resource for identifying kit issues. Maybe they could elaborate further by going deeper into the details.
I have many diecast models that are reissues in my collection as well as many original models. I view it as a chance to own a model that I desire but can't justify the price of an original. The 1990s saw a lot of classic toys reissued.
ReplyDeleteMost collectors who are concerned with originality can spot the difference. If the seller is honest about it it is a chance to get something I would not be able to afford otherwise. Outside of some dealers who don't know any better most sellers are honest about what they are selling.
ReplyDeleteMost collectors who are concerned with originality can spot the difference. If the seller is honest about it it is a chance to get something I would not be able to afford otherwise. Outside of some dealers who don't know any better most sellers are honest about what they are selling.
ReplyDeleteSorry I hit send twice.
ReplyDelete