Hi Woodsy,
Superior Plastics – Custom Molders and Extruders – was a US plastics company that produced a number of educational model kits in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were based in Chicago, Illinois.
Most of their kits were anatomical, and were part of the Superlon Science Series. Superlon being a hard-wearing industrial plastic that Superior used for their kits.
The models needed to be hard-wearing, as they were heavily promoted for class room use in schools, where they would receive a lot of handling. Several other firms also produced educational kits around this time, including Renwal with their Visible anatomy models.
One kit Superior produced was the Amoeba (copyright date 1963). This included a large, ten-part Protozoa; plus one-piece placque (this is what is says on the box) models of the Euglena and Paramecium; and a display stand.
The models were ‘enlarged more than a thousand times life size’, and everything was moulded in clear plastic. The Amoeba was kit number No.3800:200, and sold for $2.00.
All the Superior models were available either as kits, or fully assembled and painted, ready for class-room use. The assembled version of the Amoeba was No.3875, and sold for $7.50.
Sometime in the 1960s the Superior kit line went to Educational Products, of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Kit number 3800, without a price extension.
Then to Lindberg Products of Skokie, Illinois (copyright date of 1974 on the box). Kit number 1316, in the Natural Science Series.
Eventually the Amoeba ended up with Atlantis Toy and Hobby, Deer Park, New York. Kit number L3800 (combining the L-prefix for Lindberg, with the original Superior kit number), copyright date 2022.
All versions were moulded in clear plastic, although they could be painted on the inside to make the different parts easier to see. These days you can use the clear paints produced by various firms (Humbrol, Tamiya, etc) for tinting transparent parts, mainly on model cars.
The instruction sheet gives plenty of information on the kit subjects, and even has two photographs of the steel Amoeba mould. Unfortunately, the stand in my kit was cracked, but I should be able to fix this.
Now back in 2022 I did a write-up on this kit for Moonbase Central, and I am afraid I was not too kind to the kit. Wondering why on Earth anyone would want such a bizarre subject.
Having just acquired an example, and finally having a chance to examine the parts, I have changed my mind. You can either use it as a scientific display and educational model, as Superior intended; or put it in to a Science Fiction setting.
The upper and lower halves of the Protozoa could be used separately to create various space monsters – such as The Blob, or The Green Slime. It would make a great addition to any Monster collection.
In conclusion, this is a much more interesting kit than you might think. I certainly have plans for mine.
Photos of the Atlantis kit are mine, those of the earlier versions are from Worthpoint.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
What an amazing kit and so educational yet completely sci-fi! Atlantis are the saviours of plastic aren't they, like Polar lights/ Playing Mantis and Monogram before them. Thanks for sharing Paul.
ReplyDeleteWe're they amoebas in the film Fantastic Voyage attacking the ship?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that have been white blood cells, antibodies etc..?
DeleteI bow to your physics Kev. Where do amoebas live?
DeleteWater and soil I think. Oh and deep space for the ones larger than Federation starship!
DeleteHa ha!
DeleteThe Superior Amoeba was an iconic kit, so weird yet so compelling. It is wonderful that Atlantis has saved it from oblivion. There are so many possibilities with this bizarre, very abstract model. I personally think a recreation of "The Blob" is in order! SFZ
ReplyDeleteA 'Blob' version of the Amoeba is in the works right now. Await developments.
ReplyDeleteYes, Atlantis have re-issued many of the old Aurora, Monogram, Revell, Lindberg, Pyro, and Superior kits. Some have not been seen in decades. This gives modellers a chance to build models they had back then, or missed out on; and allows newer modellers to build models they have never seen before. Atlantis is a great company, with a great line-up of kits.
As you may know by now, I am a big fan of Atlantis. They reissue some of the most obscure, and esoteric model kits ever made, and it is a real privilege to be able to build (or rebuild) some of these classics from our youth. SFZ
DeleteMy High School had a visible cell kit on display. I was always fascinated by it's transparent polygonal shape and the weird shapes inside.
ReplyDeleteYes, in my last job as a TA the Science department had lots of old visible kits and statues in cabinets like your cell Looey. The dissassembling eyeball was just fabulous and eerie!
DeleteWoodsy, you really, really need to do a post about your experiences with these kits actually being used in schools, for teaching. The whole purpose of these educational kits. Do you know if they were bought as kits, and assembled by staff, or if they were purchased by the schools already assembled ? Certainly some of the makers of these kits offered them assembled, ready for school use.
ReplyDeleteI would say they were sadly ignored Paul, forgotten artefacts in the science class display cupboards, along with old microscopes and scales. In twelve years working at school I never saw them being used alas. Old school literally.
DeleteThat is so sad. All these wonderful, educational kits by the likes of Superior, Renwal, Pyro, and others. Sitting, forgotten in a cupboard. I only have a few examples, but treasure mine.
ReplyDelete