Birthday Magic! Ed's ADDCO Magic Products and Terranova47's X-200

Woodsy,

After looking at Terranova47's July "OKAY Adventure Annual" post and looking at the photos he shared of his X-200 with the "ADDCO Magic Products" stamping - above - , I started thinking (not too hard mind you - it gives me a headache LOL).

A) I don't believe his X-200 was a '90s re-make, but rather a vintage '50s era piece

B) ADDCO (Advanced Design Development Co.) apparently acquired toys from Pyro, Renwal, and others to use in their 'Magic Guide' series of toys.

Attached are photos of:

Auburn Rubber #518 Fire Truck (eBay)

-A very low-res, copy of ADDCO's Magic Guide instruction sheet dated from 1954 featuring Pyro's X-200 Space Ranger (Worthpoint).

Pyro F7U Cutlass and USAF XF-90 Jet which too have the pins on top (my collection). The ADDCO stamping isn't present on my Cutlass or XF-90.

Renwal No.161 Jet with the ADDCO stamping underneath and the plastic pin sticking up from the fuselage (my collection).

Pyro XF-90 with the stamping present (eBay).

The toy itself - X-200- was similar in concept to Brian H's Tudor Rose Rarity in that two aircraft/spaceships hung down from metal rods, attached to them by lengths of vinyl plastic tubing.

A (windup?) motor on the assembly allowed the planes to fly in circles at breakneck speed. The Auburn fire truck is unusual, and I have no idea what that mechanism entailed.

To-date, I have yet to find a photo of the complete assembly for any Magic Guide toy.

From Vegas Base

Ed

Clearly Fishy: The Renwal Visible Trout by Paul Adams

Fish are not a common subject for model kits. An exception is the Renwal Visible Trout Assembly Kit. This differed in a number of respects from the other models in the Renwal Visible Series.

Model number 817-498 sold for $4.98, and depicts a small Brook Trout. It is still an impressive 16 inches (40cm) long - making the model life-sized, or 1:1 scale.

This description is from the 1966 Renwal catalogue, which can be found on the Box Art Den site:

The brook trout, favorite of America's fresh-water fishermen. This is truly an outstanding model - 16 inches long, and beautiful as well as instructive. One side is sparkling transparent plastic that displays in fine detail the intricate yet compact organic and bone structure of this graceful fish. 

The other side realistically simulates the speckled body no rod-and-reel enthusiast can resist ! The Visible Fish comes complete with a stand suitable for table display or wall mounting, and an illustrated fish-anatomy booklet.

There seems to be some doubt about the release date of this model. The Scalemates site says 1959; some listings say 1950s/1960s, or 1964. The model has a high catalogue number, which suggests a fairly late date, but this assumption rests on Renwal releasing their kits in numerical order. I would still guess early 1960s. This kit was listed in the 1966 Renwal catalogue, but was gone by the 1969 edition.

The box top shows both sides of the model, and states: A trophy for every rod-and-reel enthusiast - Fun to build...beautiful to display ! This is very unusual, none of the other kits in the series were promoted as being 'Fun to build'. It seems the educational aspects of the kit were taking a back-seat to pure modelling fun. It was also the only Visible kit to be sold as a Trophy model, although other firms had previously offered various hunting trophy models. It also included cement, which again is unusual. 

The box still mentions the skeleton, vital organs and transparent skin, anatomically accurate. A Handbook on fish is included, but this is mentioned only in very small writing - again the educational aspects of the kit were not emphasised as much as with other kits in the series. This adds to my impression of a late release date for the model.

The left side of the fish was moulded in smooth clear plastic, while the right side was textured and pre-finished in realistic Trout colours. The skeleton was moulded in the usual bone-coloured plastic, with the internal organs in pale pink. It seems the stand came in different colours. The box top shows a wood-brown, but photos show either black or pale pink. The support arms were clear plastic.

After a long absence from the shops, this model was re-issued, along with most of the other Renwal Visible Kits, in the 1990s under the Skilcraft name by Craft House Corporation of Toledo, Ohio.

The Skilcraft Visible Trout was model number 74634. The box top stated 'Modeled From An Actual Specimen', and 'Ideal for School Projects', so education was back in favour. This time around both body halves were in clear plastic.

Scalemates listing for the Renwal kit:

The Visible Trout, Renwal 817-498 (1959) (scalemates.com)

Scalemates listing for the Skilcraft version:

Visible Trout, Skilcraft 74634 (1994) (scalemates.com)

Box Art Den 1966 Renwal Catalogue page:

renwal 66 09-960 (boxartden.com)

Shows the Skilcraft instruction sheet.

NYACK COLLEGE FISHING CLUB BLOG: FISH ART: The Skilcraft Visible Trout Model (nyackfishingclub.blogspot.com)

All photos from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

THE RENWAL VISIBLE HORSE

This was one of the earliest Renwal Visible animal kits, and one of the longest lived. Kit number 807, The Visible Horse, first appeared in 1961, and was still listed in the Renwal catalogue in to the 1970s. It was later re-issued by Skilcraft in the 1990s. It depicted a Thoroughbred, a type widely used in equestrian sports.

The Visible Horse was described on the box top as 'An Accurate Anatomical Model - assemble...take-apart - re-assemble' and 'complete with ALL VITAL ORGANS - SKELETON - TRANSPARENT SKIN'. The model was 'Developed in Consultation with Dr. W.C.D. HARE, Associate Prof. and THOMAS N. HAVILAND, Associate, School of Veterinary Medicine UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA'. As usual, it came with 'an authoritative HANDBOOK'. Some boxes also have 'Parts undecorated and paints not included'.

Scalemates give the scale of this kit as 1/4th, which seems very large. The Renwal instruction sheet clearly shows the scale as 1/7th LIFE. The model was over 14 inches (35cm) long, and 12 inches (30cm) high.

A boy and girl were shown on the box top, studying the model, and the Handbook. The kit was moulded in the standard colours for a Renwal Visible kit: clear plastic for the outer body, bone-coloured plastic for the skeleton, pale pink for the internal organs, and black for the display stand.

The kit was described in Renwal catalogues as: Thoroughbred quality throughout ! All the strict attention RENWAL has paid to its other "see-thou" models has been lavished on this new member of the family. Carefully sculptured in a classic stance. THE VISIBLE HORSE is another sure winner for your stable of scientific hobby kits.

Retail $5.95

This is the Scalemates entry:

visible horse* - Scale Modeling Search (scalemates.com)

Renwal photographs:

VINTAGE 1961 RENWAL VISIBLE HORSE MODEL KIT IN ORIGINAL BOX | #2062153097 (worthpoint.com)

Vintage 1961 Renwal THE VISIBLE HORSE Model Toy - Contents Unopened / NM | #1966530848 (worthpoint.com)

Vintage 1961 Renwal Visible Horse Model - Complete | #2011337647 (worthpoint.com)

Craft House re-issued most of the Renwal Visible kits under the Skilcraft name, including the Visible Horse. The parts were moulded in the same colours as before, but it seems the stand was no longer included. Kit number 74628. In 2006 Skilcraft was acquired by Chartpak, of Leeds, Massachusetts, a company specialising in art products.

Skilcraft photographs.

Skilcraft Visible Horse Anatomically Accurate Equine Model Kit | #2073610050 (worthpoint.com)

Scalemates also list a Lindberg re-issue in 2007, as 76015, under the name Transparent Horse. I am not sure if this is the same kit. The size of the model is given as being slightly larger than the Renwal model, and the pose seems slightly different, but I am going solely by the box illustrations, so I could be wrong on this.

I also found this Visible Horse kit - I think the company name is Mediterraneo. Never heard of them.

Mediterraneo Horse Equine Anatomy Model Kit Transparent Nova Scientific | #1798787704 (worthpoint.com)

There is also a 4D Vision Horse Anatomy Model by 4D Master, which has a clear side and a solid side, with pre-finished internal organs. This kit has also been issued by Revell as part of its X-Ray series.

Most photographs are from Worthpoint, and one from Ebay.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Instructions via Paul Adams

RENWAL REPTILE KITS BY PAUL ADAMS

Hi,
Here is the next entry in my Renwal Visible animal series.




Renwal Reptile Science Assembly Kit



This was one of two Renwal Science kits consisting of a single large cut-away model, and several smaller models, all mounted on a large display stand. Despite the title of the kit, this actually included a mix of amphibians and reptiles.




According to Scalemates the 808 Reptile Science Assembly Kit was introduced sometime in the 1960s, only giving the date as 196x. It was still in the Renwal catalogue in to the 1970s. The scale is given as 1:1, although the frog is clearly larger than life-size.




The large cut-away model was a Leopard Frog




The smaller models were solid, and consisted of:

Alligator (baby)

Box Turtle

Rattlesnake

Chuckwalla (lizard)

Red Eft (amphibian)




There was the usual educational Handbook on Reptiles and Amphibians, and the box top states that the models were cast from live specimens (I assume live does not actually mean alive - surely they would wriggle about too much ?)



https://www.scalemates.com/kits/renwal-reptile-science--1256300



The 1966 Renwal catalogue entry says:

The Theory of Evolution becomes clearer and clearer as Renwal explores another link in the chain of life. These models are astonishingly life-like because they were actually cast from live specimens supplied by New York's Museum of Natural History.




The cutaway Leopard Frog is larger than life, and letter-keyed for instant recognition of vital anatomical elements. Science students will welcome these remarkable "Visual Aids" to their education.

Retail price $4.98.



Catalogues on the Box Art Den site. The 1966 and 1969

catalogues are in black and white, the 1973 edition being in colour.



Renwal 1966 (boxartden.com)

Renwal 1969 (boxartden.com)

renwal 73 08-960 (boxartden.com)



The display stand in the kit was moulded in a creamy white plastic, with the animals in a mix of green and brown.



The cut-away Frog from this kit was later issued on its own as 824-298 Leopard Frog (at least I am assuming it is the same model - it appears identical). This was given a new, flat display base. The kit was described in the catalogue as being three times life size, or 3:1. 'Skin patterns are engraved on the shell for ease of decorating'.




This was included in the 1969 and 1973 catalogues, but not the 1966 edition, where only the complete Reptile Science set was shown. This time everything was moulded in green.

Scalemates again give the release date as 196x, and give the scale as 1:1, which is incorrect. Entry for this solo kit:



Leopard Frog, Renwal (196x) (scalemates.com)



In the 1990s Craft House Corporation re-released the Reptile Science kit under the revised name of Reptile and Amphibian Kit - Six Kits in One. The parts were now moulded in a lighter green and pinkish fawn, but it appears the display stand was no longer included. The Skilcraft box top says the Frog is 'Nearly 2 Times Life-Size', which is again confusing.

The Scalemates entry gives the catalogue number, 74629.



https://www.scalemates.com/kits/skilcraft-74629-reptile-and-amphibian-kit--193053



It does not appear that the Leopard Frog was released as a solo kit by Skilcraft.



All photos from Worthpoint.




Paul Adams from New Zealand

RENWAL INSECT SCIENCE KITS BY PAUL ADAMS

Hi,

I have been looking in to the various Visible anatomy kits by Renwal, especially the animal, bird, fish, and insect kits. Interesting models, although I have never had any. Thought they might be of interest. I am working my way through all the animal kits. Here is a look at the Insect Science set.

Renwal Insect Science Set

US company Renwal was famous for its large-scale anatomical models. Slightly different was the 801 Insect Science kit. It comprised a single large-scale cut-away model, and an assortment of five smaller models, all mounted on a display stand.

This is the description in the 1966 Renwal catalogue:

A classroom favorite ! Fun to build, INSECT SCIENCE makes an eye-catching, instructive display piece when assembled. The cutaway FIELD CRICKET, 10 times actual size, contains all organs, glands and muscles. Kit includes 5 companion specimens in the "full round", attractive stand, all necessary decals and an elementary biology primer.

The kit came in a large box, and was priced at $2.98. It lasted well in to the 1970s in the Renwal catalogue, which showed an assembled example. The 1973 version in colour.

Renwal 1966 (boxartden.com)

renwal 73 08-960 (boxartden.com)

Apart from the giant Field Cricket, the kit contained smaller models of the Blue Bottle Fly, Malaria Mosquito, Red Admiral Butterfly, Giant Water Bug, and Polistes Wasp. The set came with an illustrated Handbook on insects. The set was Created in Consultation with, John C. Pallister, Entomologist, Dept. of Insects and Spiders, The American Museum of Natural History, New York City. The kit was moulded in several colours, including brown, turquoise, and clear plastic for the insect wings. The display stood an impressive 16 inches tall.

Here is the Scalemates entry.

Insect Science, Renwal 801:298 (1960) (scalemates.com)

Box and Assembled models.

Large Boxed Educational 1960 Renwal Insect Science Plastic Model Assembly Kit - TPNC (timepassagesnostalgia.com)

From Sturgis Antiques and Collectables, a look at the kit parts in their box.

(11) Sturgis Antiques & Collectables – Posts | Facebook

After the demise of Renwal in the 1970s, this kit seems to have disappeared until it was re-issued by Craft House Corporation, under the Skilcraft name, in the 1990s. It seems Skilcraft usually omitted the stands that came with the original Renwal kits, but not in this case.

The Scalemates entry for this kit says release date 1998, and New Tool, when it is clearly the old Renwal kit. The name has changed to Insect Lab, number 74547. No scale is given.

Insect Lab, Skilcraft 74547 (1998) (scalemates.com)

The Skilcraft box says Six Kits in One - Modeled From Actual Specimens (a claim not made by Renwal, at least not on their box tops) - Ideal for School Projects - Includes Illustrated Pamphlet.

This time around all the parts are moulded in a single colour, a sort of pinkish fawn. Even the old clear parts are now moulded in opaque plastic, and will need to be painted. It seems the Skilcraft kit comes with a plastic magnifying glass and tweezers. I found photos of the magnifying glass in different colours.

Four photographs, in two batches, all from Worthpoint.

Here are the last two photographs for the Renwal Insect Science set, showing the later Skilcraft issue

Paul Adams from New Zealand