1950 and 60's Vintage Plastic Model Kits (Merit and Revell )

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[@Claire-ff4lu]

In 1984 I had a summer job before starting collage at a packing company opposite the Merit factory in Potters Bar. We packed Merit Chemistry Sets and did packing for Revell GB, in the adjacent building. The buildings were located in the Cranborne Industrial Estate, Potters Bar, England, about 2 miles from where I lived.

[@TranceTrousers]

I knew I'd heard the Merit name before, but never associated it with plastic kits. It was probably their chemistry set or something similar that I remember seeing.

[@marklieghio6221]

I remember making the Porsche kit when I was about 10..almost 40 years ago

[@marcblank3036]

Makes you feel young again seeing it

[@glhx2112]

I remember building that Porsche kit back in the late 1970's. It went together perfectly and was one of my all time favorite car model kits.

[@gsr4535]

I enjoy building old kits and trying to improve them to modern kit standards.

[@the_lost_navigator]

Respect to Donald Campbell. My Brother remembers watching the crash. Thought: Building models since grade school and learning about the real subjects and how they worked helped me see things clearer as I built them... still am ;)

[@neilperry2224]

Van wall, was the first British built car, to win a grand prix, and it also win constructors points. But shut down after they lost drivers in severe crashes.

[@Lonewolf6565]

To be fair early open wheeled grand prix was basically suicide missiles the sport. Safety concerns with Grand Prix and a list of deaths ended up giving rise to modern Le Mans and Formula 1 rules in the 50s.

[@ericchristopher1687]

Great to see the old Merit models from England on your channel. Way back in the 1970s, Auto World out of Scranton, PA, sold Merit kits and I bought quite a few. I still have several, including Grand Prix Talbot-Lagos and Alpha Romeos, an Aston Martin DB-3S and a Maserati CLT 4.

[@juliangreenfield4193]

Great to see the old time kits..would be great to see you build one..👍🇬🇧 from your friends in the UK

[@martinnakladal8362]

some of theese kits are stili available. In Czech Republic were some of tham produced under Směr company (Talbot lago, Alfa Romeo and Wiking ship)

[@dhdove]

Merit were a popular toy company in the U.K. in the sixties when I was growing up. Also did scientific toys, Chemistry Set and Microscope which I had. TonyS, Bristol, UK.

[@BobBoB-ez1pi]

I remember my late father, building a merit plane, not sure what type but it was a bi-plane. The little glue tube, he once dropped on the new carpet accidentally stood on it, it burst and stuck to his slipper sole, mother was far from happy. I must have been 5 at this time. (when I saw you holding the glue up. I saw my father doing exactly what I just described. Big thanks for, jolting my early memories.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

It's so cool to look at the old kits!! 👍 😉 👌

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Glad you liked it. hopefully I can get more to share with you guys

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

@@AndysHobbyHeadquarters That would be cool.

[@DeadAbeVigoda]

"Snap! Snap! Break! Crumble!" -me putting together a vintage model

[@keithmidgley6097]

As a kid I made all the Merit 1/48 planes, except the Bristol Bulldog (which I never came across) and thought they were great. The majority were WW1 fighters and I think my favourite was the DH2 Pusher. The German aircraft of course gave scope for some really colourful paint schemes, whereas the the RFC didn't go in for that "Flash-Harry" stuff. The Swordfish floatplane and Walrus amphibian (both WW2) were impressive kits being 1/48, even if the detail was only typical of the time. The Hawker Hunter was also an impressive shape and size but didn't have that many parts. The standard kits were I think 5/- (five bob) which would be 25p in modern money. I remember the kits being marketed through general stores/toy shops (where I got my examples) rather than specialist model shops. I've still got one of the racing car models (the French Gordini). Recently, watching a KZbin film of the 1955 Monoco Grand Prix I was surprised to see a couple of these light blue cars just like my Merit model!

[@nwlondontimemachine9484]

I have just purchased the D Type Jaguar by Merit, in it's box, assembled. Great model for its time.

[@andrewcutts3197]

I had one or two of those Merit car kits. Merit also produced a range of Aircraft kits too. Look out for Eagle models from the U.K. too. Part of my early modelling.

[@SueBobChicVid]

Campbell died in a version of that speed boat while attempting a new record in January 1967.

[@georider8222]

Correct, Bluebird.

[@jnichols3]

Think it is the same boat. Over the course of its life it was modified several times. Bluebird flipped and broke-up on January 4th 1967 killing Campbell. Contrary to popular belief, Bluebird's location was not lost, but kept a secret. The family did not want it raised until Campbell's remains could be located and recovered. Bluebird's story does not end there. Skip ahead a few decades. In late 2000 to early 2001, Bluebirds wreckage and Campbell's remains were recovered. Between then and 2018, Bluebird was rebuilt and once again took to the water where it was run up to 150 mph. This vehicle has had a truly remarkably life. Half of it spent lying at the bottom of a cold, murky, quite Loch.

[@Orthodixie]

Bought the complete line of Merit racing car kits starting in the 1960s. Several(Alfa & Talbot) have been reissued by a couple of Eastern European companies. In the 60's they were available at $1-2.00 ea. Not now.

[@johnmcmunn3827]

Donald Campbell's Bluebird ..I built that kit many moons ago at a school camp.

[@RJDCR]

built the Porsche for my Dad , as a kid.....wish I could find one now....Mannn , those Merit kits were nice...kool vid , thanx RJ

[@RJDCR]

Merit kit would make a fine slotcar

[@stashyjon]

I had a Merit Bristol Bulldog, for a 8 year old me (this would have been late sixties) it was hideously complex, but my grand dad helped me with it :)

[@jerryschneider145]

Thanks Andy, love the vintage kits.

[@aaronbaldea2734]

VERY nice, Andy! Thank you for sharing with us. 👍🏼

[@novicejohnd5803]

Very cool old models, love this stuff, thank you Andy very interesting

[@BillMiller-lw6or]

Yes, I’ve had a lot of those in my day

[@dongorski4822]

Merit produced kits until the mid 70’s, I think the company was bought out in 78? I remember building the Cooper when I was 10/11 yrs old. A lot of the car bodies were used by early slot car racers. J &L Randall was originally an electrical component manufacturer which branched out into kits and toys. The company also made aircraft, ships, and vintage car kits. I saw a Mercedes kit, same series as the one you have for sale just recently - $79 US!

[@bill7778]

You make me want to buy 1 of every kit that Tamiya comes out with this year.

[@edwardjohannes1258]

I still have the Porsche and the Jaguar XKE that I built way back then!

[@vtbmwbiker]

I got an old Revell/Italeri kit via Ebay a few months ago. it still had the "Revell Master Modeler's Club" application in it for buck. I almost sent it in just to see what would happen. I was a member years(decades) ago. Got an official certificate, a plastic modeling knife and actually some very handy clamps for holding parts together. These old kit look sees are great! Thanks for sharing them.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Very cool , I love seeing that old stuff

[@vtbmwbiker]

@@AndysHobbyHeadquarters It was an old "Elefant" version from the 1970's. I had actually built one way back when (still have the wreckage in a box) and remembered the orange plastic and chart with part numbers, rather than on the sprue. I think I did a better job this time around then when I was 10-- or so I hope...

[@quixoticjedi942]

I was a member of the Master Modellers Club when I was a kid too. Loved the little quarterly newsletters with all the art from members. I wish I'd saved them.

[@Bri_Bri_the_Wise_Guy]

keep up the old kit reviews. I love them

[@user-um4jt7yq6w]

Andy, I built the Cooper and one of the Maseratis some time back. I did NOT use the glue in the capsule....They went together pretty well, and, had Merit hung in there, they would have served well as bodies for slot racing cars . Also, the antique cars on the back of the ad flyer look quite a bit like some of the old Gowland/Revell Highway Pioneers of the 50s.

[@ericssincty6537]

Well done.

[@marshallbueckert]

I was a Master Modelers Club member. Wow that brings back memories.

[@Johnny-tt8zc]

I love the old model kits. A lot of memories in those. I have a San Francisco cable car made by Hawk. It’s actually molded in bright green. Stay safe 🍻🌲

[@hansthomasandersen7836]

Wauw; Memory Lane...I recall my Dad assembling a Matchbox 1/32 scale messerschmitt bf 109 E1/4, in the mid 1970's...a kit I now have in my position.🙂 Thanks Andy, really great upload. Stay safe, Hans.

[@philby1]

i remember having the Black falcon model pirate ship by merit. probably the early 70s when i had it.

[@dave8599]

"Tonneau Cover", that is what that canvas piece is called that the driver sticks his head thru on the speedster kit.

[@stephenharrington528]

Hi Andy really enjoyed the video great to see these old kits again my fat father used to build them when I was growing up Steve 🇬🇧

[@soupy607]

The sound of that plastic brings back memories . I think for the year that race car was pretty nice.

[@markchamberlain9856]

Thanks for the older kit reviews. I built a lot of kits from the 60s to the 90s. Great to see some of them again. The Vanwell you mentioned was the first British built Formula One car to win the World Championship. The late Sir Stirling Moss drove it. Keep up the great builds!

[@RCUKScaleModels]

great videos always Andy. J & L Randall Ltd was a British toy manufacturer, based in Potters Bar, which was in Middlesex until 1965 and then in Hertfordshire. The company flourished in the 1950s and 1960s and placed regular advertisements in Meccano Magazine. It was one of the main competitors to Mamod for models of stationary steam engines. The company used two trading names: Merit for general toys SEL (Signalling Equipment Ltd) for technical toys, e.g. electric motors, steam engines and student microscopes. It is believed that the term "signalling equipment" originally related to items such as Morse keys and sounders. In 1978 the company was bought by Letraset for 12.5 million pounds. [1] [2]. The company no longer exists but some of the products, especially the steam engines have become collectors' items. I live in Brighton in the UK we have a toy Museum and there's a lot of history and merit toys there.

[@dennislawther1414]

I see someone else went to Wikipedia.

[@robertgriffin662]

Thanks for sharing. again please more vids like this.

[@raymond7880]

Merit did chemistry sets. I had one of the smaller sets. The big one you could create life...

[@panzerpete4389]

We had some of these kits in the early 60s here in Montreal I remember I had one I think it was the type D Jaguar.

[@chrisfloyd4210]

OH, MY! My dad had two of the old merit plane kits way back in the day. I think it was back in the early 70's. I remember them sitting on his dresser in his bedroom. Thanks for that memory.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Thanks for sharing, I would love to see those kits

[@finlayfraser9952]

Yes, I built the 1/48 Hawker Hunter at that time, I was impressed by its size compared to the regular 1/72 scale that I was used to. I remember the frame for the canopy glazing was a separate injection molded piece.

[@georider8222]

Yes, I remember these kits from the late 50's as I was growing up in England. My dad helped me build the Mercedes and I built the Lotus 11. Much later I built the Alfa Romeo 158. These were premium models back then and at least twice the price of an Airfix kit. The molds for the Alfa Romeo and the Lago Talbot ended up in the Czech republic and you can still find them on auction sites under the brand SMER ( maybe they bought aircraft models as well).

[@IJNavy]

Really impressed with the lack of flash and warpage on the old Merit kit!

[@afenijmeijer9027]

I remember the Merit kits. I had the Alfa 158 and thought, at the time that they were stunning models.

[@daviemaclean61]

I had a Vanwall as one of the cars in my first Scalextric set! Can't remember what the other car was. Yes, I'm THAT old! ;-)

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Lol That is really cool.

[@johncrome1605]

Hi Andy, I was too young to remember these kits however, I remember the cars in real life at racing circuits here in the UK.

[@billparkin5649]

Impact did a line of 1930's British biplanes and a set of pioneers of flight the molds went to pyro and then life like and now some are produced by Lindbergh some of there kits were produced by smer and artiplast.

[@Youcanbuildmodels]

Really hope to see some old armor kits

[@Argovia1803]

OMG, The Bluebird !!!

[@brentandnikocallahan4038]

Hi Andy , enjoying your channel from New Zealand . These Merit kits turn up from time to time here and there are several great modern builds of the Smer / Heller kits to be found ( Scale Auto magazine , Google search ).

[@neilperry2224]

What!! Donald Campbell was killed in the 'Bluebird jet boat', it was recently restored and ran on Loch Ness.

[@kevinzilly7201]

i built that Porsche too as a kid

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

I remember Merit kits though I don't recall ever building one. The glue bulbs could be found in other kit brands and were a kind of gelatinous rubber. Tricky to use without getting glue on your fingers.

[@garylawless3608]

Hi Andy! I too love to see these vintage models, including the box art, the history of the company, and the visuals of other models available. You mention that you were not familiar with the ‘Bluebird’ model, so here is a little background on this machine’s history. The model of the Merit ‘Bluebird’ is based on Donald Campbell’s boat used in the world water speed records that he held in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Donald was the son of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who was himself a British land and water world speed record holder. Donald Campbell remains the only person to set world speed records on both land and water in the same year (1964). He died in an attempt at another world speed record on water in the ‘Bluebird’ on ‘Coniston Water’ in the Lakes District, England, in 1967. Models of the ‘Bluebird’ were very popular after his death, and there were a few companies distributing them during the late 60’s - early 70’s.

[@maxbrandt6]

Rather neat vintage finds, I really want that Porsche kit! Time to do some eBay hunting.

[@CubejamF1]

The Vanwall team were actually the first world champions of Formula 1 in 1958, the year the world constructors championship was held. Very neat little kit.

[@simongalling3700]

I have most of the Merit F1 cars model kits, but one I'm having trouble to find is the little lotus. The Talbot Lago and Alfa Romeo were upgrades on the previous kits they both came with engines bonnets (hoods) as you Americans call them. Merit race car, are very hard to find evening in England these days some prices are absolutely stupid

[@keithspencersr.6806]

The Porsche kit, would be great at a larger scale. Call one of model companies and put a idea out there.

[@01FozzyS]

Wow I remember those Master Modelers Club apps. Those were the days!

[@errollpalmer9568]

How about " Get It Together" and Delmo Kitsalp?

[@garfieldsmith332]

The Merit has a nice bright colour; looks great. Those 3 ship kits look very familiar. They look like they are the same as the Aurora kits. If the scale matches then there may have been some mold swapping or licensing.

[@reconranger1370]

good stuff ANdy, see you later in the week. Joe

[@od1452]

I remember those kits. Aurora used some of their molds. ( SMER Copied or bought some of the Merit kits too) I remember the glue vile too. A few manufacturers did that..it was usually unusable or leaked! I liked the Race cars though. It would be great to see the same cars but better made by Tamiya now! The Porsche was a long time kit. I joined some of those clubs. They usually stoped sending stuff in no time.

[@dougroberts3840]

Somebody needs to take that Merit kit and redo it, I would love to build all those old race cars, please

[@pierreinuk]

The initial release of that Revell kit was a road version of the Porsche with bumpers and a windshield frame. You were expected to cut the winshield space from a flat flexible piece of plastic. Plastic tyres. There was also an Austin Healey 100-6 (which has been re-issued many times). Stirling Moss raced for Vanwall at one time.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

Great info thank you.

[@stephenpropnut7486]

Merit moulds went to Pyro then Impact , (I think) the aircraft moulds eventually went to Smer. I’ve built the Walrus , which was the only option in 1/48 until Classic Airfames released their much better detailed version. So to the Swordfish prior the Tamiya release. Outlines were accurate but lacking any finer details.

[@jdrake8738]

I believe I might remember that some of the Biplanes wound up in Aurora's stable.... I cant swear to it, but it's ringing a bell...

[@stevenfox7407]

I'm actually familiar with Merit's racing car kits. Some years back I obtained their kit of the Aston-Martin DB3S; mostly built, but all there. Only way I could get a model of one of my more favorite racing car subjects. Another old British model company whose kits I've encountered is Rosebud Kitmaster; they did a series of HO/OO locomotive and rolling stock kits (several of which I have).

[@daviddykes3026]

A number of these old Merit molds survived, and many were rereleased by companies such as Heller & Craft House (I just finished a Craft House Alfa Romeo Formula 1 car last year).

[@nematic529]

Another very intersting old kit! I think you should actually build one of those just for fun tho.

[@joshuayoung7246]

I love the phone number 2262/5 i wou fer if it still works. Awesome stuff keep it coming andy!

[@goldcard60]

Merit, in the late 1960's made a lot of 00 gauge trackside accessories for Hornby, and Triang 00 gauge model railways in the UK. The thing I remember most about building Airfix and Revell kits then, is the smell of the glue - I don't know if you sense of smell goes as you get older, but opening a kit box, then, the plastic had a unique smell, and when using a pin to open a tube of cement, that had a even more intense smell. I bet if Airfix plastic cement was on the market today it would have a government health warning.

[@glennvogt1194]

Perhaps maybe you can do a build of a older kit and see how well it turns out.

[@MrBMBuilder]

Cant wait for the new Tamiya Kettenkrad and a couple of the aftermarket goodies that will come for it :)

[@dejansvrljuga6891]

I was watching today a video review of Mistercraft Alfa romeo 158 which picture is on the top of the box,so today you can find releases from Mistercraft and Smer of that car. And on scalemates is says it is a rebox from Merit,year 195x.

[@AndysHobbyHeadquarters]

nice good to know

[@PiperStart]

Very interesting. I am just now making a 1918 Mercedes in 1/32 scale from a company called ‘Gowland and Gowland’ - their address is: 51 Ferrington Road, London. The kit is dated 1955, and is boxed very similar to your Merit kit. It is a simple build, but the car looks just right for an early Mercedes.

[@allanrichards6448]

I had one of their veteran cars way back in the 60's. As people have said the record breaking hydroplane is the famous Bluebird K7 recently resurrected. I think Donald Campbell's daugther Gena is keen to see it run again on lake Coniston where it crashed and killed her father.

[@donfrandsen7778]

Right on Andy!!!! Here is a suggestion, why not build a car, classic type , make it a "Max Max " type car, spikes and steel welded on it. Always enjoy your vids Andy. Inspirational energy!! Please build and paint an Armor subject again Cool Andy!!!!

[@joeshmoe9978]

He did make one before, in a crossover video with a model car KZbin channel.

[@donfrandsen7778]

@@joeshmoe9978 Hmmm, i didn't know that. I am an Armor guy. I would love to see Andy create a Mad Max type car Cheers happy , modeling

[@joeshmoe9978]

@@donfrandsen7778 took me a minute to find it! Cheers

[@lesthiele4921]

That was a great 'inbox' review Andy, will you ever build one of these vintage kits? Take care and keep safe mate, best regards from Australia.

[@loxnine2325]

Built the Porsche Speedster in the 1980's.

[@huwtindall7096]

Are you going to build either of these kits Andy? I reckon putting together and painting up the Maseratti would be a real blast. I mean it's only about 15 parts but still :D Imagine how proud the original designers/sculptors would be seeing a 2020 standard paint job on their kit.

[@DayanDose]

Andy, you've mentioned that the Speedster instructions are noticeable yellow, but they are quite white to me! The instructions of my first kits (a 1/72 Viggen and a 1/72 Spitfire Mk.V from a locally partner of the french Heller company), which were gifted to me around 86, are WAY more yellowish! Not sure if it is because, as a kid, I haven't stored them properly of because the paper back then (Brazil was under a semi-dictatorship then...) was very bad, but they definetely look almost marroon to me nowadays... Nice kits, by the way!

[@Mauscmkwk]

Are you ever gonna do a build video one one of those

[@lilchris26]

Bluebird the speed boat was a world record holder and crashed on Coniston lake in the Lake district UK, killing the driver Donald Campbell in 1967.

[@stevepringle2295]

I challenge you Andy to build one of those kits.

[@xjr13john]

How can you never heard of Blue Bird!!!?? Geez.

[@robertstoneman2086]

Good morning Just watched your interesting vidio on plastic kits,boxes and assembly, The reason by coincidence on a face book site called Exeter memories where I live in uk, A man sent in to our site about a Airfix old delivery box from years ago he had found it came from a old delivery warehouse marked and labelled I thought this may be of interested to you the warehouse is long gone and demolished,other members in uk made comments all remembering as I myself did making and assembling these kits as a young boy age 10 lovely memories,still have some old models I have kept stored in my loft bit dusty now,now age 72 still a young boy at heart many hours spent as lots of fun and some I painted not very good at that age ,if your want more information about what I have talked about PM to myself will give details of site, Have a good day,enjoyed the vidio happy days.👍👍

[@simongalling3700]

Merit are an English company sadly no longer made aircraft, car kits and station furniture in double oo gauge for model railway what is you would say (railroad) Vanwall was a British racing car company so was Cooper and BRM.

[@Curtiz2008]

The Black Falcon looks like it could be the Aurora kit, although the stand screams "Pyro". Same with the Chinese Junk.

[@Mishn0]

Were the Merit kits the same as the Inpact kits a little later? The thing the glue is in is an "ampule".

[@fredsmith5731]

I remember when they were 50 cents

[@simonworrall7950]

Like others who grew up in the UK in the 60s and 70s I have not heard of the Merit kits. The market was saturated with Airfix and some Revell. According to Wikipedia J & L Randall was the parent company that made toys under two brands - SEL and Merit. SEL products were technical toys like steam engines and microscopes where as Merit products were plastic kits. I wonder if the kits were at the premium end of the market and that was why I did not see them. Apparently the SEL steam engines are highly collectible.

[@tonytaylor]

I think the Merit moulds went east and some can still be obtained with difficulty.

[@sayeager5559]

Have you heard anything about 1/16 Weisel TOW kit? Or the 1/35 new Tamiya Kettenkrad?

[@ferbieticklater7429]

J & L Randall Ltd was the parent company and Merit was it's trading name for the toys market. They were bought out by Letraset in 1978 but no longer exist.

[@george_364]

I saw that too in the wikipedia entry for J&L Randall.

[@simonzprahy9270]

That Viking ship from the catalog looks almost exactly the same as the one you can get from Směr.

[@Lonewolf6565]

When model companies go defunct their molds are almost always sold to other companies that just put the same kit in their own box. Hell most of Revells kits are from molds somebody else made.

[@simonzprahy9270]

@@Lonewolf6565 cool, didn't know that

[@kennybacchus6400]

1950. And 1960 s. Vintage plastic model kits merit and revell