Lesser known kit brands

Just a little classical music to a display of kit brands I have stumbled across in my research yet that I had rarely or never heard of before. And there are so many I left out simple because it was late and I heeded to wrap up.
Song
Beethoven Sonata #14 "Moonlight"Movement 3
Artist
Valentina Lisitsa

[@Edubarca46]

One old company that deserves a full hommage is ITC. Hope you are planning the history of this company. And don't forget please, Glencoe.

[@Edubarca46]

AND THE BEST MUSIC YOU HAVE PLACED HERE. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

We stock a few of those at work. The ARMA kits are superb. Their Hurricane is by far the best on the market. I have heard of approx half of them. Great list, am going to look up those I have not heard of before.

[@JamesSavik]

Dusek is a European company that produces wooden sailing ship models with laser cut wood. They are pricey but if you're into that, they look awesome. C in C made metal cast miniatures of Fasa sci-fi stuff and other things- they're gone now. GHQ makes miniatures for MicroArmor table-top miniature armor war gaming.

[@MartintheTinman]

I just discovered a manufacturer I'd never heard of yesterday on eBay. I purchased a Mad Max Interceptor kit by Cavalier model productions made in Australia

[@hikokibert]

Eebro is a fairly easy to obtain F1 car kit manufacturer in Japan. I can also get their kits here in Australia at the local hobby shop. They are expensive but compare to Tamiya. There is a good documentary about them somewhere on KZbin. Micro Ace is another Japanese company that make train model kits. The have former Arii kits in their line up. I remember making 1/144 jet fighter kits from the first Ace on the list. I think they were a Korean company.

[@laszloharsanyi8320]

only a few I have ever heard. Arma: new Polish company with 1/72 aircrafts, very nice quality. Amusing Hobby: not so new (10years maybe?), mainly what-if WWII and later 1/35 armor, mostly nice quality. AMK: high quality aircrafts, their new F-14 Tomcat is a beauty. Commander Models: aftermarket resin conversion and some resin kits if I remember correctly. EMHAR: WWI themed kits I remember, but never had any of them. The rest is silence...

[@jimpern]

Emhar is the only one that, IMO, deserves its own video. Inpact made four excellent 1/48 kits of British between-the-wars fighters that were later sold by Pyro and Lindberg, but I don't know if they ever did anything else. K&B sold some Aurora kits under their own name late in Aurora's plastic kit life, and one of those Ace brands was a major Korean player at one time.

[@bitterclinger5876]

Max, this was neat. Two comments: 1) It's not the same without your narration giving us the fine points; and 2) I cast one vote for more art music in the background!

[@wzzo2007]

Arma Hobby is a rising star that produce high quality kits. They feels a little bit inspired by Eduard.

[@patjohnson3100]

Dont know about any of these companies. You never found these kits at drug stores or department stores where I bought models in the 1960s and later . Very interesting video. My thanks to all the entrepreneurs who started these companies and tried to make life more interesting and fun for lots of people. Would be interesting to know more about them. Thanks Max.

[@mixererunio1757]

Arma Hobby is awesome little company. They make high quality airplane in 1/72. Highly recommend to check them out.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

Interesting! The only one I recognize is 'K&B' as there was a similar company that was merged/acquired by Aurora to make slot cars.

[@vibeforge]

To make things more complicated and funny, there's around dozen different Ukraine and Russian model companies (Amodel, Modelsvit, Art Model, A&A, AviS to name a few) utilizing short run molds made by the same one dude nicknamed Master44.

[@rogerhinman5427]

The Minichamps brand is the only one I can say with certainty that I have any knowledge, but that is with die cast cars.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Quite a mix from plastic to diecast and a handful of modern Chinese companies with silly names created by persons who don't speak English well. If you really want utter insanity, check out the UK model railroad manufacturers...😊

[@kl0wnkiller912]

You still missed one of the greatest car kit makers... Jo-Han. When I was a boy in the 1970s I went to spend the summer with my grandparents. My grandpa took me to a hobby store to get a model. I chose the Jo-Han Mercedes Benz 500 SSK roadster kit (which my grandfather probably wasn't too happy with as he worked for Buick all his life). I don't remember what came of that kit but recently I bought and built that same kit again and it has even won a couple of awards.

[@maxsmodels]

working on JoHan now

[@kennethkwilinski4899]

Great video. I know a bunch of model companies not mentioned here. Eldon, ITC, Totem, Bachmann, Percision, Toy Biz, Superior, Billiken, Horizon, Screamin, just to name a few. Gives ya something to do.

[@petemcfadyen1697]

I got 8 out of the bunch, but only because I used to deal :-)

[@lancerevell5979]

The only one of these I am familiar with is Emhar. I have a couple of their aircraft kits. Pretty decent quality

[@bobbob4652]

I have the 1/72 Emhar f94c. I built it with a resin cockpit tub and won a trophy with it.😁

[@wkelly3053]

Hi. I never saw their F-94. You must have done a really nice job if it was anything like the F3H. Even the individual panels had significant steps from one to another. It was more than I wanted to deal with.

[@richardklug822]

Amusing Hobbies do a lot of 1/35 German "paper panzers". Attack Hobbies make 1/72 armor. C+C do (did?) metal miniatures in a variety of scales for tabletop wargaming. Emhar did some WWI armor WAY before everyone else joined in for the centenary. K+B re-issued some of the later Aurora WWI aircraft (I still have an unassembled Halberstadt Cl.II one).

[@lancerevell5979]

I am completing two 1/72 P-40K kits now (a short tail and a long tail) from "Special Hobby". Very nicely detailed. I think they are in Czech Republic. Good company. A couple other recent companies I have kits from are: Pegasus. Several 1/48 WWII aircraft kits. They are snap kits, but reasonably detailed, good cockpit interiors, optional up or down gear. Plastic is a slicker type that doesn't like acrylic paints, need to use a spray primer before overall painting. Othe subjects too. Atlantis: They are reissuing a lot of old Aurora kits, odd scale aircraft and 1/48 vehicles, WWII and Cold War eras. Lacking detail compared to modern companies, but brings back childhood memories. These vintage kits point out how far model kits have come in detail and realism. I'd like to see a video on Hobby Boss too. Their accuracy is midrange, better than Aurora and Lindberg, lesser than Tamiya or recent Airfix. Their 1/72 "easy assembly" kits are surprisingly good.

[@kerberos7475]

Amusing Hobby is the only one I could recognize out of the list, really high quality kits and pretty popular brand for obscure 1/35 tanks.

[@lancerevell5979]

I just received a kit by Arma Hobby, of Poland. The 1/72 Hurricane Mk. 1. A very detailed kit, on a par with recent Airfix and Tamiya. Superb details for this scale. I hadn't known of Arma Hobby til I saw this kit on Amazon. They have a Mk. 1 Trop kit too, so I'll order it. I love discovering new-to-me model companies, especially when they show real quality and attention to detail.

[@Johnopfor]

Arma Hobby did PE and resin upgrades for kits until just recently. Most of those molds were sold to Brengun. They gave it up so that they can focus on actual model kits like the Hurricane and the Iskra.

[@ЗнаменосецВечности]

Failed to pass the test. :) Only three names are familar to me - ACE (the Ukrainian one). They are still in business and their kits are popular in Russia: acemodel.com.ua/ru/catalogue Of course I remember Emhar kits of WWI Brithish tanks (although I didn't build them). A bit of surprise was Minichamps logo here. I thought the're diecast cars manufacturers www.minichamps.de/

[@randyherbrechtsmeier4796]

I like the Older Companys you Young People Havnt heard of. Ace Whitman, Stanzel, Maifair models. All pioneers in Modeling. Shouldn't be Placed with Modern Companies. They are 3 different Companies and dont fit with Plastic Kit Modeling

[@Wild-Dad]

I've seen three of those brands with EMHAR being the bigger of three. EMHAR did quite a number of armour kits if my memory is correct. They came out in the early 2000's. They were kits of interesting subjects you'd hadn't really seen before like WWI tanks and such. The othe two were Minichamps and HazMat. I think HazMat were a source of accessories and such like Verlinden. I may be wrong but it's what I remember - and as they say, history is in the brain cells of the beholder. LOL

[@dankamikubo7002]

K&B made slot car kits in 1/24th scale, I had the Ford GT40. They were an offshoot of Aurora. Have you ever heard of Peck Polymers? They made Peanut scale flying models. I had the Pietenpol.

[@model-man7802]

C n C I bought a ton of in the 80s.The made these little tanks used for gaming on a huge table top.I had three tool boxes with hundreds of them in them.Commander models is a division of Iron Shipwrights and can still be found.They are a Basement company.I have the entire Pearl Harbor Battle line including the newly released USS Utah in 1/350. Emhar I used to see in the shop alot.They had good ww1 tanks in 1/35.

[@williamporter7596]

I've built kits from both Amusing Hobby and Emhar. Emhar is/was an english company. The kits I've built by it were WW1 tanks such as the Whippet and Mk IV. They were done in both 1/72 and 1/35 scales and while basic in part count/detail built fairly easily as models. From Amusing Hobby I have built their 1/48 Triflugel Luft 46 VTOL fighter. Nice kit, good fit but could have better instructions.

[@lancerevell5979]

I have built Emhar's 1/72 Lockheed F-94C Starfire and McDonnell F3H Demon aircraft. Decent kits.

[@Johnopfor]

You can add Aviation USK to that line. I know the two last owners of that company when they purchased it and brought it here to Nebraska from the Northwest. It only lasted a few more years before they had to shut it down.

[@gustavoantonelli]

And recently I built a very good kit of the MiG 35 in resin from Scratchaeronatics, a Spanish kit maker. Really good, nice details I think it is the only kit of the MiG 35 all around.

[@hertzair1186]

Thank you Max, you’re doing God’s work... Thanks for the Beethoven....you nailed my favorite category of music finally.

[@wkelly3053]

The K&B logo in your video is identical to that of the long established K&B Manufacturing company in Irwindale, CA that makes model airplane and watercraft engines, RC's, control line, etc. They are the only 'K&B' I have ever known, however an online search revealed some K&B model kits, and though I hesitate to allude to the Wingnut predicament, the K&B kits were all but one WWI subjects, which may be one reason why they are not familiar. So, is this the same company that makes the working model engines? The only other manufacturer that I recognized in the video was EMHAR. The one EMHAR kit I purchased long ago was the 1/72 F3H Demon. IMO it was poor quality and I didn't even bother to build it. Today, you can purchase a beautiful Demon from Sword Models, which brings me to my next point. The Czech model companies like Sword, Valom, and Special Hobby/MPM are making some beautiful and unique kits, the quality of which is leaps and bounds ahead of what it used to be. My favorite is Special Hobby. Their latest kits are very well engineered, and their instruction sheets are probably the best I've seen. A video on the rise in quality of these Czech kits would be worthwhile I think. Thanks.

[@trappenweisseguy27]

Amusing hobby, Inpact and Emhar are the only ones I’m familiar with.

[@ualuuanie]

The only one I know is Emhar. Got a few of their kits ( all 1/72 figures )

[@kennyswonger5227]

Thanks again max.very good narration of other places of kits I've never heard of.good music.keep it comming.hi from Ohio.🎶

[@williamkinkopf7125]

Miroslav Nemechek /Model news/1/72 aircraft LTd models 1/48 aircraft both from Czech Republic .short run that test skills and patience.

[@jkdm7653]

Anyone remember "Gowland & Gowland"...finely detailed sailing ship kits, quite small in size, USS Constitution, Golden Hind, etc. When built, to be placed inside two halves of a plastic bottle...voila! Ship in a bottle! How about "StromBecker"...wood ship kits of USN WW2 such as CVE, PF, and DE.

[@dankamikubo7002]

Gowland was based in Santa Barbara and worked with Revell in developing the early models.

[@odysseuslaertiades1528]

ATTACK Hobby Kits (1:37): Is this an order? 😲

[@roadstarman58]

For lesser known brands I have a Hudson Miniatures Stutz Bearcat from 1949. It's a multi-media kit with woold, plastic, metal and paper. Cold War era Spojnia Polish 7TP light tank, made in the late 80's, and a post Cold War kit, and AER Russian MS-1 made in Moldova.

[@hikokibert]

I made a Spojnia kit back in the 80s. I cant remember what it was now. I had forgotten all about it until you mentioned them. I vaguely recall soft plastic and the body of the tank made from plates. I think it turned out ok.

[@KevinBower-gy5be]

Loving these videos. Really well researched and incredibly informative. There are a whole shedload of other successful and long-established plastic kit manufacturers which cater for the model railway scene - Slaters, Wills, Skytrex, Peco, Faller, Dapol, Ratio, Keilkraft, MiniArt, Esci, Con-Cor, and others.

[@MrPolicekarim]

I thought Skytrex do wargames stuff!

[@Winterchylde]

I've built Emhar, Ace (Ukraine - one of my favourite manufacturers), and have an Attack model kit in my stash... heard of a few of the rest (Ebbro, Amusing Hobby, , Beemax)... Here's a few more you might want to include in future videos: IBG Models PST (PromStabTorg) A&A Models Military Wheels UM UM-MT

[@davidsirett5560]

mister craft any one heard of them?

[@xtalvt]

Reading the comments, I see that several of the companies were resin or metal or ??? Were many of them more traditional model companies that had to sink large sums of money into molds or maybe acquired molds from other companies or ? Another great job!

[@maxsmodels]

yes

[@orangelion03]

I built models as a business for many years, mostly cars, mostly 43rd. Built close to 300 Tameos. On your list I also built ADB, Meri, and used Daco products. Other large output model companies though mainly European market: Starter, Provence Moulage, LeMans Miniatures (had a running feud with the proprietor for a few years), Renaissance, BBR.

[@rickycollins4633]

What shows influenced you in modeling? Baa Baa Black Sheep, Star Trek , Original Battlestar Galactica, Space 1999 The 20 Mule Team mail in to Borax with enough box labels.

[@maxsmodels]

yes to all...and UFO

[@orangelion03]

A couple of companies who's histories may interest your viewers because both were created and operated by passionate enthusiasts: Fisher Models: Paul Fisher; a friend from way back, consistently excellent resin kits of cars and aircraft. Sadly OOB now. Classic Airframes: Jules Bringuier; an eclectic catalog of limited run kits. Soft tool moldings (1/48) that require some skill and experience, but models you wont get from anyone else. Was OOB (no releases) for some time, but but recently started up again.

[@RBHoge1]

Nice music, but little else to recomend this post.

[@maxsmodels]

It was just a quickie I threw together before bed. I did not due a video about the companies because I can not really find much on them

[@fpvgearhead5034]

K&B is the only one I know they made nitro RC boat engines.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

and aircraft engines, they were one of the first if not the first to come out with a glow engine powered ducted fan for jets.

[@fpvgearhead5034]

That's right I forgot to mention that

[@fpvgearhead5034]

@@JohnHill-qo3hb that's right they made airplane engines to forgot to mention that

[@richardwillett]

I know K&B was a division of Aurora that made reissues of the WW1 kits. Nice box art! Is Emhar still in business? I wonder if any of these guys are still around?

[@gustavoantonelli]

* 1982 * Modelex * Sur Models * Trout Models * Aconcagua * Antares * Aero*Star All these from Argentina. * Airmodel Products * Classic Planes from Germany Seminar from Korea Anigrand Craftworks from Hong Kong Hi Max, who are you @Scale mates? I want to become your mate!

[@maxsmodels]

yes, as M K

[@balikolaci1]

Not that much I knew. Once I did the Emhar F-3H Demon... not that bad! Bit of sanding, ok. I still have a mint Sparrow missile F-3H kit, unfortunately with broken canopy...anyway deserves a vacuform one. Once I will quickbuild it for nostalgy 😋 . As I remember well the Korean 'Ace' did the first really good Mig-29... distributed in Europe in German Revell box... Minichamps of course I know... very detailed 1/43 cars, but sorrowfully ready made, no work, no fun ☹

[@WAL_DC-6B]

ITC (Ideal Toy Co.) made some really neat "motorized" plastic kits back in the early 1960s such as guided cruise missile launching submarine that actually dived underwater and then surfaced to launch the Regulus missile. ITC also made some kits that now Glencoe is or has re-issued such as the Curtiss Condor bi-plane airliner, Grumman Duck floatplane, U.S. Army Walker Bulldog tank and S.S. United States ocean liner. Love the music used in your video here!

[@mybluebelly]

Impressive list. Would be interesting to see a kit from each of these brands and which had their own molded kits not just something they repackaged. Hope you will make a video on the earliest kit companies some time.

[@AreeyaKKC]

Several are niche to a type. If you dont build that model then you never heard of em. But if you do..then you know Amusing is high quality armor Commander models is high quality resin ships. And legato shares same molds as AZ and RZ and admiral. So aircraft only

[@gijoeimmortal1868]

Yep, never heard of these...Do you remember the huge Saturn V rocket and launcher from Revell? I still have mine. It's just so big I have no place for it. Its says 1969 on the box and instructions say 1970...Really cool kit. I enjoyed building it.

[@1QU1CK1]

Nice list, only recognized nine of them and only have held seven of them in my hands. OK, how about Marusan who made a Phantom Mustang like Monogram's only in 1/48, also a P-47, and a Zero.

[@maxsmodels]

I am working on a group video with Marusan, Nitto, Mania, Imai and Nichimo

[@1QU1CK1]

@@maxsmodels Awesome! Can't wait.

[@bentobarreirinhas5702]

I know: Amusing Hobby; Arma Hobby; Ace; Ace corporation; Minichamps; Emhar. What about: Ocidental; BUM; Nexus?

[@chrispacer4231]

Never heard of any of them, SORRY. Do I still get credit for watching. Love this site , renewed my interest back to building kits. Not sure what , believe me I have my CHOICES.

[@CAPNMAC82]

Couple of those are vaguely familiar. There's probably more in the aftermarket world, cottage industries that came and went. Like Laughing Whale, which was taken up by Midwest (possibly through an intermediary). Then, there are outfits like Combat Models, which had a mail order catalog of stapled-together pages, and of some distinctly uncommon kits and/or scales. But all in vacuform. Some of those you could pay extra to get moulded in thinner or thicker plastic. Detail varied, but was usually raised and limited to the undercuts their sign-making machine could draw a vacuum to.

[@mbryson2899]

Wow, the only ones I recognized were K&B and Arma Hobbies, and I avidly prowled Chicagoland shops from '73 to '88. Well done!

[@mbryson2899]

I worked at a hobby shop for three years (got hired because I was a customer for eight years and knew the biz). We occasionally got "new-old-stock" from wholesalers for pennies on the dollar. I thought I'd seen some offbeat brands but this takes the cake.

[@williamporter7596]

Oh and ACE is a Ukrainian model company. I've built their 1/72 armor kits. Great detail and reasonable instructions but high part counts. They often include photo etch parts.

[@maxsmodels]

there were like 4 companies called Ace and mare with it in their names

[@Johnopfor]

Ace is also a model company out of South Korea. They did some molds for Academy and Revell back in the 1990s.

[@williamporter7596]

@@maxsmodels A popular name for a model company then and no doubt a source of confusion.

[@edwardallen4916]

Great videos, thanks! In the 60s in the UK as well as Airfix and Frog we had balsa flying models by a company called Keil Kraft. I spent months making a beautiful hurricane which flew into the top branches of a very tall tree on its maiden flight. It was up there for about a year before a storm dislodged it! They also made a few plastic kits. I have an unmade Sopwith Camel somewhere in the attic. Not very accurate but fairly easy to assemble for a bi-plane.

[@Grayfox988]

This is also a great study of logo design. Dusek, M-Aircraft and Tsukuda are my favorites.

[@jimpern]

Ebbro is a fairly new maker of plastic kits of F1 cars, but they're too new to make a video of. Tameo is one of several makers of high-end multi-media car kits, mainly in 1/43 scale, along with Studio 27 and Model Factory Hiro. These are mostly white metal and resin. Minichamps makes built-up diecasts, and I don't know if they ever did any in kit form.

[@andrewgrave]

Builders of Emhar kits may be interested in this nice tribute to the company's founder, Phillip Brook. The company was later sold to Bachmann. www.collectors-club-of-great-britain.co.uk/news/tribute-to-pocketbonds-phillip-brook/

[@GuillermoCamprubi]

I only know 4 of them, Ebbro, Tameo, Beemax and Emhar. I imagine that Minichamps is not the german manufacturer that sells 1/18 and 1/43 diecast cars.

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Emhar was the only company to build British Mk series of WWI tanks until Takom came along. Amusing's issue is getting a decent distributor in the US. Most of the time you have to get their stuff off of ebay much like Modelcollect.

[@farpointgamingdirect]

How about some love for companies that produce card stock models, like Fiddler’s Green and Delta 7 Studios? I built a 1/12 scale Freedom 7 Project Mercury capsule from Delta 7. Until you’re right on top of it, you’d swear it was a resin model!

[@farpointgamingdirect]

www.delta7studios.com/

[@farpointgamingdirect]

www.fiddlersgreen.net/

[@mpetersen6]

Digital Navy www.digitalnavy.com/ Halinsky www.halinski.com.pl/indexgb.php MicroArtwork www.microartwork.com/Portal/ Model Art zarkovmodels.com/en/?aid=modelart Ecard ecardmodels.com/product/1-12-apollo-command-module-paper-model Lower Hudson Valley Paper Models papermodelingman.com/ Digital Navy, 1/250th ship models. The Fletcher Class is very nice. Halinski, ships, aircraft, armor. Check the prototypes Model Art, aircraft, ships, armor, trains etc. They used to do downloads. ModelArtworks, space. Specifically a 1/96th Apollo era Crawler/Transporter. The Launch Umbilical Tower is in the design phase. The Crawler took ten years of design and test builds. At full detail level 11,000 parts. Limited to 499 kits. 130€ For the LUT there is a free download of the #9 Command Module Service Arm. 1/96th but as a digital model it is easy to scale up. Comes with an Adobe Acrobat document that has 3d renderings you can rotate. This is something all kits should have. Ecard, they distribute a 1/12th scale Apollo Command Module. I believe it is a download. 2200 seperate pieces on 127 sheets. All for a whooping 18.00 bucks Lower Hudson Paper Models, spacecraft. A 1/48th scale Saturn V. Eight feet tall. The 1st Stage is 8 inches in diameter without the engine fairings and fins. FREE!!!!

[@mpetersen6]

Step out of the box. Be creative. Design your own. 1/72 cargo lifter to mate to a modified Shuttle ET smg.photobucket.com/user/markandannie/media/Gumdrop%20Design/P1010235.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 Something that was based on the Arsenal Ship concept for a contest sponsored by Digital Navy. Damn, photobucket is being petulant One thing about card models, especially the digitals is re-scaling is easy. The printed ones you have to scan first. They also can be a good place to start when scratchbuilding, especially ships for the hull form. Detail wise they can be somewhat lackluster but consider the medium. But for those who think its only a media for children kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXnCaXyoZ8d1aqc www.bing.com/images/search?q=Milan+Paulus+Models&FORM=RESTAB

[@robbyowen9107]

Stanzel was a neat company that produced very nice balsa airplane models, as well as more of the toy type airplanes including the jet that you loaded onto a stick, pulled the trigger, and a spring shot it off into the air. They also had a popular motorized toy airplane with a wired battery pack and power switch that you held in your hand. They were a family oriented company that promised employees their jobs back when they left to fight in World War II. The company kept those promises. They have a neat museum in Schulenburg Texas which is between Houston and San Antonio. www.stanzelmuseum.org.

[@Crediblesport]

A few how about aviation usk formaplane rare planes archer hobbies air model to name a few

[@williamkinkopf7125]

Built AV Usk"s Nakajima Dave floatplane think MPM from the Czech republic made their kits for them

[@barrysteinlage6888]

Is Squadron considered a manufacturer or a distribution company? Enjoying the series just started watching during the quarentine.

[@maxsmodels]

Distribution but I may cover them at some point

[@barrysteinlage6888]

@@maxsmodels Thanks

[@Johnopfor]

A lot of thier Squadron kits are kits from other manufactures, but with resin or other items from one of Squadron's aftermarket lines. For example, thier 1/72 A-37 Dragonfly 2 on 2 kit includes two Academy A-37 kits, resin cockpit and other details from True Details and decals from one of thier product lines.

[@Corsario-ud1du]

I do not know any of those kit brands. I´ve noticed that a couple of them include -as part of the logo- the image of one of my favorites airplanes: the F4U Corsair.

[@MartintheTinman]

Anyone that's passionate about R.A.A.F. stuff knows Jays. I just purchased an Arma hobby kit of the sole Hawker Hurricane to make it's way to Australia V7476

[@michaelnaven213]

C&C is the only one I have used.

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

Say Max, have you considered doing anything on the vacu-form kits? I would think that they would predate injection moulding. A long time ago, I worked with a guy who travelled the USA to places that had long running hobby shops and would buy the more obscure manufacturers kits that the store was all too happy to be rid of, many were vacuum form kits.

[@maxsmodels]

That is a bit out of my wheelhouse but if time permits I can look at it

[@JohnHill-qo3hb]

@@maxsmodels Thanks Max, you are correct of course, but vacu-form kits require additional skills (of which I lack) in addition to the cut, sand , position, glue; right, next part, kits. ;)

[@robingray1302]

Another wow, Amusing are setting themselves up to disappoint.... Tameo, ADB, Meri, Leader are or were all French & Italian 1/43rd scale car kit producers in whitemetal/resin, Minichamps big in diecast cars (they originate from the Danhausen Empire, another long story), Ebbro do some very interesting plastic car kits in 1/24/25th scale. K&B did some excellent slot cars during the 60s boom but were mainly big in flying aircraft models, part of Aurora at one point ? Many thanks for more fab stuff !!!!

[@poldet148]

I recognized some of those, I have an ITC Stinson Tri-motor kit

[@johnorlitta]

Back in the late 90's there was a company out of the former Soviet Union that was known as Scarab.

[@garfieldsmith332]

A very interesting list I have heard of seven of these companies. Over the last few months I have been compiling a list of plastic model manufactures and their labels. Plastic only, no resin, wood, or metal. You have a bunch I will need to check out and add. So far the list is up to 300. Thanks for the information.

[@Habu12]

Eh, some of these are aftermarket. If you’re gonna get into those, that’s a LOT of videos to do. Beemax is just an Aoshima offshoot. Ebbro makes excellent F1 cars.

[@MartintheTinman]

I'm very familiar with Legato. They have quite a few R.A.A.F. kits

[@norherman]

Out of that whole group, I recall only three. C and C was in my back yard and I don't recall seeing or hearing anything about them. I have build some K + B.

[@meauxjeaux431]

Makes you wonder how they stay in business.

[@mch12311969]

I've heard of six of these companies, though I think I only have experience with Emhar

[@thegarmanz]

Amusing Hobby armor kits are awesome! They do some off-beat subjects.

[@ualuuanie]

@ Maxs have you come across a brand called Atlantis?

[@maxsmodels]

yup

[@guypoole3444]

Ebbro is a fairly common kit brand isn't it these days....

[@maxsmodels]

new to me

[@lancerevell5979]

Same here, never heard of them.

[@billgiltzow4464]

Fairly new with a lot of Lotus Formula one cars.

[@guypoole3444]

@@billgiltzow4464 plus Tyrells, BRM , Cuitroens and others in a couple of scales...Expensive though.

[@davidgilmour3954]

EBBRO - 1/45th scale?

[@maxsmodels]

dunno

[@tomdye5900]

Needed your commentary/ narrative letting us know what they made, where they were from and how long they were around. Just seeing the names is only valueable to the folks that might have remembered them. To others, it just sparks more questions! Love what you are doing but this one I just had to give a thumbs down because of teh above. Keep up the great work with the next one, please.

[@maxsmodels]

This was just something I tossed together before going to bed. I was running around scalemates going 'who r all of these companies'?

[@balikolaci1]

And of course I knew Tsukuda. I never had any kit as along my interest they just reboxed the goofiest kits of Revell... normally Japanese companies are quality. This was the exception to prove the rule.

[@hikokibert]

I made the Tsukuda redbox of the Monogram Buck Roger's Starfighter a couple of months ago. I originally bought it on a trip to Japan in the 90s.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

HAT

[@Reindeer911]

I can think of a few... Zoukei-Mura. Tamiya killers, but expensive. I have yet to see any company come up with the level detail these kits have. Their Horton Ho-229 flying wing in particular is unreal. I have the 1/48 version, but their 1/32 scale kit, the engines are completely built up from the inside, meaning building the compressor section, combustion section, and turbine wheels they are that detailed. Even the 1/48 scale still has the turbine wheel and front compressor wheel on a rotating shaft. BelKits. They specialize in WRC rally cars. They are another Tamiya buster in the sense they come very complete... Seatbelts, extensive photoetched parts, etc. Possible exception is their Ford Fiesta WRC as there is a separate detail kit available. Kinetic Make some nice aircraft kits of subjects that can't be found elsewhere like the 1/48 S-2 Tracker, F-21 Kifir and 1/48 E2-C Hawkeye. Wolfpack Design. Special Hobby. Czech company that manufactures multimedia kits. A few Russian based companies such a Smer, ARK, Mars Models, ICM, Anigrand (They make the the only known kits of the Clint Eastwood version of the MiG-31 Firefox). Collectaire Manufacturers of oddball aircraft Great Wall Hobby. Not sure if they are obscure or a rising star. No experience with them, but people who have their kits seem to rave about them. Amazing the things that can be found on eBay! LOL!

[@gustavoantonelli]

Zuokei-Mura are simply fantastic, but very expensive. The J7W was amazing