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The Revell Electra kit has often been described as ‘hard to find’, articulated as being due to poor sales when structural issues with the actual aircraft arose. The molds were subsequently converted to become a P-3 Orion, and henceforth the airliner version would not be reissued.
However, it is now evident that there were at least seven distinct boxings of the kit issued in airliner form from the late 50s through to the late 60s.
1. 1957 H-255 original ‘S’ kit issue in American livery
2. [1958] H-255 ‘S’ kit issued by Lodela in Mexico (distinguished by the Lodela logo print on the bottom of the box)
3. [1961] H-255D LA Dodgers gift kit
4. 1960 H-255:129 ‘S’ kit reissue with the yellow circle ‘Master Modellers Club’ logo
5. 1961 H-255:129 ‘S’ kit format, however issued with the ‘Whip-Fly!’ logo on the box top, and advertising various Whip-Fly! kits on the box side
6. 1961 H-255:98 ‘S’ kit format issued in Japan by Marusan, with Y480 price printed on the box top
7. [1963] (or 1967 according to J Burns) Revell Brasil Varig issue
The actual box tops for all the above are shown on Scalemates, with the exception of the Lodela issue, which has a photo on page 111 of John W Burns In Plastic Commercial Aircraft Kits.
Lockheed Turboprop Electra, Revell H-255-98 (1957)
So that prompts the question – was it so rare a kit when there were 7 different boxings of it issued over at least five years?
Were there any other versions issued?
The other interesting anomaly in the series is the ‘Whip-Fly’ kit variation. Were any other Revell airliner kits issued to ‘advertise’ the Whip-Fly! series, even though no airliner kit was issued as an actual Whip-Fly!?
Lockheed Electra, Revell H-255:129 (1961)
I have always marveled at how comprehensive a list of kits John W Burns managed to compile, in the age of no internet. Mr. Burns detailed four variants of the Electra kit. We now know there were three additional issues.
We are so fortunate to have resources on the internet to shed light on our hobby today, not to say the excitement when a ‘forgotten’ kit is rediscovered.
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I can’t comment on whether the Revell Electra was released in high numbers or not. I was born in 1964. I suspect most of us reading are of similar age so I don’t think many or even any of us were living when the kit was sold. I do think that the rareness is because Revell changed the molds to the P-3 so the kit will NEVER be made again. The rareness and collectibility is similar to the Otaki L1011 which is another kit which will NEVER be re-released. What I do find amusing is that the Revell Electra is just a so so kit. Box scale with clunky props, engines, and landing gear. If both were released/reviewed at the same time the Minicraft Electra just might get higher marks than the Revell kit. Regardless of my thoughts the Revell Electra is a classic.
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I feel I must disagree here.the revell Electra is no where as bad as minicraft. Other than the props the kit really looks the part, it’s a good kit. I don’t understand how minicraft missed the mark here. They knew this was a well anticipated kit. They had a market waiting to buy these kits in serious numbers. And then when you opened the box, the disappointment that followed. No the revell kit was a decent representation of the L-188. It could have been reissued with more markings and would have done well. As the years that followed were kind to the aircraft. The decision to alter the molds to the P3 was an error as the market could have supported both models. But as they say, this is only my opinion. At least there is a good L-188 out there today. The Welsh models Electra is also really good. Use the wings from the minicraft Electra with the Welsh fuselage and you have a nice model. And with the decals from vintage flyer you just can’t go worng. Keep building.
Jaime Diaz
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I must disagree with Nesuperjet. What does it matter if a kit is still obtainable unless you just to want to have the kit in your collection? I bought that first release of the Revell Electra kit way back when here were hobby shops. The kit lacks the right engines shape, spindly landing gear legs, recessed cabin windows (not clear holes like the wind screen glass or a clear strip to fill the windows). The totally wrong prop shape. The box lid’s art approved by Revell as to what the paint scheme would look like screams “wrong” the moment it’s seen. Revell didn’t even correct some of the errors on the P3 Orion model when they converted the Electra mold they pumped out some years later on. Who cares how rare the kit is to get. It’s easier to update a Minicraft with the LS P3 than fix the Revell kit. However I do agree with him on the Welsh offering of the ELECTRA and bless X-Scale for doing a corrected Electra.
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The Revell Electra is in the “ever popular” 1/115 scale (sarcasm…). Are there ANY other kits in that scale?
As to the actual Electra’s popularity I can only comment on what I have read. It certainly seems that after 3 crashes the plane became very unpopular.. At the time it would seem to make sense for Revell to change the molds to the P-3. Looking back it does seem that altering the molds was a mistake. Is the Electra likely the most sought after Revell airliner kit? I’d guess so but with the premise that it is because of the kits “rareness” and not because it is a great kit.
Ken
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As a young boy of 8-10 years old (1958-1960), I remember going to a Woolworth store on Canal Street in New Orleans with my Grandmother. I got both the Revell 707 and the Revell Electra for probably $1 each. Thanks for bringing up a good memory!
Gene
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1/115 scale, of course, because it was the largest scale they could fit into one of the standard box sizes they had available.
The Electra crashes may have had something to do with why the mold was changed into the P-3 Orion, but I would also suggest that it’s because a warplane is almost always going to outsell a passenger plane. An airplane that hauls people around is nowhere near as exciting as an airplane that can carry torpedoes and sensors and go snooping around for Russian submarines, that you can put interesting tail art on and depict in high-drama box top paintings. I’m sad the Electra mold got changed into the P-3 but I can’t argue with it from a business point of view. It’s no different from why you can’t swing your arms in a hobby shop without hitting a model carrier or battleship, but the only ocean liner you’ll really find on the shelf will usually be Titanic.
FWIW, although I don’t have a Revell Electra, many years ago someone gave me the Sasquatch Models castings made from the Revell fuselage halves, meant to be used with the P-3 wings and other bits. It’s an odd scale but, as is typical for Revell of the late ’50s, the shapes and such are actually pretty good. Of course, what’s available now is in a whole different league, but when you think that the moldmakers back then were working off dimensions and photos and a certain amount of artistic interpretation, it’s very nice.
Jodie Peeler
"In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." - Sayre's Law
Great memory Gene, I remember getting and “building” the Entex C-5 airliner along with a Revell 747. I “finished” the C-5 but don’t think the 747 ever got done. Ahmed and joked a while back that modelling was more fun when you could finish a kit over a weekend. Still my results now are more satisfying my early builds.
Ken
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I agree with electraglider the Revell kit has its issues. Given the time frame when the kit was issued and most model companies with issuing kits to fit a box. You have an interesting result, it was hard to fill in the windows because to my knowledge there were no aftermarket decals or windows sets back at that time. The modelers building these at that time were us as kids, and we liked what we had in those boxes. As kids we probably saw the problems with the props and decals and such. It just didn’t matter to us as we were all to happy to build that kit or collect it. Interestingly I have seen this model built up by a master modeler, Helio Belisario, of Air Jet and later Atlantic models fame. And what a nice model it resulted in. He did use different props that he made a mold for and it really was a good model when finished. As for the decals that were part of the kit, it’s true they were mostly wrong but still looked cool. Now of course we have Vintage Flyer with it’s incredible catelog. I find it interesting that in this discussion we have so much to enjoy about modelling. And it’s all of us with different points of view that keeps this hobby alive. I am grateful to you all.
Thank you,
Jaime
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At least you could display the Revell 1/115 Electra with their 1/122 DC-7B kit. Just place the DC-7 behind the Electra for a “forced persepective” view. Close enough.
Kind regards,
DutchAt least you could display the Revell 1/115 Electra with their 1/122 DC-7B kit. Just place the DC-7 behind the Electra for a “forced persepective” view. Close enough.
And the Monogram 1/126 Super Constellation just a little behind the DC-7.
That Monogram Super G is so much of why I wish constant-scale airliners had become a thing earlier. Of all the kits that’s ever been done of the Super Constellation, I don’t think any have ever captured that plane’s look as well as the Monogram kit. Once you sand off all the rivets, it’s just plain gorgeous.
Jodie Peeler
"In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the issues at stake." - Sayre's Law
At least you could display the Revell 1/115 Electra with their 1/122 DC-7B kit. Just place the DC-7 behind the Electra for a “forced persepective” view. Close enough.
And the Monogram 1/126 Super Constellation just a little behind the DC-7.
That Monogram Super G is so much of why I wish constant-scale airliners had become a thing earlier. Of all the kits that’s ever been done of the Super Constellation, I don’t think any have ever captured that plane’s look as well as the Monogram kit. Once you sand off all the rivets, it’s just plain gorgeous.
Jodie Peeler
Jodie,
After sanding off the rivets, don’t forget to fill in the troughs representing the walkway lines. I remember I had several Revell & Monogram Super Connies. I appreciated the clear parts on the Monogram kit, as I don’t think Revell had any. Monogram also had better undercarriage and props.
Kind regards,
DutchAs a 11-year-old when this kit was released, I built it maybe twice as I preferred the AA and UA DC-7s and the EA Connie. Back then I didn’t really paint except for the wheels black. There was no way to get the decals to mold around curved surfaces and in the case of the AA DC-7 they only gave you decals for the fuselage. When they were released, I purchased from ATP two vacu-form Electra fuselages to go with the newly released P3 kits. I built them as EA, decals that came with the kit and AA using decals from the 707 kit. They looked not bad but not very good either. I kept both in storage in the attic, and around 2021 during Covid, I took out both models and completely restored them using decals from Vintage Flyer EA and AA. I took great pleasure in restoring both models to the best that could be obtained with the skill I learned over all these years. Since then, I have built the Authentic Airliners Electra as AA and most recently the X scale as EA. Both models are excellent reproductions of the Electra. I would post them here, but ever since they changed this site, I have yet to figure out how to post models here.
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You’re not alone Stevej in having those feelings about those America Airline decals. The white and blue edging bordering on the orange main paint would be hard to paint on even a real DC-7. Too little appreciation has been given to “After Market decal makers” for their work in furthering our airliner modeling. I was 16 when I first saw that DC-7 kit new the hobby shop window. The box lid is still as dramatic to me as it was then. I’ve converted a P-3 back to an Electra and been donated a another 1/72nd conversion, alas I’m too old now to finish them.
And Dutch I agree with you also on the Monogram Super Conni kit verses The Revell ones. Plus, the Lockheed main gear was a lot simpler to install than the Douglas was on kits.
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I love the reminiscing about buying and building early airliner kits. Thanks all for sharing.
My memories start in early 70’s. The Entex “Worlds Largest Airliner” C-5 was probably my first airliner finished. Out of the box its BIG but simple so I was able to get all of it together. Never painted or decaled but I do remember playing with it “finished”. The Monogram 2707 was another one finished and unpainted. Not till after college did I take up the hobby again this time building/painting/finishing Revell releases of the C-5 and Super Guppy. Mid 90’s I discovered ATP and built the Revell DC-8 and 727.
As to posting photos I agree with SteveJ that it isn’t completely intuitive but………
Even I have figured it out so I don’t think it impossible. Today is a busy day for me but sometime I can offer some assistance. There is a forum thread in site related tutorials that I found helpful.
Ken
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