Feature Article
Strange New Worlds Issue 14 -
June/July 1994
"It is part of the nature of man to start with
romance and build to a reality." - Ray
Bradbury
Spaceship model kits and popular publications of the 1950s
(for Robert Shaw)
by Elliott Swanson
Mankind’s exploration of space began years before words like Sputnik and astronaut
entered the language. No, I'm not talking about science fiction. For a decade and a half
following World War II, fantastic arrays of spacecraft, launched by the minds and
imaginations of a small group of rocket scientists, offered the public tantalizing hints
of what life beyond the confines of the atmosphere might be like. These conjectures
avoided science fiction clichés like bug-eyed-monsters and space battles, but focused on
the technology needed for the exploration of the next frontier.
This article reviews the range of artifacts relating to this fascinating dawn of the
space age, with the primary focus on one of the hottest collectibles the era produced --
plastic model kits. I will also cover some of the pitfalls associated with collecting
model kits and how to avoid them.
The Golden Age of Spacecraft Design
The 1950s are generally heralded as the golden age of spacecraft design. An established
base of practical knowledge, primarily assembled by Germans involved in the V-2 program,
provided the groundwork needed for educated guesses about spaceflight.
The nostalgia associated with '50s space memorabilia may be due in part to the fact
that, while the actual launch vehicles that lofted the Soviet and American payloads were
effective in meeting their objectives, they lacked the grace and whimsey of the ships
created by Wernher von Braun and his contemporaries.
The Beginnings — Early Spaceship Designs
Prior to World War II, rocketry scientists like Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Hermann
Oberth also designed inventive spaceships. Tsiolkovsky, one of the founding fathers of the
Soviet space program, put together a manned vehicle concept that used water-filled iron
bathtubs as acceleration couches! What happened to the water once orbit and zero gravity
were achieved is unknown.
Another classic ship was designed by Oberth for the 1929 Fritz Lang film production Die
Frau im Mond (The Woman in the Moon). As the title suggests, the ship was supposed to
carry passengers to the moon. The scenario was suitably realistic enough to cause
considerable fear in the British Foreign Office. The Gestapo later destroyed Oberth’s
prop spaceship model due to concerns about revealing the existence of the V-2 program.
'50s Designs — Popularizing the Space Age
Though intriguing, such early attempts were never intended to represent practical,
functional spacecraft. That didn’t happen until the post-war era. At that time, names
previously known only within the scientific community started appearing in public news
media. Names like Wernher von Braun, Willy Ley, and Krafft Ehricke.
Collier’s magazine deserves much of the credit for popularizing the space age via
a series of keynote articles in the 1950s. Also, a number of illustrated children’s
books such as By Space Ship to the Moon by Jack Coggins and Fletcher Pratt (Random
House, 1952) captured the hearts of a generation of technology-worshipping youngsters.
The Viking Press series of books, based upon the Collier's articles, provided the best
material in terms of quality of illustration and information. These books contained many
full color paintings of spacecraft and space environments. Among the notable illustrators
whose work appeared in the Viking books (and the Collier’s articles) was the Van
Gough of space art, Chesley Bonestell (see the book The Art of Chesley Bonestell).
Copies of the magazines and books in good condition are highly desirable collector’s
items.
There are also a number of space-age comic books. These are based upon films such as
Disney’s Man In Space. A short-lived '50s television series Men into Space
starring William Lundigan also generated a series of comic books.
Now in Print
In the realm of future collectibles, two currently available publications that assemble
information about the development of spacecraft are Blueprint for Space : Science Fiction
to Science Fact, a catalog of the aerospace exhibit of the same name, edited by
Frederick Ordway and Randy Liebermann (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC,
1992) and The Dream Machines
by Ron Miller (Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, FL, 1993). Both titles are excellent,
heavily-illustrated overviews of the subject, although the hundred dollar price tag of the
Miller book may be somewhat intimidating. (It’s worth every penny.)
Other Vintage Space Collectibles
Three other classes of items that should be noted as part of the 1950s space
collectibles scene (but won’t be dealt with in any detail in this article), are:
- motion picture and television collectibles
- toys
- trading cards
Some of the films with poster art depicting prototype spacecraft are Project
Moonbase, The Conquest of Space, Spaceways, Destination Moon, Riders to the Stars, and
Satellite in the Sky. Theatrical motion picture posters (half-sheets, one-sheets,
etc.) and lobby cards have experienced substantial increases in price [See Strange
New Worlds article Yesterday's Tomorrow's, about collecting
vintage posters].
While most of the movies would be considered fairly campy by modern standards, the
poster art can add a nice touch to any collection or display of space memorabilia. Two
sources of material and reproductions relating to '50s space movie art are Craven Images
by Ronald V. Borst (1992, Grove Press, $50.00) and issue #21 of Filmfax magazine (July
1990).
The launching of the first Sputnik in 1957 also launched a large number of satellite
and rocket-inspired toys. Almost none of them bear any resemblance to actual spacecraft
designs, and are of little interest except to toy collectors. Even so, intense interest
has driven up the prices for all toys of this nature.
Another oddball item is a set of "Space Cards" issued by T.C.G. in 1958 which
depicts famous events in the history and projected future of space exploration. I’ve
never seen a set of these cards, but they’re cited from time to time in reference
sources.
Classic Model Spaceships Based on Real Design Concepts
But the real gems of this period, in terms of memorabilia, are the model kits based
upon real design concepts developed by major aerospace firms and rocket scientists. The
Strombecker issue of Walt Disney’s Man in Space ship, based upon a Wernher von
Braun design, was arguably the first of these kits. Strombecker was transitioning from
wooden models, and this was one of their earliest all-plastic kits. The first issue of the
kit was in a monochrome box. The ship was molded in lemon-yellow styrene plastic. It was
reissued in a standard full color box, but the reissue was in gray plastic. To further
complicate things for a collector, there was also an assembled store display kit, and a
gift set that had three kits in a cellophane wrapper and an added paper banner around the
boxes. The same kit also was issued in England under the Selcol label. I haven’t seen
one of these, but they show up from time to time in English model kit sales and auctions.
Most recently, Glencoe Models has lovingly restored the original Strombecker molds to a
working condition. If you want any of the Glencoe reissues, don’t put it off. The
molds are nearing the end of their usability. Glencoe ran less than 4000 of
Strombecker’s "world’s first 4-stage rocket," and according to
Glencoe’s CEO Nick Argento, they may try for one more run. Here’s your only
chance to get this kit for $10 instead of the $300 or so you’d probably have to pay
for a first issue version. Although the Glencoe issue is listed as a "Three Stage
Ferry Rocket," it is the exact same D26/D26A Strombecker kit, with the exception of
the Disney decal sheet. I have childhood memories of filling those bright yellow ships
with powder emptied from firecrackers. The launches were spectacular, but orbit was never
achieved.
Hawk, Lindberg, Revell, and Monogram also started cranking them out. Their kits are
described in detail along with Strombecker’s in the "Model Kits" section of
this article. As with the Strombecker kit line, most companies produced factory-built
store displays. Figure that a display model that includes a printed cardboard backdrop
should be worth two to three times the value of an unbuilt kit. The same ratio holds for
the gift sets: two to three times the combined values of the kits. Display models and gift
sets are very scarce.
Built-Ups (Assembled Models)
Another category of kits you may encounter are built-ups done by the kids who
originally bought them. Some of these will be superbly done, but most will be fairly awful
and frequently incomplete. If in the latter category and the price is right — say 10%
to 25% of the value of the unbuilt kit — it may be worth buying. It can probably be
soaked in Pine Sol, taken apart, and rebuilt by a skilled modeler into a great display
piece. If you can find someone with a decal set from an unbuilt kit, the decals can be
reproduced on 8.5 x 11 inch decal film copied on a Sharp color copier. Canon color laser
copiers won’t work — the decal material is too thick. (Decal film is available
from ATP, 3014 Abelia Court, San Jose, CA 95121.)
A professional quality built-up of a kit that has never been reissued can
sometimes be worth as much or more than an unbuilt kit. When buying such a kit, check an
under-area of the model’s base where paint can be scraped away to check for styrene
plastic, and to confirm that it isn’t a resin recast. The value of a built-up can
change quickly if the kit is ever reissued. The only ones that can be assured of retaining
value are complete original unbuilt kits and factory-built store display models.
Reissued Kits
A question that often comes up is what happens to the value of an original after a
reissue. If we’re dealing with a true rarity, my answer is that it remains
unaffected. Many would contest this point. I base my call on the fact that when a book is
reprinted, the value of the first edition is not lessened. Why should there be a
difference for model kits? One is an historical artifact, the first of its kind. One
isn’t.
Resin or Garage Kits
Garage kits will also appear from time to time. These are homebrew models cast in resin
or made by vacu-forming. These vary considerably in quality. Only one, the von Braun
multi-stage rocket made by Dave Merriman of D&E Miniatures, will be described in this
article. Most of the garage kits are targeted towards military, monster, and science
fiction fans. Lunar Models sometimes has classic 1950s spacecraft (mostly film related)
garage kits available (Lunar Models, 106 Century Drive, Cleburne TX 76031. Catalog
available: $5.00.)
Contractor's Models and Scratch-Builts
Two additional categories of models are of interest: contractor’s models and
scratch-builts. Many aerospace firms made models to distribute to executives, military
brass, and congressmen to promote various projects. These are extremely rare. Pricing is
generally determined via negotiation between buyer and seller. A good starting point for a
prototype space model would be $300. The larger and more detailed it is, the more
expensive.
Equally rare are professional scratch-built models done for exhibits or museums. A
stunning example of the Wernher von Braun "Mars Lander" built in 1/160 scale by
Lee Staton for the Smithsonian’s "Blueprint for Space" exhibit appears in
the January 1994 issue of Fine Scale Modeler magazine (Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027
Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187, $23.95 for 8 issues.) The article,
entitled "To Mars In 1956!" includes a full set of blueprints for the ship.
Expect to pay fairly substantial prices for finished museum-quality models like this.
Pricing and Negotiating
Usually a dealer will give you one-half to one-third of retail, unless he or she has a
ready market for the item you want to sell. As with most collectibles, condition and
scarcity drives the price. Bear in mind that for most of these early space kits, unless a
batch turns up in a warehouse somewhere the entire number available today for models
made circa 1959 probably ranges from 25 to 100 surviving kits.
Also, as the space program continues to get funding cuts, the nostalgia value will
start to kick in even more. The collector will find himself competing with aerospace
museums actively acquiring kits and collections. Kit Collector’s Clearinghouse
(KCC) is a buy/sell/trade/info newsletter for model collectors published by John Burns,
3213 Hardy Drive, Edmond, OK 73013. It’s a good place to "beat the dealer"
when shopping for kits.
(Where it exists, the number shown after the kit number is generally the original
suggested retail price.)
I have all of the model kits and most of the books cited in the article, so if you have
any specific questions, please feel free to write. Also, if you spot inaccuracies, feel
free to set me straight. A SASE is appreciated. I’m actively looking to buy a few
missing print items: Collier’s Magazines: 1952 --22 Mar., 18 Oct, 25 Oct.
1953--28 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 27 Jun. Of special interest to me are the Disney booklets, Man
In Space, and Mars and Beyond (not the comic books.) Will buy these booklets
at full retail. Assembled junk Revell space kits, parts, and boxes from Revell and
Strombecker space kits also wanted. Write: Elliott Swanson, PO Box 2324, Bremerton, WA
98310.
