1/40 2157-200 UPC USMC Winnie the Whale LVT(A)(4) with 75mm Gun - (ex Adams)
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
UPC early to mid 1960s issue from the original high quality Adams molds. This very well detailed model features movable tracks and wheels, rotating turret and machine gun, elevating 75mm gun, four man crew with two infantrymen. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. UPC stood for Universal Powermaster Corporation which was based out of New York City, NY. UPC did not cut their own molds, but bought kits already molded from other manufacturers and re-boxed the kits in the USA. Scott Eidson, the famous artist best known for his artwork with Revell, also did UPC box art in the 1960s. All UPC production ended in the 1970s. These molds must have had a very interesting history. The molds were cut in 1955 or 1956, either at Adams or by one of Revell's contractors. It appeared to be part of the Adams/Revell 1/40 line but Adams never issued the kit. The famous HO model train manufacturer Athearn purchased the Adams molds and ended up with the jeep. Ahtearn used the name SNAP for all plastic kit releases and slightly modified the molds by adding their name & logo to a part (or two) of each kit. Then UPC (Universal Power Master) either leased or purchased (probably the former) the Adams molds from SNAP in the 1960s. While most UPC kits say 'Made in Japan' the ex-Adams models do not and say 'Made in USA'. Things get even more interesting with the Life-Like issue. How Life-Like came across the molds is unfortunately unknown but it may have been in a bulk purchase of molds from Athearn since there were in the same general part of the country. This is simply conjecture, however.
$65.00