1/240 703-98 Lindberg US Fleet Submarine - (ex Varney)
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+++
Rare kit with a fascinating history. These molds are believed to be the oldest production plastic ship model in US modeling history. The kit started as the Varney Fleet Sub in the mid 1940s. It is widely regarded as the very first USA all-plastic construction kit of a military vessel. Varney produced an all plastic aircraft kit at the same time, the PT-17. It is the #1 candidate for the first plastic airplane kit in the USA. Varney was a famous manufacture of model trains, first O then a leader in HO models. The two new additions did not sell very well - remember, the Gowland/Revell 'Highway Pioneers' had yet to be issued, so the boom in modeling had not occurred. Varney soon sold the molds for the Fleet Sub and the PT-17 to O-Lin (along with the molds for a fantastic multi-media kit with a wooden hull and plastic fittings, the Varney PT Boat). O-Lin was a joint venture by Paul Lindberg and Mr. Olsen. O-Lin successfully reissued the PT Boat with an injection molded hull and deck, PT-17 Stearman and Fleet Sub but modified the molds for the Sub. The original Varney kit had a solid, one-piece black hull and gray fittings. O-Lin engineers created a two-piece hull that provided a hollow hull and made from the same shot of plastic as the fittings. The 'Lin' in O-Lin, Paul Lindberg, was already well known for his publication of articles and plans for flying model aircraft in some of the leading aviation publications in the 1940/50s. Mr. Lindberg soon bought out Mr. Olsen and began marketing the same O-Lin kits under 'The Lindberg Line.' One immediate change was the box art. O-Lin box art was usually two or three color and not very exciting. Near the end of O-Lin, the partners asked Ray Gaedke to provide some box art. The bright colors and vivid action were an immediate hit, and Paul Lindberg took this lesson and Mr. Gaedke with him to the new 'Lindberg Line.' Lindberg continued to issue the old Varney kits with the O-Lin modifications. The kit has been issued by a resurgent Lindberg as late at 2009, likely making it the longest running plastic ship kit in US history. This model is in superb condition. The Ray Gaedke box art has perfect color and gloss, four solid corners and only the light wear shown. Inside, the model has not been started. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes 'excellent+' condition decals and 'near mint' condition instructions.
This item has been sold.
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