Did Anybody Ever Build The Orange Crate? Well, At Least Once....

[Terry Jessee]

Hosted on Fotki

In that "worst kit ever" discussion somebody asked whether anyone has ever built the Orange Crate. Here's a shot from "Hot Rod Model Kits."

This original kit was purchased for the book. A friend was interested in it, so I told him if he built it for me so I could take photos of it, he could have it. And this is the result.

All of those Revell kits from the early and mid-60s were tough to build because Revell tried to include EVERYTHING. At the time, kids didn't have the skills to put them together and get a satisfying result. But almost all of the hot rods and dragsters could be done with some patience. And really, that was what made the difference--taking the time to do it right.

I like the Roth kits, and those are just as fiddly and frustrating as anything else Revell did at the time. But I want 'em, so I'll make the effort. There are some stinkers in that worst-kit-ever discussion, but many of them are just like this one--hard to build.

Ain't it purty?

Terry