1/135 Atlantis Convair 990 Review/Preview

[Ranger_Chris61]

 

 

Back for a new year and new set of models reviews. To start out we are taking a look at an Airliner that has never gotten as much coverage of as many others have. Specifically, we are going to look at Atlantis' 1/135th scale Convair 990 kit.

[Dutch]

Chris,

Thank you for your in-box review of the Atlantis re-box of the old Revell 1/135 Convair CV-990 kit.  As you point out, no cockpit clear parts are provided.  Revell did not include any for their release of this kit, nor for their other airliner kits from the 1960s: DC-7, L-1049, 707, DC-8, DC-9, & Caravelle.  In the late 1970s, early 1980s, they did offer clear cockpit windows for their re-tooled & re-boxed E-3A & KC-135A kits, otherwise, nada for the others!  I think they started putting them in with their 1:144 DC-10, L-1011 & 747 kits released in the early 1970s.  As to the odd scale (1:135), it was considered "box scale," meaning the kits were scaled to fit a certain size box.  Hence the DC-7 was 1:122, the L-1049 was 1:128, the 707(-120) was 1:139, the DC-8(-10) was 1:143, the CV-990 was 1:135, the DC-9(-10) was 1:120 and the Caravelle was 1:100.  Yeah, raised panel lines, but especially rivets, were the rule back then.  Lastly, on the decals, you're going to get something in the public domain, so no licensing fees for Atlantis, as you pointed out.  The kit is still a very nice kit and builds up easily enough.  It is still a favorite with many airliner builders.

Thanks for sharing.

K/r,

Dutch

Edited February 15, 2023 by Dutch