There are so many great new kits on the market today that there seems little reason to spend time and money on the older kits in your stash or available from second-hand market sellers. However, there are reasons to do so.

In many reviews I have read of older kits the writer notes that the model is very accurate in outline. In other words, it sure looks like the prototype, i.e., the real thing. There is always the comment on “raised detail”, but I think that is an eye of the beholder thing.

Often, the modeler is building the older kit for nostalgia reasons or for whatever reason the modeler has always admired the kit but has not found the time to build it.

There is complexity. Some of the older (1970’s vintage) Tamiya armor kits have far fewer parts than the newer armored kits, especially those with individual track links. The older kits are often assembled more quickly and one can move on to painting and weathering.

And, finally there is cost. The kits today cost a lot more. And that is in no way a criticism. Of course they cost more as they represent a fairly large investment in development. They do have more parts. They often include PE frets and decals that are light years ahead of the decals offered in the 1970’s.

I have been working on and will continue to work on an older kit – the Monogram Promodeler A-26B Invader. I have always been fascinated by the Invader. The rare U. S. aircraft that flew in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam, not to mention a few smaller wars elsewhere in foreign air forces can be added to that list. Not getting into action until 1945, the Invader missed becoming a much more important aircraft in U. S. military aviation history.

I will be presenting this model in the various phases of construction over the next several months. Stay tuned.