Gordon Stevens begins a unique personal insight into how he created RAREplanes, the pioneering vacform kit producer - and, in the process, helped establish the "short-run" kit industry as we know it today.

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Thanks!

What an amazing story ! Thanks for posting this up for us Rowan, I can't wait for Chapter 2.

Cheers, D

Excellent article, looking forward to Part two.
Brings back many fond memories of my reintroduction to plastic models after my military service.

Delightful read, thanks for posting. VacForm is still the only way to get certain airplane models, especially in 1/144th scale, though as the author points out that number is steadily diminishing.

Reading this encourages me to attempt one of several vacform kits which I have in my collection.

Great article. Very interesting.

Great article, I have several vacforms in the stash mainly 1/144 but also including a Rareplanes He-51 and Breda 65.

Now waiting for part two.

Great story!



Magnus

Most impressive! A real legend in our genre takes the time to tell us of those early years in detail. Wonderful and thank you!

Mr. Stevens,

Thank you for telling us this story, and thank you for your models!

Great article. Thanks for sharing

I was probably the first latin-american modeler to see a vacuform kit, and has keep on modelling for almost 50 years, now after reading the history of RAREplanes, I can appreciatte even more the effort behind the name, Gordon Stevens was a turning point in my modeler´s life, and want to express my warmest consideration to him, he opened a wide door that nobody has been able to close; thanks Gordon and your family.

nice first post, Armando.
I hope you will share some of your model building experience here.

Since that story was published, (look for part 2 as well!)
I have built several vacuform models, it is a medium I like alot now.

Hi Armando

Welcome to Aeroscale - it's great to have you with us.

As you can imagine, it was a real privilege and pleasure to publish Gordon's story. His RAREplanes kits were instrumental in introducing me to the world beyond the bounds of mainstream modelling.

All the best

Rowan

This is a fascinating article made even more poignant to me as I used to work for Berwicks model shop in Kettering and we stocked not only RAREplanes but also their self adhesive metal foil. John Adams was also a customer and he began to show us his Aeroclub range which we proceeded to sell. Mail order was the mainstay of Berwicks and with customers from NZ, Australia, USA, continental Europe and Wisbech (I always remember Mr Gamble) RAREplanes had worldwide distribution and I'm proud to have been part of that. Gordon Stevens, one of my modelling hero's

Rowan,
thank you so much for posting the link to Gordon Stevens/RAREplanes part 1 story. It was really great read. I do remember seeing those Vac kits on the peg section in my then local Squadron Shop in Syosset, New York back in the early 70's, where I got my modeling Mojo once again, this time as an adult.

There is a link at the end of part 1 for part 2 which is also a must read.
Joel

What strikes me most having re-read this splendid article is that Aeroscale contains such wealth of fantastic features and articles that in many case only gather virtual dust in forgotten corners of this site.

I really wonder what could be done to keep this treasure alive?

I had to re-read this excellent article, having heard the sad news that Mr Stevens passed recently. RIP

Perhaps we could run "Blast from the past" articles?