YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!! - Un-classic Box Art

Andrzej Rygiel
Nice collection of WTF box arts 🙂. To be fair, majority of them are from the ancient era (60's/70's/80's) of modelling, nobody focused that much on what's on the box back then (but there were also really nice looking artistic pieces from those times that I remember). I'll try to find some newer (90's and onward) box arts that I consider a "failed mission in marketing" - this one is a nice example from 2021 --> Saab TF-35 Draken (Skale Wings SS-72001, 1:72), and this one a bit older (2003), but also has a high WTF factor --> Messerschmitt Bf-109E 3/4 "H..tenkrad (Academy 2214, 1:72).

gorby Auteur
Oooohh! That Draken box art is dreadful.

Robert Podkoński
And the next one to your collection, gorby:
Saunders-Roe SR-53 (URSUS , 1:72)

Ben M
I built that thunderceptor (photo 32) when I was a kid. I got it at a 5 and dime store. I recall I painted it testors metallic gloss red.

Robert Podkoński
Aaaaaand my favourite:
PZL P-23 a Karas (RUCH MK006, 1:72)
PZL P-23a (Coopexim , 1:72)
PZL-23A Karaś (RUCH , 1:72)
PZL P.23A Karaś (PZW , 1:72)
which one do you like most? 😄
Don't you dare look at the contents - what's most unbelievable: the same moulds are used now to produce "new" kits:
PZL P-23B Karas (BIGMODEL K72046, 1:72)

Robert Podkoński
Some more fun:
Boeing B-707 (ZTS Plastyk S-114, 1:144)

gorby Auteur
Thanks for your comments. Some excellent examples Robert, particularly the first three PZL P.23. 😄

Erik Off
There was still action on the covers. Cool stuff! 😄

gorby Auteur
Yes it bugs me when classic box-art is altered to remove any sign of unpleasantness. This is an ideal example.
Superfortress (Airfix 07001-4, 1:72)
Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Airfix A07001, 1:72)
One is full of action and the other is dull.

Robert Podkoński
Still, I love the Lindberg's rendering of MiG-19... and Soviet "Warhawk" - quite inspiring, isn't it 😉

gorby Auteur
The Warhawk is unbelievable! It looks nothing like the real aircraft. I'd love to see the model.

Ben M
P-40B Tomahawk (Zvezda 7201, 1:72)

You can find out for 15 euro, gorby

Mark Sherwood
That Airfix B-29 re-mastered cover art is an affront to the Royal Cross original.

Martin Oostrom
I love that the markings for the Corvair 880 are DIE 880

gorby Auteur
I've just Googled it Ben and it doesn't great, but not as bad as I thought it would. I think I'll save my 15 euro. 😉
I agree Mark (incidentally, the predictive text has change Roy to Royal).
I didn't notice that Martin. 😄

Mark Sherwood
Cheers Gorby, I didn't notice 😳 👍

Robert Podkoński
Convair on the picture apparently has no engines, but drop tanks instead 😄 😄 😄t
And here is the next piece of art from Trumpeter:
MiG-15 UTI mixed with Caproni-Stipa by Chinese:
PLA Air Force FT-5 Trainer (Trumpeter 02203, 1:32)
And a few more from Trumpeter:
Chinese Y-5 (Trumpeter 01602, 1:72)
and Airbus Beluga with all-moving tail 😄
A300-600ST Beluga (Trumpeter 00604, 1:144)
and finally, Iliushin Il-28:
Chinese Bomb-5 (Trumpeter 01603, 1:72)

Mark Sherwood
To my previous post, re the B29 box art. It is the inimitable Roy Cross. The reason I bought Airfix. 🤟🥸🤘

gorby Auteur
Trumpeter have a rich history of dreadful box-art, that Y-5 is particularly painful. 😄

Robert Podkoński
I like the title on Il-28: "Chinese Bomb - 5"... 😄

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Treehugger
Oh, wow, what a weird looking Voodoo F-101. Hm, I suppose it might be some prototype jet variant.

Ludvík Kružík
Very interesting collection of boxart. 👍

There is a reason for the shape of the boxarts made in the Soviet Union. The incompetence of the Soviet industry and the political situation influenced the creation not only of boxarts, but of entire kits produced in the former Soviet Union. Lousy boxarts were defended by claiming that the attractive color pictures on Western boxarts were just capitalist tinsel and bourgeois detailism. And a socialist doesn't need such things.
The model's box was made of poor quality cardboard with mostly two-color printing. From the modest Cyrillic inscription on the box one could read that the box contained a kit of model aircraft number xxxx, or at best, even more accurately, that it was, for example, a fighter aircraft. The instructions for building the model were printed on stiff paper, which could be successfully used as sheet metal. It contained only pictorial instructions for building the model. Any detailed information (colours, camouflage, what kind of machine it was and where it was used...) was missing. In most cases, decals were also missing. In some kits the decals were replaced by stickers. Most of these kits were pressed by the leading company Frog, which was acquired by the Soviets in the second half of the 1970s.
Curiously, the same models, but intended for the Western market, were produced under the NOVO brand. The quality and content of these kits were comparable to the original FROG kits.

gorby Auteur
Thanks Ludvik, that was interesting.

Ben M
This whole hobby is bourgeois detaillism.

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Robert Podkoński
Actually, Beaufighter is described here as "morskoj shturmovik" = "sea/navy assault plane"...

Spitfire14
I live your comments and the selection (also fron the commentors contributing! Can't wait for the extension of the collection...definitely made my day.

gorby Auteur
Glad you enjoyed it Spitfire. 🙂

Denis Dogadov
If you are really interested in the topic of amazing boxarts, here is a website created by enthusiasts about models in the USSR Where you will find many more pictures-
retromodels.org

[img1]
[img2]

Jan Peters
This is really hilarious 😂

gorby Auteur
Jan - it was your excellent 'All sorts' album which gave me the idea of posting them on Scalemates, so thanks. 👍

Air no
Sympa. J'ai eu le Wellington Camojet en provenance directe d'Urss. Merci pour ta visite Gorbie.

Mr D
Interesting 👍 the Google translate helps. Thanks for link.

bossy122
That Convair 880 is going 6 different directions, all at once. Impressive.

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄
It takes a 'special' artist to create such greatness. 😄

Jan Peters
Cross eyed I guess 🫣😀

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Lochsa River
....beyond brilliant....

Lochsa River
...and so inspiring...more funky box art added by helpful SCM members....

Neuling
Very interesting art gallery .......... 🙂

Alec K
Indeed! How the heck I missed this, I don't know. Some real pearls here for sure 👍🤣

gorby Auteur
Thanks mates. I'm pleased you enjoyed the awfulness. 🙂

Mr D
The Tomahawk looks like it a cross between a Mustang and a Policarpov 🤣
Would have a terrible C.G
But it's good to see nice n innocent basic art work for kids l assume .

Łukasz Gliński
I know I'm late but both are brilliant and made my day - the pics and the comments equally 😄

gorby Auteur
I'm pleased you enjoyed the album Łukasz. 🙂
Thanks for your comment Mr D. I'm not sure if some of the art work was for kids, or by kids. 😉

Mr D
😂 think many are reimagined to fit the box 😄

Makariel
This gallery belongs into a museum 😂 the James Bond and Oddjob dance scene had me nearly fall off my chair

gorby Auteur
I'm pleased you enjoyed it Makariel. 🙂

Mr D
I will have to build one of the old USSR model kits one day. I've done an easy German VEB.
I've seen a few on eBay ...🤔👍

gorby Auteur
Good luck with that Mr D. And good luck with the resultant therapy. 😉

Alexander Grivonev
46 is an expressionism masterpiece, I am in awe

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Mr D
Yes Gorby.....l think alot of the old USSR kits are old frog kits, l watched some YouTube vids and they are very poor 😮, unusable decals, release oil dripping of them ect " think life's to short for the hassle" 😂

Rui D
I'm still laughing.

gorby Auteur
Good idea Mr D, just experience it on Youtube. Personally I'm not a fan of horror films. 😄
Glad you enjoyed it Rui. 🙂

Mr D
😂.

Denis Dogadov
A very interesting and detailed article about the history of the NOVO company, if anyone is interested.
And please note, this site contains all possible models sold in the USSR.
Google Translate will help.
retromodels.org/gb/jaguar-hunter/
[img1]

Robert Podkoński
This is the best Phantom livery ever imho:
Vsyepogodnyi istrebitel (all..) (Mir (ПО Мир) , 1:72);
and a "camouflaged" Hellcat:
Naval Fighter (Mir (ПО Мир) 4764-BL, 1:72)

Mr D
Thanks Denis 👍 interesting...will have good read.
I was considering building a Novo La-7 kit, thought it would be nice to build soviet plane from USSR kit. will need to see what decals would be needed.?

Denis Dogadov
Mr D I can recommend it.
This is the first model that I built myself back in the 70s.

[img1]
[img2]

Mr D
Nice 👍 would you consider building one of your childhood kits ? For nostalgia ?
I've done one my Be-6.
Just purchased a 1985 Lightning that l built with my dad back in 1987.
Thanks Denis 😀

The historybuff ww2
What are the aircraft on the boxart? Are these old egg kits? Cool though.

Denis Dogadov
The historybuff ww2 Read the article, I posted the link above.
Everything is written in detail there.

Mr D
the PZL-23 box art must been a Friday 16:45 arrival on the design desk.. Label ( Must be out first thing Monday 🚩)
being as the box art usually over sells the item inside int quite concerning 😯

gorby Auteur
That made me laugh Mr D.
I really should update this album as I've got a few new ones to add.

gorby Auteur
Seven more magnificently malformed monstrosities added (48-54).

Jan Peters
'Great' additions to the collection Gorby, #54 especially, I just can't seem to figure out what this aircraft would look like in the flesh. It is a bit like a MC Esher with a false perspective.

Robert Podkoński
@Mr D- In an economy of scarcity, no one needed to be encouraged to buy anything. That's how economy dependent on russia operated in communist Poland...

gorby Auteur
Jan: It's probably harmful to brains to try and work out what the Sage 2 looked like from the box art. If Esher had done that he'd probably decide he should only paint when sober. 😄
I hadn't thought about it like that Robert. That's mad!

Mr D
Good old Perastroika.....keep the best for the $ customers

Alec K
Nice new additions 👍

Jennifer Franklin
I'm just seeing this now, too funny, these are really bad, lol

gorby Auteur
Glad you 'like' them Alec & Jennifer. 🙂

Curatorm
I like the soviet bloodhound box-art : it looks early ad-art of Soviet union.
[img1]

Wojtek G.
I remember those Polish glider models and that Karaś... it was hard to get and what was inside today would make many people laugh... but it was there!

gorby Auteur
Thanks for your comment Wojtek. 👍

Robert Podkoński
@Wojtek G. - the problem is that the kits from the same moulds are now sold in Poland under BigModel brand:
mojehobby.pl/product..-Karas-51773904.html
it is a crime against humanity imho

Jan Peters
😂😂@ Robert

Wojtek G.
@Robert Podkoński - Yes, I saw it a few days ago and was shocked. There must be some takers for the 25 złoty (about €6), especially since the box promises so much. 🕵🏻‍♂️

gorby Auteur
Sounds like a bargain. Particularly as there must be at least €1 worth of flash. 😄

Robert Podkoński
Spot the main wheels, Gorby... 😄 😄 😄

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

The historybuff ww2
Gorby, love the joke.

Mr D
Hi Gorby 👋 your forgetting the ¢50 worth of machine oil dripping of the sprue 🚀
Basic tools may be required ⚒️

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Jan Peters
Another gem worth adding to the collection Gorby 🤗
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak (Italaerei 107, 1:72)

gorby Auteur
Good find Jan, that really is awful! 😄

Łukasz Gliński
While the boxart might look poor, that is very inspiring livery Jan 👍

Mr D
I always did like the F-84 display team ..... Had to be viewed in heavy cloud for best experience ✈️🤣

Steven Van Dyck
If you type "dinosaur" in the search bar, you also get some pretty gnarly examples. But sometimes that's exactly what is in the box.

Plated Dinosaur (Pyro 273, No)

Steven Van Dyck
Here another one, a T-Rex where the artist must have thought the arms needed to be longer than that. The teeth though, mine might be longer.

Tyrant Dinosaur (Pyro 274-98, No)

Dexi Goodchild
I mean @gorby, you say "cockpit" for photo 54, but let's be honest, it's more of an MC Escher drawing than an actual "cockpit" don't you think? 🤣

gorby Auteur
Wow those are truly dreadful Steven. When I get time those are definitely going in the album. 🙂

That made me laugh Dexi. Escher would sue, so just as well he's pegged it. Admittedly the odds on him being a Scalemates member would probably have been slim. 😄

Robert Podkoński
Now I know where originated the idea that cavemen lived in the Jurrasic Era...

Alberto
How did I miss this until now 😄. Love the foot notes for each one of them!

Erik Off
"Plated Dinosaur" - best cover ever! 😄 😄 😄

Steven Van Dyck
In the background on this one, a T-Rex is using it's well-known karate kick hunting method:

Tyrannosaurus (Bandai 8331-350, 1:55)

Steven Van Dyck
This must have been an attractive model kit to bring home to the kids:

Deer (ARII A480-300, No)

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄 Fantastic! Thanks Steven.

Thanks mates, glad you enjoyed it.

Dexi Goodchild
I hate to be the one to ask, but did that deer kit come with the little you-know-what, and more importantly, what colour were you supposed to paint it? 🫣🤣 BTW, I believe the text in the speech bubble is "WOW! This is amazing!" I mean, yes, yes it is my friend.

Steven Van Dyck
It might also be "approved by the CIA".

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Jan Peters
It actually says "Hahaha! This is hilarious!!!!" According to Google Translate.

Steven Van Dyck
Not only that. The text left of the animal makes clear that it is workable. The tail is actually a lever. The text on top says. "The rage of the media".

Dexi Goodchild
🫣 Please stop! You're just making it so much worse! 🤣

Steven Van Dyck
Would I still dare to mention that the text on the bottom says something about fortune cookies?

gorby Auteur
That makes me thankful I've never eaten a fortune cookie. 😄

Ludvík Kružík
Gorbi, you're actually in luck! I think if you eat these cookies, things might turn out exactly as they're drawn on the box of that building set. 😄

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Jan Peters
😂😂

Spanjaard
one more? SCM Newsfeed

gorby Auteur
😄 😄 😄

Jan Peters
Here's another gem for your collection Gorby 🤗
Russian Mig 19 (Aurora 66-79, 1:48)

gorby Auteur
That monstrosity is already in the collection Jan (photo No. 30).
I suspect it's such a visual crime your brain has attempted to edit it out. 😄 😄

Jan Peters
Must be, I should have checked before I waved 🙂