Rare Model Kits: Civilian Edition

Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a model kit that you desperately want, only to be unable to find it for purchase, pre-built or assembled. This is especially true when it comes to the world of civilian ships, i.e. the ocean liners. For whatever reason, it takes hours upon hours of online searching to find any sort of ocean liner model that was released prior to this century. Quite literally, they are the hardest model type to find. In the nearly six and a half years I have been collecting and building models, I have managed to collect only eight civilian ocean liner models to the fifty eight military ones. They are harder to find than you would imagine.

A few noteworthy ones I have managed to find in the past include:

1) 1/600 RMS Mauritania by Airfix: Series One?

This is probably one of the oldest Model Kits I own, if not the oldest, and definitely my pride and joy. From what I can determine, the model is that of a 1/600 RMS Mauritania released by Airfix models. Though I am unsure of which "Series" it is, I believe it to be one of the earlier/ earliest one, my reasoning being the color of the model. In later re-releases by Airfix (The current one here: http://www.airfix.com/us-en/rms-mauretania-1-600.html) the color of the model kit shifted it a dark grey/ silver color. This is actually one of the few model kits I own that I did not build myself, as I discovered it in bad disrepair. Since then, I have been trying to restore it with little success. Finding replacement parts is near impossible and cleaning the excess glue off is a night mare. Despite this, I still love it to death.

2) Revell SS United States: 1973 release:

One of a few SS United States Model Kits floating around out there is the Revell 1973 release that measures about 20 inches long and features everything, except a full hull. One of the most aggravating things I find, is when your searching for a ship model your just dying to have, you find one, and then discover it's not full hull. The pain is real. Though it's really more of a choice of preference for me, I still enjoy the ships I own that are not full hull. Overall, it is a more than decent model kit that does a good gob of representing the ship. In my opinion, if you can get your hands on one, it's a relatively simple build that could serve well as a starter kit.

3) 1/600 RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 by Airfix: Series 6: Release: 1968

If the Mauritania isn't the oldest model kit I own, this one would be my second guess. Based on the RMS Queen Mary 2, the longest serving ocean liner in world history, the kit is difficult to construct at best. Like several older model kits, it suffers heavily from misshapen pieces, delicate construction, and difficult fitting. Definitely not recommended for beginning modelers, but a good edition to any collection. I enjoy the model quite a bit, and it has excellent box art.

These are some of the more hard to find models in my collection, and I treasure them. However, I am always on the hunt for another ocean liner to add to my collection. Currently I am searching for a model or model kit of the RMS Aquitania, preferably full hull. If anyone has any info that could assist my search, it would be much appreciated. Until next time, happy modeling.