Comet 1/317 scale B-52C, Kit No. PL-21
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Comet was one of the pioneers of the American plastic model industry.
Having produced wood kits since 1929, it made the transition to plastics
in the mid Fifties but sold all its tooling to Aurora in 1963 in the face
of stiff competition during the early boom years of plastic modeling in
the USA. I've long had a soft spot for Comet kits and have been watching
for an example of this one at a reasonable price for many years.
Its small (and odd) scale notwithstanding this neat little kit has stood
the test of time well and must have delighted untold thousands of young
builders during the halcyon postwar boom years, including its appearance
in the UK in Kleeware and FROG boxings. The kit was first issued as PL-11
with a Parents Magazine logo on the box and appeared in a number of Comet's
gift sets but unfortunately was never released by Aurora after the acquisition
of Comet's molds, the Aurora B-52 being a new and slightly larger (1/270
scale) kit and owing nothing at all to Comet's tooling.
 There
are 21 parts molded in a silvery-gray plastic, including two for Comet's
typical swivel stand, and a tiny clear plastic windshield. Control surfaces
and some panel details are presented in somewhat overdone scribing, and
as often is the case with early US-made models, decal locations are also
indicated by the same recessed scribing. The scribing even includes indications
for painting the wing walkways and white antiflash undersides but there's
no mention of that in the instructions. There's little flash and no sink
marks on my kit and a quick test-fit showed it would go together well,
a trait of all Comet kits I've ever had.
 The
instructions are on one side of a single sheet and are very basic, as
befitting such a simple kit, but are adequate apart from a lack of painting
details, suggesting only that the antiglare panel be painted black. Granted
these weren't exactly the most colorful aircraft around in the 1950s but
there's a little more to it than that! Given that the instructions tout
Comet's own glue and line of paints one would think that they might have
suggested a bit of red here and there and the white undersides as well!
 The
decals are pretty much a lost cause but that's to be expected from an
early vintage model. My sheet is in good condition and is probably usable
but doesn't provide anything other than the most basic markings. The national
insignias are a joke, suffering from bad proportions and colors (not unlike
many kit and aftermarket decals even today!) with red stripes that are
badly out of register.
The Comet B-52 is another prime example of an early plastic model and
despite all of my criticisms is just a neat little kit that I'd like to
see on the shelves again for the pocket money crowd. I got mine on eBay
from Skyway Model
Shop along with a FROG B-47 for a very reasonable price so they're
still out there. Highly recommended if you like small scale models and/or
collect for nostalgia!
Until next month, "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to",
above all have fun, and be sure to visit Al's
Place while you're surfing the 'Net!
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