Posted 4 years ago
Toyrebel
(215 items)
Picked up a Visible V-8 Model made by Renwal. Renwal made various models, one of their specialties were the "Visible" kits. I had a few of the anatomical kits; The Visible Man, The Visible Woman, Visible Dog, Visible horse and The Visible. The Visible V-8 was one of their top of the line kits of the inorganic group. It was over $10 if I recall correctly, it was an expensive "gift" kit, the kind you got for Christmas, your birthday or after you saved up enough money to get it. The most desirable and rarest Visible kit was the Radial Aircraft Engine. The Visible V-8 when completed will move the crankshaft, pistons, camshaft, open and close the valves. The "sparkplugs"(small light bulbs) light in the proper firing order.
This basic Engine is still available as a Revell kit(Revell bough the Renwal molds and rereleased some of them. The first rerelease Revell kit worked exactly like this original with the electric motor powering the drivetrain and had the sparkplugs that illuminated. Unfortunately the present day kit has been simplified with a hand crank and non lighting spark plugs. I really don't understand why they cheapened it, these features were key to the appeal. I really shouldn't say "cheapened" because the one I saw at Hobby Lobby was over $50! I guess "simplified" would be more appropriate.
You can find these kits in various conditions and completeness. I chose this one because it has all of the parts, I intend build it like the one I built over 50 years ago.
Thanks,
Bill
I remember these ,I was a kid ,the invisible engine ,we never could afford one
we had the invisible gift
Great post and description... a REAL toy from a better generation!