HAWK NO. 600 CURTISS RACER R3C-1
The Curtis R3C -1 - w/ wheels was issued in 1949 in yellow plastic, in a one-piece red, white, and blue box.
Prior to 1950, Hawk had issued seven all-plastic aircraft kits, Four 1/48 racers:
1) Curtis R3C - 1 Kit # 600
2) Gee Bee II Kit # 601
3) Howard Ike Kit # 602
4) Laird Solution Kit # 603 and three others.
All of these kits appeared in one-piece boxes with no price code extension and are Extremely Rare.
For the advanced model collector. This is a model kit with a
fascinating history as it may be among the very first injection molded
kits produced in the United States (please see the article about early
USA kit production on this website "Oldmodelkits"). The Hawk model company was the
most innovative in America and had been making constant 1/48 scale
models in wood and metal since the late 1920s. During the re-run of the
World's Fair in 1933, Hawk may have made the world's first injection
molded airplanes models - but they were not kits. The models were
completely finished and were on display for the princely sum of $25
each. The Mates brothers, who founded and ran Hawk, were quick to
incorporate this new technology by adding injection molded details to
the wooden kits in the late 1930s. During the war, Hawk put it's
injection molding knowledge to work making ID models for the US Armed
Forces. Originally there was a nation-wide program to have children and
adults make these from wood, but consistency was an issue - injection
molded solved this problem. Immediately after WWII in 1946, Hawk made
the Curtiss Racer model injection molded in black tenite. The box was a
simple one-color affair. This kit, like Varney's PT-17, met a very
cool reception at hobby shops. Hawk quickly changed the box to two
colors and added box artwork while molding the kit is bright yellow
acetate. That was the second issue, still from 1946. By 1948/49 Hawk
was using injection molded styrene plastic and still molding it in
high-gloss yellow - that is this kit, the third issue. Other than the
material, there are subtle changes to the box. It is still one piece
but much larger, has much simpler (and larger) text on the end flaps and
the box top says "All Plastic Airplane Assembly Kit" (instead of
"...Construction Kit"). The box is in excellent condition with great
colors. Inside, the kit has never been started and
has been inventoried 100% complete with all parts and instructions.
The instructions are in excellent condition. Please note that Hawk did
not issue decals with this issue of this kit.
"Kit description courtesy of Alan Bussie at the website Oldmodelkits."