Revell celebrates 75 years of plastic model building
Revell is celebrating 75 years of plastic model building with five special anniversary models, marking a history that began in 1951 when the company turned finished plastic models into kits for customers to assemble themselves.
The anniversary collection
The anniversary collection includes the Porsche 356 Coupé, featuring Revell’s beginner-friendly Click System. Four further classics will be released as limited editions in retro packaging, using the tools associated with their original production years: the M4 Sherman (1955), Fokker Dr.1 (1957), Great Eastern (1963) and MGB Roadster (1964).
Revell’s roots lie in California, but the company’s success in Germany began in 1956 with the establishment of its German subsidiary in Bielefeld, followed by a move to Bünde. The company’s Titanic kit is its best-selling plastic model kit, with more than two million units sold, while the Trabant, launched in 1990, is its most successful car kit.
Expanding beyond traditional plastic modelling
Over the decades, Revell has expanded beyond traditional plastic modelling to include products such as its Click System, wooden building products and the Brick System. Its Build & Play range introduces children aged four and above to building and playing with models.
Licensing has also been part of the company’s history since the 1957 release of its first official licensed kit, Perri the Squirrel, based on a Disney film. Today, the portfolio includes properties such as Formula 1, Fast & Furious, Stranger Things, Star Wars, Top Gun, Harry Potter and Disney.
As it marks the anniversary, Revell continues to combine its modelling heritage with new products and audiences, highlighting the enduring appeal of hands-on building in an increasingly digital world