Monogram 1/24 Red Baron

[firemist]

First released in 1968, this was probably one of Monogram's biggest sellers, and was re-released 5 or 6 times and produced into the late 1990's. After doing some research and looking at some pictures of the original car it appears that Monogram placed the exhaust on the wrong side. Also, the original Red Baron had a helmet that was painted silver in color, as opposed to being chrome plated. 

As for this particular build, the chrome helmet was so badly scratched from being shipped around that I had to strip and paint with Alclad Chrome. 










Finally, here is a picture of one of the Red Baron Clones that appeared last fall at Dead Man's Curve auto show in NJ. Note the placement of the exhaust and the chrome helmet. If you find a picture of the original you will notice that helmet is painted silver. 

[kabdriver]

Wasn’t the model kit the original, and then the 1:1s came after?

Regardless - nice build! I really like your clean building (and photography) style and you did a great job on this one too! I gotta build another of these I think - they’re so quick and fun to put together but they look great on the shelf!

[firemist]

I did some quick research, and I stand corrected the model came first when it appeared at the Chicago Toy Fair in 1967. Later on, Monogram had the car built in 1969 where it toured custom car shows across the USA. I had seen the original 1:1 car at the New York Coliseum Custom Car Show with my father back in 1969 or 70. Also, I opened the box of my second kit and read that the 6 cylinder engine featured in the model was a 1914 inline 6 cylinder Mercedes Benz aircraft engine. Needless to say, I think WWI aircraft engines would have been a fairly scarce commodity even back in the 1960's so a Pontiac OHC inline 6 was used in the full size car. I guess that solved the mystery of why the exhaust systems are on different sides. Thanks again for the information and the compliments!

One last thought, I think I am going to pick up the Atlantis Li'L Red Baron in the near future.

[rocketeer]

Yeah, since the model came before the 1:1, you have the odd situation where the full-size car is inaccurate! . And of course, since then a whole bunch of guys have built 1:1s, all more or less "wrong" looking. One even had a big V-8! Good heavens!

[chromecop]

Great build and one of my favourite showrods!

[hobbybobby]

Bring memories, this was one of the first showrods I built, you did a great job, i like it!

[firemist]

Thanks everyone! Your compliments are very much appreciated!

[Dennis M]

Amazing job'' I love the Red Baron.

[colbart/colin]

I opened the box of my second kit and read that the 6 cylinder engine featured in the model was a 1914 inline 6 cylinder Mercedes Benz aircraft engine. Needless to say, I think WWI aircraft engines would have been a fairly scarce commodity even back in the 1960's so a Pontiac OHC inline 6 was used in the full size car. I guess that solved the mystery of why the exhaust systems are on different sides. Thanks again for the information and the compliments!

The model engine is really a super scaled down representation of the true engine.

Saw a real one , on a display pallet, in an aircraft museum, and it is really huge. Not that much bigger than the T Bucket body...so would never have fitted between the rails.

[firemist]

Thanks again for all the kind words, and I have to say this is excellent information that is coming together on this thread. Out of curiosity, I did some more research and found that the Red Baron sold 3 million units! Had this been a record album, it would have gone beyond Platinum status; which is 1 million units. It's easy to see how Monogram could get the cash to have the real car built! In sharp contrast, I have spoken to people involved in the model car business today, and from what I understand they plan on selling 10 to 20 thousand kits with each release. Sadly, it really show's how much the industry has contracted from its "heyday" in the early 1970's.

[41chevy]

Feb 1, 2020 8:47:18 GMT -6 firemist said:

Thanks again for all the kind words, and I have to say this is excellent information that is coming together on this thread. Out of curiosity, I did some more research and found that the Red Baron sold 3 million units! Had this been a record album, it would have gone beyond Platinum status; which is 1 million units. It's easy to see how Monogram could get the cash to have the real car built! In sharp contrast, I have spoken to people involved in the model car business today, and from what I understand they plan on selling 10 to 20 thousand kits with each release. Sadly, it really show's how much the industry has contracted from its "heyday" in the early 1970's.

Sad but we didn't have cel phones and the web. 

[Paul B. Canney]

Feb 1, 2020 10:35:48 GMT -6 41chevy said:

Feb 1, 2020 8:47:18 GMT -6 firemist said:

Thanks again for all the kind words, and I have to say this is excellent information that is coming together on this thread. Out of curiosity, I did some more research and found that the Red Baron sold 3 million units! Had this been a record album, it would have gone beyond Platinum status; which is 1 million units. It's easy to see how Monogram could get the cash to have the real car built! In sharp contrast, I have spoken to people involved in the model car business today, and from what I understand they plan on selling 10 to 20 thousand kits with each release. Sadly, it really show's how much the industry has contracted from its "heyday" in the early 1970's.

Sad but we didn't have cel phones and the web. 

No truer words have ever been typed

[davevan1]

Yep......kit sales ain't what they was.......
When the Duke's Charger came out MPC ran two tools 7 by 24 for months to keep up with orders.
MPC never said the number they ran that first run....but industry folks say it was close to 5 million kits.
Today if R2 can sell 5,000 of a reissue they will run it.
I hope we will see a upturn in kits someday......but gonna be tough.