Maker record
Rare plane
RAREplane was a British maker of 1:72 vacuum-formed plastic aircraft model kits. Its small-scale range included unusual subjects, among them the Short Mercury seaplane and Fairey Long Range Monoplane, aircraft less commonly covered by larger kit makers. The first RAREplane kit appeared in 1969, and production grew into a substantial range during the following decades. The kits belong to the specialist vacform tradition, which served aircraft subjects beyond the commercial priorities of major injection-moulded manufacturers.
- Founded
- 1975
- Countries
- United States
- Locations
- Pennsylvania
- Founders
- Diane Perrin · Bob Perrin
The story of Rare plane
RAREplane began issuing vacuum-formed aircraft kits in 1969. The approach allowed small makers to offer aircraft subjects that major injection-moulding firms were less likely to produce. By the late 1980s, RAREplane had issued more than 50 kits, including the Short Mercury seaplane, associated with Contrail's Short Maia composite, and the Fairey Long Range Monoplane. These uncommon subjects place the range within the specialist 1:72 vacform market, which supplied aircraft beyond the standard commercial ranges of larger manufacturers.