The early Cleveland kit containers, starting with the Great Lakes Trainer Kit SF-1, are described in Kit Annex 5. As World War 2 began to involve the United States, Cleveland Models made a big push to package their kits in an attractive box with red, white and blue graphics, a large picture of the airplane, and a box big enough to contain significant contents including liquids; even the huge models such as the DC-3 and B-17 used the same graphics although in a much larger box.

More boxes are depicted below to continue this exploration of Cleveland containers. Starting from the top, three of the silver boxes with either blue or black stripes are shown - these were the follow-on to the "Hobby Tubes" and several different label styles were used, some of which were just reuse of the Hobby Tube labels. The next box is the "All American" box starting in the mid-1930s and which was used up to WW2 - end labels featuring the airplane were used; as mentioned previously, some of the early WW2 warplane kits such as the Spitfire were packaged in this style box along with the new, larger "Master Scale Model Flying Kit" which first came out in March 1941 with the first four warplanes. The Master kit with red, white and blue stars and stripes featured a large label picturing the airplane - in the case below, the Airacobra, Kit SF-76. Also during WW2, the Industrial Training kits, the "IT" series with 36" wingspans, were issued in cheaper picture boxes with natural cardboard background, as shown for the P-40 Warhawk below. Following WW2, many new models were designed by Cleveland, most of a simpler or cheaper variety than the scale "SF" series; the small box contains some stick models for the "Model Airplane Course Kit II." The next box is s special semi-solid model of the B-29 in 3/16" scale - I believe that this was the only one of that series. Very cheap models are next shown, the "Quicky" line and the "E-Z" series with similar size boxes. Beginning in 1949, some of the "SF" designs were reissued as the "M" series and several boxes were used for the redesignated ¾" scale kits - the simple red, white and blue "Cleveland Master Kit" box, no label, shown at the bottom, was used for the "M" kits along with another printed (using the airplane) cardboard box using the natural paper similar in appearance to the "IT" kits (this box is not shown here, but check the Gee Bee Super Sportster in Kit Annex 4). In the mid 1950s, a limited number of the "SF" kits were manufactured and these were packaged in the cardboard "mailer" box which was a lid type box with faint printing of Cleveland Model & Supply in blue and had no labels - the airplane and kit number were usually stamped on the end. These "mailer" boxes are shown in Kit Annex 5. Cleveland sold solid models and railroad kits during the 1930s but I don't have any photos of those boxes - if you can provide pictures of the Cleveland railroad kit boxes, I will be happy to post them here.

Also, in the second photo below, the large "Master" boxes for the B-17 and DC-3 are shown along with the initial WW2 warplane model kit, the Grumman "Skyrocket," SF-75. The DC-3 kit was designed in 1946; it is not known how many years this kit was sold in the "Master" box but obviously it is a postwar container - later, the DC-3 was sold in a large "mailer" box. Note the size of the DC-3 compared to the standard size "SF" kit box for the "Skyrocket."

There were many other Cleveland kit boxes used in the postwar period, such as used for gliders, U-control, free flight models such as the "Playboy," and the larger 1" or 2" scale models. Several examples are shown in Kit Annex 5 for the Luscombe Sedan and the Great Lakes Trainer. None of the postwar boxes, for any of the Cleveland kits, equalled the ¾" scale "Master" boxes in quality of graphics.

SPECIAL KIT. The Waco C Cabin, Kit No. SF-37, is an absolutely beautiful Cleveland model. The completed model is pictured on page 129 of Herm Schreiner's book; this kit was designed in 1933 and later came out as a Dwarf kit, D-37, around 1935/36. Schreiner mentions, in his delightful Cleveland book, that the Berry Brothers (Berryloid Finishes) ran an ad campaign in 1936 in Popular Aviation that featured special Cleveland ½" Dwarf kits in a national model building contest; the Berryloid story is on pages 161-162 of the book. Three kits were featured over a three-month period: The Waco C, Seversky P-35 and the Beechcraft C-17B. Click on the cover picture below from the October 1936 issue of Popular Aviation to view the magazine and the full-page, back cover color ad for the Berryloid promotion. The ad pictures a kit box which, if actually printed that way, must be one of the most collectible and rare kits in the Cleveland line as it also includes bottles of Berryloid dope, also specially marked.

The Bell Airacobra kit shares historic interest for the Cleveland line as it was one of the first of the WW2 warplane kits, SF-76, along with the Grumman "Skyrocket," SF-75, the Messerschmitt Me-109, SF-74, and the Spitfire, SF-73. Cleveland Models introduced "Four Sensational New War Planes" in the March 1941 issue of Model Airplane News; these were the first of Cleveland's scale models of World War 2 military aircraft. Also, these were the first Cleveland kits to come in the newly designed, larger "Master" style box; this box measured 9" x 18 1/2" (twice the width of previous SF kit boxes ), had a removable lid and had a space in the center for liquids.

The "Skyrocket" kit, SF-75 is shown below.

The Grumman Wildcat was also one of the earlier wartime kits designed by Cleveland. The nice kit shown below has a rather interesting history. I obtained this kit from the original owner. During WW2, around 1942/43, he had attended an afternoon movie showing which had Grumman Wildcats in it - probably Wake Island which came out in August 1942. He was so enthusiastic about the Grumman fighter that he walked out of the theater and immediately found a hobby shop and bought this Wildcat model - he kept it all the years since WW2 but never started building it.

The X-ACTO company put out a cardstock template sheet, using the Navy's school program template as the source, of the Grumman Wildcat F4F-4 as a promotion piece for the movie Wake Island. Presumably these were handed out at the theaters. The sheet invited the recipient to "Make plane for U.S. Army Air Force," and to send the completed model to "Science Service" in New York to be forwarded to the First Fighter Command who needed, "36,000 exact scale model airplanes."

A number of "short kits" which consist only of original balsa printwood and plans (either original plans or modern copies by Cleveland ) will be offered here. These short kits have no boxes. Just plans and printwood. Some of the short kits have original plans and some have newly printed plans from the current Cleveland Model & Supply in Indianapolis.

These short kits can be built or plans and printwood copied. Some of the original plans may have short tears, wear or discoloration.

SF-74 MESSERSCHMITT "Me.109" FIGHTER This is the original 1941 plan and printwood. A "built" SF-74 model can be viewed at the top of the Vintage Model Kits Annex 3. The original Cleveland built SF-74 kit used for advertising, as exhibited at the Air Force Museum at one time, is pictured in Kit Annex 5. The price of this short kit is $43.50.

E-5018 EAGLET SOARER - 48" CLASS "C" TOWLINE OR CATAPULT GLIDER This is an original plan (rolled), usable but slightly wrinkled, along with three sheets of printwood, T1 and two T2's. This plan is dated 1940. The 1940 plan shows a carved balsa fuselage pod, but the printwood is dated 1943 and shows fuselage pod formers for a conventional former and stringer structure. Price is $27.75.

SF-84 JUNKERS JU87 "STUKA" DIVE BOMBER A modern Cleveland Model & Supply Company plan (folded) in 1:16 scale (3/4"). An added sheet contains a "Pattern Supplement" which has all of the required printwood patterns. Balsa printwood consists of eleven sheets, all in as new condition. Price of this short kit is $75.00.

SF-91 NORTH AMERICAN P-51 MUSTANG This is a modern plan with an added "Pattern Supplement" sheet. Several versions of the Merlin-powered P-51 can be built from this plan. Five printwood sheets are provided. The price of this package is $43.50.

SF-5B 1931 LAIRD SPEEDWING "SUPER-SOLUTION" This is a modern plan with a "Pattern Supplement" for Doolittle's Laird Super-Solution. Four sheets of printwood are provided. This builds into a very handsome model. Price is $43.50.

SF-80 CURTISS SBC-4 "HELLDIVER" The SBC-4 Helldiver is one of Cleveland's best kits - the last of the Navy's biplanes and very good looking. This is a modern plan (folded) along with a "Pattern Supplement." Ten printwood sheets are provided for a price of $SORRY SOLD.

D-55 DOUGLAS DC-2 TRANSPORT This 1933 Douglas Airliner kit was only issued in "Dwarf" scale of ½" and was designed in 1936. Ed Packard of Cleveland built one model in ¾" scale and decided that it was too large for the kit market, so the DC-2 kit was only sold in the Dwarf scale version. Details of this drawing and original kit are shown in Vintage Wood Kit Annex 5 - this modern plan is shown in Annex 5 although an original plan has since been obtained for the original kit. This modern plan also has a second sheet supplement for printwood. Fourteen printwood sheets dated 1936 are provided. This would make up into a very realistic model of the famous DC-2. Price for this short kit is $115.00.

T-74 MESSERSCHMITT Me 109 NAZI FIGHTER This is a plan and tissue only, no printwood. The Industrial Training model kits had 36" wingspans and were somewhat simplified (lighter) than the "SF" kits. This is one of the 36" FAMOUS WARPLANE SERIES - an original plan dated 1942 in great condition along with the original silkspan tissue. Double folded to about 10" x 14", this plan doesn't appear to be from a kit but is probably one that Cleveland sent out as a separate item. A nice plan which would be a good accompaniment for the SF-74 plan. This plan and tissue is available for $36.50. A portion of the plan is presented below.

CLEVELAND SF-95 LOCKHEED "HUDSON" BOMBER - OriginalPlan Only

A very nice, original plan for Cleveland kit No. SF-95, the Hudson bomber; a large and detailed drawing. Own this original plan at a price not much more than a current copy. Price is $38.50.

PEERLESS "MERCURY" A 1938 original plan and printwood for the Peerless "Mercury," a 34" wingspan rubber-powered model. "A scientifically designed outdoor fuselage model airplane" with 113.5 sq. in. wing area, N.A.A. Class "C." This is a twin-rudder beauty with an original plan in great condition. Three sheets of printwood are provided. The 1/32 sheet of ribs should have two sheets so a copy would have to be made. Also the 1/16" sheet requires 2 sheets so a copy of the parts would be required. This 1938 kit may have been sold by Cleveland as they purchased the assets of Peerless during WW2. It would appear that the 1939 Scientific "Miss World's Fair," 50" wingspan model, is a somewhat larger knock-off of this 1938 Peerless plan - both models are gorgeous. This is one to build - you can copy the plan and printwood and save the originals. Own the 1938 "Mercury" for $42.50.

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