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I'm continually
amazed at what people are willing to pay for vintage airplane and rocket products. Some kits from the 1960s and earlier
sell for many times what even the inflation-adjusted prices of the originals sold for. This plastic Visible Airplane
Engine kit from Renwal is a prime example. The engine is a Pratt & Whitney 9-cylinder "WASP" radial. It just went
up for auction on
eBay when I did the screen captures. The price is already at $127, and there are still six days left on the auction.
The last one I saw ended up selling for around $350. In fact, featuring the auction here will probably help drive up
the price for the seller (you're welcome).
 I
would love to have the Visible Airplane Engine to build and put on display, but there is no way I can afford to spend
that kind of dough on a kit. I will graciously accept one as a gift, though. It would probably be a good investment
for someone since the price increase seems to outpace inflation - and Uncle Sam won't tax you to death on the profit
(at least not yet).
 BTW,
you can also buy a Visible V-8 Engine kit from Renwal. I had one as a kid, but after assembling it the mechanisms were
so tight that I could barely get the engine to rotate (my fault, no doubt). There is also a
Visible V-8 Engine kit for auction on eBay right now priced at $175 with 5 days left to go. You can buy a new
Visible V-8 Engine kit from Revell
if you want the model but don't want to pay for a vintage kit.
 The Visible Airplane Engine Kit Contents, by Renwal
 Wasp 9-Cylinder Radial by Pratt & Whitney
 Kit Parts
Articles About Engines and Motors for Model Airplanes, Boats, and Cars:
Posted December 28, 2012
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