The Wolfman Model Kit from Polar Lights

By: Dan Cziraky
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2001

THE WOLF MAN: MODEL KIT 5018 (Polar Lights)

Sure, we all remember the great Aurora model kit of Lon Chaney, Jr., as The Wolf Man. Except, it wasn't very accurate, was it? I mean, the model was bare-chested and wore torn pants held up with a piece of ropewhich Wolf Man movie was that from? But, kids in the '60s & '70s happily ignored the inaccuracies and were grateful just to have a Wolf Man kit at all. Fortunately, those thoughtful folks at Polar Lights have released a new Wolf Man kit, licensed and approved by both Universal Pictures and Chaney Enterprises. Sculpted by renowned artist Randy Bowen, the new kit has lycanthrope Lawrence Talbot peering through some dead tree branches at some unseen victim. Yet, he maintains his dignity in buttoned shirt, clean pants, and a proper leather belt with buckle. Although the kit and box art are suggestive of the old Aurora models, this is in a slightly smaller scale. There is a nifty, two-part base, but no The Wolf Man nameplate. The kit assembles easily with model cement, and can be painted per the instruction sheet, or more adventurous modelers might want to try to replicate the B/W movie with shades of black, white, and gray. Polar Lights is also offering a new kit, also sculpted by Bowen, of Lon Chaney, Sr., from The Phantom of the Opera.