Starting around 1965 and continuing until the 1970’s, Arnold marketed a series of ingenious model structure kits. These were sold both under the Arnold rapido and Revell rapido brands. These boxy structures have the classic Bauhaus style lines which were popular in German architecture of that era.

     Central to the design of these kits were clear plastic cubes of three different dimensions to which walls, doors and awnings were attached.  These kits were modular, which meant that many of these clear plastic cubes could be joined together to form a larger custom structure.

0670 Station Center; 0672 Cafe w/Terrace                      0674 Railway Post Office; 0675 Suburban Station

0673 Office Building; 0676 Flag Stop (left)                                Building combinations (right)

0677 Switch tower; 0680 Freight Station                                   0681 Bungalow; 0682 Retail Stores (later combined as kit 0678)

The 0679 was offered starting in the 1966/1967 catalog.  It contained enough materials to produce a large custom structure.

   One similar structure stayed in the Arnold product line much longer.  This modern engine house, No. 0639, was initially sold either as a kit or “Finished”.  The two overhead doors opened and closed automatically by the motion of the locomotive.

     Starting in 1968, Arnold had a business relationship with Revell Plastics, and many of these structures were marketed under the Revell rapido brand.  The packaging was not as colorful as the Arnold boxes.

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