Hawk Model Company
America's oldest model company, pioneer of plastic kits.
The Hawk Model Company, an American brand that once manufactured scale model airplanes, ships, and figures, was founded in 1928. Based in Chicago, it ranked among the first U.S. companies to produce injection-molded plastic model kits. Following several unsuccessful revival attempts, the Hawk Model rights were ultimately purchased by Round 2.
Brothers Dick (Sr.) and Phil Mates launched “Hawk Model Airplanes” in Chicago, Illinois, in 1928. Billing itself as “America’s Oldest Model Company,” the firm was bought by the Testor Corporation in 1970. Later, J. Lloyd International, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, acquired Hawk’s assets, and in 2013 sold them to Round 2 LLC of South Bend, Indiana.
From its start in 1928 through the early 1950s, Hawk produced a popular line of solid-wood aircraft models, later adding injection-molded generic plastic propellers. At the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, the Mates brothers displayed built-up and painted plastic models. During World War II, Hawk supplied plastic identification models for military training.
In 1946, Hawk released one of the first all-plastic model kits: the Curtiss R3C-1 racer. Four more kits—all classic 1930s racers, including the Gee Bee, Howard Ike, Laird Solution, and Supermarine S6B—followed in 1948. These early kits used acetate plastic, but by 1949 Hawk switched to polystyrene for injection molding. The kits were marketed as “1/4 scale,” meaning 1/4 inch equaled 1 scale foot, or 1:48 scale. Tooling grew more sophisticated during the 1960s. By the 1970 sale to Testor, Hawk’s catalog featured realistic scale replicas of aircraft, ships, missiles, vehicles, and conceptual subjects in scales such as 1:48, 1:72, 1:96, 1:144, and smaller.
Notable Hawk releases include the LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, Lockheed Constellation, Lockheed U-2, Spirit of St. Louis (1:72), Messerschmitt Me 163, Gee Bee, Spad XIII, Mister Mulligan, Travelaire Mystery Ship racer, Grumman F8F Bearcat, North American P-51 Mustang, Vickers Viscount, Manned Orbiting Laboratory, and three rocket-powered guided missiles. Many original Hawk kits have been reissued periodically using the original molds, reboxed by Testor or its successors, and remain available.
One of Hawk’s best-selling lines was the “Weird-Ohs Car-icky-tures,” featuring dragster and hot rod caricatures, along with the related “Frantics” and “Silly Surfers” series.
Quick Facts
- Fate
- Acquired by Testors in 1970, then defunct, became a brand
- Predecessor
- <!-- or
- Founded
- in Chicago
- Founder
- Dick Mates / Phil Mates
- Defunct
- 1970
- Hq Location City
- Chicago
- Hq Location Country
- U.S.
- Products
- Scale model aircraft, ships, figures
- Owner
- Round 2
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hawk Model Airplanes was established in 1928 by brothers Dick (Sr.) and Phil Mates in Chicago, Illinois. Promoted as 'America's Oldest Model Company', the company was purchased by the Testor Corporation in 1970. The Hawk Company assets were later acquired by J. Lloyd International, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which, in turn, sold them to Round 2 LLC of South Bend, Indiana in 2013.
From its inception in 1928 to the early 1950s, the company manufactured a successful line of solid-wood aircraft models, which eventually included injection-molded generic plastic propellers. The Mates brothers exhibited built-up and painted plastic models at the Chicago World's Fair in 1934. During World War II, Hawk helped to supply plastic identification models for use in military training.
In 1946, Hawk produced one of the first all-plastic model kits, the Curtiss R3C-1 racer. Four additional kits (all classic 1930s racers) were added in 1948; the Gee Bee, Howard Ike, Laird Solution and Supermarine S6B. These early kits were molded in acetate plastic, but from 1949 Hawk employed polystyrene in its injection-molding process. The kits were advertised as '1/4 scale', meaning 1/4 in equals 1 scale foot or 1/48 scale. By the time of its sale to Testor Corp. in 1970, the company's catalog included a wide range of realistic scale replicas of aircraft, ships, missiles, vehicles and conceptual subjects.
Reader's Guide
Hawk Model Company holds a significant place in the history of plastic model kits as one of the first American manufacturers to adopt injection-molded plastic technology. Its early all-plastic kits, beginning with the 1946 Curtiss R3C-1 racer, marked a transition from solid-wood models to the modern plastic kit industry. The company's product range expanded to include aircraft, ships, missiles, vehicles, and conceptual subjects in multiple scales, many of which have been reissued periodically using the original molds.
Perhaps Hawk's most culturally notable contribution was the 'Weird-Ohs Car-icky-tures' line, along with the related 'Frantics' and 'Silly Surfers' series. Based on concepts and art by freelance illustrator Bill Campbell, these dragster and hot rod caricatures became best-selling kits and later inspired the 1999-2000 CGI cartoon series 'Weird-Ohs'. Characters such as Daddy, Davey, Digger, and Drag Hag, among others, were issued in the UK by Airfix under license.
The brand's legacy continues through reissues by Testor and its successors, ensuring that many original Hawk kits remain available. The acquisition of the rights by Round 2 in 2013 has further preserved the Hawk name and its extensive catalog for new generations of modelers.
Did You Know?
- The company produced one of the first all-plastic model kits in 1946, the Curtiss R3C-1 racer.
- Hawk's 'Weird-Ohs' model line inspired a 1999-2000 CGI cartoon series of the same name.
- The company's early kits were molded in acetate plastic before switching to polystyrene in 1949.
More in Model Manufacturers, Part 3 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced