RareBird Models

Our story

I got into modeling 40 years ago when I was 4 years old, introduced to the hobby by my father. The first model we built together was the HMS Undine by Frog, and interestingly enough, it’s still with us – my son now plays with it. In the Soviet Union, model kits were a rarity, so we bought whatever appeared in the store, whether it was a plane, ship, tank, or glider – there wasn’t much choice. Plasticart models from East Germany were especially rare and the dream of every boy. As an adult, I decided to fulfill a childhood dream and, through eBay and other platforms, collected the full range of models from this manufacturer. Most of the boxes are still at my parents’ house, waiting for my son to assemble them.

I returned to modeling after finishing university, and by that time, I could choose which models to build. Over time, my interest settled on WWII battleships in 1/350 scale and aviation in 1/144 scale, focusing on flying boats, classic airliners, and Cold War bombers.

My son, who is now 8 years old and my main business partner, started building models with my help when he was just 3. He now has a solid collection and experience in both assembling and 3D printing.

It all started when we saw a photo of the beautiful Latecoere 631 flying boat. A quick search online showed that no one made a decent model of this plane, and the idea to create it ourselves was born. There are so many remarkable and interesting aircraft that may never be made by any manufacturer, and we aim to address this gap, at least partially.

Our small 3D workshop is located in Tallinn, Estonia, in the northwestern corner of Europe. We create models primarily for ourselves, but we are also happy to sell them to other interested modelers.