This item is factory sealed. This is the original 1973 and not one of the later re-issues. The pictures above are actual pictures of the item for sale. I have hundreds of models that I bought several years ago from a 70+ year old collector. He was a model afficionado.
He had won many awards and trophies which he won for building models in the 1960's through 1980's. He would paint model pieces, place felt on the seats, and was very meticulous. His profession was precision type woodwork.He had a very large wood shop in his garage which is where he stored his model kits. So, some of the boxes may have sawdust. I will start listing some model kits over the next several months so please check back. Some of the kits are sealed, others are opened, some have pieces that he started to paint.