Many years ago, a company named Skilcraft made the most realistic fish model kit on the market. It was called "Visible Trout." I was fortunate to purchase a Visible Trout model kit at a gift shop in Homer, Alaska during the summer of 2006.
I believe this model kit is now discontinued, which is a shame because it was very well done. I am sure many students of biology enjoyed learning the anatomy of an actinopertygian (ray-finned) fish using this trout model kit. I found the model to be pretty accurate, and I intend to use it to teach fish anatomy to Nyack College Fishing Club members.
As advertised, the Visible Trout model kit included the following features (see box cover):
- Anatomically accurate
- Modeled from an actual specimen
- Finally detailed
- Ideal for school projects
- Includes fully illustrate guide
The kit contained two booklets:
(1) A Guide to the Their [Trout] Anatomy
(2) Visible Trout Instruction Manual
Model kit parts for the Visible Trout were numerous (but manageable), intricate, detailed, and indeed accurate. Just to give you a sense the complexity of this fish model, below are pages from the instruction manual.
Below are pictures of my completed Visible Trout model. I implemented a couple of variations from the original design: (1) internal organs and eyes were painted, usually but not always, in the suggested colors as outlined in the provided manual. (2) instead of keeping the outer body form case clear, as provided by the model kit, I painted it like a rainbow trout. All paintwork was done using Daler-Rowney acrylic paints.
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