The adverts I recall on the back of US comics such as 'Classics Illustrated' featured a whole fleet of models at what seemed a bargain price.

I can't remember now what they were called but I asked a question on SteelNavy years ago to see if anyone in the US remembered them.

One chap responded and said the ship models were 'flats' - like some 'tin soldiers' were. Essentially '2 dimensional' models on a moulded-in base. Not 'real' models at all!