Technically, these Big Top circus theme kits are not Athearn releases. To date, I have never seen samples packaged in Athearn boxes, as you'll find the companion 1/48th size Old West theme kits. Athearn did have possession of this tooling, thanks to its mid-1950s acquisition of Globe Models. The Big Top kits include Globe Models' name on the package and instructions. According to Dallas Mallerich in his 1987 "Greenberg's Guide to Athearn Trains," this series was offered between 1955 and the early 1960s. Mallerich's guide presents five releases for the Big Top series: Steam Calliope, Tableau Band Wagon, Tableau Wagon, Lion Cage, and Bear Den.