Aurora Model Kits
Aurora F6F Hellcat, 1/43, 40-130
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc+
$149
Still factory sealed but the seal has split on the left short side. Aurora of Canada issue. The factory-applied stickers have a '130' price suffix, but the box was originally '100' priced. Dated 1964 with fantastic Mort Kunstler artwork.
Aurora Spitfire Famous Fighters of all Nations First Issue, 1/48, 20-59
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$349
Rare first issue that is 100% correct. The box has excellent color and gloss, four solid original corners (no repairs), no fading or stains, no missing litho or tears, no tags or tag marks and no tape or tape marks (other than the factory sealing tape of course). Flaws include very light general wear as shown and moderate corner wear at the lower left corner. This first issue has minimal surface detail and is molded in the correct non-metallic medium blue and clear plastic. It also has the correct rectangle-based clear display stand and the instructions match this perfectly. (The second and all later issues had greatly increased rivet detail and were molded in a metallic blue plastic) The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. The decals are flat and in amazing 'near mint' condition with only the slightest yellowing. The instructions are 'near mint+' with slight yellowing being the only flaw. Even the original factory packing tissue is present.
Aurora Martin B-26 Marauder, 1/46, 371-259
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$225
Very rare first issue from the early 1950s. When Aurora moved to the West Hempstead plant, they planned a series of very large scale bombers. All kits released up to this time had been small. Aurora's instincts were correct, and the B-26, B-25 and B-29 were a big sales success. This box art was done by Jim Cox and was only used for about one year, making it very rare. The kit has never been started and is inventoried 100% complete with the original tissue paper, all parts, large clear stand, instructions and decals.
Aurora Cutty Sark Clipper Ship, 1/260, 432-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Fair
$39
Excellent builder kit. Nicely molded, smaller scale full-hull kit. Kit features molded rat lines, detailed deck and fittings, display stand and rigging instructions. Molded in green, wood tan and black. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts including flag sheet and instructions. NOTE: the smallest yard has 1/3 of the tip broken off and that tip is missing.
Aurora Convair VR XFY-1 Pogo, 1/48, 60
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$155
1955 hardbox design. Please note the early Aurora rectangular logo, which was used from about 1953 to 1955. However, the factory has blacked out all the price extensions, so this one may be from around 1957/58. Rare, large scale model features working counter-rotating props and is molded in gloss silver and clear. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Aurora British Churchill Tank, 1/48, 327
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$95
Still factory sealed. 1972 Big A softbox issue is in investment-grade condition. Features elevating gun, rotating turret, figures, operating treads and bogies and battlefield display stand.
Aurora Atomic Submarine Nautilus SS571, 1/242, 500-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$179
Rare, Brooklyn-produced, early 1950s U-Ma-Kit. This was Aurora's first naval model. Molded in the correct glossy very dark gray plastic and includes a display stand and decals to match the box art. Never started and complete with all parts, 'very good++' condition decals and 'near mint' instructions. The box has excellent color, four solid corners with no repairs, no fading and no price tags. The only tape is the factory sealing tape on the long sides. There is a light grease pencil price at the top center as shown and general shelf/edge wear.
Aurora De Haviland DH-10 Bomber, 1/48, 125-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$125
Dated 1957 with classic Jo Kotula box art. This is the edition with the '198' price circle in the upper right and no Parent's Magazine approval seal. Box is in 'excellent+' condition with like new color and gloss, four solid corners and no tape or price tags. Flaws include very, very light wear and creasing. Molded in gloss olive drab and clear. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Even includes the original tissue packing paper.
Aurora Regulus II Guided Missile with Launcher, 1/48, 378-249
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$379
1958 release of this kit featuring classic Jo Kotula boxart. The large 1/48 scale missile comes with a fully operational scale launcher. The hardbox has 'very good' color and gloss, four solid corners, no price tag or tape tears and no torn or missing litho. Flaws include general wear and edge and corner wear as shown. The kit has never been started and is factory new inside right down to the original tissue packing paper. Aurora factory sealed the silver parts and the red missile parts; these are both still sealed. The deep blue parts were not sealed but have been inventoried 100% complete. Includes decals and instructions in 'excellent' condition. This kit must be shipped insured. The Aurora "Missile Line" is legendary. In the late 1950s, the first missile model kits sold briskly, so Aurora and Revell both planned extensive lines. However, the missile modeling craze disappeared as quickly as it started. Models that were in the works were canceled or completed if they were far enough along. Those that were completed were fine efforts but sold poorly and had very short lives, making them rare collector items today.
Aurora De Havilland Tiger Moth, 1/48, 110-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed VG
$70
Still factory sealed but the seal has split on the bottom and left, and the box has damage as shown on the left. First issue dated 1958 with brilliant Jo Kotula box artwork. This was a very nice kit for that time.
Aurora AT-6 Texan, 1/48, 70-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$135
From 1956. Rare first issue of this classic kit. Has early rectangular logo "Aurora Line" logo. Molded in silver and clear plastic. Includes the correct early rectangular clear base Aurora stand, the correct instructions showing this base, and the correct early Tatem decals which Aurora issued without a stand decal. (Aurora issued stand decals with kits with the introduction of the triangular 'world' base style clear stand. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Aurora Cutty Sark Clipper Ship, 1/260, 432-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$79
Still factory sealed. Nicely molded smaller scale full hull kit. Kit features molded rat lines, detailed deck and fittings, display stand and rigging instructions.
Aurora Martin B-26 Marauder, 1/46, 371-259
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$325
Very rare first issue from the early 1950s. When Aurora moved to the West Hempstead plant, they planned a series of very large scale bombers. All kits released up to this time had been small. Aurora's instincts were correct, and the B-26, B-25 and B-29 were a big sales success. This box art was done by Jim Cox and was only used for about one year, making it very rare. The kit has never been started and is inventoried 100% complete with the original tissue paper, all parts, large clear stand, instructions and decals. The box has very good color, four solid corners (no repairs), no fading, stains or tears and no price tags or tape (other than the factory sealing tape). It does have moderate general wear as shown, a small (3/4" x 3/8") price tag tear on the left short side, edge wear (more on the on the left than the right) and litho chips on the top long side along the edge.
Aurora Curtiss Hawk P-6E, 1/43, 116-100
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$110
Still factory sealed. The kit is dated 1958, but this is obviously a later issue as the Aurora logo does not say 'Famous Fighters' in the border and has no sunburst. Due to the 100 price extension, it is most likely from 1960 or '61.
Aurora Flying Sub Test Shot - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Seaview Submarine) Bagged, 1/60
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$275
Very rare item for the advanced collector. This item was from the estate of Dave Cockrum, the world-famous Aurora box artist, sculpture and kit designer. However, he is even more famous for his long history with DC and Marvel Comics. When working at Aurora, Dave had access to 'The Room'. In it were test shots from almost every Aurora kit ever made; employees were welcome to come in and take a kit when they pleased. This Flying Sub came from that room. It is a rare test shot molded in the usual test shot color - white- and includes the clear parts. Although the kit is complete, it does not have a box or instructions like most all test shots.
Aurora Wall Bracket Display Stand
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$55
Factory Sealed Aurora Line logo from about 1954.
Aurora Aurora ATLANTIS Merchant Raider Factory Model, 1/456
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: No Box
$1400
In the 1950s and early 1960s the major model manufacturers would create factory-built and painted display models. These were intended for hobby shops to help stimulate sales. These were disposable items that were produced in very low numbers, so they are very rare today. Here is one of the rarest of the rare: The 'Rattlesnake of the Ocean' Merchant Sea Raider Atlantis factory build up by Aurora. The unbuilt kit is among the most valuable and rare Aurora single kits, making the factory built display much more so. This one is in excellent original condition. The painting is 1950s professional quality as is the gluing. The glue has held up well and all parts of the ship are very solid. The ship is very clean. The original paint is almost flawless with some light scratches on the port side. The 'ATLANTIS' decals are perfect. The stack 'K' starboard decal is mint; the port one is missing 2mm of the white top on one leg of the 'K'. The factory cardboard wood-tone base is 100% intact with typical corner splits on the bends and edge wear. The removable covers display is mint with all 10 gun/hanger covers present. The kit is now 100% complete. It was missing 4 small parts which I am providing. I took them from an original Atlantis kit, so they are 100% correct. (they are the propeller, 'Y' rear crane, rear flag and rudder) Overall, this is an excellent and rare investment piece for the advanced Aurora collector. Shipping insurance required. From modeler Stephen Payne: Recommend that the builder or collector of this kit add the following books to their collection-The German Raider Atlantis by Captain Bernhard Rogge & Wolfgang Frank & Sea Raider Atlantis, Story of a German Surface Raider by Ulrich Mohr & A.V. Sellwood. The first book is by the ATLANTIS commander, Kapitan zur See Bernhard Rogge. He oversaw the transformation and outfitting in Bremen and captained the ship during her 602 day operational voyager which sank or captured 22 ships totaling 144,384 t (142,104 long tons). Rogge also was one of the few German officers of flag rank who was not arrested by the Allies after the war due to the way he had exercised his command of Atlantis. Captain J. Armstrong White, captain of the British CITY OF BAGHDAD, which Atlantis sank in July 1941, stated, "His treatment of prisoners left respect, instead of hatred."The second book is by the ATLANTIS First Officer, Ulrich Moher. Both books read much the same as the events related are the same, but it is interesting to see these events from the two perspectives. Captain White (see above) wrote the foreword to Atlantis, the Story of a German Surface Raider, written by U. Mohr & A. V. Sellwood.The German auxiliary cruiser Atlantis (HSK 2), known to the Kriegsmarine as Schiff 16 (SHIP 16) and to the Royal Navy as Raider-C, was a converted merchant vessel to German Hilfskreuzer (auxiliary cruiser) used for commerce raiding. Commerce raiders did not seek to engage warships, but rather attack enemy merchant shipping; the measures of success are tonnage destroyed (or captured) and time spent "at large" holding up enemy resources. Atlantis had the longest raiding career of any German commerce raider in either world war.