Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$44
First issue from 1956 that still has the 1954/55 early logo. This was a well-reviewed and fine kit for that time. It features moving ailerons, elevators and rudder, 'good' cockpit, pilot figure, clear windscreen, rotating wheels & propeller and more. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$69
First issue dated 1957 with classic Jo Kotula artwork. Molded in deep gloss burgundy and black plastic. Never started and inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. This aircraft has a fascinating history. From the internet: The United States Post Office had been running the air mail service since 1918 mainly using variants of the de Havilland DH.4 biplane. In 1925, it decided to modernize and placed an order with Douglas for a replacement aircraft based on the Douglas O-2 observation biplane. The company modified an O-2 by covering over the forward cockpit to make a mail compartment and moving the pilot into what had been the observer's cockpit. The aircraft was designated the DAM-1 (Douglas Air-Mail-One) but this was soon shortened to M-1. The M-1 used the same Liberty engine as the DH.4, which was available in large numbers. Small modifications were made to the exhaust system to keep fumes away from the pilot and the design was considered a success, but was not ordered into production. When the Contract Air Mail (CAM) routes were introduced, the newly formed Western Air Express Company (later Western Airlines) ordered six mailplanes with the designation M-2. The main change from the M-1 was that the tunnel radiator was replaced with a frontal type. It also had the provision to carry a passenger instead of mail in the front cockpit. Just before Western Air Express introduced the aircraft into service (in April 1926 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City), the Post Office ordered 50 aircraft designated M-3 for its major route network. The M-3 had only detailed differences from the M-2.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$46
SALE!! First issue from 1956 with Northern Lights logo. This logo was only used for this one year - in 1957 it was replaced by the 'Famous Fighters' oval 'Sunburst'. The box artist on this issue is Jim Cox, one of the earliest if not the first Aurora box artist. This kit is part of a very successful WWI aircraft line in 1/48 scale that Aurora introduced this year. The line sold so well that kits were added to it into the 1960s. Molded in the glossy olive drab green and black. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$110
Still factory sealed and in investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. This is the rare first issue hardbox is dated 1968. Features full landing gear, clear cockpit windows, a clear display stand and colorful United decals.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$375
Dated 1958. Very rare dual kit that contains both models. Very well detailed for that time with 276 parts. Each has many operating features including movable tracks, gun, bulldozer blade, ammunition loader and more. Includes crew members. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. Please note that the box looks slightly better than the 'good+' grade but is graded as such because there 1.25" x .7" section of litho missing on the left short side where a price tag was torn off. there is also other general wear and edge wear as shown.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$62
First issue with classic Joe Kotula artwork dated 1957. The kit is a very good depiction of this rare mail plane and is molded in a beautiful burgundy, black and clear. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. This aircraft has a fascinating history. From the internet: The United States Post Office had been running the air mail service since 1918 mainly using variants of the de Havilland DH.4 biplane. In 1925, it decided to modernize and placed an order with Douglas for a replacement aircraft based on the Douglas O-2 observation biplane. The company modified an O-2 by covering over the forward cockpit to make a mail compartment and moving the pilot into what had been the observer's cockpit. The aircraft was designated the DAM-1 (Douglas Air-Mail-One) but this was soon shortened to M-1. The M-1 used the same Liberty engine as the DH.4, which was available in large numbers. Small modifications were made to the exhaust system to keep fumes away from the pilot and the design was considered a success, but was not ordered into production. When the Contract Air Mail (CAM) routes were introduced, the newly formed Western Air Express Company (later Western Airlines) ordered six mailplanes with the designation M-2. The main change from the M-1 was that the tunnel radiator was replaced with a frontal type. It also had the provision to carry a passenger instead of mail in the front cockpit. Just before Western Air Express introduced the aircraft into service (in April 1926 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City), the Post Office ordered 50 aircraft designated M-3 for its major route network. The M-3 had only detailed differences from the M-2.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$120
Very rare first issue from 1957. This box art was used for only one year or less; then Aurora changed to the much more common 'ground' artwork. This model was a very good early effort by Aurora and features retractable landing gear, removable tail section, removable & detailed jet engine, pilot, 'fair' cockpit detail and more. Molded in the correct glossy light gray and clear plastic. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. Everything inside is correct for this issue, including the 1st issue instructions, large clear rectangular-based stand and early decal sheet correctly lacking the stand decal.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$42
Dated 1961. Dramatic Jo Kotula box art. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. The decals have some light damage affecting several of the transfers as they were once stuck to the instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM+
$125
1957 original issue in amazing, investment-grade 'Near Mint+' condition. Very light wear is the only flaw. This is the first issue of this large scale (1/48) kit and part of the famous Aurora WWI series of 1/48 scale aircraft. The series began in 1956 and Aurora added new kits into the early 1960s. The line proved incredibly popular that these kits were included in the 'mold upgrade' in the 1970s before Aurora went out of business. Includes three crew, ground base and two ground crew. Molded in the correct gloss dark olive, black and clear plastic. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$175
Still factory sealed with the box in amazing, investment-grade "Mint" condition. The seal is 100% intact and the kit has no more wear than it left the assembly line. Dated 1960 and the first issue with this artwork. Note the 79 cent price extension and "Famous Fighters" in the border of the oval sunburst logo, which is unique to the 1960 release.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+++
$125
Rare first issue from 1956 with Northern Lights logo. The box is in beautiful "Excellent+++" condition with factory-new color & gloss and four solid corners. There is no fading, no stains, no tears or missing litho, no creases and no price tags or tag marks. It would have graded 'Near Mint' but there is a very small (11mmx 5mm) factory tape pull on the upper long side. Molded in the correct gloss deep green with flexible black treads. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$52
1968 issue of the famous tandem light aircraft that saw civil and military service. After Aurora purchased the Comet molds, they reissued the Comet civil light aircraft line. It appears that Aurora may have been inspired by the Comet kits or sales of the reissues, and they produced several more new molds to add to the line. This Skymaster is one of those kits. Since the model was designed new, it has significantly more detail than the older Comet kits. Features all recessed panel lines, full interior with front and back bulkheads, four bucket seats and instrument panel, clear windows and rotating propellers. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$125
Rare, first issue from about 1956. This was a fine effort by Aurora for that time and an impressive model when assembled. Features retracting pontoons and rotating propellers. Includes correct early logo instructions which show the clear 'Triangle World' stand. This correct stand is included. This must be one of the first instances of the 'Triangle' stand being used as it is normally associated with oval 'Famous Fighter' logo kits. 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. It is interesting to note that the early Aurora PBY issue has at least three small variations to the box top. The very first issue says '1/4 SCALE MODEL' at the top right. Clearly, this kit is not 1/48 scale and someone at Aurora corrected it. Following that, there are two known corrections: early and late. On the early version, the '1/4' was blotted out with a dark blue oval or circle and '5/32' was added after the word 'SCALE.' It was now correct, but the appearance was not completely professional. This box is the later version - on the next box order, they kept the '1/4' blotted out but added a proper looking '5/32' in front of the blot.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM
$84
Hard to find 1/48 scale armor kit. John Steel box art is dated 1964 and has "Famous Fighters" on the four side oval logos only. The box is in exceptional "Near Mint" condition with as new color and gloss, no tape or price tag marks and four solid corners. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. NOTE: there are tread burns on the back of several pieces and on the front of one sprocket.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$125
Rare. Third issue with rectangular 'Aurora Line' logo and Famous Fighters of All Nations on the box top. The box has four solid and original corners, no repairs, tags, tag marks or tape (other than the factory sealing tape) but has moderate wear and very light age foxing as shown, hence the grade of 'good.' Inside, this model is molded in a stunning and beautiful correct gloss medium blue plastic and clear. It includes the correct early rectangular clear stand and stand arm. The model has never been started and is inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. Even the original factory tissue packing paper is present. NOTE: the decal were previously stuck to the instructions in several small areas. The actual transfers are in 'excellent' condition; the damage is to the backing paper only.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$225
Very rare first issue dated 1958. Inside, the kit is like new and even includes the original tissue paper. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Decals and instructions are box in 'excellent' condition with typical age yellowing as the only flaw. Please NOTE that this kit came molded in white & clear and also later in black & clear. This one is molded in black and clear.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$115
First issue hardbox issue dated 1961 with classic Jo Kotula artwork and the 'Famous Fighters' in the border of the Aurora sunburst logo. Very large 1/48 scale kit with good cockpit and rotor detail, moving rotors, clear side and cockpit windows and full decals. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$125
Second issue from 1957. The original issue Jim Cox box artwork was retained and you can clearly see where the 1956 Northern Lights rectangular logo was positioned and is replaced by the yellow rectangle with the new Sunburst Famous Fighters logo. Earlier in the 1950s a company called 'Helicopters for Industry' created a line of large, early kits. In 1956 Aurora bought the molds and quickly reissued these models with new box artwork. Large kit features cockpit with instrument panel, control sticks and seats, spinning rotors and 'Army Mule' decals. Molded in the correct gloss olive drab and clear plastic. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$49
Still factory sealed. Very rare, late 1950s/early 1960s Aurora Great Britain Playcraft bagged issue. The original header is in 'Very Good' condition with light age foxing and wear & tape around the 'hanger hole' as shown.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$49
Still factory sealed. Very rare, late 1950s/early 1960s Aurora Great Britain Playcraft bagged issue. The original header is in 'Excellent' condition with clear tape around the 'hanger hole' as shown.