Aurora Grumman F9F Panther - 1st Brooklyn Issue, 1/48, 22
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+++
$1500
Rare 1st issue from 1952 in the one-piece flip top box. 100% original and correct. The model is molded in the correct gloss dark blue with a clear square 'Brooklyn' stand, stand arm and canopy. Being the first issue, the model does not significant rivet detail, nor was it molded with landing gear or missiles. The entire kit is 13 parts including the stand and stand arm. The instructions are the correct early small Brooklyn version with very minor bug damage. Decals are correctly marked 'The Tatem Company' and are in excellent condition with some curl and minimal yellowing. The box is one of the better I have seen. It is intact - there are no missing parts and no repairs. As is typical with this issue, the fragile box has some small tears, creases and edge wear as shown. In summary, a 100% correct, never started and complete kit for the advanced collector of Aurora or military aircraft models. This kit must be shipped insured. Kit History: In the early 1950s Aurora was making children's toys. Since they were always looking for new avenues of business, the three founders were interested in the new fad of 'plastic models'. They were shown the Hawk F-90 and F9F kits in 1/48, and the rest is history. Aurora copied the F9F and F-90 to issue their very first plastic kits. The boxes were two color one-piece flip top boxes of very thin cardboard; they damaged so easily that the kits were immediately reissued in the more familiar 'hardbox' of a litho slick glued to heavy cardboard.
Revell 1913 Mercedes-Benz - Highway Pioneers, 1/32, H54-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$44
1960 issue molded in green plastic. The kit has never been started. Internal factory sealed bag including instructions. Before the 1950s 'model building' never made the top 10 list of boy's activities. Hobbies were nothing new to America in the 1930s/40s, but they were not mainstream. Shortly after the turn of the century, many dedicated modelers built flying or static airplanes, ship, train, automotive or other subjects. Basic kits existed, but the majority of these models were built from scratch, which demanded a high talent level developed from years of experience. That changed in the early 1950s. The phenomenon of the Revell/Gowland & Gowland 'Highway Pioneers' car kits was a significant force in proving that model building as a hobby could have mass appeal, provided that the kits were easy enough to build and finish. These 1/32 scale vehicles could be built in an hour after dinner and looked much like the real car. The Highway Pioneers series lead to the production of other subjects in plastic and the effect was revolutionary. By the early 1960s, model building was the #1 past time of American boys.
Jetco Thermic Trio - Flying Wing / Orthodox / Tail First - Three Hand-Launched Balsa Wood Gliders, SG-5
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Poor
$42
From the 1950s. This kit contains three small balsa gliders. All parts are die cut. Full size plans are included. These are magnificent fliers. The kits have never been started and are complete with all parts unpunched and plans.
Aurora Grumman F9F Panther Jet - Famous Fighters of All Nations, 1/48, 22A-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$185
Rare 'Aurora Line' logo version. This is actually the 3rd release of this kit and is the first West Hempstead issue - from the logo, it is from 1954/1955. This model is correct in every way with high gloss deep blue and clear plastic, landing gear and rockets, clear rectangle stand and stand arm, instructions say 'West Hempstead' and have the Aurora Line logo, and the decals are made by 'Tatem Company'. Kit has never been started and is 100% complete with all correct parts, stand, decals and instructions present.
High Planes Gloster E.28/39 Whittle (E-28 / Pioneer), 1/72, 72018
Multimedia Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$27
Hard-to-find limited issue kit. Features injection molded main airframe parts, cast metal nose wheel and strut and vacuform canopy. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions.
Aurora Convair 990 Jet Mainliner United Air Lines, 1/107, 397-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$1299
Very rare kit from 1962. First and only issue. This is the largest injection molded kit ever made of the very fast Convair 990 airliner. The box has as-new color and sheen with four solid corners and no repairs. There are no price tags, tape or price tag/tape marks. The only flaw is light edge wear. The model is molded in the correct white and clear plastic, with the large clear triangle display stand and full color United decals. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried 100% complete including all parts, decals and instructions. Decals and instructions are both flat with slight yellowing being the only flaw. NOTE: shipping insurance is required with this kit. The Convair 990 and its near sister 880 were very high performance airliners. Unfortunately they did not find favor with commercial operators. The commercial failure of the 990 caused Aurora to pull these molds from production shortly after the introduction of the kit. The 990 was a larger and faster (Mach .91) airliner than the 880, but it failed to meet it's range criteria for east to west crossings of the USA. As a result, only 37 were made. Interestingly enough, several 990s continued to be operated by private owners and NASA operated two for decades after the last one was phased out of commercial service. Only 65 880s were produced from 1959 to 1962. The aircraft was designed to be smaller and faster than the DC-8 and 707 - this market did not develop, however, and if it did it could have been served with less expensive designs.
Monogram SM-62 Snark Guided Missile With Tractor and Launch Ramp - US Air Force / SAC, 1/80, PD27-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$285
First and only issue from 1957. Difficult to find in this condition. The hardbox grades 'Excellent++' with wonderful color and gloss, absolutely no tape or price tags or residue and four solid corners. Hard to find scale kit of the Snark, tow tractor, launcher and crew of four. Launch pad has wheels that rotate and the launcher can be realistically moved from the transport to the launch configuration. Molded in the correct beautiful gloss red and yellow-orange. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Aurora Grumman F9F Panther Jet, 1/49, 22-100
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Mint
$79
Investment-grade condition box and kit. Dated 1960. This is actually a newer kit, likely from 1962-64 as it lacks the 'Famous Fighters' logo in the oval border. These molds are from one of Aurora's first two kits - the F9F and F-90. Aurora simply went out and purchased the early Hawk F9F and F-90 kits and copied them almost exactly. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Instructions and decals are in exceptional NM condition.
MPM Messerschmitt Me-262A-1a / U3 & V056, 1/72, 72113
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$38
Limited issue kit. Nicely molded with recessed panel lines and many photoetched parts. The kit has never been started. Internal factory sealed bag or inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. The A-1a/U3 was a very early reconnaissance fighter variant of the '262. It had two obliquely mounted Rb 50/30 cameras replacing the Mk 1089 cannon. It is not known if any production variants (A-4) of this aircraft were ever built. The A-1a/U3 was later fitted with FuG 218 radar equipment for night fighting and was rename V056. This aircraft was flown by Oberst Hajo Herrmann from Jagddivision 20, who reported excellent results. This lead to the development of the Me-262B-1A two seating being equipped for night fighting. The kit has never been started. Internal factory sealed bag or inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions.
Novo Supermarine Attacker Naval Fighter - (ex-Frog), 1/72, F330
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$22
Still factory sealed. From ex-Frog molds. The kit has never been started.
Vista Fairey Fulmar Mk I or Mk II, 1/72, 0202-1
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$12
Very cleanly molded. Fine recessed panel line details. Never started. Factory sealed bag or inventoried with all parts, and instructions. NOTE: missing decals.
Pegasus Messerschmitt Me-109H V1 (W.Nr. 15708), 1/72, 2015
Multimedia Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$34
Limited issue - one of 2000 produced. Very nicely molded fine recessed panel line injection molded main parts with excellent cast white metal details, full decals and extensive information on painting the 109H V1. The kit has never been started. Internal factory sealed bag including decals and instructions.
Phoenix Slingsby 3, 1/72, P7
Vacuform Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$24
Features very high quality moldings with fine recessed and raised detail and pre-shaped strut material. This kit has not been started and has been inventoried complete with all parts. Not recommended for builders who are not experienced with vacuform kits.
Airmodel DFS-228 V1, 1/72, AM114
Vacuform Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$19
Basic vac kit. Very nicely molded with recessed detail. This kit has not been started and has been inventoried complete with all parts. Not recommended for builders who are not experienced with vacuform kits.
UPC Kaiwo Maru / Nippon Maru - 1930s Japanese Navy Sailing Training Ship, 1/200, 5019
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$95
Hard-to find kit of the old Japanese Naval Training Ship. The two sister ships were built in Kobe and launched in 1930. They were both steel four-masted barques carrying royals over double top and topgallant sails. They served as school ships for the Japanese merchant marine. After WWII, they carried demobilized soldiers home, and up to 1951 made dozens of trips to Asia and the Pacific. In 1952, they worked to collect the remains of Japanese war dead from the South Pacific. The ships were replaced in 1989. Very nicely detailed kit in large 1/200 scale. The assembled kit measures about 19 inches long when built. Molded in white, yellow and brown and includes extensive vacuform sails. The model has not been started. The parts are either in factory sealed bag(s) or inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
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 Bomarc IM-99 with Launcher, 1/48, 377-198
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$650
1958 first and only release of the famous Bomarc Surface-To-Air Missile in 1/48 scale with a mobile launching trailer. The trailer has rotating wheels, tow bar, tool boxes and an elevating missile rail that can be displayed in travel or launch positions. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, both decal sheets and instructions.
Hawk Triangle Box F4D Skyray, 1/72, 402
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$185
Rare Triangle Box issue from the late 1950s. As a marketing experiment, Hawk tried this novel and colorful box only with the Skyray. Dealers found it difficult to stack with other kits and it was discontinued. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. This box is very good. Luckily, it is missing the factory tape seals that are usually across the top corners. There are no price tags and no other tape. The box has not been repaired. There is edge wear, some creasing and a short tear on the bottom but no litho or cardboard is missing.
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.
Frog SE 210 Caravelle Air France, 1/96, F357
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc-
$245
Rare kit from the 1950s. The box has great color and gloss but some creasing as shown. There are no price tags and all four corners are solid. The only tape are the factory tape marks on the sides and bottom where they sealed it originally. Inside the kit is molded in the correct clear and silver with the bright dark blue base and arm. Even the original glue capsule and white paint are included. The paint is in a corked glass vial and is still good. Decals and instructions are exceptional and as new also with light yellowing. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions.