Aurora Model Kits for sale
Aurora was among the most prominent names in American modeling from 1952 to 1977. The range was highly varied, featuring military and civilian aircraft, ships, tanks, missiles, figures (including monsters and more), science fiction themes, automotive models, animals, firearms, totem poles, HO train accessories, electronic kits, Coppersmith sets, prehistoric scenes, and much more.
Aurora Piasecki H-25A Army Mule - US Air Force / Army / Navy / Marines, 1/48, 502-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM+
$195
Very rare "Northern Lights' logo first issue from 1956. Even rarer in amazing, investment-grade 'Near Mint+' condition. The box has factory-new gloss and color, four solid corners, no stains, creases, tears or fading. It has no price tags (or marks from any) and incredibly it even missed the factory tape machine - there is no tape and no marks or stains from tape. Very, very light wear is the only flaw. 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. Features cockpit seats, control sticks and instrument panel, full landing gear and decals for all four versions listed. Molded in the correct high-gloss olive drab and clear plastic. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Aurora Douglas M2 Mailplane - (M-2), 1/48, 111-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$60
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.
Aurora De Havilland DH-10 Bomber, 1/48, 786
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Exc
$54
1976 issue with revised molds. Much better kit than previous releases. Features choice of markings, painting guide, rigging instructions and more. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts decals and instructions.
Aurora Sopwith Camel, 1/47, 102-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+++
$44
Rare early 1960s issue. This release has turned up less than any of the other issues and was only made for a year or two at the most before the new artwork release. This is the only issue with the full, original artwork due to the 'transparent' new simplified oval logo at the lower right. The side logos do not have 'Famous Fighters' in the border. One side has the original printed '102-79' part number while the other end has a factory-applied '100' sticker over the 79. Molded in the correct gloss olive drab and black plastic and with the chock ground base and pilot & mechanic figures. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts decals and instructions. Please NOTE that the box displays much closer to 'Excellent++' but is graded lower because there is a small tape pull on the lower long side and some missing litho at the right short side.
Aurora 1931 Miller Special 1931 Indianapolis 500 Winner - (ex Best), 1/30, 523-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$120
Very rare and from 1958. Best originally created the line of Indianapolis 500 Winner kits; Aurora purchased them shortly after their introduction and reissued them for a short time. The model features driver and mechanic figures, some interior detail, spoke wheels and very nice decals. Molded in white plastic with real rubber tires It has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Please note that the box is 100% intact with no repairs, no split corners, tears or missing litho but is graded 'good-' because of the age foxing (brown tint) and general but very even wear as shown. Louis Schneider and 'Jigger Johnson' (driver and mechanic) drove the Bowes Seal Special to victory in 1931. The Miller Special had rear wheel drive, and eight cylinder 151.7 CID Miller engine and won the day averages 96.629 miles per hour. The track was dangerously unsafe that year due to a heavy drizzle that made driving over 80 mph dangerous - at one point, drivers were required to slow down to 80 mph and passing was not allowed other than the pit area. There were many spectacular accidents but the rain did relent and there were many speeds over 100 mph in the later part.
Aurora 1920 Monroe Special Indianapolis 500 Winner - (ex Best), 1/30, 521-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$125
Very rare kit dated 1958. The superb box art was painted by Monaghan, who did all of the Aurora Indy 500 winners. This kit is from Best molds. Aurora purchased these molds just for the Indianapolis 500 Winners and made only one issue. Molded in a beautiful gloss blue with real rubber tires, spoke wheels and includes a crew of two and some interior detail. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Even the original factory tissue packing paper is present. Please note that the box displays better than the 'good' grade but is rated as such because the upper long side has numerous small, dark spots. These spots are on the outside of the tray (lower box) also. Decals and instructions are only 'good' quality. This famous car is directly tied to one of racings greatest names, Louis Chevrolet. Louis and his brother He and his brother Arthur came to American in about 1905 and immediately began racing; Louis alone won 10 National Championship races between 1909 and 1919. Louis and Arthur joined forces with William Crapo 'Billy' Durant to form the Chevrolet Car Company in 1911. However, few people got along with Durant and the Chevrolet brothers were no exception. By 1915 they had sold their stock and moved on to Indianapolis. They immediately went back into racing and built their own cars. However, they were not allowed to use the Chevrolet name. The unofficial Chevrolet team was the first to achieve consecutive Indianapolis 500 wins. The first is this kit, the 1920 Monroe Special driven by younger brother Gaston Chevrolet and in 1921 in a Frontenac Special driven by Tommy Milton.
Aurora Tu-104 Aeroflot - (Civil Tu-16 Badger), 1/130, 127-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$64
1959 issue of the military bomber turned civil transport. Molded in the correct gloss gull gray and clear with the clear triangle 'World' stand and Aeroflot decals. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Aurora British SE-5 Scout, 1/48, 103-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$59
First issue from 1956 with Jim Cox boxart and Northern Lights logo. The logo on this box top was only used for one year; in 1957 it was replaced with the famous oval 'Famous Fighters' Sunburst logo. This kit was one of a very famous line of 1/48 scale WWI aircraft kits introduced by Aurora at this time. Due to the popularity, subjects were still being released into the 1960s. Molded in glossy olive green and black. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. While the top of the box displays 'near mint,' the box is only graded 'excellent because the right short side has light but obvious sun fading.
Aurora Focke-Wulf FW-190, 1/47, 30-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM
$159
True 1960 hardbox release in amazing, investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. Notice the 79 cent extension, 'Sunburst' logo with 'Famous Fighters' inside which gives us the early date. The box is amazing with only the very lightest and slightest of wear. Molded in high-gloss black and clear with the clear triangular 'globe' display stand. It even includes the original factory tissue packing paper. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Decals are intact and perfectly flat, graded 'excellent++' with slight yellowing as the only flaw; the instructions are 'near mint++' condition.
Aurora Patton Tank M48 - 8th Army / 8th Army 6th Tank Bat. / 24th Infantry Division, 1/48, 321-150
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$82
Still factory sealed and in rare investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. This 1969 hardbox issue features elevating gun, rotating turret, figures, operating treads and bogies and battlefield display stand. There are markings for the three different tanks listed.
Aurora Atomic Submarine SSN Nautilus SSN-571, 1/242, 708-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$79
1962 hardbox issue of this classic and still popular kit. Features a large 16" long hull, bow and stern diving planes, propellers, periscope and masts, missile tank and missile with launch pad. Includes a display stand. This kit has never been started. It is inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. Please note that the box displays 'Excellent++' but is graded 'Very Good++.' That is because there is some heavy corner wear on the lower side of the right short side panel.
Aurora 1903 Rambler Model E Touring Car, 1/16, 151
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$72
1964 issue of Aurora's 'Super Detailed Museum Model with Plated Parts.' Done in a big 1/16 scale, this kit and the other 'Old Timers' in the series represented a significant leap forward in quality for Aurora. This kit features full engine, transaxle and driveline detail, complete interior, suspension and steering linkage, exhaust and more. Molded in red, black and with brass plated parts and real white rubber tires. Never started. The parts have been inventoried 100% complete and includes instructions. Aurora was renowned for turning a profit and for keeping expenses down. In researching new kit subjects, they came upon a forgotten jewel - the Hudson Miniatures line of 1/16 scale wooden kits. Hudson had discontinued this line due to lack of sales of wooden kits. But the Hudson models were second to none in quality, research and documentation. Aurora was quick to realize this and used the research and layout from these kits to create the subjects for this 'Old Timers' series. It is fortunate for us that they did, because in most cases this is the only injection molded kit of these rare and classic early automobiles.
Aurora Fokker D-7 - (D-VII DVII), 1/48, 106-79
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$42
This is the hard-to-find third issue of this kit. It retains the original 1956 box art, but the square Aurora 'Northern Lights' logo is gone, replace by the famous sunburst 'Famous Fighters' oval. The price extension is 79 cents. The second issue is identical except for a 69 cent extension. Molded in the correct dark green & black plastic and includes the 'ground chocks' display base with a mechanic figure. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Aurora General Dynamics TFX F-111A - USAF, 1/48, 368-250
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$85
1969 issue hardbox issue of this classic kit. Aurora put forth an excellent effort for that time on this big F-111 and it features good detail, swing wings, correctly retracting landing gear, good cockpit detail, pilot and radar navigator figures and more. With USAF markings. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Aurora Avro CF-100 Canuck All-Weather Fighter, 1/67, 137-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$78
Hardbox issue that is dated 1960 but is probably 1963 due to the logo variation. If features fantastic Jo Kotula artwork has like-new color and gloss but has general wear and the crease at the lower left corner as shown. Molded in the correct white and clear plastic with the clear two-piece triangle-based Aurora display stand. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present
Aurora F7U Cutlass Navy Jet Fighter, 1/70, 496-49
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$50
1961 hardbox issue with fantastic box art by jo Kotula. Includes decals for F7U-1 NATC aircraft. Molded in gloss medium gray and clear, with full landing gear and a triangle-based two-piece display stand. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. It even includes the original factory packing tissue paper.
Aurora UFO from 'The Invaders' TV Series, 1/72, 813-150
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM
$245
Hard-to-find first issue in the 1968-dated hardbox. This kit was issued in conjunction with the TV series 'The Invaders' and represents the spaceship on the series. The box has like-new color and gloss, solid corners and no tape, price tags or litho tears. A slight bit of wear on the right short side and a very slight (and hard-to-see) crease at the lower right are the only flaw worth noting. The kit features retractable landing legs, detailed interior with four figures, removable top and optional clear top. Inside, the kit is mint. The parts are the original gloss medium gray. The model has never been started and has been inventoried complete with all parts and instructions present.
Aurora Nieuport 11, 1/48, 101-69
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good++
$42
First issue from 1956 with the one-year-only 'Northern Lights' rectangular logo. The artwork is by Jim Cox. This is a fine model for that time and includes a pilot, basic cockpit, machine gun, wing-mounted rockets, ground display with chocks and a ground crew member as well. Molded in the correct gloss olive drab and black plastic. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. This kit is one of a very successful line of 1/48 WWI aircraft that Aurora launched in 1956. The line sold so well that new kits were added into the 1960s. Thanks to Eugene DuBey, we know some history on the aircraft that Aurora modeled. The tail # on the kit rudder is 1354, the number of a Nie 16 that served with "CAM de Dunquerke / St Pol sur Mer", 1916-17.
Aurora Douglas M-2 Mailplane - Western Air Express CAM Route, 1/48, 111-98
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$65
First issue dated 1957 with fantastic Jo Kotula artwork. This is a very well molded and detailed kit for that time and is molded in beautiful 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.
Aurora F7U Cutlass Navy Jet Fighter, 1/70, 496-50
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$44
1961 hardbox issue with fantastic box art by jo Kotula. Includes decals for F7U-1 NATC aircraft. Molded in gloss medium gray and clear, with full landing gear and a display stand. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.