Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed Mint
$79
Still factory sealed and in beautiful, investment-grade 'Mint' box condition with an intact seal. This hardbox issue is dated 1963 and has superb Jo Kotula artwork. The model is actually from the mid 1960s due to the one dollar price extension on the part number.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM++
$44
Factory sealed and in investment-grade 'Near Mint++' condition. This 1960s issue has fantastic John Steel artwork and is one 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, so many of these kits were included in the 'mold upgrade' in the 1970s before Aurora went out of business.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM++
$45
1963 hardbox issue which is in investment-grade "Near Mint++" condition with flawless color and gloss. The great Jo Kotula is responsible for the extraordinary artwork. This model features fine raised and recessed surface detail, a complete engine, a basic cockpit (pilot, seat & instrument panel), two machine guns, rotating propeller & wheels and a mechanic with a ground base with wheel chocks. Molded in gloss medium olive green and black plastic. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM+
$69
Still factory sealed and in investment-grade 'Near Mint+' condition. This 1972 Big A softbox release features elevating gun, rotating turret, figures, operating treads & bogies and more. Includes a battlefield display stand.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$55
First issue from 1956 with Northern Lights logo. Molded in the correct glossy dark green and black. Decals and instructions are correct for the first issue as well. The kit has not been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM
$42
This box is in rare investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. The kit is dated 1958, but still has original 1956 box art. The actual issue date is from the mid-1960s due to the lack of a price extension and the blue oval logo. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$44
1957 first issue with dramatic Jo Kotula artwork. Molded in the correct gloss olive green and black. Inside, the kit has never been started. It has been inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$32
Desirable hardbox issue from 1963. This is the popular Aurora USA knight in large 1/8 scale. Molded in gloss black and has the original plume. NOTE: this kit has minor assembly; the two head halves are built. There is no other assembly. Three parts have light detail painting; there is no other painting. Inventoried complete with all parts, plume and photocopied instructions (NOTE: the original instructions are missing). In the mid 1950s, Aurora bought three 'Knight' molds from Crown Plastics and issued them as K1, K2 and K3. These were the very first Aurora figure kits and they sported the 1956-only rectangular 'Northern Lights' logo with the correct 'Crown Line' logo inside it. The sales success of the Knight prompted Aurora to launch an entire line of figure kits. The knights themselves stayed in production long after many other figures were discontinued.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$54
Still factory sealed and in investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. This 1976 issue is from revised molds and is a much better kit than previous releases. Features choice of markings, painting guide, rigging instructions and more.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$65
Dated 1963 and from ex-Comet molds. This is the largest of the two Comet KC-135s and features all recessed panel lines, clear windows for the cockpit and cabin, full landing gear and more. Molded in gloss gray and clear. This model was given a clear Aurora two piece 'triangle world' stand, unlike many of the other Comet kits which only had a modified version of their original stands included. Of course this is not the production KC-135 but a model of the Boeing prototype with USAF decals. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Like the box top, there is no refueling probe.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+++
$65
Hard-to-find first issue from 1956 that is in "Excellent+++" box condition. This was a well-reviewed and fine kit for that time and features moving ailerons, elevators and rudder, 'good' cockpit, pilot figure, clear windscreen, rotating wheels & propeller and more. Molded in the correct gloss dark green and clear & includes the correct large rectangle-based early Aurora stand. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Even includes the original factory tissue packing paper. Please note the early small Northern Lights logo from 1954/55; this kit was released before the new 1956 logo was used.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$38
The I-19 is famous for firing history's most successful torpedo spread off Guadalcanal. On September 14, 1942, the I-19 was patrolling of the Solomons when she fired a 6 torpedo spread. Three hit and sank the US Carrier CV-7 WASP, and the remaining three exploded against the BB North Carolina and the destroyer O'Brien. The destroyer sank and the North Carolina had to be repaired at Pearl till November 16, 1942. The I-19's Glen seaplane also flew night reconnaissance on February 23, 1942 over Pearl Harbor for the planned second attack by Emily flying boats on that base. This is the 1969 hardbox issue with the 'Big A' logo. This large scale and well detailed kit is almost 16 inches long when assembled. It is from Aurora's fine efforts of the late 1960s/early 1970s to make more competitive models. By the early to mid 1960s, Aurora knew that the 1950s kits were outclassed and immediately began to cut a new series of molds including several ships, helicopters and submarines. The result was very good mold quality and detail. Includes large display stand molded in wood brown, decals, periscope and cranes, detailed Glen Seaplane, conning tower and deck guns. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Sealed NM
$60
Still factory sealed and in superb, investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition. The kit is dated 1958, but this is clearly a later issue as the Aurora logo does not say 'Famous Fighters' in the border and has no sunburst - due to the 130 price extension, it is most likely from 1961 or '62. This was a fine kit for that time and still a favorite 'Classic Builder' today. It features movable rudder, elevators & ailerons, cockpit with pilot, seat, instrument panel, gun sight and feet stirrups, auxiliary gas tank and rotating propeller and wheels. Usually molded in gloss dark green and clear, but I cannot confirm that since it is factory sealed.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM
$39
This model is in an investment-grade 'Near Mint' condition box. The only box flaw is very slight wear. Dated 1956, but this is a 1960s issue with the later John Steel artwork and blue oval 'Aurora' logo with no 'Famous Fighters' in the logo. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. This is 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, so these kits were included in the 'mold upgrade' in the 1970s before Aurora went out of business.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$69
Hard to find armor kit. John Steel box art is dated and issued 1963 due to the 98 cent price extension. Aurora made excellent armor kits for that time and this one is no exception. Modeling reviewers declared them as the finest armor kits in any scale. Molded in gloss olive drab with flexible black treads. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. Please note that the box displays as 'near mint++' but is graded 'excellent+' because there is residue from old tape at the lower center of the four box sides. The tape is long gone and fell off due to age.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$89
Second issue hardbox is dated 1962 with fantastic Jo Kotula box artwork. This kit is a very good, rare scale representation of the original prototype N-156 'Freedom Fighter'. It developed into the F-5, which was widely exported and saw service in over 30 countries. Only three of the N-156 prototypes were built. The design centered around two GE J85 turbojets which originally powered the ADM-20 Quail decoy carried by the B-52 fleet. Initially there seemed to be little demand until President Kennedy's Military Assistance Program required a low-cost fighter that could be provided to US Allies. The N-156 was easily the top choice. It was renamed the F-5 and the rest is history - it became one of the most widely used fighter/bombers in post-WWII history and is still in service in some air forces. This kit features a pilot figure, 'good' cockpit, three drop tanks, early AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air Missiles and more. Includes the famous Aurora clear triangle-based 'world map' stand. Molded in white and clear. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+++
$75
This is the first issue dated 1964, the "Famous Fighters" oval on the four sides only and very graphic John Steel box artwork. The model features flexible treads, tank commander and three ground troops, two rifles, rotating turret, elevating gun optional position top hatch and working tracks/wheels. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. Please note that the box displays as 'mint' but is graded 'excellent+++' because there are small, light areas of tape residue at the lower center of the four sides. The tape is long gone; it got old and fell off.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$74
Hard-to-find 1964 hardbox issue with classic John Steel box art. At that time, reviewers wrote that Aurora made the finest armor kits; the Tiger is no exception. Features working bogies and sprockets, flexible black track (in fine condition), optional opened or closed hull and turret hatches, bow machine gun, spotlight, tow hooks, mufflers & covers, spare tracks, tank commander and three soldiers. Molded in gray with flexible black treads. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Please note that the box top displays as a stunning 'near mint'. However, it is only graded 'excellent+' because there is small amounts of light tape residue at the center of all four box side panels. The tape fell off long ago due to age.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$55
Very rare version and the rarest of all Aurora SE-5s. Note that the rectangular background for the oval 'Famous Fighters' logo is white and not the more common yellow. The two issues are identical other than the background color for the lower-right rectangle. The hardbox is dated 1956 with the original Jim Cox box art but with the 1957 oval 'Famous Fighters' logo. The original rectangle 'Northern Lights'; logo has been neatly blotted out with a white rectangle of the same size. The fact that the price is still 69 cents (as the original issue) means this issue is very late 1956 or very early '57. Molded in gloss olive green and black. The kit has never been started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. NOTE: there is a short tape tear on the lower long side measuring 1/2" x 1/4" and two dark, translucent tape stains (1" x 3/8") on the upper long side.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$245
Rare and even rarer in this condition. This kit was factory sealed but the seal recently split across the back - so I opened it up to do a 100% inventory and slid the seal back on. Inside, the kit is exactly as it left the factory - never started, with the red parts still in a factory sealed clear bag and with all other parts inventoried 100% complete, including 'excellent+++' decals and instructions. 1958 release of this famous kit featuring classic Jo Kotula boxart. The large 1/48 scale missile comes with a fully operational scale launcher. Please note this is a true first issue because there is no Parents' Magazine' printed logo or the golden sticker. The model features a well detailed missile with lower booster and the mobile launcher with good suspension detail, valves boxes and covers, tow bar, servicing and access platforms with railings, elevating main pad and three figures. Molded in the correct deep gloss red, silver and dark blue plastic. Please note that this kit displays better than the 'excellent' box grade but is rated as such because long crease on part of the lower long box side. 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.
