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Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$62
Jo Kotula artwork is in exceptional condition. This is the second issue of this kit - please note 79 cent price extension and 'Famous Fighters' in the sunburst logo. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$34
Hardbox issue from 1964 and from quality ex-Comet molds. Features fine recessed surface detail, rotating propellers, clear windows and a display stand. Comet has two S2F models; this is the smaller of them. Never started. It has been inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: NM+
$56
This model is in an amazing, investment-grade 'Near Mint+' box. It is dated 1957, but from the mid 1960s due to the oval logo with the blue outline. This small scale kit with dramatic Jo Kotula box artwork is nicely molded with clear canopy, full landing gear and a display stand. This is a model of the very early YF-102 prototype with the straight (non-area rule) fuselage. The kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete including decals and instructions. Around this time, Aurora issued a series of inexpensive (usually 29 cent) small scale kits that were designed to sell at almost any type of retail location. The line was very successful and quickly expanded. When Aurora purchased the Comet molds, those kits fit in nicely with this established line.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$38
1960s issue hardbox issue that is molded in dark green with the small parts in black plastic. This issue includes the ground mechanic and small ground base with chocks. 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: 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: Exc+
$69
Excellent condition box and kit dated 1960, but from a later date than that due to the logo variation. Molded in a brilliant gloss deep blue and clear with the clear triangle 'World' stand. 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 both in 'excellent+' condition. Please note that the box would grade better but it is not because there is tape residue on the two long box sides.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc+
$299
A Very Rare piece for the advanced Aurora Collector. This is a 1959 hardbox issue from Aurora's Great Britain distributor, Playcraft Toys Ltd. of London. Please note the sunburst logo with 'Playcraft Hobby Kits' in the border. The box is in exceptional condition with like-new color and gloss, four solid corners, no repairs, no creases, fading stains, tears, price tags or missing litho. The only flaws are very light general wear (mainly at the edges) and discoloration from clear tape on both long sides. Inside, the kit is factory new. It has never been started. The parts are molded in bright yellow and clear and it even has the correct Playcraft Stand (which used the modified molds of Aurora's 1954/1955 clear rectangle-based stand. I has been inventoried and is 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. The decals are in amazing 'Near Mint++' condition and the instructions are 'Near Mint.'
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good++
$54
Early issued dated 1959. Please note that the logo is the 'Famous Fighters' in the border with the sunburst inside, which is the earliest oval Aurora logo. From the amazing Jo Kotula artwork you can see why these kits are so famous and so collectible today. Never started. Inventoried complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$42
Early 1954 or '55 first issue with old 'Aurora Line' rectangular logo. This kit was issued shortly after moving to the West Hempstead facility on Long Island. The side logos are the old Brooklyn style but with the new address in the lower bar. Molded in the correct glossy light blue and clear with the early style Aurora rectangular stand, correct Tatem Company decals and the correct instructions. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. The box has wear as shown and also a narrow 1.5 x 1/4 inch factory tape litho pull on the upper long side.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc++
$67
1957 first issue in fantastic 'Excellent++' condition. The box has perfect color and gloss and four solid corners. The only flaws are very light and isolated age foxing and light wear. This issue has dramatic Jo Kotula artwork and is molded in the correct gloss olive green and black. Inside, the kit has never been started. It still includes the factory packing tissue. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$44
Rare very early issue from 1956 with Northern Lights logo and the 69 cent price circle on the right of the box top. What is most unusual is that the price is within a red-filled circle; this is the first instance of this that I have seen. Just when you think you have Aurora's kit history figured out, they throw you another curve ball! Molded in the correct glossy dark green and black. Decals and instructions are correct for the first issue as well. There is no assembly but NOTE: the outlines of the Maltese crosses have been painted on the wings and fuselage. You can remove this paint with any safe plastic paint stripper - I personally like spray-on oven cleaner. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
$52
Second issue 'Famous Fighters' hardbox is dated 1957 with great Jo Kotula artwork. This is part of a popular and very successful series of 1/48 scale WWI aircraft that Aurora started in 1956 and added to well into the 1960s. Many of the line were in production right up until the demise of Aurora in the mid 1970s. Molded in correct olive drab and black plastic. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good-
$49
This is the 1974 issue which includes the comic book with the base and backdrop mural to create a 3-D Action Display. Superboy, Krypto and the monster are all molded in medium blue plastic. The comic book is in 'very good' condition. This kit has never been started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good++
$289
Very rare and 100% correct first issue from 1954 with the proper swastika box art and swastika decals. This one is even rarer as it is never started and complete. The model is molded in the correct gloss black and clear, with the rectangle-based clear stand, matching instructions, decals and even the original factory packing tissue paper. The decals are flat and in stunning 'excellent++' condition with the only flaw being slight age yellowing to the backing paper only. The instructions are 'near mint.' The box has very good color and gloss, four solid original corners (no repairs), no price tags or tag marks, no tape or tape marks (other than the thin factory sealing tape of course), no fading, stains or missing litho. Flaws include general wear & scuffing as shown and light corner wear. This kit has a fascinating history. The FW-190 was among the first (or was the first) kit made at the new West Hempstead factory in 1954. It immediately followed the famous "Brooklyn 8" (Aurora's first 8 aircraft kits). It was Aurora's first WWII aircraft kit to be originally issues with landing gear and bombs but still retains the small clear rectangle stand which was also shown on the instructions. This first issue shows the swastika on the box art and decals; however, Aurora quickly realized that they could not sell the kit in Europe. So they used an ink stamp to black out the offensive mark on the box top and initially cut it out of the decal sheet; however, they were quick to make a completely new decal sheet with the 'iron cross' replacing the swastika. These alterations are often called the 'second issue' although it carried the same part number and everything else was the same.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$59
1958 first issue with fantastic Jo Kotula boxart. This is the Parents' Magazine issue with the seal located in the lower right and the '69' price circle at the upper left. This was considered a fine model in the day and rated highly in magazine reviews. These classic 1930s Navy Biplane Fighters are still famous for their colorful paint jobs at that that time. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions. Cowl, tail and trim color would vary with the group's Aircraft Carrier (Ranger, Lexington or Saratoga and the aircraft's position in the flight formation.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG
$200
Very rare first issue Brooklyn kit from the early 1950. Molded in the correct light blue with little surface detail and no mass balances, pitot tube or landing gear struts, wheels and doors. Includes the correct rectangular clear stand for this issue. Decals and instructions are in excellent condition. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions. The Aurora issues of the 1/48 scale P-38 are interesting to say the least. The first issue is the Brooklyn kit with the P-38/B-24 box artwork. Inside, the plastic is light blue with minimal surface detail and a clear canopy and rectangular stand that says 'Aurora Plastic Corp. Brooklyn, 4, N.Y.'. There are no landing gear, gear doors or mass balances. The second issue has identical box art, plastic color, decals and rectangular stand, but the box and instructions says 'West Hempstead' instead of Brooklyn. The clear stand mold has had 'Brooklyn' milled out, and there is no location on the stand. The third issue has the same artwork, but the full color 'Aurora Line' logo is used - but the big changes were on the inside. Aurora modified the molds, adding a pitot tube, elevator mass balances and landing gear struts, wheels and doors. The decals and stand remain the same, but the new instructions reflect the changes to the molds. This time the kit is molded in an attractive metallic blue. The fourth issue dropped the Jim Cox artwork in favor of a new P-38 flying from right to left across a threatening sky. The plastic still metallic light blue and the decals and stand remain unchanged. The new details were retained. The fifth issue was 1959. The oval 'Famous Fighters' logo was used with Jo Kotula artwork of two P-38s. The detail level of the kit remained the same, but it was molded in olive drab and clear. The newer 'Triangle' base was added at this time. Further issues kept this box artwork, but the oval logo changed as well as the price extensions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG++
$110
Rare 1959 first issue hardbox; please note the 'Famous Fighters' in the border of the oval 'Sunburst' logo. This is an excellent model for that time and features full hull with propeller and rudder detail, separately molded superstructures & upper decks, motor launches, rotating main turrets with elevating guns, separately molded secondary armament & AA guns, gun directors, cranes, searchlights and more. Includes a display stand and name plate. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts and instructions present.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$48
1963 issue with Jo Kotula artwork. This kit was part of Aurora's very popular and successful 1/48 WWI series. The line started in 1956 and was expanded through the 1960s. Never started. Inventoried 100% complete with all parts, decals and instructions present. This is the second issue because the box side logos does not have 'Famous Fighters' in the border of the logos. Thank to Dusty Rhodes for pointing out that the decals are for serial 419/15, Bayerische Feldflieger Abteiling 9, Autumn 1915.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good+
$48
Dated 1963 with artwork by Jo Kotula. Molded in gloss green and black. Never started and inventoried complete with all parts and includes decals and instructions.
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: VG+
$68
Dated 1961 but the price extension and logo tell us that this kit is likely from 1964 to 65. Features classic Jo Kotula box art. Molded in gloss silver and clear featuring full landing gear and the clear 'triangle globe' stand and arm. Never started and inventoried 100% complete with all parts decals and instructions. Please note that this box actually displays 'excellent++' but is graded only 'very good+' because there are two narrow pieces of masking tape on both short sides and some clear tape on both long sides. In both cases, the tape was being used to 'reseal' the kit at home.