Old Model Kits Blog – Page 3 – Plastic model info and how tos

October 7, 2014June 1, 2020

Aurora Albatross D3 (Albatros D.III) Kit Review And History

By Fred Boucher and with Kit History by Alan Bussie

Kit History

Aurora’s Albatross D-3 [sic] was the fourth model of Aurora’s 20 “Famous Fighters” 1/48 World War One aircraft. It was released in 1956 with five other single-seaters. (Curiously, although Aurora released their “Sopwith Tripe” years later, it was originally numbered 100.)

The initial issue first appeared in Aurora’s 1956 Catalog and on dealer’s shelves the same year. The kit number was 104-69. Jim Cox did the box art and the instructions. 1956 was the first year for the large rectangular ‘Northern Lights’ logo.

First Issue Albatross D3, # 104-69

Aurora rolled out a new logo in 1957. But creating new box art was costly, so they simply modified the old art with the new oval ‘Famous Fighters’ logo with the northern lights on the inside background. The price went up ten cents, changing the part number to 104-79. The Parent’s Magazine seal was added at the left. This issue was probably produced from 1957 until around 1960.

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July 1, 2014June 1, 2020

Restoration of an Aurora 1/48 Zero

By Eric Freese

Box photographs courtesy of www.Oldmodelkits.com

Virtually anyone I meet at an air show, museum, or the local hobby shop has a list of their favorite planes, ships or cars. Personally, I can’t get enough of the Zero. I put it among my top ten favorite designs because it is pure fighter, perfectly proportioned in line and form.

The ‘classic’ Zero is the Aurora 1/48 kit in yellow plastic. Once common in the 1950s and early 60s, it has become a rare collector’s item today.

Various issues of the Aurora Zero (click any to enlarge)

I enjoy ‘classic builds’ and restoring older kits, but the Aurora Zero has been conspicuously absent from my collection. Recently I wrangled a deal to buy a pre-built version. There was no box, just the model, but I was thrilled at the prospect of finally getting one!

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June 29, 2014June 1, 2020

A History Of Renwal Aeroskin Kits

By Brad Hansen

PART 1: Pre-War 2-in-1 Sets

Renwal had established an extensive line of kits by 1966. They had come out with a unique line of modern armor and military equipment, visible anatomical models, visible V-8s and chassis, nuclear submarines with detailed (if a bit fanciful) interiors and an older line of naval warships. They had introduced a large line of “Collectors Showcase” 1/48th scale cars, started a series of seven modern iterations of classic car designs (Renwal Revivals) plus a super-detailed 1/12 scale Mercedes Benz Gullwing and Ferrari.

Selected Renwal Kits (click any to enlarge)

Notable by their absence up to then were kits of aircraft. This changed in January of 1966 when Renwal issued their first series of model planes kits.

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November 22, 2013June 1, 2020

Mustang Madness!!! An Aurora P-51 “Classic Build”

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By Eric Freese

After posting Eric’s article on how to do a Classic Build (using a Monogram P-40), I asked if he could make an Aurora kit look that good. Well, he did. I was blown away by the results. And better yet, all of this without excess effort – a true build-up for pleasure and decompression only! I hope you enjoy this build as much as I do. – AB

Aurora models never cease to amaze me. Perhaps I took them for granted as a kid in my early teens. But they got into subjects that nobody else would tackle, especially the Sci-Fi and movie figures. They were also putting forth a wide array of WW I and WW II kits as well. Several Aurora WW I planes sit proudly beside newer kits on my shelves. I make no apologies. Various friends and guests have commented they LIKED the old kits displayed in the cases.

Some of Eric’s Classic Builds alongside newer kits (click either thumbnail to enlarge)

When Alan Bussie asked me to put forth a simple “decompression” kit, I couldn’t resist the Aurora 1/48 scale P-51H. The last time I built one, I was about 13 years old. My dad and I were sitting on the couch watching the television series “12 O’clock High.” I was escorting B-17’s to Berlin, in hot pursuit of the 109’s, etc…and I built the fighter straight from the box in one hour. The challenge (and pure joy) of recreating that all over again was too tempting to pass up. This time I would add a little bit of painting detail. I would create my own markings from existing supplies and I would NOT use putty or aftermarket parts. What you see is what you get!

Aurora’s 1/48 scale P-51 Mustang

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November 22, 2013June 1, 2020

Aurora Russian Nuclear Powered Bomber (M-50/M-52 Bounder) Kit Review and History

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By Fred Boucher and with Kit History by Alan Bussie

Introduction

From the horrible yet exciting depths of the Cold War came the Myasishchev M-50 / M-52 ‘Bounder,’ a Soviet supersonic bomber. From ‘Bounder’ leapt the bogeyman M-60, a Soviet design for a nuclear-powered bomber. From the M-60 radiated this Aurora model of the terrible and amazing Russian Nuclear Powered Bomber.

The one and only USA issue of the Russian Nuclear Bomber from 1959

Myasishchev M-50/M-52 ‘Bounder’

An enormous four-jet bomber first ripped the sky over the Soviet Union in 1957. A long sleek fuselage on a delta wing, ‘Bounder’ publicly roared over in the 1961 Aviation Day flyby. Though intended to be a supersonic strategic bomber the big beast would more accurately have been code-named “Blunder” as one aviation wag put it. The big bomber was devoid of high-speed flight understanding. Not long after ‘Bounder’ was flown in the presence of Westerners, the Myasishchev Bureau was disbanded. ‘Bounder’s’ engines were used on the Tupolev Tu-22 ‘Blinder,’ which shares similar fuselage lines with ‘Bounder.’

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November 22, 2013June 1, 2020

Aurora Halberstadt CL.II Kit Review and History

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By Fred Boucher and with Kit History by Alan Bussie

Kit History

In 1959 Aurora released two more 1/48 World War I ‘Famous Fighter’ aircraft kits. The first was number 135-69, the Fokker D-VIII ‘Flying Razor.’ The second kit, and the subject of this review, was the Halberstadt CLII, #136-98. As with all Aurora kits of this period, the logo is oval with the sunburst in the center background and the words ‘Famous Fighters’ written in the oval border. Jo Kotula, who took over for Jim Cox in about 1957, did the box artwork. The parts were molded in black and gray plastic.

First release Halberstadt, #136-98

The kit proved successful, as were the vast majority of the WWI series. When Aurora was associated with Parent’s Magazine, the box top had their seal of approval. The model inside remained identical. The artwork remains dated 1959, but this issue may have extended into 1960.

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September 10, 2013June 1, 2020

Aurora Sopwith Triplane ‘Black Maria’ Kit Review and History

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By Fred Boucher and with Kit History by Alan Bussie Google+ profile

Kit History

Aurora’s Sopwith Triplane was the eighteenth model in Aurora’s twenty “Famous Fighters” of World War One aircraft series, with all kits in 1/48 scale. It was released in 1963 with the Fokker E-III, which is kit #134. Curiously, the Sopwith Triplane was released as kit number 100. The first kit in the series was 101-69, the French Nieuport II.

The first issue was numbered 100-79 and had brilliant box art by the great Joe Kotula. The plastic is gloss black.

A factory sealed example of 100-79

The second release had a part number of 100-100 but the box art was identical. By the mid 1960s, pressure from retailers to remove the price suffix was peaking. Some dealers could or had to get higher prices for the kits, while large retailers often sold them for less. But old habits die hard, and Aurora (and others) simply increased the suffix prices. Since the box art was retained, the copyright date was still 1963. The actual release date was probably closer to ’65.

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September 4, 2013June 1, 2020

Ray Gaedke –Lindberg Line Box Top Illustrator, Artist, Twirler and Entrepreneur

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By Alan Bussie Google+ profile

I wish to thank artist Mike Boss for locating Gayle Yarnall, who is one of Ray Gaedke’s daughters. Gayle, I thank you and Bernice for the main biography body. Without you this article would not exist. Rae, thank you for locating and scanning all the photographs. To all three daughters – Rae, Peggy and Gayle – thank you for your timeless memories of your father.

Please visit Gayle’s blog at gayleconnected.com

Introduction

Plastic model kits were off to a shaky start in the post-war United States. The first US kits came out in 1946, and the hobby shops did not know what to do with these colorful little gems. As a result, they put them on the ‘high shelf’ or another secondary location. Current model builders, the skilled craftsman who were used to the wooden ‘solid’ or stick and tissue kits, had no interest at all and were critical of such prefabrication. The handful of manufactures feared this was a product with no audience.

The target audience was present but had simply not been identified. Once plastic kits were marketed in a few mainstream stores, plastic models began to sell very quickly to younger children and adults who were tired or scared off by time-and-talent consuming wooden kits. But success created a new problem. Kits in mainstream stores had to compete with highly established toys, games and other products. To attract the buyer’s attention, they needed ‘visual shelf appeal,’ which translated to eye-popping box artwork. Raymond Gaedke was one of the pioneers of this ‘modern’ model box artwork.

Ray’s incredible Winnie Mae (late 1950s)

It is difficult to say who did the first popular series of full color box art in the USA. The current candidates are Ray Gaedke or Jim Cox from Aurora.

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August 26, 2013June 1, 2020

Back To Basics, Back To Fun! – A Monogram P-40B “Classic Build”

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By Eric Freese

After taking nearly 4 years to build a 1/350 Titanic, I realized that I was not having much fun modeling. What could I do to love this hobby as much as I did when I was younger? Then I was lucky enough to meet Eric Freese and Dick Hague. They introduced me to a new style of building strictly for fun. After seeing numerous photos of fantastic looking kits built “The Old Fashioned Way”, I tried my hand at a few and I was hooked. My sincere thanks to Dick and Eric for their “therapy.” I hope you give it a try soon! – A.B.

Introduction

Alan asked if I would show a FUN way to do a “classic build” kit with no frills – just basic tools and supplies right out-of-the-box, like we did in the 1960s. Sometimes we get too serious about building, and it’s easy to suck the fun out of it. Veteran modelers refer to it as “AMS”; Advanced Modelers Syndrome. Most of us have been there and done that. Remember when model building was exciting? Well, what better way to re-live that than with that old chestnut, the Monogram P-40B Tiger Shark! Let’s get into it, shall we?

The Monogram P-40

The Kit

Originally released in 1964 as a “Four Star” kit, it is an all-time favorite that has been released again and again. Today it can be found just about anywhere that kits

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August 14, 2013June 1, 2020

Aurora 1/48 Scale De Haviland DH-10 Amiens IIIA Kit Review and Release History

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Review By Fred Boucher and kit history by Alan Bussie Google+ profile

Introduction

Aurora released their big, 16½ inch(41.91 cm) wingspan de Havilland DH10 Amiens IIIA model in 1958 as the “De Haviland DH-10 Bomber.” It was the 13th of 20 1/48 scale kits in their “Famous Fighters” of World War I series. The DH10 was Aurora’s Triple Entente / Allied ‘monster’ kit, with Germany’s Gotha being the ‘monster’ representing the Central Powers. This model represents the Amiens IIIA variant.

DH-10 IIIA (courtesty airwar.ru)

The actual DH10 was built in five variations:

Amiens I- Prototype powered by two pusher Puma engines.

Amiens II- Prototype powered by two tractor Rolls Royce Eagle engines.

Amiens III- Main production variant, powered by Liberty 12 engines mounted midway between wings, 221 built.

Amiens IIIA- Modified Mark III with engines directly attached to lower wings, 32 built, also known as the DH.10A

Amiens IIIC- Version powered by Rolls Royce Eagle engines in case of shortages of Liberty engines, 5 built, also known as the DH.10C. *

Kit History

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