Aurora Model Kits
Aurora P-38 Lightning Brooklyn - Famous Fighters of All Nations, 1/48, 99-98
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.
Aurora Messerschmitt Me-109 - Brooklyn Issue Bf-109 - Famous Fighters of All Nations, 1/48, 55-59
Plastic Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
$295
Very rare first issue. Of Aurora's 'Original Brooklyn 8,' this is usually considered the hardest one to find. Inside, the kit is 100% correct with no/minimal rivet detail, no bombs and no landing gear. The color is the unique first run non-metallic 'medium red' with clear canopy and stand. The stand is the correct square one marked 'Brooklyn.' The instructions are correct Brooklyn also, and the decals are the proper early 'Tatem Company' issue with the swastika. It even includes the original factory packing tissue. This kit has never been started. It has been inventoried 100% complete with all parts in perfect condition, amazing 'excellent but rolled' decals and 'excellent++' instructions with a tiny pinhole as the only real flaw. The box is the low end of the 'good' range as shown. There is a litho tear from the factory tape on the upper long side and it measures 1/5" long by 1/2" wide (average). This kit must be shipped double boxed and insured.