Aurora kits

Rickitycrate · 16 January 2009, 09:16 PM

Hello Gents and Ladies,
I have a number of '50's and '60's Aurora WW1 plane kits. I have not seen any builds of these kits on this site or really any other modeller site. I know they are not up to todays standards but I was wondering what other modellers thought of them. Such as should they be built, should they be BOB, should the raised decal markers be removed. I know, do what I want. But if you care to comment I would like your opinion. If I do build I will of course keep the boxes. Thanks for your consideration. Best wishes, Jim

Tom W. · 16 January 2009, 10:16 PM

Hi Jim:

I've always wanted to build all the Aurora kits. I have a few, but no place to display them, so I'm waiting.

My plan is to remove the raised decal-location marks, thin down the trailing edges of the wings, and add monofilament rigging. I may also cut the control surfaces free and reattach them.

Since the decals will likely be toast, I'll use aftermarket items. I won't superdetail the interiors, because the exteriors are pretty toylike anyway. I also won't use etched-brass or white-metal machine guns, but I'll paint the kits--including crew members and ground personnel--carefully and relatively accurately.

Basically, I want to preserve the "Aurora-ness" of the kits, while making them a bit more attractive.

The two kits I really want to build are the Gotha and the Halberstadt. Both look great when finished.

Kaiser Bill · 17 January 2009, 07:45 AM

Jim...its been about 50 years since I last built an Aurora kit with my dad. I've seen some at contests that have been "accurized"....and by that I mean the raised marking locations have been sanded off, control horns added where applicable...lots and lots of interior scratchbuilding. I'd say go ahead...give it a try...save the original boxes if you like, but have fun with the hobby. There are plenty of reference books with photos and accutate info available today that wern't around when I was a kid. Also many "experts" right here in this forum.

Kaiser Bill

Rickitycrate · 17 January 2009, 06:18 PM

Thanks Tom and Bill,
Tom your thinking and mine are much along the same lines. To build the kits very nicely but retain the fact of their origin. I have modelled off and on over the years (am now 51) and I think I would do well to sharpen my skills on a few of the aurora kits before I try to build my more recent, high cost kits. I happen to have the Gotha and have bought some nice camo and insignia decals for it. Being that I'm unemployed for now I find I have the time I thought I would have to wait until retirement for. BTW the Gotha is from ebay about 10 years ago. At the time I first saw one on there it was sold to a bid of $320.00. They stayed up there maybe 6 months and then crashed. I got mine for some $30 or so. Patience was a virtue.

Trackpad · 18 January 2009, 07:43 PM

Hi, Rickety!

I'm 64, and started my somewhat checkered modelling career on Aurora kits. I'm sure that I built almost all of them in the '50's, including a number of the WW1 items. I currently have an example of the first kit I ever built in my life, the Aurora Hellcat. I won't build it given the meaning it has for me, but I'd encourage you to build those you have. As you say, they are good starting points with this hobby. Good luck with your builds, and please post a few photos: they'll allow me to revisit my pre-teen years!

davecww1 · 18 January 2009, 08:04 PM

Hi Rickety!
When I first started building WW1 models in 1990 there were relatively few 1/48 scale WW1 kits available, the Aurora line had gone out of business in the late 1970's but 3 of their kits had been released by Monogram with some upgrades but the removal of the ground crew figures. They had the Fokker D.VII, the sopwith Camel and the SE5a. All of these have been released several times over the last 19 years. But one day while at a local flea market I found a guy with a shelf full of old kits. I was able to trade him my collection of vintage Star Wars action figures for a Gotha, DH-10, Fokker E.III, Pfalz D.III, Albatros D.V and Nieuport 28. Thought I had made an excellent trade, unfortunately nowadays the Star Wars figures are worth a small fortune. Anyway I built several of them and accurized them with Aeroclub white metal parts, they looked very nice at the time, but after the Eduard kits started coming out a couple of years later I learned a few things. One is that the Aurora kits had serious accuracy issues and needed many details added, but the overall shape was not accurate when compared to the drawings in the Windsock Datafile books. The Eduard kits are a defionate improvement. Also if you have the early 50's boxes of the Aurora kits, collectors will pay a lot of money for them if sold as complete unassembled kits. if i were you I would auction them off on ebay and replace them with more accurate and detailed Eduard kits. Although for several the Auroras are the only game in town, like the DH-10 and Gotha. Other better replacements like the Eduard Albatros C.III and Hi-Tech Breguet are out of production and probably harder to find than the Aurora ones. Your choice, but if you are looking for easy to build starter kits I would recommend the Glencoe kits, they have the Nieuport 28, Pfalz D.III and Spad XIII for reasonable prices and are repops of the old Aurora kits. You can probably buy all 3 Glencoe kits with much better decals for the price of one Aurora kit.
That's my take on it, of course it's your choice to do what you wish.
Thanks,
Dave

Rickitycrate · 19 January 2009, 10:38 AM

I used to have a hobby when I had money called "buy a lot of WW1 plane kits so as to have something to do when you have the time" ie, retirement. Well, here I am out of work with time and kits up the arse and a revitalized interest because of the release of the new sim "Over Flander's Fields - Between Heaven and Hell" So I'm on the verge of starting a build and yet maybe my new job will be working for the brits or perhaps the huns? Maybe the french need my help. Of course some time flying alongside Eddie Rickenbacker and Raoul Lufbery is definate for me. Maybe I won't have the time I think I have as my sim is in the mail. So lots of kits in house, none of the Roden 1/32's but they sure look good to me. I appreciate all of your input on this thread and I will be doing an Aurora SE5 and then an Albatros then the Gotha. Also want to build my Revell 1/28 Spads for both Rickenbacker and Luke. Well I'm sure most of you guys can relate to my problem, hehe. Happy modelling, Jim

JOHNNY ACE · 26 January 2009, 09:33 AM

i have on my shelf several copies of these kits.when i was a small boy,i cut my modeling teeth on these.i replenished my stock on e-bay(ouch!)they are not great by todays standards,but i'm keeping them!you can't beat the nastalgia.good luck with yours(bythe way ,i'm 59.)regards.

27 January 2009, 03:07 AM

Nice to find this thread on the Aurora 1/48 WW1 kits.

I built some in the early seventies when they we're issued with some added diorama stuff. The best remembered is a pale blue and yellow Pfalz D.III which has gone west a long time ago. The mechanic which came with the kit, is still around though.

Compared to the Fokker Dr.I and D VII my brother built the Pfalz was pretty much OK. I remember the Fokkers having their national insignia raised on fuselage and wings. The Dr.I was in wine red plastic. As youngsters we thought them very nice.

In due course this Pfalz mechanic will be 'working' on my Eduard Roland C.II. Due to some unfortunate private matters this built was shelfed but the time has come to get on with it.

An Eduard Pfalz D.III is awaiting it's turn as well.

No, I wouldn't start an Aurora built and leave these kits for the 'box collectors'.

Have fun

Rickitycrate · 27 January 2009, 10:01 AM

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and memories. I happen to have that same Eduard Roland CII kit in my stash o' kits. I look forward to building it. I flew one last night for the first time. I got my OFF Between Heaven and Hell dvd yesterday and flying the Walfisch was one of the first things I wanted to do. Actually I flew it and then switched to observer to try that out too, very cool. Well it's back to the field for me I guess. I don't want to be grounded.