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Aurora Plastics Corp. began in 1950 as a partnership between Joseph Giammarino and Abe Shikes, who each brought his own specialty to the business (engineering and organization, respectively). Within two years John Cuomo would come on board with experience in sales. The company started out doing contract work for others, producing plastic parts for various items.
The interesting part of the story begins in 1952 when the company was introduced to the hobby market, and began manufacturing model airplanes. Another company called Hawk was already selling plastic model planes (a few of which Aurora blatantly copied for their first releases), but these were only available in specialty hobby stores; Revell's model cars could be purchased at retail outlets, but they produced no airplane kits. So, Aurora immediately gained success with their model planes by having them available for sale in normal retail outlets, and at prices that were more than competitive.
Aurora also went about more consumer-friendly practices than their more (possibly insular) hobby-minded competitors. They molded
their planes in brighter-color plastic, to appeal to the kids who would be buying them, and also simplified the entire kit-building
process - something which made hardcore hobbyists blanche, but which again drew in the younger boys who were their primary target
market. Aurora also didn't skimp on the box art: colorful, dramatic images practically jumped out from the shelf, enticing the buyer
who, after all, may have had several kits to choose from, and who might not have been thrilled to look at unassembled plastic pieces.
Throughout the 1950's and '60's, Aurora continued to build on their primary line of military airplanes by introducing kits devoted to civilian aircraft, military ships and other vehicles (especially tanks), and even a limited number of automobiles. Their first 'figural' kits - model kits devoted to a character rather than a piece of machinery - was the Blue Knight and the Black Knight, in 1956.
The figural kits took a horrific turn starting in 1962 when Aurora launched the first of its monster-themed models, Frankenstein, to a skeptical trade. The kit was instantly a smash success, and the company's machines worked 'round the clock, seven days a week, to crank out the plastic pieces for the Frankenstein kit, as well as the Dracula and Wolfman kits which soon followed. These too became top sellers, so that by 1964, Aurora had sold nearly seven and a half million of the monster kits.
A whole host of horrors continued to spring from Aurora's mold-making machines, some which melded monsters with automobiles, some with glow-in-the-dark parts. Superheroes, spaceships from TV and film, and historical characters could also be found in boxes bearing the familiar oval Aurora logo. When the Batman TV series became a pop culture sensation in 1966, the company cranked out a number of Bat-vehicles. Prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs were snapped up by imaginative kids.
The company lasted until 1977. By then part of Nabisco Corporation, Aurora had been limping along for years, its sales steadily declining for various reasons. The main reason, however, was simply that kids weren't building models in the numbers they had during the previous two decades. Nabisco basically broke up the company and sold the pieces.
Thankfully, Aurora's models have not disappeared for good. Not only do many kits (built and unbuilt) still survive, untouched by the hoary hand of time, but companies such as Polar Lights and Revell-Monogram (formed by the joining of two separate model giants) have re-issued popular kits from the Aurora catalog.
Today's collectors and builders can thus have their choice: purchase the original kits at collector prices, or (in most cases) find a modern reissue at a fraction of the vintage item's value. Either way, adults who thrilled at Aurora's imaginative model kits in their youth can reintroduce the hobby to their kids and grandkids - and the mystique surrounding the name of Aurora can live on.
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Aurora
Aurora Plastics Corp. began in 1950 as a partnership between Joseph Giammarino and Abe Shikes, who each brought his own specialty to the business (engineering and organization, respectively). Within two years John Cuomo would come on board with experience in sales. The company started out doing contract work for others, producing plastic parts for various items.
The interesting part of the story begins in 1952 when the company was introduced to the hobby market, and began manufacturing model airplanes. Another company called Hawk was already selling plastic model planes (a few of which Aurora blatantly copied for their first releases), but these were only available in specialty hobby stores; Revell's model cars could be purchased at retail outlets, but they produced no airplane kits. So, Aurora immediately gained success with their model planes by having them available for sale in normal retail outlets, and at prices that were more than competitive.
Aurora also went about more consumer-friendly practices than their more (possibly insular) hobby-minded competitors. They molded
their planes in brighter-color plastic, to appeal to the kids who would be buying them, and also simplified the entire kit-building
process - something which made hardcore hobbyists blanche, but which again drew in the younger boys who were their primary target
market. Aurora also didn't skimp on the box art: colorful, dramatic images practically jumped out from the shelf, enticing the buyer
who, after all, may have had several kits to choose from, and who might not have been thrilled to look at unassembled plastic pieces.
Throughout the 1950's and '60's, Aurora continued to build on their primary line of military airplanes by introducing kits devoted to civilian aircraft, military ships and other vehicles (especially tanks), and even a limited number of automobiles. Their first 'figural' kits - model kits devoted to a character rather than a piece of machinery - was the Blue Knight and the Black Knight, in 1956.
The figural kits took a horrific turn starting in 1962 when Aurora launched the first of its monster-themed models, Frankenstein, to a skeptical trade. The kit was instantly a smash success, and the company's machines worked 'round the clock, seven days a week, to crank out the plastic pieces for the Frankenstein kit, as well as the Dracula and Wolfman kits which soon followed. These too became top sellers, so that by 1964, Aurora had sold nearly seven and a half million of the monster kits.
A whole host of horrors continued to spring from Aurora's mold-making machines, some which melded monsters with automobiles, some with glow-in-the-dark parts. Superheroes, spaceships from TV and film, and historical characters could also be found in boxes bearing the familiar oval Aurora logo. When the Batman TV series became a pop culture sensation in 1966, the company cranked out a number of Bat-vehicles. Prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs were snapped up by imaginative kids.
The company lasted until 1977. By then part of Nabisco Corporation, Aurora had been limping along for years, its sales steadily declining for various reasons. The main reason, however, was simply that kids weren't building models in the numbers they had during the previous two decades. Nabisco basically broke up the company and sold the pieces.
Thankfully, Aurora's models have not disappeared for good. Not only do many kits (built and unbuilt) still survive, untouched by the hoary hand of time, but companies such as Polar Lights and Revell-Monogram (formed by the joining of two separate model giants) have re-issued popular kits from the Aurora catalog.
Today's collectors and builders can thus have their choice: purchase the original kits at collector prices, or (in most cases) find a modern reissue at a fraction of the vintage item's value. Either way, adults who thrilled at Aurora's imaginative model kits in their youth can reintroduce the hobby to their kids and grandkids - and the mystique surrounding the name of Aurora can live on.
AircraftWorld War IAirco SE-5A Albatross Albatross D-3 Albatross D-5 Barnstormers Customizing Kit* Breguet 14 DeHavilland DH-4 DeHavilland DH-10 Dogfight F2B Brisfit* Fokker D-7 Fokker D-8 Fokker Dr-1 Fokker E-3 Goth Gotha G-V Great Air Battles of World War I Halberstadt CL-II JN-4D Jenny Nieuport 11 Nieuport 28 Pfalz D-3 SE-5 Sopwith Camel* Sopwith Triplane Spad XIII Between the Wars Boeing F4B-4* Boeing P-12E Boeing P-26A Curtiss Hawk P-6E* Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver M-2 Mailplane Tiger Moth World War II AT-6 Texan* B17 Bomber Formation B-17 Flying Fortress* B-25 Mitchell B-26 Marauder Boeing B-29 Superfortress* Curtiss P-40 F4F Wildcat F6F Hellcat Foke Wulf GB-798 Giant Bomber Gift Set Gift Package 1 Gift Package 2 Gift Package 3 Jap Zero Messerschmidt ME-109 P-38 Lightning P-40 Flying Tiger P-47 Thunderbolt P-51 Mustang P-61 Black Widow PBY Catalina PBY-5 Catalina SNJ Trainer Spitfire Post War Military A-37 Strike Jet* A-7D Corsair II Avro CF-100* Avro Arrow CF-105 B-47 Stratojet B-58 Hustler Boeing B52 Stratofortress* Boeing KC-135 Jet Stratotanker* C-119 Flying Boxcar C-141 Starlifter Cessna T-37* Convair B-36 Giant Bomber* Convair B-58 Hustler Convair Vertical Riser XFY-1 Pogo Douglas F4D Skyray Douglass B-66 F-100 Super Sabre F-101 Voodoo F-102 Dart F-104 Starfighter F-105 Thunderchief F-107 Fighter Bomber* F3D Skynight F4 Phantom F4J Blue Angels F7U Cutlass F-85F Thunderstreak F-86D Sabre Jet F8U Crusader F-90 F9F Panther F9F-6 Cougar Famous Fighters 4-in-1 Kit Hiller X-18 KC-135 Lockheed F-94 Starfire Lockheed XFV-1 V.T.O. McDonnell Phantom 110 North American B-70 North American F-100 Super Sabre* Nortrhop N-156 Freedom Fighter Nuclear Powered Bomber Ryan X-13 Vertijet S2F Hunter Killer S2F-1 Temco TT-1 TFX F-111 A & B X15 Rocket Powered Plane* Yak-25/MiG-19 Helicopters Bell AH-1G Assault Copter* Bell UH-1B Huey HC-1B Chinook Hiller Hornet Ram Jet Kaman HOK Egg Beater Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne Piasecki H-21 Work Horse Piasecki H-25A Army Mule Sikorsky CH-54A Sky Crane Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant Sikorsky S-55 Wind Mill Civilian Aviation Aero Commander Aero Jet Commander Beechcraft Super 18 Cessna 310* Cessna Skymaster Piper Apache Piper Aztec C Piper Cherokee 180 Airliners Beoing 720B Western Beoing 737 United Beoing 747 Beoing 757 TWA Boeing 707 Boeing 720B Boeing 727 Boeing 737 Boeing 747 Convair 880 Convair 990 Jet Mainliner United Douglas DC-10 Douglas DC-8 Douglas DC-9 Russian TU-104 K & B Collectors Series Albatross C-III Boeing F4B4 Boeing P-26A Breguet 14A DeHavilland DH-10A Fokker E-3 Fokker E-5 Gotha G.V. Halberstadt CL-II Nieuport 28 Pfalz D-3 Sopwith Triplane ShipsHistoric Sailing ShipsArmed Command Junk Black Falcon Bon Homme Richard Buccaneer Sea Raider Chinese Junk Cutty Sark History in Miniature Privateer Corsair Roman Bireme Schooner Bluenose Sea Witch Sovereign of the Seas USS Constitution USS Hartford Viking Ship Wanderer Whaler Modern Ships Atlantis* Battleship USS Iowa German Battleship Bismarck German 'Wolfpack' U-Boat Graf Spee HMS King George V Japanese Sub I-19 Moscow Motorizing Kit for Nuclear USS Enterprise Naval Battles of World War II Russian Guided Missile Submarine SeaLab III SSN Nautilus (reissue) SSN Sea Wolf SSN Skipjack Tucumcari Hydrofoil U-156 German U-Boat US Navy Task Force USS Bennion USS Destroyer Bainbridge USS Enterprise (nuclear carrier; larger model) USS Enterprise USS Forrestal USS Guadalcanal USS Halford USS Independence USS Missouri USS Nautilus (Famous Fighters) USS New Jersey USS Saratoga USS St. Paul Wheeler Cruiser Yamato Rockets & MissilesBomarc IM-99IRBM Thor M8E2 Weapons Carrier & Ground Support Warhead Mace TM-76 Nike Hercules Regulus II* USAF Lunar Probe |
Figure KitsMonstersMovie Monsters Addams Family Haunted House Bride of Frankenstein Creature Customizing Monster Kit 1 Customizing Monster Kit 2 Dracula Dr. Jekyll as Mr. Hyde Forgotten Prisoner of Castel-Mare Frankenstein Gigantic Frankenstein Godzilla Hunchback of Notre Dame King Kong Mummy the Munsters Phantom of the Opera the Witch Wolfman Glow Monsters Creature> Dracula Dr. Jekyll as Mr. Hyde Forgotten Prisoner of Castel-Mare Frankenstein Godzilla Hunchback of Notre Dame King Kong Mummy Phantom of the Opera Witch Wolfman Monstermobiles Dracula's Dragster Frankenstein's Flivver Godzilla's Go Cart King Kong's Thronester Mummy's Chariot Wolf Man's Wagon Monster Scenes Dracula Dr. Deadly* Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Frankenstein Giant Insect Gruesome Goodies* Hanging Cage Pain Parlor the Pendulum Vampirella the Victim Monsters of the Movies Creature Dracula Dr. Jekyll Frankenstein Monster Ghidrah Mr. Hyde Rodan Wolfman Comic Book Super Heroes / Comic Scenes Batman Captain America Incredible Hulk Lone Ranger* Robin Spider-Man Superboy Superman* Tarzan* Tonto Wonder Woman Prehistoric Scenes Allosaurus Armored Dinosaur the Cave* Cave Bear Cro-Magnon Man Cro-Magnon Woman Flying Reptile Giant Bird Giant Woolly Mammoth Jungle Swamp Neanderthal Man Saber Tooth Tiger Sailback Reptile Spiked Dinosaur* Tar Pit Thre Horned Dinosaur Tyrannosaurus Rex Knights 3 Knights pack Black Knight fo Nurnberg Blue Knight of Milan Gold Knight of Nice King Arthur Red Knight of Vienna Richard I Silver Knight of Augsberg Sir Galahad Sir Kay Sir Lancelot Sir Percival Other Fighting Men 2 American Fighters Apache Warrior Aramis - 3 Musketeers* Athos - 3 Musketeers* Confederate Raider Crusader Gladiator with Sword Gladiator with Trident Porthos - 3 Musketeers Roman Gladiators Steve Canyon Three Musketeers United States Marine United States Sailor US Air Force Pilot US Army Infantryman US Marshal Viking Guys and Gals of All Nations Chinese Mandarin Chinese Girl Chinese Mandarin and Girl Dutch Boy Dutch Girl Dutch Boy and Girl Indian Chief Indian Squaw Indian Chief and Squaw Mexican Caballero Mexican Senorita Mexican Caballero and Senorita Scotch Lad Scotch Lassie Scotch Lad and Lassie Wildlife American Buffalo Big Horn Sheep Black Bear & Cubs* Black Fury Butterflies of the World 1 Butterflies of the World 2 Cougar Forged Foil Buffalo Forged Foil Cougar Forged Foil Stallion Thoroughbred Race Horse White Stallion White Tailed Deer Whoozis? Alfalfa Whoozis Denty Whoozis Esmerelda Whoozis Kitty Whoozis Snuffy Whoozis Susie Whoozis Other 1960's Figures Alfred E. Neuman, MAD American Astronaut Babe Ruth (Great Moments in Sport) Blackbeard Captain Action Captain Kidd D'Artagnan the Musketeer Dempsey-Firpo (Great Moments in Sport) Dick Tracy Doctor Dolittle - Pushmi-Pullyu Flag Raising at Iwo Jima* Frog (Castle Creature) George Washington Gladiator Good Shp Flounder from Dr. Dolittle Green Beret Guillotine Hercules and the Lion Ilya Kuryakin (The Man From UNCLE) James Bond 007 Jerry West (Great Moments in Sport) Jesse James Jimmy Brown (Great Moments in Sport) John F. Kennedy Johnny Unitas (Great Moments in Sport) Mad Barber (Canada) Mad Dentist (Canada) Mad Doctor (Canada) Napoleon Solo (The Man From UNCLE) Nutty Nose-Nipper Machine Odd Job Penguin Spartacus Vampire (Castle Creature) Wacky Back-Whacker Machine Willie Mays (Great Moments in Sport) Zorro (Walt Disney) SciFi-TV-MovieNuclear AirlinerPan Am Space Clipper: 2001 Ragnarok Orbital Interceptor Space Shuttle Orion Seaview from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Land of the Giants Spaceship Nuclear Submarine Seaview Flying Sub Rocket Transport Spindrift Flying Saucer the Robot from Lost In Space* Lost In Space* (giant Cyclops) Batmobile Batplane Green Hornet Black Beauty Batcycle Batboat UFO from The Invaders Land of the Giants* (giant snake) Dick Tracy Space Coupe Chitty Chitty Bang Bang* Moon Bus Voyager Archie's Car (1/25 Scale) Banana Buggy (1/25 Scale) Mod Squad Station Wagon (1/25 Scale)* |
Cars & Trucks1/64 Trucks5,000 Gallon Milk Truck 5,000 Gallon Gasoline Trailer Truck 40 Ton Trailer with Power Shovel 20 Ton Van Trailer US Army Supply Depot Trailer US Army 5,000 Gallon Fuel Transporter US Army Engineers Power Shovel and Transporter 1/30 Ex-Best Cars Fuel Injection Special 1953-54 Gilmore Special 1935 Maserati Special 1940 Miller Special 1931 Monroe Special 1920 Murphy Special 1922 1/32 Cars and Hot Rods 1912 T Truck '21 T Coupe '22 T Sedan '24 Buick Get Away '24 Buick Touring '28 Chevy Roadster '29 Ford Woodie '32 Ford Pickup '32 Ford Sedan '32 Skid-Doo, Ford '39 La Salle Hearse (with a Curse) Alfa Romeo American LaFrance 900 Pumper (firetruck) Austin-Healey 3000 Baja Boot Beatnik Box, 1929 Ford Pick Up Black Beard's Tub (Scene Machine, 1970) Boob Tube (Scene Machine, 1970) Butterfly Catcher (Scene Machine, 1970) Charger, 1923 Ford T Rod Chevy Custom Pick-Up Chevy Monza GT* Chevy Monza SS Chevy-Chaparral Cobra GT Coupe* Corvair Corsa Corvette Cunningham* Cunningham Phantom Customizing Kit Customized Alfa Romeo Customized Austin Healey Customized Corvette Customized T-Bird Demolition Demon Drop Out Bus (Scene Machine, 1970) Dune Buggy Ferrari America Ferrari Sportster Fiat Abarth Ford GT Ford Mustang Fastback Hemi Under Glass Hi Stepper, '22 Ford Hot Surfer, 1930 Ford Fire Engine Jag Hellcat Customizing Kit Jaguar Jaguar XK-120 Lola T-70 Mako Shark Meat Wagon, 1937 Packard Ambulance Mercedes Benz 300SL Mercedes Customizing Kit Mercury Comet MG MG Bullet Customizing Kit MG TD Moody Monster, 1928 Chevy Mustang Old Ironsides Peppermint Fuzz (Scene Machine, 1970) Plymouth Barracuda Pontiac GTO Porsche Carrera Ram Rod, 1932 Ford Road Raider, 1929 Ford Touring Rover BRM Sad Sack, 1927 Model T Ford Scat Cat, 1934 Ford Rolls Shiftin Drifter, 1927 Ford Show Trailer Snap Dragin, 1927 Ford T Coupe Spyder, Ford T Dragster Sunbeam Tiger T Dragster T For Two, 1921 Ford Teepee T (Scene Machine, 1970) Thunderbird Tiger Shark Customizing Kit Triumph Spitfire Triumph TR-3 Triumph Wildcat Customizing Kit Wolf Wagon, 1929 Ford A Pick Up Woodin Wagon, 1930 Ford Wurst, The (Scene Machine, 1970) XKE Gran Turismo 1/25 Cars '34 Ford Stock and Street Rod Aston-Martin DB-4 Aston-Martin Super Spy Car Chaparral Lightning Chevy Chaparral Double Deuce '22 Ford Ferrari Berlinetta Ferrari Scorpion Ford GT Ford GT Flying Tiger Maserati 3500 GT Porsche 904 GT Porsche Messerschmidt Studebaker Avanti Undertaker Dragster XKE Jag XKE Jag Convertible XKE Jag Spitfire Ford 427 Engine Customizing Automobile Parts 1/16 Old Timers & American Classics Buick Bug Curved Dash Olds Mercer Raceabout Rambler Stanley Steamer Stutz Bearcat 1903 Rambler Model E 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout 1909 Stanley Steamer Model E2 Runabout 1911 Buick Model 13 Roadster 1913 Mercer Type 35J Raceabout 1/16 Racing Scenes Chrysler 392 Fuel Injected Engine Donovan 417 Blown Engine Four Funny Car Drivers Funny Car Chassis Pinto Funny Car Body and Custom Painters Racing Mechanic with Tools & Equipment Racing Speed Shop Super Scale Pinto Funny Car Super Scale Vega Funny Car Vega Funny Car Body and Custom Painters Motorized Cars Customized Motorized Pontiac Leapin Lena (Go Toys) Motorized 1932 Ford Hot Rod Pontiac Fireball Military Vehicles1st Series, 1956-69155MM Long Tom 3 Army Tanks 8 Inch Howitzer British Centurion British Churchill Tank Japanese Medium Tank M109 Howitzer Tank M-46 Patton M8 Munitions Carrier M8 Munitions Carrier and 8" Howitzer Panther Stalin Tank Swedish 'S' Tank Tiger Tank* US Sherman Tank 2nd Series, 1970-75 155MM Long Tom Gun Centurion Tank Churchill Tank Howitzer Tank MBT-70 Main Battle Tank Medium Tank Munitions Carrier Munitions Carrier and 8" Howitzer Panther Tank Patton Tank Sherman Tank Stalin Tank Swedish 'S' Tank Tiger Tank 3rd Series, 1976-77 Centurion V JS-III Stalin King Tiger M-109 S. P. Howitzer M-46 Patton M4A3E8 Sherman M8E2 Munitions Carrier MBT-70 Pzkpfw. V Panther A Type 97 Chi-Ha Diorama Kits Anzio Beach Rat Patrol Phota-Scope Stalin Tank Tiger Tank Other Aurora ItemsAlaskan Totem CraftAquarium Camelot figurines Mannlicker Rifle NFL Miniatures Oz-Kins figurines Savage 99 Rifle Tarzan King of the Jungle figurines Totem Craft Winchester 94 Rifle HO-Scale Buildings Church Colonial House Joe's Diner Model Tree Kit Railroad Station Ranch House School House Model Motoring Curved Bleachers Doubel Station Pit Stop Grandstand HO-Gas Station Judges Stand Start-Finish Pylons Snaparoos Antarctic Explorers Big Hooks Explorers of Space Grand Prix Racers Harbor Fleet Heavy Movers Historical Transportation Jet Liners Light Aircraft Old Time Cars Old Timers World of Ships |
