Battle Aces of the Road

[unclescott58]

Here's a series of Aurora model kits I did not know of at the time they were originally out. Years later I found out about them, and have been kind semi lusting for them ever since. Not really enough to pursue them. But, if I could find them at right price. Maybe. 

Any how, I'd like to see what other know of these kits. Has any built them? Does anybody have them in their collections today? It would be great to see what they look like. 

Below are copies of box art from the net that I could find on the series. I assume this is it. Or were there more? 

 

[unclescott58]

And this one. 

 

[vamach1]

1 minute ago, unclescott58 said:

And this one. 

 

The side windows are wonky but I have seen worse ones (LS kit).

[DonW]

I notice they all have 'high compression' engines!

Funny thing to put on the box.

Thanks for sharing these.

[Matt Bacon]

I assume they are all the Aurora kits that later ended up in Monogram boxes. Maybe they hoped the fantasy camo schemes would distract people from the goofy shapes... certainly in the case of the 250 GTO and E-type...

best,

M.

[Mike999]

3 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

I assume they are all the Aurora kits that later ended up in Monogram boxes. Maybe they hoped the fantasy camo schemes would distract people from the goofy shapes... certainly in the case of the 250 GTO and E-type...

That's exactly what they are.  The 1/25 scale Aurora kits originally issued in 1962-63, re-released later as the "Battle Aces."  Then re-issued by Monogram in the late 1970s.

It looks like one of the Aurora 1/25 kits didn't get the "Battle Aces" treatment, and AFAIK was never re-issued after its original run:  the Studebaker Avanti.  Like all original Aurora kits, it had really eye-catching box art.  I wonder if this was one of the molds lost in the Famous Train Wreck.  Or if Aurora, and maybe then Monogram, just decided it wouldn't be popular enough to re-issue and junked the molds or something.

[unclescott58]

56 minutes ago, vamach1 said:

The side windows are wonky but I have seen worse ones (LS kit).

Yea, I'm familiar the Aurora Ford GT kit. I too have one. I'm wondering what it looked like with the Battle Aces of the Road decals on it? This goes true for the other Aurora kits in this series. We know what the basic kits look like. What do they look when built in series? 

And that's not to discount the nice job you did on yours Rex. It looks good. 

[DonW]

1 hour ago, Matt Bacon said:

I assume they are all the Aurora kits that later ended up in Monogram boxes. Maybe they hoped the fantasy camo schemes would distract people from the goofy shapes... certainly in the case of the 250 GTO and E-type...

best,

M.

Frankly the rest of them aren't all that special either. And in questionable taste some would say!

But there is something oddly appealing about them to me,  in a morbidly curious way.

[Oldcarfan27]

I get the corollation between the cars' origin and the decals.

But Japanese markings on an American Ford? 

[keyser]

1 hour ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

I get the corollation between the cars' origin and the decals.

But Japanese markings on an American Ford? 

Edited April 22, 2020 by keyser

[Oldcarfan27]

You're absolutely right, my bad.

I misread the pictures.

Guess it's my PTSD kickin' in.

[hpiguy]

Those are super cool.

I'd like them with their decals.

Maybe Atlantis will dig these up from the molds if they still exist.