Another popular Green Hornet collectable was the 1/32 scale
plastic kit of the Black Beauty produced by Aurora Plastics in 1966. Polar Lights, using the same tooling
re-released the same kit in 1998.
Aurora had a direct involvement in the TV series, as the
company built the smaller scale models of Britt Reid’s everyday Chrysler 300
convertible and The Black Beauty for the sequence showing Reid’s garage floor
revolving revealing the Green Hornet’s sedan underneath. This work was done in exchange for the licencing
rights for the kit of The Black Beauty.
The model is a fairly simple build. I started by lightly
sanding the body with a very fine sandpaper prior to priming. The edge of the rubber
tyres also needed a sanding too. As the kit is 99% black, I sprayed everything
on the sprues for ease, and brushed a dark wash on the chrome parts to tone
them down.
I added some detail to the dashboard, and the rear
compartment, but to be honest you can’t really see much inside once everything
is put together. It would have been nice
if Aurora (or Polar Lights) had included figures, but considering the scale is
1/32 I don’t suppose it would be too hard to make up a couple of custom ones.
The front lights are a bane of contention as the kit uses
the standard white single lenses on each side ( as seen on some publicity
photos), rather than the twin infra-green type each side which are generally
seen on screen. Although, as the lights are supposed to revolve depending on
which type are needed it’s not technically wrong, it’s just that the
infra-green type look better.
The chrome wheel hubs are something else which loses out in
the accuracy stakes. Using the dark wash helps to highlight some of the detail,
but it’s still a long way from the hubs seen on screen.
The model features protruding radiator grill gas gun,
extended rear laser, and banks of missiles front and back, which are all
permanent fixtures.
Overall, despite the model’s shortcomings I'm happy with it
as a display model, although I think a scale of 1/25 would have been a better
size.
There's very little difference between the Aurora and Polar Lights boxes.
A sixties ad for the Aurora kit.
The previous 5 posts on The Green Hornet:
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-1.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-2-tv-series.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-3-rise-of-bruce.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-4-tv-tornado.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-5-corgi-black.html
The previous 5 posts on The Green Hornet:
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-1.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-2-tv-series.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-3-rise-of-bruce.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-4-tv-tornado.html
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-green-hornet-part-5-corgi-black.html
I read your article with great interest and noticed it is titled, "GREEN HORNET PART 6" Where might I find articles 1-5? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. I've now added links to the previous posts for you and anyone else who might be interested.
DeleteI see around twos coming out with the 125th scale Black beauty model kit next year
DeleteI like what you've done with the backdrop. You've set Britt's car in the mean streets of film noir. It works really well, Scoop :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony, I'm pleased you like it. I've seen some fine photos of the kit on other sites, but I just wanted to do something a little bit different.
DeleteBeautiful stills Scoop! That's one gorgeous model you've made. It's rapidly becoming my favourite TV car thanks to your posts! Out of interest, do you know if Scalextric made a Black Beauty? I think there maybe a tin plate toy as well from Argentina or Brazil, maybe CHIBI or BICHI.
ReplyDeletehere's that tin Black Beauty but its by ASC of Japan and unlicensed.
Deletehttp://www.vectis.co.uk/AuctionImages/216/1484_l.jpg
Thanks Woodsy. The tin Black Beauty knock off is a bit like the South American Thrushbuster knock off, isn't it. It's obviously influenced by the Corgi toy - It would be nice to add it to the collection, though : D
DeleteAurora did a slot car of the Black Beauty in the sixties, and Polar Lights released something similar not long back, but I'm afraid I don't know if Scalextric ever did one.
Aurora, that's it Scoop. It must look great zooming down a slot car track chasing some bad guys!
DeleteNice job on the car I like the final top look and the whole car looks good 😊
DeleteNice model!
ReplyDeleteFor green lights, you could take Humbrol metallic green and just use the liquid, not the flaky sediment on the bottom of the tin if you don't shake it. You'll have a green varnish then, similar to the yellow used on 'golden' Spacex astronauts. Just try it on some sprue and see if you like it?
Best -- Paul
Nice idea Paul, it would probably work. The lights that come with the model aren't the proper twin infra green type unfortunately.
DeleteI have given the single ones a slight lime green tinge but as they're behind a piece of thick clear plastic it doesn't really show. If I make another one I might think about fitting LED's