I'll begin my more detailed look at the Aurora Man From U.N.C.L.E. kits, with model number 411 Napoleon Solo. It was only listed in the 1966-68 Aurora catalogues, and has never been re-issued.
Robert Vaughn (1932-2016) played U.N.C.L.E. agent Napoleon Solo. Inside U.N.C.L.E. headquarters he wore a badge with the number 11 on it.
I have just realised that the Aurora kit numbers incorporate these badge numbers. Nice touch, Aurora.
Aurora kit number 411 depicted Solo leaping over a wall, in to an enemy compound. The base interlocked with kit number 412 to form a large two-figure diorama.
According to the Aurora catalogues, which can be found on the Box Art Den site, the dimensions of the assembled Napoleon Solo model were: height 8 inches, depth 4 7/8 inches (I think - it was a little hard to read), and width 8 inches. No scale is given.
There were 24 parts in the box: 15 for the figure itself, and 9 for the base. The head and body, along with each arm and leg, comprised front and rear halves. The hands were separate, as was the gun he was carrying.
MFU was famous for its strange guns, and the one Solo has in his right hand is a pistol that has been fitted with a shoulder stock, extended magazine, silencer, and telescopic sight. Standard issue for U.N.C.L.E. agents.
The base comprises a wall, and a section of lawn, with a piece of trellis, various plants, and a nameplate. The rear of the wall has copyright notices for both Aurora Plastics Corp., 1966, and M.G.M., Inc, MCMLXVI.
The kits were moulded in a light fawn/pinkish plastic (flesh tone ?), but this does vary in photos. This could be due to different colour plastics being used, or just the lighting.
The box was of heavy cardboard construction, with a lift-off lid. The printed paper wrap was glued to the lid.
Strangely, the subject of the kit is barely mentioned on the box top, but the series title is prominent on both U.N.C.L.E. kits. Below this is three lines of fine print 'All plastic assembly kit consists of Napoleon Solo and Dimensional Background. This kit can interlock with Illya Kuryakin assembly kit to form large action scene'.
There is more information around the edges of the box, such as Kit No.411-98 (the suffix being the retail price), copyright notices, and 1966 dates. Made in U.S.A.
The instruction sheets were fairly simple, with Stage 1 covering assembly of the figure, and Stage 2 the base. Builders were advised to 'use only...Aurora's fireproof styrene plastic cement' and Speed-Dry Enamel paints.
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The last four photographs show a Canadian issue kit, from Aurora Plastics Canada Ltd. The box top states that French language instructions are included, and the sides say Made in Canada, while the -130 suffix is the Canadian retail price.
The instruction sheet is completely different, although the assembly drawings are the same. As promised, the instructions are in both English and French.
12 photographs from Worthpoint.
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Glorious piece of plastic model history! I always liked the little dioramas that came with the Aurora kits - I recall especially enjoying the little wrecked Tokyo with Godzilla, and the laboratory set for Dr. Zius (sic?) from Planet of the Apes. It would have been a blast to really paint those walls for the MFU kits...
ReplyDeleteThank you. I would love a chance to build these kits if they were ever re-issued by Atlantis, or someone - if the moulds still exist. I totally agree on the bases, and the fact that the two MFU kits join together to form a single large scene is a very nice touch.
ReplyDeleteThe only large scale figure kit I have ever built was the Atlantis, ex-Revell, Angel Fink kit, and that was fun.
What a fab classic Paul. A great write up. Do we know if the box artist was James Bama like the monster kits were?
ReplyDeleteYes we do! And, no it was Mort Kunstler! Thanks Mr Google!
Deletehttps://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/original-art/original-pair-of-the-man-from-uncle-aurora-model-kit-box-art-by-mort-kunstler/a/7245-89059.s
A fine review of fantastic plastic. I do look forward to your model reviews, Paul.
ReplyDeleteTony k
ReplyDeleteThank you. Part 3, on the Illya Kuryakin figure, still to come.
ReplyDeleteA nice piece of detective work, Lewis. That item even shows the signatures on the artwork.
Mort Kunstler? What a name. Mort means dead. Kunstler means artist in German. Dead artist! A fine painter though is Mort, up there with Bama.
ReplyDelete