It is now time to wrap up our look at the Aurora Man From U.N.C.L.E. kits, with model number 412 Illya Kuryakin. Again, this kit was only listed in the 1966-68 Aurora catalogues, and has never been re-issued.
The late David McCallum (1933-2023) played Russian agent Illya Kuryakin. Actually David McCallum was British.
Inside U.N.C.L.E. headquarters Illya wore a badge with the number 2 on it. This number was incorporated in to the Aurora kit number, which was No.412.
The kit has Kuryakin crouching on a path, behind a stone pillar with a lamp on top, having just climbed the wall behind him. With a pistol in his hand, he is providing cover for Napoleon Solo, who is following him in to the enemy lair.
The bases of the two kits could interlock, making a single large scene. A shrub in the Napoleon Solo kit could be used to hide the join in the wall.
Aurora do not mention what scale these kits are, but the catalogues do give the dimensions of the finished model. Height 6 inches, depth 5 1/4 inches, and width 8 1/2 inches.
The catalogues can be found on the excellent Box Art Den site.
There were 33 parts in the Illya Kuryakin kit - 13 for the figure itself, and 20 for the base, including a small nameplate. Most of the parts were for the various plants.
Once again, the head, body, arms, and legs were all in two pieces. This time the hands were part of the arms, as was the pistol, but there was a separate holster.
The back of the wall has copyright notices for both Aurora Plastics Corp., 1966, and M.G.M., Inc, MCMLXVI. The plastic was again a pinkish fawn colour, perhaps intended as a flesh tone.
The box was of the usual heavy cardboard construction, with a lift-off lid. The full-colour printed paper wrap was glued to the lid.
On both of the Aurora MFU kits, the name of the character is barely mentioned on the box top. Far more prominence is given to the series title: The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Below this are three lines of small print 'All plastic assembly kit consists of Illya Kuryakin and Dimensional Background. This kit can interlock with Napoleon Solo assembly kit to form large action scene'. The edges of the box give the kit number and price - Kit No.412-98, copyright notices for Aurora and M.G.M., 1966 dates, and Made in U.S.A.
The instruction sheet was again kept simple, as there were so few parts, but the name of the figure was given far more prominence. Stage 1 covered assembly of the figure, and Stage 2 the base.
The front page of the instructions promoted the use of Aurora brand cement and enamel paints. The back page had a photograph showing both of the MFU kits joined together.
The kit was also made and sold in Canada by Aurora Plastics Canada Ltd. These kits had revised instruction sheets with both English and French instructions, and slightly changed wording on the boxes.
Photographs from Worthpoint.
Is this a kit you had?
Paul Adams from New Zealand
Great article, Paul. These kits really bring back memories. Before the Japanese SF wave the hit the US circa 1968, I built every darn Aurora figure/monster kit I could get my hands on, although I don't recall buying the UNCLE ones.
ReplyDeleteYes, super research Paul and a fitting tribute to at least a small part of David McCallum's work.
ReplyDelete