Survivor Resto: Auroragram Aston-Martin DB4

[Snake45]

I got this at an estate sale in the early ‘90s among a dozen or so other goodies from the ‘80s-early ‘90s. I assume it’s the Monogram reissue of the ancient Aurora kit. It's been in a box in the depths of the Snakepit ever since, never seeing the light of day. Recently got in the mood to dig it out and restore it.

I thought all it would need was cleaning, some detailing, and maybe a coat of hand-brushed Future for a little shine. A detailed look at it told a different story. For example, look at the “Before” pics below. What’s the first thing you see? I’ll bet you said the glue smear on the windshield. And it’s on the INSIDE, too.

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So the thing had to come apart. Disassembly was definitely the most difficult step of this resto. First off, the body’s front and rear pans have to be installed AFTER the chassis is in place, so I had to carefully remove those. And then I couldn’t figure out how to get the body off. It didn’t seem to be glued anywhere I could see (the body sides could be pulled away from the chassis), and yet it wouldn’t budge at all. I finally figured out that it was glued at the firewall/dashboard, and was able to get a tool in through the hood opening and pry that joint loose.

That done, I carefully persuaded the windshield (which had been installed with tube glue) to turn loose, and was then able to even more carefully polish out the glue booger. I was lucky this was built with ‘80s-‘90s “safe” tube glue—the old ‘60s stuff would have penetrated the clear plastic and ruined it to the core. This glass was also noticeably thinner than typical model car glass, too, just to make it even more challenging. But as you’ll see, I was able to get it all out of there. I reinstalled the windshield with Tacky Glue.

I decided the body paint wasn’t worth trying to improve, even with Future, so just left it alone (apart from a good soapwater cleaning).

Reassembly was almost as difficult as disassembly.  I discovered that these old Aurora kits (or at least this one) are so brilliantly engineered that they fit together like a Chinese puzzle (or a Ruger .22 automatic pistol)—there’s only ONE way to do it right, and it might take you some time to find it, but when you do, everything just clicks right into place and no glue is needed to hold it all together.

Body back on chassis, I reinstalled the front and rear pans and bumpers with Tacky Glue (the bumpers mainly hide the joints), then blackwashed the grille and touched up the painted taillights. Done! The opening doors even work on this one, and pretty well, too.

At some point I might get in the mood to completely disassemble the thing and strip the body, do the necessary bodywork (mold line removal and sinkhole filling), and repaint it, but for the moment, I’m happy to have it back in shelfworthy shape.

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[PARTSMARTY]

Real nice save Snake !!!

[TooOld]

Great save Snake !  I butchered this kit as a kid and have always wanted to get another one but they're a bit pricey .  Would be cool to find a gluebomb and try a restoration like you have done ! 

[bbowser]

Nice work.  I have one in the stash, nice to know it'll be a challenge 

[MAGIC MUFFLER]

Disassembly and reassembly is always tough.  You did a great job and have patience!!  I have the same kit that has been put away for a decade or so.  I remember it was a tough kit to build too.

[Hmann68]

Cleaned up nicely! Good job 

[Snake45]

Nice work.  I have one in the stash, nice to know it'll be a challenge 

I'm not sure a new build from this kit would be THAT big a challenge. I don't think the guy who built this one was a master modeler, and HE got it together--with the doors working, no less. A few more pieces than the typical AMTVell kit, maybe, but it looks like everything fits pretty well. The real challenge in this one was getting it apart, then getting the windshield out and polishing it on the inside, all without breaking it.

I'd happily take on a build of this from a mint kit.

[Curt]

It looks good, Snake.  Love seein' old plastic renewed...

[Snake45]

Great save Snake !  I butchered this kit as a kid and have always wanted to get another one but they're a bit pricey .  Would be cool to find a gluebomb and try a restoration like you have done ! 

Revell should reissue this one. Isn't it about time? And didn't they have a Maseratti in the same line? If they came around again, I'd buy one of each and give them a go.

I have the Jag and the Ford GT40 from the same series, but no particular urge to build either at this particular time.

[XJ6]

That is one Heck of a Job you put into that Aston-Martin DB4 Very nice work