From the Atlantis site re: Aurora molds

[Reegs]

https://atlantis-models.com/blog/the-aurora-molds-urban-legends/

[Raoul Ross]

That is a refreshingly honest letter... Thanx!

[Mr. Metallic]

I think maybe the title of this thread should be changed because there's more info in that blog post than just concerning Aurora molds.

I thought these two paragraphs were VERY important to the history of the hobby. Although this does add confusion to what the new owners of Revell/Monogram kept that was stored in Illinois and what was let go to Atlantis and Salvinos JR. It's no longer a cut and dry blanket statement that "whatever was in Illinois was sold"

"Throughout the period from 1991 through the closure of Revell in 2018, ownership and management changed... but, one constant was the Product Manager. This person worked with several firms that purchased bagged assembly items from the overall Revell mold inventory. Following the purchase of Revell assets in the USA and Germany, "interests” for the German buyers specified molds held in China and the USA that they wished to retain for future production. There were a number that were not selected and those were set aside to be scrapped. Knowing that this would lead to a number of vintage mold sets from Monogram, Revell, Aurora, and Renwal disposed of for material value only. Revell product manager Ed Sexton saw the value in selling a quantity of the remaining molds to a viable buyer; Atlantis Toy and Hobby inc. Located on Long island New York. Fortunately, these principals saw potential in future production from most of the molds scheduled for destruction and a business "deal" was negotiated. Those that remained were transferred to Atlantis; a major undertaking all its own.

The past 3 years has seen the limited production of vintage kits that had not been produced in years. If you appreciate what Atlantis is creating, support them with purchases! We need to thank Ed Sexton along with the cooperation of Lou Aguilera, President of Carrera Revell of Americas, Inc. that a "quick sale" to a junk dealer did not happen. While Ed worked with principals at Atlantis Models, Lou negotiated with the new German owners to achieve an acceptable solution. Their foresight to find a small firm that was (and is) committed to work hard to survive in a very different hobby market is not only laudable, but provides future kits releases from vintage molds that otherwise would have been lost. Atlantis co owners Peter Vetri and Rick Delfavero are taking on a massive challenge that goes way beyond what you see when a new Atlantis kit makes its way to a retail shelf."

thanks for sharing this  @Reegs, but maybe a title change would be beneficial to convey what is actually contained in that blog post

[Dave Van]

Pretty much what I had been told by a Monogram and then Revell long time employee.  

We owe Ed Sexton and Atlantis a thanks

[Daddyfink]

Other than was is the "latest" info, most of this has already been learned. We know about the wreck, the damaged molds, Monogram getting rid of things and molds just disappearing into some cave. 

And in the end the message is basically, don't ask about what we have. 

Thanks to Ed Sexton for saving what he could. 

 

[Casey]

 

[Oldcarfan27]

My heart sinks at what "could've been".

I'm glad they all collaborated to save those molds.

Many aren't my cup o' tea, but I'm still glad they exist! As it is, we've lost too many over the years.

[niteowl7710]

One thing that isn't in that post, but that Pete has shared publicly a few times including on at least one modeling podcast after Vegas is that Atlantis tried to buy the entirety of Revell during the Bankruptcy Auction, but couldn't come up with the necessary capital in short order with Quantum having cash on hand to make the purchase.

So the sale of the Scratch & Dent Revell tools to them a few months later wasn't so much of a miraculous occurrence as it was two old friends striking a deal that made everyone happy. Also Pete has mentioned that it was an all or nothing, sight unseen, take it or leave it proposition. Anything that needs chrome as part of the kit is still being stored somewhere in Chicagoland because that's where the plater is located, and there's no where on Long Island or around the NYC Metro that does that type of thing according to them.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Everyone wins on this. I'm sure the new Revell got more than scrap value, Atlantis got some neat kits, and we get to by them. Its great that Ed Sexton went the extra mile on this. .

[Mr. Metallic]

On 3/30/2022 at 7:04 AM, Mr. Metallic said:

Following the purchase of Revell assets in the USA and Germany, "interests” for the German buyers specified molds held in China and the USA that they wished to retain for future production

 

23 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Also Pete has mentioned that it was an all or nothing, sight unseen, take it or leave it proposition. 

Not sure if you are privy, or are able to comment. But now I'm confused again. Did Atlantis purchase EVERYTHING that was stored in Illinois, or did Quantum keep some of the tooling? 

[niteowl7710]

1 hour ago, Mr. Metallic said:

 

Not sure if you are privy, or are able to comment. But now I'm confused again. Did Atlantis purchase EVERYTHING that was stored in Illinois, or did Quantum keep some of the tooling? 

Revell kept what they wanted and wholesaled the rest. Revell kept things like the 1st Gen RX-7, '80 Ramcharger, and Chevy LUV. Obviously as Atlantis releases stuff you get an idea as to what they have (minus all the 80s/90s NASCAR stuff they sold onto Salvinos J R).  However there will never be a public list from either as to what Revell kept and/or Atlantis received.

Edited April 1, 2022 by niteowl7710

[Mr. Metallic]

2 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Revell kept what they wanted and wholesaled the rest. Revell kept things like the 1st Gen RX-7, '80 Ramcharger, and Chevy LUV. Obviously as Atlantis releases stuff you get an idea as to what they have (minus all the 80s/90s NASCAR stuff they sold onto Salvinos J R).  However there will never be a public list from either as to what Revell kept and/or Atlantis received.

Oh, i completely understand there never being a list released to the public of what was purchased. But since the sale the easiest rule of thumb to follow has been, if the last release has China on the box, Quantum owns it. If the last release was produced in the US then there is a likelihood that Atlantis (and by extension, Salvinos) probably ended up with that tooling. But I guess we can no longer follow that line of thinking.

It was just easier to tell the folks that say "I hope Atlantis has so-and-so tooling' to say "nope, last release was in China so Revell still has it" or "Last release was in the US, so there's hope Atlantis got it" it's no longer that cut and dry.

Thanks for the reply

[Slappylimper]

One thing about this thread regarding what is/isn't left from Aurora is that Atlantis has reissued several military subjects that "insiders" at Monogram and Revell had insisted were gone forever. To name but 2 the Cheyenne and Hup helicopters were oft-requested models not available since the 1960s which had been inquired about for private runs. The response was always "no longer exists" and lo and behold here they are. One would assume based on that there may be a surprise or 2 in the vault. The 1/32 Monogram glue cars like the '71 T/A, Nova and 1982 Z28 have been off the market almost 40 years. Guessing not many saw those coming. 

[kurth]

I guess the logic we can apply is that if it was last molded in China, Atlantis can not have it.   

There are many Monogram and Revell kits that I wonder if still exist, which have not been reissued in a very long time.  We will just have to wait and see.