ismaelg Posted July 12 Posted July 12 Hello, This will be a very long term project. I was able to hunt down a kind of reasonably-priced built Aurora 1920 Monroe Special. Pictures from the ebay listing: Nicely built by the way. While I had the intention to disassemble and repaint/rebuild, it seems the postal service wanted to help. Despite been carefully packed, this is what I got. So this will be a long term project. Thanks, Ismael 1 3
ismaelg Posted July 12 Author Posted July 12 Hello, Using the freezer trick I was able to disassemble most of it.  The bag on the right contains the broken parts from the rough mail ride.  It will be a challenge to fix but I will take a crack at it because the other alternatives are triple digit money. I'm cheap 🙂 The kit's wheels would require a lot of work to get to barely adequate but still oversized. Any suggestions for a good 3D print period wire wheel/tire file?  I have plans for several vintage racers and I will need a few period wire wheel sets. Thanks, Ismael
ismaelg Posted July 12 Author Posted July 12 Hello, Let the repairs begin! One of these was fine, the other was broken in 3 pieces. Thanks, Ismael 1
RancheroSteve Posted July 12 Posted July 12 I've had this one around for years. It actually came with another built-up that I purchased on eBay (a Falcon, I think). Neither the seller nor myself knew what it was and it took me a while to figure it out. I never considered it as particularly rare or valuable, maybe until just now, ha. Missing the steering wheel, but otherwise apparently complete. It just sits on a shelf with some other built-ups and future projects as I never have figured out what I should do with it. Restore or use as the basis for an unusual hot rod/special? In any case, I will be watching your re-build with interest. Â Â
ismaelg Posted July 12 Author Posted July 12 Hello, These have a unique story. The series is of 6 cars. They are all around 1/30 scale. They were made by the Best Plastic Company in 1954. In 1957 Aurora bought the molds. From what I have read, Aurora was involved with them on this project from the start. Aurora re-launched these in 1958 and discontinued them in 1963 never to be seen again. No idea if the molds still exist but I doubt it. Very simple kits and "crude" by 1963 standard sealed their demise. The series was created with the help of 3 time Indy winner Wilbur Shaw who was the President of the Indianapolis motor Speedway after WW2. The cars were the Indy 500 winners of 1920, 1922, 1931, 1935, 1949 and 1953. I have this one(1920) and the 1922 and 1931 are in transit. These kits are getting expensive so I am getting built glue bombs to restore. Missing and broken parts are unavoidable as these are at least 62+ years old. Thanks, Ismael 2 1
Big John Posted July 12 Posted July 12 Looks like a fun project even in 1/30ish scale. I figure you are already headed in this direction but there was some discussion at this past NNL West about how most of these kits are pretty accurate but are definitely helped with proper scale wire wheels. 2
MAGIC MUFFLER Posted July 15 Posted July 15 (edited)  I just sold these 3 kits and they were MINT inside. Had them about 25 years - sold them for approx $60 each. Edited July 15 by MAGIC MUFFLER 1
ismaelg Posted Monday at 05:29 PM Author Posted Monday at 05:29 PM Sweet! I'm looking for the 1931 to complete all 6! But all of mine are "gluebombs" to be restored.
absmiami Posted Monday at 05:55 PM Posted Monday at 05:55 PM Thing 1  -  consider a set of early Mercedes GP wire wheels fr FPP - the resin castor in Portugal - thing II - the rims are large enough to consider hand made wire wheels - and you’re a good enough builder to tackle this …
ismaelg Posted Monday at 06:23 PM Author Posted Monday at 06:23 PM Hello, I was considering that option 1 (FPP wire wheels), but been 5 cars (1920, 1922, 1931, 1935 and 1940) that can get pretty expensive. The 1953 has other type wheels.  Looking at alternatives, including doing my own but I'd like to find a suitable 3D offering. Thanks, Ismael
ismaelg Posted Monday at 07:06 PM Author Posted Monday at 07:06 PM Hello, This project is missing an important part. Seems like an angled wind deflector or something, but it is not a glass windshield.  It looks like unpainted metal in some photos of the era but it was body color during the race. This picture is from another track but you get the idea. Anyways I could either spend a lot of money on another kit, or make my own.  I'm cheap. That's why I got the gluebombs instead of the pristine kits.  You know where I'm going. I made a paper template. Actually a few.  Fooled around with it for a while until it was in the ballpark of what I was looking for.  Then it graduated to a masking tape template, then an index card template. Eventually it made it into a styrene template. Still oversize, but slowly getting there. The body will be stripped next. Thanks, Ismael
Big John Posted Tuesday at 07:28 PM Posted Tuesday at 07:28 PM (edited) Clear 'Wind Shields' were not common on Indy cars, with a few exception, until the 40s on and them mostly small rectangles ala most Millers,Blue Crowns and Maserati. Gaston Chevrolet used a metal deflector where Tommy Milton's 1921 winning Frontenac had no deflector. I believe, and may be wrong, but the Aurora cars are roughly 1/32 scale so FFP wheels wouldn't work. Edited Tuesday at 07:29 PM by Big John
ismaelg Posted Tuesday at 08:35 PM Author Posted Tuesday at 08:35 PM The Aurora cars are about 1/30 but the tires are more like 1/24. That's why they are out of proportions. I'm working on an article about this series of models. Stay tuned...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now