Jump to content

1/400 USS Enterprise Aurora 1960's


gwb123
 Share

Recommended Posts

On a more modern thread, there is a discussion on of 1/200 scale versions of the USS MIssouri and USS Arizona. That got me pulling out my old photo album.

 

When I was a kid, I went through a phase of trying to build every US naval ship that was available.

 

Most of those were WWII vintage vessels, and I think I ended up with at least 4 Fletcher Class destroyers and at least three of the Iowa class battleships (all Revell). There were also various destroyer escorts, ice breakers, troop ships etc.

 

Back in the 1960's, it was difficult to find models of what were then more modern ships, other than nuclear submarines (which, given the Cold War, were made by every manufacturer out there.)

 

But there were models of the so called Nuclear Squadron, which probably only sailed a couple of times for publicity purposes. Revell made a decent version of the USS Long Beach, the guided missile cruiser. Aurora made a copy of the USS Bainbridge.

 

But the biggest prize of all was the 1/400 USS Enterprise from Aurora.

 

It was funny, because I generally avoided Aurora kits. I found their level of detail to usually be below Revell, Monogram or Renwall.

 

But as described below, this massive USS Enterprise exceeded their normal standards.

 

I found mine under the Christmas tree one year. I had never seen anything so big in plastic, and frankly I was overwhelmed. The flight deck was about 1/4 inch thick of solid plastic, and was attached to the hull by a screwdriver for heaven's sake! And an entire airwing of aircraft, all of which had to be detailed. As I recall the decal sheet had star and bar insignia for all of them! Even with small and nimble fingers these were a challenge to apply.

 

But I managed to put it together and it was the pride of my collection for years to come!

 

The box art is from:

 

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Boxart-Collection/AURORA/MILITARY-SHIPS/Aurora-USS-Enterprise-CVAN-65-60-s

 

Here's a description of one that recently sold on

 

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=18910&searchtext=enterprise

 

"Second issue dated 1961 with John Steel box artwork. Aurora pulled out all the stops on this model, and it had a very large tooling cost to match. The result is a nicely detailed model that is well-designed for actual operation in water. As a bonus, the first issue only had the flight deck pre-painted with black background and white lines (as per the box art) and is in excellent shape. The kit is over 33 inches long when assembled and is intended to be motorized. Very easy conversion to RC (remote control). Aurora sold a separate motorizing kit that contained the electric motors and other needed parts. This kit features four (5 bladed) props, stuffing boxes, dual operational rudders, color decals, waterline striping tape, moving elevators, twin Sea Sparrow launchers, deck tugs, plated display stand, detailed island structure with clear windows, large airwing with 40 aircraft including F-4 Phantom, F-8 Crusader, A-4 Skyhawk and two Hup (?) Helicopters and more."

 

Apparently this was later reissued by Monogram, and then Revell as late as 2007. I have no idea if the later models included the pre-painted deck.

 

http://www.scalemates.com/products/product.php?id=111617

 

If this is still out there, there is a great temptation to build another. As I write this, there is one up for sale on eBay. But I have no idea where I would ever store this thing once completed.

 

Sadly, the last word I have on my original model is that it was consigned to a church fund raising sale.

 

I only hope that the kid who took it home enjoyed it as much as I did.

USS Enterprise.jpg

USS Enterprise box top.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As a side note, it is funny what your memory does over time. I remember the box art, but I would swear the Enterprise was headed the other direction, from right to left.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Holy cannoli! NOW I do understand your comment about the 1:200 surrender scene figures! What a monster kit! I Being a kid I built some 1:750 model ships as well, Bismarck, Hood, Missouri, you know, but quit very fast.... I truly understand your feelings, finding such a kit under the christmas tree, wow.

Of course your thread spured me to do some more online research. I wasn't even aware of the larger Tamiya 1:350 (!) Enterprise kit. Also found a clip on youtube showing the RC version "by sea". Great kit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gil

I recall that kit.The local Woolworth store 25 miles away carried it.They were one of the only stores that had an aisle dedicated to models.Had a large selection of Aurora, Revell, Monogram and Lindbergh.It was the first section of the store I would head to and would look at all the art work on the boxes.My parents always knew where to find me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blue shag carpeting from that same era made for a great ocean for those ships to sail on too! My fleet had all four of the Iowa class BBs, the Arizona, WW2 Yorktown, Hornet and Enterprise. Fletcher and Pine Island seaplane tender. Add the modern Saratoga, Wasp and Lexington and the adventures were endless :)

 

Good memories. Thanks for triggering that trip back in time :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blue shag carpeting from that same era made for a great ocean for those ships to sail on too! My fleet had all four of the Iowa class BBs, the Arizona, WW2 Yorktown, Hornet and Enterprise. Fletcher and Pine Island seaplane tender. Add the modern Saratoga, Wasp and Lexington and the adventures were endless :)

 

Good memories. Thanks for triggering that trip back in time :)

 

I didn't have blue shag carpeting, but like most kids my age, I would set my fleet to sale from time to time. Of course the scales were way off for the destroyers vs. the carrier and battleships. Unfortunately the flash made them all look like they had been caught in an Atomic blast!

 

I was inspired by all the modeling magazines to try photographing my fleet of ships and airplanes. After all, they all made it look so easy. This is how I learned that what you saw in the viewfinder did not always match your results.

 

And as far as unlikely scenarios... how about that USS Nautilus breaking through the polar ice to rendezvous with the Seaview (From Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea). Both were Aurora kits.

 

I did a little bit better with an overview of the icebreaker Eastwind (Revell) exploring some Arctic shoal. This was a nice kit as many of the parts came precolored.

 

Oh well... this is what models were for... to inspire young imaginations!

Fleet.jpg

Seaview and Nautilus close.jpg

USS Eastwind.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gil

I recall that kit.The local Woolworth store 25 miles away carried it.They were one of the only stores that had an aisle dedicated to models.Had a large selection of Aurora, Revell, Monogram and Lindbergh.It was the first section of the store I would head to and would look at all the art work on the boxes.My parents always knew where to find me.

 

Woolworth's had a good selection, but we also had a W.T. Grant with a good plastic model selection as well. My parents knew where I was as well. I spent hours looking at the box art. Many of these classic kits now sell for ridiculous prices as collectors items.

 

The best selection in town was at a Mom and Pop called "Pet and Hobby"... the unlikely combination of a pet store with a hobby shop. I actually went to school with the daughter of the couple that owned it. The business is long gone, but I can't drive past there without seeing the old store in my mind. (I believe it is a dress shop now!)

 

Modern stores pale in comparison.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I didn't have blue shag carpeting, but like most kids my age, I would set my fleet to sale from time to time. Of course the scales were way off for the destroyers vs. the carrier and battleships. Unfortunately the flash made them all look like they had been caught in an Atomic blast!

 

I was inspired by all the modeling magazines to try photographing my fleet of ships and airplanes. After all, they all made it look so easy. This is how I learned that what you saw in the viewfinder did not always match your results.

 

And as far as unlikely scenarios... how about that USS Nautilus breaking through the polar ice to rendezvous with the Seaview (From Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea). Both were Aurora kits.

 

I did a little bit better with an overview of the icebreaker Eastwind (Revell) exploring some Arctic shoal. This was a nice kit as many of the parts came precolored.

 

Oh well... this is what models were for... to inspire young imaginations!

 

Those images flashed me back again to the day I re-enacted Pearl Harbor in the basement wash tub. I was so caught up in how "realistic" it looked that I failed to notice that thick black smoke exiting the basement window as the Arizona went down. My mom however did not fail to notice and the repercussions of my dastardly sneak attack were remembered as a Day of Infamy in our house. Needless to say I lost the battle and then the war when my Dad got home and heard about it :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now that is funny!

 

I remember many of my friends went through a cherry bomb phase that resulted in the utter destruction of many a plastic model.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For a mere $90, you can purchase a new model of the USS Enterprise.

 

"Commemorating the 40-year anniversary of Task Force 1, the world's first nuclear-powered task force, of which the Enterprise was a member, this 1/700 scale, die cast Forces of Valor model of that vessel as she appeared off the coast of Afghanistan in 2001 features finely textured surfaces, a detailed island and mast, a realistic flight deck complete with F-14 and F/A-18 jets and SH-60 helicopters, side and ammunition elevators, intricate propellers, authentic markings, a display stand with a nameplate, and more. You even get crew figures to spell out the formula "E=mc²" and "x 40" on the flight deck. 19¼" long."

 

http://www.militaryissue.com/USS-Enterprise-CVN-65-1_700-Model/productinfo/M901258/#.VCAqHZiPIqU

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For a mere $90, you can purchase a new model of the USS Enterprise.

 

"Commemorating the 40-year anniversary of Task Force 1, the world's first nuclear-powered task force, of which the Enterprise was a member, this 1/700 scale, die cast Forces of Valor model of that vessel as she appeared off the coast of Afghanistan in 2001 features finely textured surfaces, a detailed island and mast, a realistic flight deck complete with F-14 and F/A-18 jets and SH-60 helicopters, side and ammunition elevators, intricate propellers, authentic markings, a display stand with a nameplate, and more. You even get crew figures to spell out the formula "E=mc²" and "x 40" on the flight deck. 19¼" long."

 

http://www.militaryissue.com/USS-Enterprise-CVN-65-1_700-Model/productinfo/M901258/#.VCAqHZiPIqU

Thanks Kat.

 

Even at 1/700 scale, this thing is almost 20 inches long! This was a big ship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

thanks for posting your story Gil. Sure brought back memories for me of looking at that enormous Enterprise box at the Woolworth's toy department. That box was bigger than me at the time I think! My model-buliding attention was often seized by the terrific John Steel box art and I built quite a few of those kits. That monster Enterprise was always a "Holy Grail" kit that I could only dream about.

 

makes me want to head down to the basement and sniff some glue! :lol:

Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Woolworth's had a good selection, but we also had a W.T. Grant with a good plastic model selection as well. My parents knew where I was as well. I spent hours looking at the box art. Many of these classic kits now sell for ridiculous prices as collectors items.

 

The best selection in town was at a Mom and Pop called "Pet and Hobby"... the unlikely combination of a pet store with a hobby shop. I actually went to school with the daughter of the couple that owned it. The business is long gone, but I can't drive past there without seeing the old store in my mind. (I believe it is a dress shop now!)

 

Modern stores pale in comparison.

I agree.There was a store called Bruce's.He was the owner of a small hobby shop.The place was crammed full of all types of kits from floor to ceiling.Was a favorite saturday morning stop with my dad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I built all of those ships except the Nukes. But I built them over and over. Started building ships my dad was on, St. Paul, Iowa, Shangri La. But then pickings got slim for the others. I considered Revell the best although my Shangri La was Renwal and as I recal very nicely detailed. Even though I knew that inside the box, all the Battleships of the same class were exactly the same, built them any way. Loved those models, great days

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...