Robin! The 1966 Aurora Model Kit Re-Built! Batman! DC Comics!

Here's the super-fun 1999 re-issue of the famed Aurora "Robin" model kit! The original kit was released in 1966 (within a blast of other Bat-kits), at the dizzying heights of Batmania! This titanic toy captures Robin in a dramatic action pose, shutting down a devious death-trap! In the late-90s, the riotous rascals at Revell re-issued the kit, making many die-hard comics and kit fans quite happy! I had so much fun customizing this, and lovingly re-building and painting it! Click images below to enlarge!

This is actually a re-issue of the mid-70s
Robin kit from the "Comic Scenes" line, using
an updated "Teen Wonder" head sculpt!

I used a paint marker to add the
"tiles" on the floor! I added my
own custom stickers for many of the
gauges and computer read-outs!

I loved using both matte and high-gloss paints
and sealants on the model, creating a nice contrast!

By restricting the base largely to black and silver, I
was able to nicely contrast it against Robin's
bright costume colors, making the figure truly 
stand out!

You can see my heavily-customized Batman model
kit, the companion to this one, right here!

BONUS: Click below to see the original 1966 kit, including the original head sculpt!

Robin, the Teen Wonder! 1976 Albert Bigley Art! "SOFFK!" DC Comics?!

Another blast from my past! This time, it's a riotous Robin pencil illustration, done by me in 1976 (at age 11)! I was trying to imagine and design a group of possible scenarios that would look swell as model kits, complete with nice 3-D dioramas and backgrounds, much as the fine Aurora hero kits were presented! Alas, it was all simply wishful thinking, as the Aurora folks had already made (and re-issued) their one and only Batman and Robin kits by then, but...Dig those speed strokes and ghost images! The "Teen Wonder" is belting that poor thug (or is he supposed to be the Joker?) so hard, his gun (or smoking candy bar) is being sent flying! And, is that blood coming offa Robin's left glove?! Yikes! Click to enlarge!

Green Lantern! The 2011 Model Kit--Built! DC Comics Greatness!

Here is my latest finished and built-up model kit--Green Lantern! This swell new 2011 kit comes from the fine folks at Moebius Models, a firm that's released great new figure kits, and exacting re-issues of the older Aurora ones, too! Their "GL" kit is in the manner of those other mid-60s DC Comics offerings, in scale, attitude, and overall look! Let's get started, as I take you on the step-by-step building process!

Below: The unassembled kit, in it's original green plastic, ready for building! Dig that nice transparent green "power-ringed" hand! The figure (tho overall well-designed and sculpted by the talented Joe Laudati) was a bit over-muscular and "cut," so I sanded away (and flattened) some of the ab muscles on the figure...

Below: Here's the base, including GL's evil robot opponent (tho the little guy looks awfully chummy)! I used some brown, black, gray, and white spray paints, in order to create a mottled "rubble" effect! Also added were some bits of rock and sand, some dark and light "splatter," and other bits of texture!

Below: The finished base, with silver and gold paint carefully applied to the robot! Some 

details were filled in using inking/technical pens, more added rubble, and 

overcoats of gloss (on the robot), and matte sprays (on the ground surface)!

Let's move on to the GL figure! 

Below: After sanding a few seams, and applying a nice hi-gloss "metallic black" to the finished figure, I used Silly Putty (!) to mask off those areas, then came in with a nice "metallic lacquer green," for those portions of the famous costume! Once dry, the Putty comes right off! 

Below: The head detailing begins!

Below: The finished figure, with translucent "power-ringed" hand, ready for attachment to the base!

I did a bit of "dry-brushing" to the hair and face of the figure, creating 

subtle light and dark areas...A bit of brushed-on gloss for the hair and mask...

I wanted the figure to "hover" much closer to the base than the kit suggests...The two figures just seemed too distant and disassociated (as if they belonged to separate kits), so I angled the joining portion of GL's right hand and power-ring effect in such a way so the figure could be nearer the base...

I hand-painted the chest insignia (what a pain), altho I almost went with a computer-generated sticker! I kept the white gloves a flat matte, to contrast with the other parts of the more reflective and bright costume! I kept the name-plate in its original green, using technical pens to fill in the black background...

Overall, a very well-done kit, by a company that recalls and loves the original Aurora superhero kits of the 60s and 70s! The designers (including comics fan and artist Terry Beatty) really went for (and succeeded in) re-creating the feel of a Silver Age GREEN LANTERN comics cover as drawn by Gil Kane! I hope they make many more such model kits, featuring those characters who never got a shot at all-plastic stardom!

Custom Aurora CAPTAIN AMERICA Model Kit! Jack Kirby! Marvel Comics!

Here is the 1974 (originally released in 1966) Aurora "Comic Scenes" CAPTAIN AMERICA model kit, re-cast recently in a larger scale by Polar Lights! I added a GI JOE gunbelt and accessories to give Cap an "Ultimates" (or movie) look... I also substituted the kit's over-sized head with a plaster cast head from the Bowen Yellowjacket bust! I then tried to give it a "Jack Kirby-drawn" look.  Click images below to enlarge!

I also assembled Cap's left arm so that it (and the shield) didn't conceal his body in the way the original kit did! I wanted more of an "open" pose...

I used a heavy gloss coating on the puddle, then, once dry, added some clear cellophane...

I paid a great deal of attention to flat matte areas (the costume and base) and glossy areas (the shield, puddle, etc...), in an attempt to bring added realism to the kit...

Another look at the detailed base...

BONUS! Click below to see the original "oversized" heads that came with the Polar Lights kit (below, left), and the finished, un-customized kit (below, right)!

BONUS BONUS! Look below to gaze at the original assembled 1966 Aurora Cap model kit!

BONUS BONUS BONUS! Click below to enlarge this model magazine article, detailing one hobbyist's building of the re-issued CAP kit!