Godzilla vs Rodan – Famous Monsters issue 114 – model kit

Famous Monsters issue #114 – model kit – kit bash

So, I had the idea to recreate the cover of my favorite movie monster magazine from my youth with model kits. Famous Monsters #114 came out in 1975 and was the definitive authority on Toho Kaiju films at the time. I wanted to create a 3-D rendition of the fantastic cover art by Ken Kelly.

I started with the Aurora Godzilla kit (Polar Lights re-issue) and did many modifications, most notably, re-sculpting the head and hands.

I took a good look at the Aurora Rodan kit and knew it wasn’t going to suit the diorama in regards to the wing positions. I instead used the Polar Light’s Pteranodon. I extended the wings downward and completely removed the head, sculpting my own Rodan head and neck based on the design of the cover art.

 

I molded and sculpted each building separately, closely matching the layout of the cover art. I also sculpted flames to recreate the fire.

I never painted a kit totally based on lighting (as how the cover art was created) so this was a challenge for me to ignore the actual color of the monsters and use the chromatic tawny yellow coloring of the artwork instead.

 

It took me about 5 months to build and paint this and although it’s not an exact match, I’m pleased with the final result.

---

View more of my model kit builds:

Individual model kit builds on Parlor of Horror – Monster Model Kits

Model kit Gallery and links – Parlor of Horror’s Model Kits

---

Godzilla posts:

Godzilla’s Most Formidable Enemies

Godzilla Thru the Years – the Many Looks of Godzilla

My Top 10 Godzilla Films (1-5)

Moebius Mummy – model kit build and paint

 

Moebius Mummy – 1/6th scale – custom build and paint

Here I’ve taken the Moebius Mummy and made some major modifications to have it emulate the cover art of Monsters of the Movies Magazine, issue #6, 1975.

It is 1/6th scale and stands about 13 inches tall.

I was never impressed with the older mummy movies. I thought they were slow and boring. The mummy seemed too slow to really stir up fear and the films dragged on worse than the mummy’s left leg. It wasn’t until I had seen the cover of this Monsters of the Movies issue that I gained interest in mummy movies. My favorite is the Hammer films adaptation, but I eventually developed an appreciation to some of the older films too. Of course the newer films are action movies, not horror movies, and I think they’re entertaining enough, but not my favorite pics for Mummy flicks.

Monsters of the Movies Magazine -1975

---

 

 

here’s a side by side comparison, standard kit build and my modified kit

---

 

Modifications:

Repositioned mummy’s arm and sculpted new legs.

Broken Sarcophagus and loose pieces flying outward

Added steps to base, repositioned Sarcophagus cover

Added torch light mounted to wall, skulls and rats (from Aurora Customizing kit #2)

Spider webs/cob webs

Mummy nameplate holder

 

---

 

 

I’ve been working on this kit for a few months. I’m glad I finally finished it and it came out the way I had envisioned it.

Gallery:

moebius mummy – standard build

AMT/ ERTL- Creepy T – Car model kit – 1975

Creepy T
monster car model kit

This is my Creepy T monster car from a small series by AMT/ERTL in the 1970’s. The series was originally released by Fundimensions.

Building car model kits is a bit different than creatures. For one, you have to paint most of the pieces before you put the kit together. Gluing pieces has to be more delicate and precise so you don’t get glue spots on the painted surfaces.

I used Testors enamel spray paint for the red body and the back wheels because it dries smoother and glossier. I used acrylics for the wood coffin-like storage trunk and other misc. parts.

I left the skull head unpainted so it would glow. I just added a little shadowing. The kit suggested keeping the bat(s) as glow parts but I didn‘t like the way they looked and painted them black.

Here are the AMT and MPC/Fundimensions box covers:

 

This is the second kit in the series. I had built the Mummy Machine last year. I managed to find the Night Crawler Werewolf Wagon by Fundimensions/MPC on eBay which was never re-released by AMT. That is the last in the series and plan to build it in the coming year.

Mummy Machine post

 

King Kong vs T. Rex (1933) model kit – kit bash

King Kong vs T. Rex

Kit Bash (n) – when a kit builder takes parts of two or more unrelated model kits to create a completely different subject, theme, and model kit diorama.

Long story short. I only recently saw the Mountain Gorilla kit from Revell. As soon as I saw a pic on a web-site I got the idea to use it in a King Kong diorama. I found the Airfix Tyrannosaurus to be the perfect size to simulate the big battle scene from King Kong (1933). Although both of these models are discontinued, I was able to find them on eBay at decent prices.

I built and compiled items for the base myself. I asked fellow kit builder, Murray Wakeman to make the long leaf palm tree (on the left hand side of the diorama). I had seen the tree in one of his creations and knew it would fit well with the scene. (Thanks Murray).

 

model kits and items:

Revell – Endangered Animals -Mountain Gorilla (1974)

Airfix – Tyrannosaurus Rex – (1977)

Murray’s Long Leaf Palm Tree (2015)

Ann Darrow self- sculpted (and the tree where she sits)

Scene-it trees and plants

Custom base – self made

Coming soon, Building a Custom Base – check it out at: Mike K’s Youtube channel (Mike K. is me)

Model kits for your favorite monster and sci-fi films!

A Gallery of newer, limited edition model kits

The new model kits coming out lately are amazing. Small model kit companies can afford to license a small run, limited production amount of kits for films which makes it cost effective.

However, it also makes some of these kits very scarce and expensive, especially if you had missed the original release and are now buying though a second party.  (scroll over pics to see kit info and companies)

These are some pretty fantastic kits:

Attack of the 50 ft woman

Attack of the 50 ft woman

Black Scorpion

Black Scorpion back view

black sunday kit

dusk til dawn – resin crypt kits

dusk til dawn – resin crypt kits

The Land Unknown

One Million Years BC – Joseph Laudati

Talos from Jason and the Argonauts

The Bride of Frankenstein

The Giant Behemoth – Joe Laudati sculpt

The Thing 1980 Alchemy Works

The Time Machine

Them!

Them!

veronica carlson

Frank Villa paint job – The Ghost of Castle Mare

 

——————————————–

Some companies have been releasing alternative bases for established kits.

Caput Mortuum

Monster scenes limited bg

monster scenes back ground /base

Jeff Yagher Gigantics plastic bases

Jean Louis Crinon Cemetery Base

——————————————–

Below, I have some kit-bash designs. A kit-bash is when a modeler takes different parts from different kits and makes his own scene from them.  (scroll over pics to see info about builders, painters, and companies)

Kevin Lewis Kit Bash Tar Pit Vulture, Tree, plus

Kevin Lewis kit bash

Frank Villa TotenKorps kit bash

Frank Villa Forgotten Prisoner kit bash

David Dockerty King Kong diorama

David Dockerty King Kong diorama Styracosaurus

David Dockerty King Kong close up

——————————————–

Here’s some of the recent Prehistoric Scenes kit add-ons:

Zuniceratops Alchemy works PS kits

Alchemy Works – Stegosaurus

Plateosaurus – Alchemy Works

——————————————–

And lastly, these are some older kits and I wanted to show some amazing paint jobs the builder’s have executed.
 (scroll over pics to see info about builders, painters, and companies)

Rich Danison – Aurora PS Cave bear

Giant Polar Lights Godzilla

Dwayne Whitehead build and paint

Dwayne Whitehead build and paint – grave robber

Dwayne Whitehead build and paint sabertooth

The victim zombie – James Nichols

——————————————–

Large T Rex by Bob Morales of Dragon Attack Studio is 26” long!

Bob Morales – T Rex

——————————————–

All of these models, kit designs, paint-ups and photos are c/p their original owners, used here for information and learning.

——————————————–

Important Links:

Need a missing part from your vintage (or not so vintage) kit? Missing a leg, a foot, an accessory? Stop by The Parts Pit. Members post requests for model kit parts they are missing and other members respond if they have the parts to sell or trade – usually cheap. I recently got two hands for my Allosaurus kit from posting on the page.

The Parts Pit Vintage Model Parts Trading Post – Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/556964584447471/

———

If you’re interested in seeing info, painted kits, and vintage items in the Aurora Prehistoric Scenes line, check out, The Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Society on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/123243567699484/

———
Add on to your Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Kits with these new items from Prehistorix
http://voycestog.wix.com/prehistorix

———

Bases for new and old Aurora Prehistoric Scenes Kits from Jurassic Arts:
http://jurassicarts.com/

———

Check out everything you wanted to know about the Monster Scenes line from Aurora:
http://www.monsterscenes.net

———

Alchemy is a company that has been delivering a lot of excellent kits including over a dozen Prehistoric Scenes kits to go with your Aurora originals. Alchemy Works Model Kits – http://thealchemyworks.com/

———

Resin Crypt has been putting out some great character model kits including some of the recent female favorites shown above. Resin Crypt Model Kits – http://www.resincrypt.com/

——————-

The amazing work by Jean-Louis Crinon can be found at the website: theexo.com/crinon/

Rodan – Aurora Monsters of the Movies – model Kit

Rodan – Aurora Monsters of the Movies – model Kit

This is the Rodan, Monsters of the Movies, model kit originally made in the late 1970’s by Aurora. This build is the re-issue by Polar Lights.

I remember building this as a youngster and complaining about the massive seams that show when the kit is assembled. When rebuilding this last month, I assumed I could do a better job as an adult, but found the same problems inherent in the kit design itself. I putty filled and sanded all the seams before priming and painting.

 
 

I hand painted with acrylic paints using blends of Red, Yellow, Orange, Black and Brown. I did a gradual blend on the wings from dark to light to accentuate the depth in the wing curve.

 

I made a custom base from my box of parts. I never really cared for the MotM squared off bases and preferred the original style Aurora kit bases. I cut pieces from a different base I had to fit the buildings and made extra debris from stone clay.

 

Even though Rodan’s wings in the actual films are different than the kit, this is still one of my favorite models.

 

Model Kits – Aurora Prehistoric Scenes – Giant Bird

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes

Giant Bird – Phorohacos

I bought this kit ‘new’ and complete in the box. It was originally released in the early 1970’s in the second wave of Aurora Prehistoric Scenes kits. It was never re-released so any that you may see on the market would be original Aurora product. This one cost me a bit more than others because of its new (unused) condition.

The only problem in building, which I remember from when I was a kid, was getting the body top (back) in place. It never seemed to fit exactly right. This prompted me to use super glue to build the kit so that piece would dry in a minute and not ‘pop’ off or move to a crooked position while drying overnight.

I always liked this kit because it was the same giant bird as in the Schneer/Harryhausen feature, Mysterious Island (1961). I built it as instructed with no modifications.

Be sure to check out all my other Aurora Prehistoric Scenes build-ups:

Allosaurus, Cro-magnon Man, Cro-Magnon Woman,  Neanderthal Man, Sabertooth Tiger,

 

Model Kits – Aurora Prehistoric Scenes – Allosaurus

 

Aurora Prehistoric Scenes

Allosaurus

with custom base

This kit was re-issued by both Monogram and Revell and is still widely available to those who look for it. It originally hit the market in the 1970’s. It had it’s own base for one year, then, for unknown reasons, Aurora dispensed with the base and sold the Dino, only.

The kit I purchased is an original Aurora Prehistoric Scenes kit (without base) in a ‘used lot’ collection. It was missing a hand and the outer half of it’s left arm.

I sculpted a new hand and arm piece.

I never liked the kit’s original green color, so I primed it gray and decided to go with a brown color with snake-like designs along it’s back.

Flowing from the mouth is slather which attempted to make the beast look like it was salivating over a kill. I debated cutting it off and just having a tongue. I think most kit builders agree, it wasn’t very authentic looking, but I decided to leave it to represent the original kit.

In Jurassic Park, I believe the effects crew set up this shot as a homage to the kit. Instead of slather, the T. Rex had bits of the rubber from the car’s tire hanging from his mouth.

Once the kit was complete, I decided to make a base from scratch. I started with a Styrofoam board and cut out a random shape. I edged it with rocky molding and outcrops to mimic the Aurora bases.

I molded grass and plant designs similar to those on the cave-man kits. I could have used more realistic Scene-it products but I wanted to keep some aspects of the Aurora look. I did use Scene-it trees and some branches.

I liked the idea of the Allosaurus crashing through the trees, onto the scene.

 

 

Model Kits – AMT – Mummy Machine – 1975

Mummy Machine – 1975

This is my Mummy Machine monster car from a small series released by AMT in the 1970’s.

Building car model kits is a bit different than creatures. For one, you have to paint most of the pieces before you put the kit together.

I used Testors enamel for the green body and the gold parts because it dries smoother and glossier. I used acrylics for the head and pyramid.

I changed the loose bandage that would be glued upon the head, cutting it up to several pieces and arranging it to look like it was being blown as the car was moving.

I had these kits when I was a wee lad. Next in this series, I will build the Creepy-T car with the big skull head.

Check out the Creepy T build

 

War of the Titans – Godzilla vs. Gamera

War of the Titans – Godzilla vs. Gamera

The battle that giant monster fans fantasize about has begun!

Billiken – Godzilla 1962 (from King Kong vs Godzilla)

Billiken – Gamera – 1995

This is a kit I had started over the summer. However, I’ve been collecting pieces since the beginning of the year. I purchased the building models over time and built them just so I could start envisioning the layout. Some, I bought from a local Hobby Shop and others I purchased on Ebay. Then I got cars, buses, streetlights, traffic lights and a truck.

I painted the monster kits with Folkart Acrylic paints and then sprayed them with a sealer. This is a switch from the usual oil-based model kit paint I had always painted with previously. I used gray and white for Godzilla with an undertone of blue. I used a mix of lime green and forest green for Gamera with white highlights. The acrylic paints gave me more control than the usual model kit paints. I now use stone clay for filling the seams on the kits and for additional molding. It dries overnight and it shrinks a bit, but not too much. I hate seams.

I repositioned Gamera’s legs to get him standing more upright than the original kit design so it would look closer in scale to Godzilla. I also added length and size to his head and about a half inch to his tail for the same reason. I repositioned Godzilla’s left arm so it looks like he’s about to attack. Did quite a bit of sculpting and filling to accommodate the changes I made to the kits.

I laid everything out on a Styrofoam board and used Scene-A-rama products for the grass, trees, and pavement. I still want to put a background – sky and clouds – but haven’t found the right pic to blow up and use as of yet. The streetlights and 2 buildings light up. There is also a fire that lights-up inside the big main building on Godzilla’s side.

I’m not quite sure which version of Gamera this is because I purchased it from Ebay without a box. I know it’s one of the later models because the tusks are facing forward, not straight up like the original Gamera.

I purchased this modern Famous Monsters Magazine that depicted the same battle on the cover.