(Gotha) Dreams Really Do Come True...

[macsporran]

Wow! What treasure troves. What a great thread!

Love the reminder of the Jager resin kits. Can't remember the chap's name but he worked out of space in an old mill building in Glasgow. I had a customer in the building and couldn't believe my luck when I stumbled on the Jager production facility! I visited a few times and swapped a pile of the old Aurora kits for some of his exotic two seaters.
And great to see some of the old CSM models. I remember building a Pfalz D. VIII and a Dornier D. I too. And my memory was playing me tricks, I'd thought Blue Max did the SE5, but of course it was Eric: a real SE5, pointy wings and all! For once you could do those marvellous 60Sqdn colours on the correct aircraft.
Great stuff guys, makes this old fart very happy 😊
Sandy

[KiwiZac]

So many kits I've lusted after for so long. What a wonderful thread, both for voyeurism and for enjoying others' stories!

[rhallinger]

What a wonderful thread about the nostalgia we 20th Century kids feel for our childhood modeling experiences—they really enriched our lives in so many ways.  Thanks to all for sharing their stories—they really are a common experience for many of us, and resonate deeply.  I agree with Lance that having these old kits in the box is more special than building them.  They are part of our modeling heritage.  Sweet memories!

Best Regards,

Bob

[Dutch522]

Absolutely agree, Bob. My Gotha will stay in the box (I haven't even opened it yet, for all I know it could be a 707 rattling around in there) as long as I own it.

All best,

Dutch

[Allan31]

Just found this thread, wonderful memories.
I also had all the Aurora kits built and hung from the ceiling of my bedroom in the early 70's. They would spin in the wind so I had this wonderful dogfight going on.
I have only one example left from those days, the Aurora triplane.



One of my earliest memories is the house I was born in had a small living room fireplace with book shelves on either side. The stairs up to the bedrooms was to the left of the bookshelves On the top shelf was the Gotha kit built by my dad in the dark red plastic strategically placed just out of my reach from the stairs. The Revell 1/28 fighters there as well.
I'm enjoying building these same olde kits with my adult skills as nostalgic builds. I've done the 1/28 triplane, the 1/48 SE5a, Camel, Nieuport 11 and DVII. I have pretty much all the others in the stash.

Near the top of the list is the Gotha. To that end I found 2 examples on evilbay, one to collect and they other to build.



The one to build is the later issue as it has the surface markings already removed.



This will be a winter project as I don't have the time to devote to modelling now.

Who has more fun than us?!  NOBODY....

[Dutch522]

Hi Allan, I actually made a comment on your other nostalgia thread before seeing that you'd commented here, wonderful stuff! I believe I have the article Harry Woodman did on improving the Aurora Gotha if you don't, but you're probably going to build it OOB anyway. I would, if I were ever to build mine! (although I don't know about those molded-in markings...)

Dutch

[Allan31]

Thanks Dutch,
My cunning plan is to use Aviattics 4 color night lozenge in 1/32 scale (printed too dark), 2 sets of Albatros DV decals fit perfect for the crosses. I did get his 1/48 Gotha set printed for the later gotha kits. It almost might work on this Aurora. Mostly OOB, but will sprues up the cockpit areas.
I'm armed with "Gotha!" by Grosz and an article in a '95 Fine Scale Modeler by Carl Park.