Help needed with vintage Aurora kits.

[StyreneDude]

I want to paint up a set of Aurora monsters to look exactly how they would have been finished by a kid in the 1960's, using only the gloss enamel paint colors that were available at that time.

Does anyone here know what brand/colors of gloss enamels were available in 1963?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[Mcdee]

Humbrol were around and still are...

Mcdee

[demons by daylight]

I believe we used Testors brand.

[Wich2]

Yep.

Sometimes, specifically the "Pla" line.

[Hepcat]

I want to paint up a set of Aurora monsters to look exactly how they would have been finished by a kid in the 1960's, using only the gloss enamel paint colors that were available at that time.

Yes, good man! I fully approve! That's the way these kits are meant to be painted.

Testors, Pactra and Humbrol were all around in those days. Dozens of colours including flat versions were available from each company but most kid modellers would have initially made do with no more than the basic box set of ten or twelve glossy colours each company sold:

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black
Grey
White
Flesh or Gold or Silver
Thinner

And that's all you need for a monsterrific paint job!

 

[Monster Bob]

Humbrol was not used by anybody I knew. I don't think I even saw a can of it until the late 70s. I think Testor's was America's main dimestore enamel model paint.

[Wich2]

Testor's first, Pactra second. (And I expanded the color range with lots of mixing.)

Here's a Superman I restored a few years ago, and painted "as if back in the day":

[Jim Bertges]

One thing to keep in mind when painting the kits like we did back in the olden days is that whenever possible appropriately colored plastic went unpainted. The black of the Phantom's and Dracula's clothing was left alone and I'm sure in some cases the metallic green of the Creature was unpainted as well.

You can see some examples of that here in this photo from around 1965.

[Mcdee]

I used Humbrol all the time...little paint cans were easy to open with  a dime...
Mcdee

[StyreneDude]

Thanks to everyone for the info and tips! That's what makes the UMA such a great place to visit!

[Hepcat]

I used Humbrol all the time...little paint cans were easy to open with  a dime....

I'm not sure whether the little cans of Humbrol are still available. I believe the little jars of Testors are still sold though.

 

[Mcdee]

Yep..I bought some just last week  ! The only thing that has  changed is the price 
Mcdee

[Hepcat]

And are Testors and Pactra paints still available in the little jars?

 

[Jim Bertges]

And are Testors and Pactra paints still available in the little jars?

 

You can still get Testors in the small 1/4 OZ bottles or their Model Master line in larger 1/2 OZ bottles. Pactra, unfortunately is no longer manufactured.

[Hepcat]

Dozens of colours including flat versions were available from each company but most kid modellers would have initially made do with no more than the basic box set of ten or twelve glossy colours each company sold:

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black
Grey
White
Flesh or Gold or Silver
Thinner

And that's all you need for a monsterrific paint job!

Myself I took the added step when building my Aurora Mummy in 1965. and bought a jar of Testors metallic green paint for the snake. Metallic green with red eyes, now that was one great looking snake!