Aurora Dracula question...

[StyreneDude]

I recently bought a sealed 1972 glow version and it's molded in black and grey swirled plastic. I've never seen an Aurora kit or any other like that. Is it rare? More or less valuable?
Any info is much appreciated.

[CultofPersonality]

Dwayne; these things (color variations or aberrations from "standard" release colors) come up FAIRLY often and general consensus is that Aurora would run kits in WHATEVER color styrene was onhand or premixed on any given day. Are you saying the kit was run in ONLY those TWO different colors; some pieces in black, some in metallic (I'm thinking the "swirls" are the metal granules mixed in the styrene that tend to not mix evenly and result in dark streaks as in some of the knights or the Invaders Flying Saucer) but NO glow?  I think THAT would be strange that no one caught it, but there WAS a second tool added for each kit when the glow parts were added. As to value, again, I think that has been discussed, but generally I'm guessing the value of the kit would actually be GREATER if you had left it unopened. In my SLIGHTLY informed humble opinion. 
       Tom

[StyreneDude]

Dwayne; these things (color variations or aberrations from "standard" release colors) come up FAIRLY often and general consensus is that Aurora would run kits in WHATEVER color styrene was onhand or premixed on any given day. Are you saying the kit was run in ONLY those TWO different colors; some pieces in black, some in metallic (I'm thinking the "swirls" are the metal granules mixed in the styrene that tend to not mix evenly and result in dark streaks as in some of the knights or the Invaders Flying Saucer) but NO glow?  I think THAT would be strange that no one caught it, but there WAS a second tool added for each kit when the glow parts were added. As to value, again, I think that has been discussed, but generally I'm guessing the value of the kit would actually be GREATER if you had left it unopened. In my SLIGHTLY informed humble opinion. 
       Tom

Thanks Tom! You know, I just can't help myself. I gotta build my kits. It's a sickness. I just spent major moolah on two pristine sealed kits and they're already opened. I display the boxes with the build ups and I like my boxes minty!

[Mark McGovern]

More power to ya, SD!  I'm a kit builder, not a collector - even if my stash would seem to contradict that statement.  Be that as it may, I say slap that model together and post us some pictures!

[StyreneDude]

More power to ya, SD!  I'm a kit builder, not a collector - even if my stash would seem to contradict that statement.  Be that as it may, I say slap that model together and post us some pictures!

I'm working on it.  I've got five kits going at the same time...LOL  It'll probably be October before I get them done.

[Mark McGovern]

Just in time for Hallowe'en!

[djmadden99]

The color swirls come from the mold itself being changed. When one mold is changed for the other, the correct pellets are added and then several pieces are run until the color is uniform for the new mold. Until all of the grey pellets are out, the product will appear with swirls and blotches. All of the swirl-color units are supposed to be discarded by the mold engineers prior to the assembly-line worker trimming and packing them. Sounds like the Wolfman had a run before your Dracula had his turn.

[StyreneDude]

The color swirls come from the mold itself being changed. When one mold is changed for the other, the correct pellets are added and then several pieces are run until the color is uniform for the new mold. Until all of the grey pellets are out, the product will appear with swirls and blotches. All of the swirl-color units are supposed to be discarded by the mold engineers prior to the assembly-line worker trimming and packing them. Sounds like the Wolfman had a run before your Dracula had his turn.

Thanks for the info! So I have a swirly Dracula that technically shouldn't have been sold...cool!