Aurora Monsters Kit Development and Painting

In this video, I’m diving into Aurora monsters, both classic and dark ride style. I’ll be sharing my personal Aurora monster models and bringing vintage charm and eerie vibes back to the surface with my own personal touch. For those of you who love the classic Aurora monster models from the '60s, you’ll enjoy watching me breathe new life into these kits,
I’m also unveiling a Nosferatu model kit that channels the same vintage Aurora style. It’s a personal tribute to the iconic 1922 film, capturing the haunting and timeless essence of that terrifying character.
Throughout this process, I’ll share my techniques, from choosing colors to creating shadows and details that make these models come alive. Whether you’re a long-time model enthusiast or new to the scene,
EBAY STORE: figure_fiend
instagram: figure_fiend_toys
All batches are listed here with a date and time in which they are released.
Monolith Shop
www.etsy.com/s...
Artist: Diffie Bosman
License code: 555WXPDBTSNWVPFD
Artist: Theatre Of Delays
License code: DH3YWZLBTBXWDA5N
Artist: Diffie Bosman
License code: V8YYXFUJ5D5BHWUI
Artist: FoePound
License code: 9MABUFSYOXJ4WBC0
Artist: Lunar Years
License code: TIKE00BHG6EWAZGL
Music I use: Bensound.com
Artist: Theatre Of Delays
License code: 8PYVB5LISIUAPZDK
Artist: Benjamin Tissot
License code: P1YHWOB2RQNUYTQ1

[@harryrabbit2870]

Had these as a kid growing up in the 1960s. They were usually sold for $2 if my memory serves. I'd save my coins until I could afford one and then take it home and just absorb the magic of assembly. VERY fond memories of these. Thx for post.

[@FigureFiend]

thank you for watching and $2 sounds about right!

[@GJP1169]

I built so many of these kits as a kid just loved them

[@maxthepupp]

Me too! Never ever looked this good tho.. Kinda miss that model glue !😂😂

[@FigureFiend]

definitely a product of its time!

[@librarian66]

Wow! This brings back memories. I had all of these monster models as a kid. They're currently stashed away in a box in my attic and I really need to take them out to give them some repair repair work and display them again.

[@FigureFiend]

thats great that they are still up there!

[@derekwhitaker4905]

Aurora kits for the 21st century! Awesome stuff👊🏻

[@FigureFiend]

thank you! Making the Nosferatu model was an amazing experience!

[@EricAlder]

I remember my uncles having the old kits displayed in the basement when I was a kid. They were always creepy-cool and I wish I had one now. Kudos on including the glow in the dark versions, my favorite!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you and that must have been a sight to see as a kid, very cool for sure!

[@ScottRossProductions]

Had most of these as a kid. Loved them...

[@6omega2]

The repaint job on all of those is beautiful!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you!

[@charlie418791]

Got ya subbed. I built all of these back in the 60's. I started building when I was 8 and I'm still building now. Great memories. 👍

[@FigureFiend]

thank you for the support! and that is great that you are still building!

[@johnhrehov4720]

The repaints on the Aurora kits are amazing!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you!

[@scottgresham4456]

Man, I had all these in the mid-70's. So much fun collecting, assembling, painting and displaying those amazing model kits. None of mine looked this good, though! great job! Thanks for the memories!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you! They are still so much fun to this day!

[@soxpicks]

Man, that fluorescent finish is killer on those kits!

[@FigureFiend]

Thanks Sox! Montana gold base sprays and Vallejo fluorescent acrylics!

[@jamescromer550]

These were SO cool! I loved them.

[@AzimuthTao]

I actually had the Phantom model when I was a kid. I was so proud of my paint job on that.

[@stevemarciante9758]

Cool twist on these classics nice work

[@FigureFiend]

thank you!

[@SuperBoomtown]

I remember these! My buddy and I built a few of these. Then, after a while, we blew them up with firecrackers. Good times!

[@lululucy01]

Hokey?!? FRICK'N AWESOME!!

[@PitViperX1977]

So much awesomeness! James Bama was the artist, his name deserves a mention!

[@FigureFiend]

indeed, he was absolutely amazing!

[@andyhoward8444]

I remember buying these here in the Uk in the late 60's,the glow in the dark kits suggested taking the kit into a dark place to identify the glow in the dark pieces!,it was obvious anyway,loved them!.

[@maxthepupp]

OMG man! I dunno how you ended up in my algo but I'm thrilled you did! You're amazing at ALL of this! I envious as hell of people with who can do this artistically - God know I could never do it. Thanks for the video and subbed!

[@FigureFiend]

Thank you, that means a lot to me, and there is so much to learn all the time!

[@CodyNewhouse]

Those day glow paint jobs... truly inspired... truly great.

[@FigureFiend]

Thanks Cody! I appreciate it. They were an interesting challenge to paint models that way, not something I’d ever done before.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

I love the dark ride look. They all look fantastic. The purple Nosferatu is my fav, though.

[@FigureFiend]

thank you, I appreciate that! I had never done a kit before and it was a learning experience for sure!

[@zombiespock4512]

Brings back memories!

[@butchersblade7068]

I've always admired these kits through pictures and videos until the last year or so when a few of them were reissued. I've painted the Mummy and Creature so far. Those florescent paints at the end of the video look amazing.

[@FigureFiend]

They are so classic and for a 50+ year old sculpt, they are so well executed! That’s great you are making your way through them! Thanks for leaving a comment

[@danielfegley2735]

I had these as a kid . I had all but one bride of Frankenstein. They gave you a choice with the pieces for the head hands and feet you could choose regular or glow-in-the-dark. I always choose glow in the dark

[@jeremykoerner4100]

Outstanding.

[@Mr.Zero1960]

I was into the Frightening Lightening series so I never painted the heads and hands. The good ole days. Incredible skills! thanks!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you,, I love the glow ones and far harded to come across those these days!

[@mojonoodle]

All absolutely superb!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you!

[@bradmartin7598]

Keep up the great work! I still have my original 1960's Frankenstein model.

[@FigureFiend]

That is amazing, that you still have one of your kits after all these years is something special. The few thing that survived the many adult moves, mean a great deal to me!

[@bradmartin7598]

@@FigureFiend Yes, a treasured item. I also had The Bride and The Hunchback but sadly they are in pieces.

[@BrickMantooth]

I've always loved the connection the Aurora kits had with the AHI figures, those Mego customs you did rocked.

[@FigureFiend]

Thanks Brian! Always good to hear from you and like you, I am fascinated by the “borrowing” that occurred in that time period when it came to heads and hands and where they came from!

[@Titleknown]

You know what I'd love to see? Kits with the aesthetics and subject matter of these Aurora kits but the poseability of Gunpla/Plamo-type models. Heck, if they were cross-compatible with the Gunpla/30 Minute Missions/30 Minute Sisters figures, there's a ton of potential kitbashing to be done, the plausibilities are endless!

[@georgegolston5417]

Just found your vids. Awesome presentation and I love your Mego and Aurora styled figures. Very nice. I'm a new subscriber.

[@FigureFiend]

thank you, and thank you for the support!

[@filipematias5127]

Subscribed, congrats on your art work and figures

[@FigureFiend]

awesome, thank you and for the support at well!

[@keng.2468]

Incredible work! I love all the detailed work and process shown here!

[@FigureFiend]

Thank you, I really appreciate it! I hope to get into some painting instruction later in the year as well.

[@seans4018]

FANTASTIC WORK!

[@FigureFiend]

thanks Sean

[@StephenLyons-tl8ie]

Great stuff! Well done!!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you! I appreciate the support!

[@indigoj]

Thanks for making this it’s exactly how I feel about the box artwork

[@FigureFiend]

you are welcome, thanks for leaving a comment, some of my favorite paintings ever!

[@miguelbotelho2613]

splendid looks awesome, I love the neon black light paint, i tried that way back with the witch model kit. and put a black light to it.

[@FigureFiend]

thank you and she is another Id love to paint up and do in the black light manner!

[@galloed1]

Amazing work love it

[@FigureFiend]

thanks!

[@paolomongon6616]

Amazing work!

[@FigureFiend]

Thank you! I love the monster stuff

[@poboxchristmas380]

You just got a new sub. Really like what you're doing!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you, I appreciate you following along!

[@geekstrong1]

Amazing!!! 💪🤩 I had all these models in the 70's and purchased the reissued versions in the late 90's early 2000. Unfortunately, i only have the Mummy and the Creature version today. 💪🤓

[@FigureFiend]

thank you and luckily they are not hard to find now if you wish to replace, the molds have been reproduced many times (aurora/monogram/illuminator/monarch so you have different options at different prices.

[@baldeagle5297]

I did the Frankenstein model in Blender. I stayed as true to the original as I could. I still have a few bugs to work out but I will try a test print as soon as my workshop is no longer an ice box.

[@ClintCarneyCreates]

Great stuff!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you

[@mikekennedy4572]

I had most of these as a kid in the 1960s, but my mom threw them away or donated them to Goodwill without asking me sometime during my high school years.

[@soupbonep]

I love those aurora monsters and always wanted one when I was a kit. But I never got any because I always thought it would scare me at night having that on my dresser! I sculpted a Creature out of Femo to put in my fish tank. My mistake was to use a wooden armature that I glued together with a hot glue gun. You can guess the arms and legs sagged in the oven. But he eventually turned out pretty sweet. but he fell apart and I have his parts still because I can repair him and re paint. I will look to see if I can post a photo here in the near future. Your model kits look really cool! I'm going to check them out.

[@FigureFiend]

thank you and feel free to add one here for people to see your sculpt!

[@acbenepe]

Missing Kong and Godzilla. When i was a kid the monster kits came in square boxes with optional glow in the dark pieces and my mom had to legally buy the testor's glue.

[@jeffholt9437]

Greetings from the UK 🇬🇧 - so much to comment on here! Firstly, love your "sensible" paintjobs of the Aurora kits - worthy of a video on their own! Excellent work on the Nosferatu kit - especially the base (these could be a thing!) and I absolutely love the idea of mini versions (are they in scale with Aurora's Monster Scenes?) which is also something you should definitely pursue if you do further kits. I think I understand why you chose this IP (public domain AND a new movie) but we already had the Monarch kit - how about something PD that no-one has done? Lastly, I PROBABLY ONLY SAW THIS VIDEO BY CHANCE - you need to get out there more - how about contacting a channel like Model Club TV??? I'm now off to look at your other videos and store! All the best for this and, hopefully, future ventures 😊😊😊

[@FigureFiend]

thank you Jeff, I appreciate it! And I did not know about the Model Club TV and will look into them! I hope to sculpt more kits in the future and would choose more public domain characters for sure! And a video that covers the painting process is something I will do for sure!

[@81hewp]

Fantastic

[@FigureFiend]

Thank you!

[@Mike-ky9jz]

I did something similar to some kits in the early 90's....using the florescent paints to highlight areas .

[@FigureFiend]

nice! That is great, if you are able to share any photos, please do!

[@MarkWilliams-w8g]

I built most of the Aurora monster kits as a kid and always painted them in life like colors. I ended up selling them all to a younger kid in the neighborhood and used the money to buy weed and cigarettes with. Now I'm 61 and have COPD... 😢

[@bartstewart8644]

The Aurora monster model that was always the least popular was the Blob. Basically it was just a lump of plastic.

[@FigureFiend]

That I understand, although I've never come across that kit myself, I did eat at the diner one of the Blob scenes was filmed out though!

[@bartstewart8644]

@FigureFiend I was kidding ya! I am impressed that you ate at that diner, though!

[@John-k5o7z]

Bravo..

[@lostsock9852]

Wow, I remember these glow-in-the-dark kits from my childhood in the '70s. I had Phantom, Frankie, Hunchback, and Dracula. Not sure whether they were Aurora though, I don't recall that name. I lived in England, so it may have been licensed out.

[@FigureFiend]

They were and those are the ones I have had trouble finding over the years, they were only made by Aurora in the black and glow and look amazing without paint. Glad to hear they were available in the UK then!

[@jerryemt2001]

Made those as a kid. They were less than a buck. My favorites were the Guillotine and the Forgotten Prisoner

[@sockmonkey4484]

When I was a little kid, I built that Creature from the Black Lagoon kit many, many times. Not because I had a lot of them, but because I was only allowed to use Elmer's glue and it fell apart every time I touched it.

[@FigureFiend]

ha! it seems that you kept trying, more time with the creature is never a bad thing!

[@pondartinc4002]

I had the Phantom of the Opera kit. I hated it. The guy in the dungeon scared the beeep out of me. One day I had enough and smashed it with a hammer. I miss those days.

[@RavingMadStudios]

These are really cool. Awesome work! Question for you: You mentioned that you had repainted your old Aurora kits, and they look great. What is the safest way to remove old paint from the kits? I have most of the Aurora monsters from the early 70’s that I built when I was 6 or 7, and they look like they were built and painted by a 6 or 7 year old. I’d love to repaint them, but I don’t want to destroy them in the process. Any tips?

[@FigureFiend]

thank you, and for the older enamel paints, its best to prime over and lightly sand any areas that need to be smoothed out. Using an exacto knife as well to clean up any small rough spots. For anything painted with acrylics, simple green and soaking works really well, then hitting them with an old toothbrush. A good visual indicator (enamel vs acrylic) is surface sheen-the enamels of the time where thick and glossy. hope that helps!

[@RavingMadStudios]

@@FigureFiend Yeah, mine are definitely enamels. Nasty, glossy, Testors enamels, applied very poorly in most cases. I’m afraid that if I prime them I’ll lose most of the detail, but I’ll give it a shot. Might also try giving one of them a soak in L.A.’s Totally Awesome. That stuff removes everything.

[@phillipdavis3705]

Amazing, where do i buy those?

[@phillipdavis3705]

Ok watch video.foun

[@FigureFiend]

you can get the Nosferatu kits from Monolith Toys on etsy

[@BlackAdder1970]

The Dracula megos face reminds me of the actor that played Dracula in the Spanish version

[@FigureFiend]

That is a fantastic film that was shot simultaneously and he does have that vibe for sure

[@_mergg]

F yes!!

[@FigureFiend]

Thanks!

[@geekstrong1]

💪😎

[@RalphOnofrio]

My friends were making car models....I was making THESE.

[@Merylstreep1949]

Soooo cool Have you ever thought of doing a Dr. Phibes kit????

[@FigureFiend]

Very cool, Id love to see a kit of that one myself…lots of options there to do a great base too!

[@Merylstreep1949]

@FigureFiend especially him seated at that pipe organ or him with Vulnavia

[@salinagrrrl69]

MISSING is, "The Forgotten Prisoner Of CastleMare".💀

[@FigureFiend]

I do need to do him in the dark ride themes for sure!

[@ricwatt]

i was more into the Super Heroes Models, Any plans to do the Super Heroes Models like Superman, Batman etc ?

[@FigureFiend]

they are on my radar and will grab any I come across in the wild! Id love a batman and spiderman to start.

[@John-k5o7z]

Are there assembly instructions ?

[@FigureFiend]

the Nosferatu kit is really straightforward with arm and leg pins that are pegged to fit perfectly, there are photos of the pieces on the monolith toys shop page.

[@mr.kilroy6818]

Fantastic Lad !!

[@FigureFiend]

thank you!

[@chuckskulltob]

try 3d printing the lost bats

[@FigureFiend]

I may do that, Phantoms bow and mask (dark ride version) I had to sculpt and print those and those look close enough!

[@CarliCoppolaOfSavoca]

What about doing a Jack Torrance From The Shining and Reagan from The Exorcist, and Jack The Ripper And Rocky Marciano in the Aurora Style Art and Box

[@FigureFiend]

I would love to do more and have been a few sketches for future kits...Jack the Ripper is at the top of the list for sure!

[@CarliCoppolaOfSavoca]

@ that would be fantastic, as an Aurora fan and collector since I was a kid ( born in 1960) I wondered how it would look with the art, among other ones

[@CarliCoppolaOfSavoca]

I still have my “Man From U.N.C.L.E. Kennedy, Jack Dempsey,Babe Ruth, and My Monster Models, (of course) I still have all of my models lol

[@John-k5o7z]

Never liked the glow in the dark...Takes away too much !

[@jefbowles7745]

Wow it costs that much from a model you copied 😂good luck 😮you go found real model kits the original for a lot less and these are considered antiques so to speak , everyone wants a piece of the pie or reformed plastic 😮. Bless your greedy little gingerbread hearts

[@FigureFiend]

the Nosferatu kit is a custom sculpt in a custom box and each one is made by hand so it is not a copy, Aurora did not make this kit originally

[@dalepetrush4121]

I donnot have alot of money. Can I get a free sample to try?

[@FigureFiend]

-

[@greatlambrini8722]

No

[@user-xv3zp8gl7j]

Dude get outa here with these bullshit videos, i have never seen any product on ebay for sale of anything your preaching. What do you do make 5? Your waisting are time.

[@jeffholt9437]

I can see the 9" Nosferatu for sale on Etsy......?

[@FigureFiend]

If you search ebay sellers "figure_fiend" and use the UNDERSCORE you will find the shop. When I list batches, they sell quickly (all that is listed on instagram with a time and date) certain things last for weeks, others sell out in a min or less. And you can find the kits in this video on the Monolith Toys Etsy shop.

[@dalepetrush4121]

Have any beer left??

[@franklinking2576]

Exactly correct

[@DavidUrban-y3c]

I remember these. Loved the kits. Unfortunately, my Mom didn't like the looks of them. Said they looked creepy. Does anyone remember The Pirates of the Carribean they were "animated" models.

[@FigureFiend]

i loved those as well!