Remembrances of Aurora: Andrew Yanchus

This is from the telephone interview I had with Andrew Yanchus who worked at Aurora Plastics from 1965-1975. This is just an introduction, some explantions and a few interesting storries. There is much more to explore in future installments.
Music: Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins

[@PhotoFlight]

I don't think my 10-year old self would have cared much about the back story when I was buying those kits off the self. But the adult me sure does appreciate the why, how and behind the scenes of Aurora. Brings back some memories it does. Any chance of getting some insider stories about the 2001: A Space Odyssey kits? Thanks Max.

[@alanclarke3228]

I miss Aurora, they had a nice selection of airliners and private planes which I liked building. They were not perfect, but with a little extra effort, I got a pretty nice model!

[@markfrommontana]

Top notch modeling history. Thanks Max. You and Andy make a great team.

[@paulbervid1610]

Very interesting video. Very historical.

[@kenhanson1819]

Another great video, Max! Kudos to you and Andy for filling us curious model makers in on a classic company. It's interesting that Abe Shikes didn't want Aurora to be known as the "figure company", but then went on to form Addar, and produce the Planet of the Apes figure kits. "Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes".

[@maxsmodels]

Yeah, we noticed that.

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Never knew just how close this company was to me as a kid. Many fond memories of this company! Thanks Captain!

[@maxsmodels]

my pleasure

[@JohnB-le2pi]

A great video about my favorite model/slot car company of all time! I was hoping to see something about the Aurora Racing Scenes line of ultra detailed 1/16 scale drag racing funny car subjects. Maybe in a future video? Thanks!

[@MRaadesign]

I was lucky to have met Andy a few times over the years at Wonderfest in KY. Such a great guy. I've been building model kits since I was a kid in the 70's. Us model kit hobby guys owe Andy so much.

[@Wild-Dad]

Excellent video!!!

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@redr1150r]

Another great modeling story.

[@dalestrange5817]

hey Max speedy recovery. I enjoy the history on model kit companies.

[@Edubarca46]

Excellent video, Max. It is so exciting and interesting to find out all t intimacies of the plastic model industry. Congratulations.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

Max, absolutely FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for this!! I asked my wife and daughter to watch this and they absolutely loved it!! (As they should.) Keep 'em coming!!

[@maxsmodels]

Andy has great stories to tell and at some point we should to go more into slot cars. The irony is he wanted to do kit models. Life is funny.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

@@maxsmodels Wonderful!! Thanks so much!

[@patjohnson3100]

Very informative. First model I built was from Aurora, so I have a soft spot for the company. You have a very good broadcast voice. Regards.

[@Banner_Bearer_of_Eternity]

Wow! What a great documentary! Thanks Max. Can't wait for the next part.

[@maxsmodels]

I am almost getting too much info. Andy is a treasure trove of knowledge.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Aurora had some wonderful HO building structures in the late 50s, and by his time, '65, was steeped in Model Motoring. If was a good time for Aurora.

[@stanleygeorge7781]

Outstanding video Max. I'm continuing to learn so much about the model industry. I'm currently working on getting my project management certificate and hearing this on your video put a huge smile on my face.

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@chuck9987]

Wow! Really great information and a great video. Thank You!!!!!!!

[@owenb9370]

I always though the tanks were well done. Well done video.

[@fanatichighdesertrailroader]

Been in the plastic injection molding business along time we have always called them ejector pins. Any way excellent history of Aurora models.

[@rogerhinman5427]

I remember as a kid building the Green Hornet car in a motel room. Don't remember where we were going but I do remember my older sister wasn't "best pleased" with the smell of glue.

[@maxsmodels]

Girls?!

[@kennethkwilinski4899]

@@maxsmodels I always complained about my sisters nail polish remover whenever she brought up the smell of glue. Hers was 100% worst.

[@mikewysko2268]

Well done Sir! ☺

[@SuperHeliboy]

I always learn so much from your videos. Thanks.

[@frogr100]

Well done, sir. I met Andy back in 1977 at the IPMS National Convention in San Francisco. Generous with his knowledge as always, he provided many fascinating stories that I was able to incorporate into a book I later self-published called "WWI In Plastic". Aurora, it should be noted, was, until recently, the company that made the largest assortment of WWI kits: 20 (21 if you consider their re-tooled Albatros D-III into an Albatros D-V an additional kit - - - which I did.). They may not have been the most accurate by today's standards, but, except for the molded on insignia, they were quite acceptable, and most inaccuracies were due to the somewhat inadequate and questionable drawings that were available in the mid-'50s to early '60s. Andy is still a friend and I'm glad to see that you did such a good job with this video.

[@tgmccoy1556]

Tim McCoy wife's account. I have the Gotha in my stash. Semi built brought at a yard Sale all there too. Wife had a distant relative that was Gotha pilot. He survived the war. Moved to Canada and got The heck out of Bavaria before Herr Shinickelgruber's Reign of terror.

[@maxsmodels]

Smart guy, I would loved to have had a chat with him.

[@jmfa57]

Max, I saved this video for Tuesday morning, since you're at the doctor instead of posting videos. I must say that the best part of my day is probably behind me. This was great! I remember building all four of the Comet (later Aurora) civil aircraft. The Beech twin tail was my second model ever, my grandmother bought it for me, and I think I still have its tattered remains in a box in the attic. The Cessna 310 was my favorite, as it was the second aircraft flown in the old Sky King TV series. Thanks for a great story and awakening great memories. Hope your doctor visit went well!

[@robingray1302]

Absolutely brilliant, heartfelt thanks to you & Andy for that !!!

[@maxsmodels]

thank you

[@gfride1]

Really great info & visuals to add to the written works by Thomas Graham, Dennis Prince, and others -- Thanks, Max!

[@Paladin1873]

11:38, I had all four of those Aurora models. I did not know they were rebranded Comet models, but I can tell you I found the box art very appealing, so most of them wound up on my bedroom wall. I think the Cessna 310 model was a straight tail, despite the box art implying it was a swept tail.

[@maxsmodels]

I remember them

[@gemmumma8354]

A most excellent vid and topic. Well done!

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@garfieldsmith332]

Great review. Thanks for posting this. I never knew Aurora started destroying the molds before the sale or train wreck. Foresight was not a trait of many executives back then. Looking forward to the next session.

[@robertschaeffer5861]

The quest for what sells.. Keeps the hunt going... Somehow "fantastic plastic" keeps coming to mind..

[@moronicpest]

Neat video. I believe Andy had held on to some of his prototype slot car bodies and the owner of the current Model Motoring bought and resold them via a phone-in auction over 20 years ago to help fund his company.

[@jamesdziendziel9187]

Wow! So my oversize box story was confirmed. I never knew if that was entirely true or partially speculation. Fantastic information Max. Great Job.

[@mbryson2899]

I missed the Aurora Cessna Skymaster. But I did get the HO Black Beauty! If I recall correctly it was a two-piece job, roof and windows separate from body.

[@maxsmodels]

sounds like a tough build

[@mbryson2899]

@@maxsmodels ROFL!

[@dmflynn962]

Thanks for an informative and entertaining video. Interesting that someone who worked there could push the production of his favorite models. I would think that top management would want only what would sell the best. Yet Aurora made some really different models, at least in terms of ships such as the USS Guadalcanal, Moscow, USS Tucumcari, etc. Scale Modeler used to trash Aurora because of its legacy of inaccurate kits, especially planes, yet never got credit for pretty decent releases in the mid 60s, such as AV-8 Corsair II or the Sikorsky helicopters.

[@brianroe1474]

This is a great start to what promises to be an interesting series. Thanks for making it happen!

[@mrains100]

Learned a lot. Thank you!

[@billgiltzow4464]

Oh wow, Great video, I want to know more about Strombecker too, as my first slot car track was theirs.

[@maxsmodels]

Andy and I are planning to work on that.

[@chrispacer4231]

It’s amazing how much I’ve learned on this site. My friend who passed away a couple of years ago, would just LOVE this. HE WAS A AURORA FREAK. I can say he had all of the monster kits, mad scientist kits. WW1 planes. I’M LOVING IT ALSO. Thanks MAXMODELS for all your hard work.

[@maxsmodels]

Glad to do it.

[@SaturnCanuck]

Very interesting. Thanks

[@rickbachman993]

Thank you Andy and Max! Lol, watched the Green Hornet as a kid. The Black Beauty was bad ass😁✌️👍

[@PopsP51]

Excellent presentation Max and Andy. I had many Prehistoric Scenes kits as a kid and a few other planes and ships from Aurora. Currently I have none in my stash. I will be looking into Atlantis. I'd like to support their efforts!

[@davidgreen5099]

i still have my Aurora Black Beauty. the Batmobile too. Aurora made the best HO scale slots.

[@douglasw.7864]

Wonderful video!

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@richardbartolo2890]

Strange how 2 of Auroras owners one who purchased stock to control the company and the other who helped start the company wanted to own Aurora model company but wanted to make toys instead of models. And their desire to make toys caused them to make changes to the company that may have helped cause its demise.

[@Spindrift-id1ez]

Spruces, Runners, I always referred to them as Trees

[@HavocSun]

If i can make one suggestion, invest in some microphones. It could be just me. The older I get, the less I hear. This video in particular I just want to get every word.

[@johnaitken7430]

I like the stuff on business aspect

[@Edubarca46]

Just plain curiosity. Do you happen to know why Monogram released those beautiful kits of the Piper Tri-Pacer and Cessna 180 and made no more civil personal aircraft?

[@maxsmodels]

Somebody liked the idea. Prabably Besser or Reeder

[@JohnJones-oy3md]

9:15 - Well I'll be damned. I always assumed all molds were cut from steel. Interesting, interesting, interesting!

[@chuckw1113]

All this brings to mind a thought. Any idea what happened to the Molds for the Aurora kit of the German Raider Atlantis? I only saw the kit one time in the early 1960s in a discount how use, but the kit was open had been plundered of many parts like the Guns. I’ve always wanted the kit, but none have ever shown up on any of the old kit sites.

[@maxsmodels]

Unknown, might still be in a field in the midwest but most likely melted down.

[@deanguy66]

I had access to the Aurora existing tool list when I worked at Revell-Monogram and I never saw the Atlantis on the list.

[@Merylstreep1949]

Seemed like a cool video,but the volume seemed way too low

[@maxsmodels]

Hmmm. I cranked it up

[@LannieLord]

@@maxsmodels Was low for me too .

[@Paladin1873]

Here's a project idea for you. Find an Aztec model and rebuild it as an early blunt nose version.

[@maxsmodels]

I considered it but they are too expensive and I just couldn't do it. It might be better to get an Apache and change the tail

[@boblewis2274]

Just curious: is this the same Andy Yanchus who did, I believe, some coloring work at marvel comics?

[@maxsmodels]

Not sure, I will have to ask.

[@almarciano5226]

Yes, I knew Andy well.

[@perpieta]

Yes, one and the same. Check out the book "The 1964 New York Comicon: The True Story Behind the World's First Comic Convention." There's a lot about Andy (who attended that first convention) in the book.

[@brianfever3927]

Andy was also a colorist for Marvel Comics for many years.