In Box Review of Aurora-Esci 1/35th Scale
German Command Post
Kit no. 6307
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1977
I paid $3.00 for this kit back in the 70's.
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1977
I paid $3.00 for this kit back in the 70's.
THE KIT:
ESCI was a well-known Italian scale model kit manufacturer based in Milan Italy, active in the industry between 1967 and 2000.
The Aurora Plastics Corporation is a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing company.
It is known primarily for its production of plastic model kits of airplanes, automobiles, and TV and movie figures in the 1960s.
Its principal competition in modeling were various other plastic modeling firms like Revell and Monogram
I believe Aurora and ESCI have gone out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 7 German infantry-men resting at a command post, posed against an all-white background, similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
All the soldiers are dressed in field-grey uniforms, with black jack boots.
Reading left to right, the first man is an officer. He is sitting on a folding wood chair. He wears an officer's grey peaked hat and is reading a map.
The next man, slightly behind the officer, is seated on another folding wood chair at a wood table with a field radio on it. He is bare-headed. There is a briefcase and paperwork on the table.
The third man to the right is standing behind the radio operator. He is a courier. He wears a steel helmet and a long coat. He is armed with a MP40 submachine gun and has a gas mask canister and ammo pouch on his belt. He is delivering a dispatch in his left hand to the radio operator.
The fourth man to the right is seated, with his back against a large wood crate. He is bare-headed and is handing a pack of cigarettes to another seated man across from him. There is a large shovel and pick leaning against the back of the wood crate and a belt with a mess kit on it on top of the crate.
The fifth man to the right is seated. He wears a soft cloth side cap. He is accepting the cigarette from the fourth man.
The sixth man behind him is seated on another wood crate. He wears a soft cloth side cap and a medic's red cross arm-band. He is reading a copy of SIGNAL magazine.
The seventh and last man to the right is seated on the other end of the crate that the sixth man is seated on. He also wears a soft cloth side cap. He is pouring water out of a water bottle into a metal cup. On the ground in front of him is laying 2 steel helmets, a gas mask canister and a canvas pouch.
The box art says the kit holds 7 German troops at a front-line command center. Kit was made in Italy and packaged in the U.S.A.
One side panel gives features of the kit: Fully detailed 7 figures set of German troops, Includes officer, courier, radio operator and medic. Equipment includes the field radio, weapons and field packs, molded in authentic colored styrene plastic. Kit is designed for modelers age 10 and up. Modeling experience is helpful . Paint and cement are not included.
It says "Many interesting diorama possibilities are available with this 7 figure set. A front-line communication center with reinforcements awaiting transfer to their combat units.
ESCI was a well-known Italian scale model kit manufacturer based in Milan Italy, active in the industry between 1967 and 2000.
The Aurora Plastics Corporation is a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing company.
It is known primarily for its production of plastic model kits of airplanes, automobiles, and TV and movie figures in the 1960s.
Its principal competition in modeling were various other plastic modeling firms like Revell and Monogram
I believe Aurora and ESCI have gone out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 7 German infantry-men resting at a command post, posed against an all-white background, similar to how Tamiya brand does the majority of their box arts also.
All the soldiers are dressed in field-grey uniforms, with black jack boots.
Reading left to right, the first man is an officer. He is sitting on a folding wood chair. He wears an officer's grey peaked hat and is reading a map.
The next man, slightly behind the officer, is seated on another folding wood chair at a wood table with a field radio on it. He is bare-headed. There is a briefcase and paperwork on the table.
The third man to the right is standing behind the radio operator. He is a courier. He wears a steel helmet and a long coat. He is armed with a MP40 submachine gun and has a gas mask canister and ammo pouch on his belt. He is delivering a dispatch in his left hand to the radio operator.
The fourth man to the right is seated, with his back against a large wood crate. He is bare-headed and is handing a pack of cigarettes to another seated man across from him. There is a large shovel and pick leaning against the back of the wood crate and a belt with a mess kit on it on top of the crate.
The fifth man to the right is seated. He wears a soft cloth side cap. He is accepting the cigarette from the fourth man.
The sixth man behind him is seated on another wood crate. He wears a soft cloth side cap and a medic's red cross arm-band. He is reading a copy of SIGNAL magazine.
The seventh and last man to the right is seated on the other end of the crate that the sixth man is seated on. He also wears a soft cloth side cap. He is pouring water out of a water bottle into a metal cup. On the ground in front of him is laying 2 steel helmets, a gas mask canister and a canvas pouch.
The box art says the kit holds 7 German troops at a front-line command center. Kit was made in Italy and packaged in the U.S.A.
One side panel gives features of the kit: Fully detailed 7 figures set of German troops, Includes officer, courier, radio operator and medic. Equipment includes the field radio, weapons and field packs, molded in authentic colored styrene plastic. Kit is designed for modelers age 10 and up. Modeling experience is helpful . Paint and cement are not included.
It says "Many interesting diorama possibilities are available with this 7 figure set. A front-line communication center with reinforcements awaiting transfer to their combat units.
A courier is delivering orders.
A field commander is following the latest enemy movements.
All Aurora-Esci standards of quality and authenticity and a repeat that the kit is for modelers 10 and up and modeling experience helpful, paint and cement not included.
The other side panel repeats all this.
A field commander is following the latest enemy movements.
All Aurora-Esci standards of quality and authenticity and a repeat that the kit is for modelers 10 and up and modeling experience helpful, paint and cement not included.
The other side panel repeats all this.
The bottom of the box is identical to the box art, except for the copyright date of 1977 for the kit and Aurora's address in West Hempstead, NY and their office address in Ontario, Canada and Holland.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 black trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" format, printed in blue ink.
This kit contains 3 black trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet folded in the center to create 4 pages in 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" format, printed in blue ink.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a blue and white photo of Hitler reading over a map with officers. Over the history of the troops and READ BEFORE STARTING instructions, a repeat of the 1977 copyright date and Aurora's 3 addresses.
Page 2 has assembly instructions at the top of it for the field radio, field telephones, wood table and chair and the wood crate.
Below these is an illustration of how general equipment is placed on the figures.
Page 3 has assembly instructions for the seated radio operator, the seated officer, the courier and the seated man that is filling his metal cup.
Page 4 has 2 maps and an envelope to cut out with a scissors and use, with assembly drawings for the man seated with his back against the large wood crate, the man he is handing the cigarette to.
The bottom of the page has the painting instructions.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Aurora-Esci !
The first black tree holds: the seated figure that is offering the cigarette (divided into separate torso, lower body and arms). The figure accepting the cigarette (divided into separate torso, arms and legs).
Also on this tree is: 2 shovels in pouches, 2 gas mask canisters,2 canteens, the long shovel and pick, the wood table, the field radio, 2 98K carbines, 2 steel helmets, 2 soft cloth side caps, 2 ammo pouches and 2 small canvas pouches (38 parts)
Page 2 has assembly instructions at the top of it for the field radio, field telephones, wood table and chair and the wood crate.
Below these is an illustration of how general equipment is placed on the figures.
Page 3 has assembly instructions for the seated radio operator, the seated officer, the courier and the seated man that is filling his metal cup.
Page 4 has 2 maps and an envelope to cut out with a scissors and use, with assembly drawings for the man seated with his back against the large wood crate, the man he is handing the cigarette to.
The bottom of the page has the painting instructions.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Aurora-Esci !
The first black tree holds: the seated figure that is offering the cigarette (divided into separate torso, lower body and arms). The figure accepting the cigarette (divided into separate torso, arms and legs).
Also on this tree is: 2 shovels in pouches, 2 gas mask canisters,2 canteens, the long shovel and pick, the wood table, the field radio, 2 98K carbines, 2 steel helmets, 2 soft cloth side caps, 2 ammo pouches and 2 small canvas pouches (38 parts)
The second black tree holds: the courier figure (divided into separate full body and arms). I think he doubles as a field policeman because there is a traffic baton and goggles that could be put on him.
The seated man that is filling his cup is on this tree also. (divided into separate torso, arms and legs),
The officer (divided the same as the man filling his cup). Also, 3 gas mask canisters, 3 steel helmets, the traffic baton, 2 soft cloth side caps, a pair of goggles, a brief-case, the field telephone and its box, a MP40 submachine gun and its ammo pouch, a pistol holster and a small canvas sack. (31 parts)
The seated man that is filling his cup is on this tree also. (divided into separate torso, arms and legs),
The officer (divided the same as the man filling his cup). Also, 3 gas mask canisters, 3 steel helmets, the traffic baton, 2 soft cloth side caps, a pair of goggles, a brief-case, the field telephone and its box, a MP40 submachine gun and its ammo pouch, a pistol holster and a small canvas sack. (31 parts)
The third black tree holds: the radio operator figure (divided into separate torso, arms and legs), 2 gas mask canisters, 2 canteens, 2 small canvas sacks, 2 mess kits, 2 98K carbines and 2 wood crates (30 parts)
There are no decals in the kit.
Detail is great.
Detail is great.
Highly recommended.