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First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

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bucketfoot-al
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First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#1 Post by bucketfoot-al »

So I was just thinking recently that, in the 10,000 or so homes I have inspected in the past 2 decades, I have not run into another member of "The Hobby" ... so naturally, today's first appointment broke that string. I appraised the home of a retired gentleman and the first thing I saw in his living room was an X-Plus 8" Harryhausen Cyclops action figure.

We got to talking, and he told me that he has all his old built up Aurora monsters packed up in the attic (drat!).

Then, in one corner of his home, I found his trophy - a First Place Plaque above the winning contest entry - from 1964 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The inscription is kind of hard to read, but it looks like the contest may have been sponsored by THE Aurora Company itself.

Can anyone identify the contest that the plaque commemorated? Surely a piece of Monster Hobby History. Here's the photos I took:




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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#2 Post by tay666 »

Trevor Ylisaari

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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#3 Post by overspray »

Hopefully that inflated the value of his house :wink:

A clear case of model abuse - putting those kits in the attic!

I've heard of these before, but I'm amazed that the one at auction went for $379!

Very cool, great story - thanks for sharing.

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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#4 Post by bucketfoot-al »


Thank you Trev!! I would have used my phone to take the pictures but I had left it in the car as I use a camera (that's not as good but better suited to the job) for my work. When I looked at the pictures I was a little bummed that I couldn't read the entire plaque.

Were these mail-away type contests or were they given away in person at a festival-type event, I wonder? Anyone know?
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bucketfoot-al
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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#5 Post by bucketfoot-al »

overspray wrote:Hopefully that inflated the value of his house :wink:

A clear case of model abuse - putting those kits in the attic!

I've heard of these before, but I'm amazed that the one at auction went for $379!

Very cool, great story - thanks for sharing.
It didn't "inflate it" but I did make sure that it got every penny it was worth. The home was really well kept up (though a bit cluttered with old fashioned memorabilia type items). The fellow was a bachelor getting a reverse mortgage so hopefully it will enable him to live out the rest of his life comfortably.
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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#6 Post by billikenmonster »

How cool is that. Great story. thanks

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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#7 Post by Heavy Metal Spike »

Thanks for sharing Vlad - interesting read.

Well-done on the research Trev.

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Re: First Place Entry - 1964 Monster Model Contest (Aurora)?

#8 Post by monsterjones »

Very cool story, I bet you freaked when you saw that...I bought a resin copy of a second place plaque that is in my stash....will use your pixs as reference!
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