(1125-350) DH-10A (1972)
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AURORA KIT NO.1125-350-DE HAVILLAND DH-10A
The 1972 Collector's Series from Aurora included this DH10A bomber in a bright new box and bright new plastic with improved decals but poor instructions. Contents of this example are mint, all original 71 parts being present and individually bagged within a somewhat creased box. One of Aurora's most unusual WWI kit subjects since they were hamstrung by size considerations when deciding to produce a suitable British heavyweight to partner the Gotha in 1957. Despite a number of flaws, none of which are beyond redemption, it builds into rather an impressive model of a type too late for war service but which served in the Middle-East theatre post-Armistice.The kit no longer includes the original's large moulded ground base and the thin vacform terrain base is a poor substitute. Still, the decals are much better with faded roundels and authentic serial number printed on the rudder with duplicated separate numbers should you choose to paint the stripes. Etched markings are retained for the most part so require removal as usual. We have just the one kit available identical to the K & B issue sold in the UK and Europe until the end of 1974...
THE original Aurora De Haviland DH-10 (Kit No.125) was released in 1957 with the UK's shared Playcraft label. It was reissued in 1972 as one of 18 planned vintage aircraft kits from Aurora's extensive back catalogue, lavishly repackaged in the short-lived Collector's Series. There's a leaflet with our kit that lists the full extent of the intended releases-six of which never made the final cut. 'Missing in action' were the DH4; Bristol Fighter; Curtiss Jenny; SPAD XIII, Boeing P.12E and DH82 Tiger Moth. John Amendola had already completed artwork for most of these when,due to disappointing domestic sales,the series was axed in America during late 1973 soldiering on in the UK for another year under the K&B label.
Correctly re-designated DH-10A,the reissue was virtually identical to its predecessor other than the main parts being in deep beige rather than olive. Black runners were unchanged;etched decal positions remained but the bogus rudder serial was removed leaving the vertical tricolour behind. An all-new set of decals provided accurate serial F1869,one of 16 DH.10A built by the parent company under a 27 March 1918 contract. Despite the box lid declarations, the fold-out instruction leaflet did not include 'detailed rigging and painting instructions' although a rigging insert did appear in some later examples As befits a product of Aurora's Canadian Rexdale plant, texts were in French and English.
This kit is complete with all of its 71 parts, many retained on runners all in mint condition and all carefully sealed in new polybags. Whilst the box is somewhat careworn, it in no way detracts from John Amendola's stellar artwork-one of his very best.Aurora reissued their DH-10A one last time in 1976 as Kit No.786, along with nine others, in smaller, less attractive boxes with new decals improved instructions and final tool revisions embodying various upgrades These proved to be the swansong of Aurora's WWI aircraft kits for in 1977 this pioneering US manufacturer was shut down, most of its tools being sold to Monogram...
DH data: WINDSOCK DATAFILE No.38 by J M Bruce covers both DH10 and DH10A in great depth with a rare selection of photos from the JMB/GSL Collection spread over 36 pages including close-ups of interiors; cockpits; armament; engines and nacelles together with detailed 1:48 scale drawings of both variants and a trio of colour profiles. * Also Profile Publications No.135 by the same author published in 1966 with many period photos and colour views on inner covers. Both titles are available here-please see links below...
