Have I got a scoop for you monsterkids out there!
The famed Aurora Plastics Corporation is back in business, and more classic monsters than you can shake a flaming torch at are on the operating table, ready to be born again to delight old-time fans and make new ones. But it's not Dr. Frankenstein plotting to take over the modeling world this time, it's Gennaro (Jerry) Giammarino III, heir to the family that made Aurora a legendary model kit maker beloved by fans and copied by imitators years after it closed it's doors.
But bringing back the monsters is only part of his plans. Many of the original kits are being re-released with the current generation of budding model kit builders in mind. The time has come for a new generation of fans to experience the magic of Aurora.
Jerry took time from his busy schedule to answer the following questions about the new Aurora Plastics Corporation. I'm excited; I think you will be, too.
What led you to restart the legendary Aurora Plastics Corporation brand of model kits?
While doing a search on the Internet and also checking for any Aurora items on eBay, my Father and I were quite amazed as to the popularity for the old Aurora kits. Considering this, we decided that since we had molds in storage as well as being able to lease molds from another company that has some of the Aurora molds, we would try bringing part of the Aurora Line back for old time customers as well as bringing new items to the line. We own many Aurora Prototypes that were not done, and since we have them we might as well try to do them. We also want to try to bring modeling back for kids of this generation and we know it is a gamble, but we can try. We are in this for modelers and for fun, since we both love the model industry.
What challenges are you facing as you restart the company?
There are many challenges to any company. Our main challenge is that people want everything all at once and it can't be done. We want to establish the new Aurora first, with a line of 15 model kits, see how it goes and then take it from there. Again, money is not a problem, but I am not going to throw away my money by having it flop. If we see that the kits take off and that we can keep the company going by doing the old and adding new, then we will do our best to serve the public.
Another challenge is that there are a few people out there who have already started to try to intimidate us by telling us we have no right to do this item, or that the Box Art is not ours, and other legal challenges, etc. We will not be deterred by them and will do what we feel is right.
I can tell you that we overcame one big Challenge and that was securing a contract with Universal Studios to do some kits. I thought we would be challenged, but it seems that they are very much interested in working with us and we are in negotiations with them, and by next week we will have some better idea where we stand. It seems they are very eager to work with us, as we are eager to work with them, and we are going to do the best we can to please them as well as the modelers of today.