The black falcon appears to be the  basis of the model used in

Mutiny 1952

Hi PROFF !

      When I worked off duty in the civilian world I got to paint that durned thing twice . No known ship ever looked that weird , I am sure !

      Yes !  the Black Falcon can be found in aquarium shops as a sunken Pirate Ship bubbler  . It is the ship too . How do I know ?

 Well , sometimes I got more money than sense . I bought one and using my old built ship ( quite ragged ) I " Restored " the durned thing .The " Bubbler parts were an exact match for the Aurora molds .

jtilley

The Revell "Jolly Roger Pirate Ship," according to Dr. Graham, was initially released in 1960 - but whether it should count is a bit questionable. It was a highly detailed, apparently accurate scale model of an amusement park prop - Captain Hook's ship at the original Disney World. ............... This is the one that eventually became the Chicken of the Sea restaurant.

I never knew the attraction became a restaurant.

Thanks for the info on those kits.

The Revell "Jolly Roger Pirate Ship," according to Dr. Graham, was initially released in 1960 - but whether it should count is a bit questionable. It was a highly detailed, apparently accurate scale model of an amusement park prop - Captain Hook's ship at the original Disney World. That "prototype," in turn, bore scarcely any resemblance to anything that ever floated. (I'm not sure in did float. It may have been secured permanently to the bottom of the "lagoon," or whatever they called it.) This is the one that eventually became the Chicken of the Sea restaurant.

Here's what Dr. Graham has to say about the "Black Falcon," Aurora kit #210, which was on the market from 1954 through 1976: "Early issues are ivory plastic with metal anchor chains; later issues are black plastic. A toylike model of a pirate ship based on a wooden model by Ideal Aeroplane Supply of New York City. One of Aura's best selling kits. Also issued as 429. First two box art by Cox. Third rowboat box art by unknown artist. Final box art by Steel. Copied by Merit of England in the late 11950s, this pirated mold was later used by Artiplast of Italy and SMER of Czechoslovakia."

So, again, Ideal gets the blame.

The Aurora Chinese Junk dates from 1956. According to Dr. Graham, it was reissued in 1968 under the label "Armed Command Junk": "Black and orange plastic with new tan plastic parts to convert model inta a Vietnam War ship. Machine guns are concealed under bales and tarpaulins that lift off. Box art by Steel." I do recall seeing it in a Revell Germany box not too many years ago.

Was the AURORA Black Falcon the only pirate ship model kit on the market during the 1960s?

GMorrison

Spruece, might have been the old "Chicken of the Sea".

"Sorry Charlie.........." 

There was a Chinese Junk model. I thought it was by Revell, but maybe it was Aurora. Cast in black and orange plastic. That one got a length of plastic rod representing the business end of a Bofors cannon, with the stern removable.

Ernest Gann Soldier of Fortune.

The highjacker now returns the controls to the pilot.

Spruece, might have been the old "Chicken of the Sea".

Right bungled the sentence. Horned helmets described Aurora, not the movie. I had nightmares for years about losing an eye.

A trip very well worth the expense is to go to Oslo and see the Gokstad and Oseberg ships at the Viking Ship Museum, the Fram and the Gjoa at the Fram Museum and Norwegian Maritime Museum respectively, and the Kon-tiki replica at it's own museum.

I cannot remember ever being pleased with any Aurora ship kit. Possible exception the USS St. Paul.

jtilley

................... According to Thomas Graham's fine book, Aurora Model Kits, the Aurora "Viking Ship" was initially released in 1954. Dr. Graham has this to say about it: "Early issues ivory, later brown plastic, vinyl sail. First issue has eagle sail decal, laater a dragon. Includes numerous crew figures. Based on a wooden model by Ideal. Copied by Merit, also reissued by Artiplast and SMER. .............."

The movie The Vikings was released in 1958. The ships in it actually are pretty good; they're clearly based on the basic lines of the Gokstad Ship. I actually like that movie (though the plot is utterly hokey and I want to kill the composer of the background music). Nobody in it wears a horned helmet; the producers did do a fair amount of research.

I built that AURORA model in the 1960s and still own it, but it is in a worse for wear condition. I bought the SMER kit intending to use parts to rebuild the AURORA kit. I notice that the kit is due for a "nostagia"  re-release in the same form as my 1960s kit and have not yet decided if I will buy the re-issue and rebuild the SMER kit as a 6th-7th century byzantine small dromon per this thread in FSM forums:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/57034.aspx?sort=DESC

As an adult, I much prefer the Revell Viking model kit.

I also prefer the 1958 movie "The Vikings" if for no other reason than the acting by Ernest Borgnine , Kirk Douglas and Frank Thring as well as hearing a "Hail Ragnar " spouted every so often.  

I still prefer the 1958 Kirk Douglas movie to the 1964 move "The Long Ships", though it may be a toss up as to which plot is sillier.........

Gordon: Please forgive my comments on the AURORA Viking ship; I do not wish to derail the thread.

I , however, do recall having a plastic model pirate ship a very long time ago, but it did not survive. I have no idea who made the kit as no trace remains.

I got curious  and did a little digging. According to Thomas Graham's fine book, Aurora Model Kits, the Aurora "Viking Ship" was initially released in 1954. Dr. Graham has this to say about it: "Early issues ivory, later brown plastic, vinyl sail. First issue has eagle sail decal, laater a dragon. Includes numerous crew figures. Based on a wooden model by Ideal. Copied by Merit, also reissued by Artiplast and SMER. First box art by Cox. Second box art with two ships by unknown artist. Final box art by Steel."

The movie The Vikings was released in 1958. The ships in it actually are pretty good; they're clearly based on the basic lines of the Gokstad Ship. I actually like that movie (though the plot is utterly hokey and I want to kill the composer of the background music). Nobody in it wears a horned helmet; the producers did do a fair amount of research.

So apparently the original culprit was Ideal. That's a bit surprising; Ideal made lots of wood ships that have a good reputation.

I got curious  and did a little digging. According to Thomas Graham's fine book,

The Aurora ship is just horrible. I believe it was released to coincide with the equally bad Kirk Douglas movie of the same theme. Helmets with horns and all.

The Revell model is IMO one of the most accurate larger scale sailing models available in plastic. The America isn't bad, either.

Just ignore that grimacing face decal.

If you want to build a plastic Viking ship, the kit to buy is the Revell one. I suspect it would cost less than $30. It's still available from Revell Germany.

It's a remarkably accurate model of the Gokstad Ship. Do a forum search on "Gokstad Ship" and you'll find a thread I started about mine.

I don't think a single piece of that ancient Aurora kit bears any resemblance to a anything from Norse culture. (Well, they did put the steering oar on the right - er, starboard - er, correct - side.) I have to agree, though: to build it again would be a warm and fuzzy exercise in nostalgia.

First three builds, Aurora Black Falcon, Aurora Viking Ship, Airfix Endeavor.  I still don't know how they got away with the artwork for the Viking ship.  I have seen other artwork for the same kit but by different manufacturers and they have it correct.  I may not have bought the kit though if they had the corrected artwork

I keep on seeing the new release of the Viking ship at our local hobby shop and wonder if I should put down the $30  (Canadian).  It would just take a little sanding to remove all the moulding.  Raise the forward and rear wales to the proper shape. Re-plank as it was clinker built.  Cut a new headpiece or eliminate all together as they did take it down in order not to anger the gods on land.  Throw away the deck and cut in a new one-piece about a quarter inch lower.  Make enough wooden crates to provide seating for the rowers.  Throw away the vinyl sail and lay the spar onto the storage rails as if coming up a river as they loved to do.  Pick up some of the newer issues of Viking warriors of the same scale to fill out the deck complement.  Might turn out to be a not too bad model. Then I look at some of the other Viking kits that have been discussed on this site and say to myself, why go though all that hassle.  Yet something still tugs at me.

When I found the Russian drawings for the St Peter I kept my eye on E-bay and picked up one kit in need of repair and later a SMER release of the Falcon.  I took liked the detail in the drawings and wanted to try another rebuild of the Falcon into a more accurate model following the plans.  My previous rebuilds while better than the original still lacked some of the details that I see now such as the tiller and tiller rope, the ship's ladder/stairs and so on.  That was over 12 months ago.  

With some proper copying, redrawing the lines and pulling them back to make allowances for the skin, decking etc.  Cutting various templates in card (first) I think one can come up with a pretty good set of plans.  Building a model from scratch as we know is a dedication unto itself.  I still think one or two of the unfished ones haunt my closet never to see the light of day.

Tankbuilder, just let me know where to send the towels.

Okay !

   Has someone got a towel ? These addresses knocked me clean overboard and outta site .

Those Russian drawings are really nice. They don't match the Aurora kit (no quarter galleries), but the overall shape of the vessel is certainly believable. And I especially like the detail sketches. Since I don't read Russian, I'm not competent to comment much beyond that.

I'm not sure those hull lines would be enough to build a model, but I think it would be worth a try.

Over47, it sounds like you have feelings about that old Black Falcon like I have for the Aurora Viking Ship. I built it many times between elementary school and high school, having great fun painting all those hokey little figures. It got me interested in reading about the Vikings - as a result of which I eventually realized that the kit bears almost no resemblance to a real Viking ship. As a scale model it's just about beyond salvation, but I still smile when I think about it.

Thank you for the links

Aww ;

   Proff ! c'mon now , you know that is where most of them have wound up ! T.B.

I have tried to add pictures of the drawings that I had referred to to my last post but I see it did not occur.

I will try something else and see if that helps.

http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/over47/media/petr01_zps330jxu5e.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/over47/media/petr02_zpst0jwa7k9.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

I have always had a soft spot for this model, probably because it was one of my first builds. It also provided me with that sense, this is what a small brig of war should be like. I have rebuilt it a few times.  All new decks, masts, separate deck fitting, specifically rails for the pins and guns more in keeping with small 6 pounders. I came across a set of drawings that seems to resemble the Black Falcon but is in Russian, I think.  It was called the Peter, or St. Peter and supposedly plied the Black Sea.

Bluejacket ( www.bluejacketinc.com ) sells a larger, similar wood kit. (I'm pretty sure the two kits were based on the same plans.) Bluejacket probably would sell you a set of the plans.

I feel obliged to ask, though: are you sure that's what you want to build? The Aurora kit dates from the earliest days of plastic modeling, and among serious ship modelers it's widely regarded as a joke. More than one member of this Forum has suggested that the only appropriate place for it is at the bottom of a fish tank. It doesn't bear much resemblance to any actual ship that ever floated.

There are lots of plans and kits out there that represent real ships. I'm sure quite a few folks here in the forum would be happy to help you pick one.