The End of Monarch Models (UPDATE – They are back)

Posted on by

UPDATE 2023: Monarch Models returned in 2023 with The Fly, and reissues of Nosferatu and Sinbad. The have the Moon Suit coming in 2024.

Monarch Models started the new year by announcing they were shutting down.  The announcement came on their Facebook page, posted on January 2.

theend

The final kit released by Monarch was a two figure set of the Aurora Monster Scenes Dracula and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.   The two figures were originally released only in Canada in the mid-1970’s  and are highly sought by collectors.

monarchmonsters

The release had been teased on the Monarch Facebook page over the last year.    The release was quietly announced in mid-November and is supposed to be limited to 1000 sets.   The kits were not offered to hobby shops or distributors.

The figures were apparently tooled up back in 2008 when images were posted and then quickly pulled in July 2008.   The kits were also shown at Wonderfest in 2009.

Ghosttest01

Monarch Models was the creation of Scott McKillop, a long time Aurora fan.   Much like Moebius Models which launched the same year, Monarch Models was hoping to fill a gap created when Polar Lights closed up.   At that time there were no companies producing science fiction or monster subjects.   The first kits were to be Nosfeatu, The Ghost of Castle Mare, and The Moon Suit, all scheduled for release in 2007.   Scott was working with a talented team.   Jeff Yagher was brought in to sculpt the figures.  Gary Makatura was the designer and artist.   Jim Craig was also on hand to provide artwork and illustrations.   A published interview from 2007 featured Scott discussing dozens of potential subjects for kits.

monarchnosferatu01

Nosferatu was the first kit released in late 2007.  Sculpted by Jeff Yagher and packaged in a classic Aurora style long box, this model was a hit.   The kit sold out quickly, with a reported first run of 2000 kits.    It was followed by a “Frightening Lightning” glow version in 2008.   The Ghost of Castle Mare was to be the second kit, but Scott was not happy with the tooling, and chose to delay the kit while it was being improved.   Artwork for the Moon Suit and another kit, The Fly, were displayed.

MOA201

In 2008, Sinbad, another figure sculpted by Jeff Yagher, was on display at Wonderfest.   Also announced was Gorgo.   Gorgo was on display that year at iHobbyExpo.  Artwork was also shown for the Moon Suit kit and The Fly.

And then things started to slow down.   Information trickled out slowly.

monarchweb

In May 2010, Monarch made their last appearance at Wonderfest.  At that time they showed an unfinished sculpture called Polyphemus the Cyclops,sculpted by Matt Manit.   They also announced the Colossal Beast, without providing details.   Sinbad, the second kit from Monarch Models, came out in June 2010.

The Ghost of Castle Mare finally arrived in June 2011.  Gorgo came out  May 2014 and was notorious for missing parts, or extra parts.     The Aurora Dracula and Jekyll/Hyde appeared in November 2015.  In late 2014, distributors were saying the Moon Suit was coming in January 2015.   But, we never did see the Moon Suit, The Fly, or Polyphemus.   There were several variations of Nosferatu, Sinbad, The Ghost and Gorgo.   Some with glow plastic parts, different colored plastic, some in the Aurora square box, and some with alternate artwork.

The company launched with a lot of enthusiasm and they produced several memorable kits that captured the nostalgic flavor of the Aurora monsters.   That’s something to be proud of.

If you are looking, we still have plenty of Monarch kits in the CultTVman Hobbyshop