BY BILL ENGAR

ATLANTIS #A738 -- 1/13 PREHISTORIC SCENES CAVE BEAR -- 30 PARTS MOLDED IN DARK BROWN STYRENE PLASTIC -- UNASSEMBLED KIT SNAPS TOGETHER -- PAINT AND GLUE OPTIONAL (NOT INCLUDED) -- RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 14 AND UP -- FINISHED MODEL 6.5" TALL, BASE WIDTH 10 " -- MSRP $US29.99

Atlantis Cave Bear comes in a square box using vintage Aurora box art.

Atlantis Models has released a number of classic, beloved former Aurora Models figure kits.  Their Prehistoric Scenes series debuted in 1971 while the glow-in-the-dark versions of their Monsters kits were maturing in their popularity.  Engineering of the kits was on-point with nicely textured fur on the bear and a realistic base.

Cave Bear has 30 parts molded in dark-brown styrene.

Prehistoric Scenes kits were made on bases similar to the monster kits, except they were designed to fit together like puzzle pieces.  Atlantis currently offers the Saber Tooth Tiger, another kit in this series.

There's a nice plaque with raised lettering which will be easy to paint.

Separate inner mouth parts combine with Cave Bear's head to create a life-like, snarling creature!

Assembly is pretty straightforward, similar to the Aurora/Atlantis monster figure kits.  Builders comfortable assembling Lego-type kits should have no trouble.  Like any traditional styrene-plastic model, a builder expecting to produce a high-quality result can expect to deal with some gaps, minor sinkholes here and there and typical sprue attachment points.  Modeling putties and hobby knives are recommended to deal with these for a neat result.

Small parts sprue has upper and lower inner mouth parts, ears, and a pair of animal skulls.  Feet have top and bottom pieces.

Cave Bear's stocky body consists of two halves.

Many of the Aurora Monster kits had some interesting accessories to go on the bases.  This kit has a pair of Cave Bear skulls.  One could be added to the base and the other left loose as a display piece representing a fossilized example of Cave Bear's internal anatomy.  It should go without saying that the kit has educational value and could be part of a science fair project on prehistoric animals.

Here's a photo of the figure only, plus the pair of Cave Bear skulls.  The figure itself has quite a few parts!

Being molded in dark-brown plastic with snap-fit construction, use of paint and glue is optional.  We'd recommend the use of glue to provide a sturdier model and paint, at least for details like teeth, eyes, nose, the inside of the mouth, claws, etc.  We'll provide some photos in our Bonus Features and point out some "professional modeler" tips for those builders who wish to build a contest-quality result.  The instructions contain a specific paint guide and of course the builder has the option to use whichever colors they prefer.

Just the basics -- of the base.

Cave Bear's limbs are actually scattered on three sprues.

Aurora's monster kits such as King Kong and Wolfman had nicely textured "fur" which you can enhance with washes or and/or dry brushing techniques if you wish.  Arms and legs are made with a locking swivel and can move once assembled making Cave Bear posable!

The back of the box shows views of a professionally-built model which has been painted and weathered for realism.

Here's what greets you as you first open the box.  Between the stocky figure and large base, there's a lot of plastic.

The instructions are exceptionally well executed.  They're English-only but the construction is broken down into sufficient steps to help the less experienced builder.  The final step explains how the base fits together with other Prehistoric Scenes kits if the builder wishes to make a collection.

Instructions are comprehensive with very clear assembly diagrams and painting instructions.

This is a very cool kit.  There is a lot here for experienced builders looking for something different, fans or collectors of classic Aurora model kits, or students looking for an attention-getting educational project.

The 2Modeler.com guys give this kit four enthusiastic thumbs up!  Don't forget to order the Saber-Toothed Tiger kit as well!

BONUS FEATURES -- AURORA MODELS' PREHISTORIC SCENES

The Aurora Prehistoric Scenes modular line of kits replaced their Monster Scenes.  Monster Scenes debuted in Aurora's catalog in 1971.  Like the famous monster kits about ten years earlier, kids loved these gruesome models and grisly characters but parental reaction was another story.  As the Vietnam War was raging, cultural sentiments towards "violent" toys pressured many companies to rein in anything controversial and Aurora pulled Monster Scenes not long after rolling out the series.

Aurora Models' Prehistoric Scenes model kits line was the Monster Scenes replacement, first showing up in Aurora's catalog in 1972 with eight kits.  Reception was good, with parents not at all concerned with snarling but educational carnivores and cavemen throwing rocks and spears.

By 1973, the catalog featured 14 kits including then-new Cave Bear.  The following year, three more dinosaur kits appeared including a large T-Rex.  The models represented subjects from multiple prehistoric eras.  Detailing on these kits was done by the same artists who tooled Aurora legendary figure kits.

Aurora Models' 1973 catalog featured 14 Prehistoric Scenes model kits.

The bases on these kits interlocked so they could be fit together creatively by the builder.  The Prehistoric Scenes series kits remained in Aurora's catalog through 1976.  Unfortunately, their apparent success was not enough to save Aurora and the company was shut down in 1977 with tooling assets purchased by Monogram Models.

Atlantis Models has some of these molds.  At least eight of the models have been re-released since they were discontinued in 1977.  Stay tuned to Atlantis Models to learn of any potential future releases!

CLICK DOWN JUST A BIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON AT 2MODELER.COM -WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF COOL STUFF GOING ON!!!