Deathgoblin Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 I've got two of their kits in the works. I've got the '78 Monte Carlo and the '60 Pontiac Bonneville convertible. Both are pretty nice, but there are flaws. The Chevy's engine is really bad and looks nothing like the 1/1, and the floorpan looks like a cheap plastic toy (the frame is AWESOME, though). Fortunately I picked up an '86 MC SS kit cheap at Hobby Lobby to help with some of the details. The Bonneville looks much better and I'm actually intimidated by some of the details, like the PE hood hinges. Biggest problem I've got with both of them is opposite what someone said about the Hornet kit. The markings and badges are almost too light on both, and the scripts on the Monte are just trash. I filed them off and I'm going to use the set for the '77. Keep an eye on Ebay, though. Got both of them for around $20-25 each, including shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Another thing about those photoetched hinges.... careful bending them, they are BRITTLE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathgoblin Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Another thing about those photoetched hinges.... careful bending them, they are BRITTLE. I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PARTSMARTY Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 it is out and it is cool.i have it.i got it on nov. 14th.yeah,maybe pricey but cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Cole Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 The ALF fire trucks were actually pretty good, and cost quite a bit more than $50. I really wonder sometimes how Trumpeter can do one subject or type of vehicle pretty well, then drop the ball on others. Now, having said that, I do plan to pick up a couple Falcons, and at least as many Rancheros. Yeah, the grille is wrong, and the body is a bit 'slab-sided'. But I have some pro-touring capers in mind for these, so a totally stock appearance isn't as important to me as it may be to some. I'm not as strict with 'accuracy' as some seem to be, but even to me, the Trumpeter kits do fall a bit short in that department, even by my standards. I also plan to put those oversized rear wheel tubs to good use! About the only thing stopping me from buying these is, yes, the price... the typical new Revell tool is more accurate and of higher quality, not to mention the parts breakdown is a bit more logical. But for some reason, the average Revell release is easlily half the cost of a Trumpeter kit. If this kit sold more in the neighborhood of $20, I'd already have a few of them in the stash. I'm not holding my breath to see them on clearance, but you might see a few of them on the Bay or at swap meets being offered at deep-discount prices by buyers who were dissapointed by the purchase and just want to be rid of them. I agree w/ Chuck... I could live with the soft details. But not with the soft detail, and high price. Especially when their competition is beating them hands down with better detail, more accuracy, and lower price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 i believe picasso was a painter not a sculpter? rivit perfect or not (sorry, dont mean to sound condescending, just looking for a phrase) i look forward to one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garryrenfro Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Off topic, but Picasso was also a prolific sculpter and printmaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk11 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 Found a good deal on one of these new falcons so I thought it would be interesting to check it out against an original 64 amt kit I've got. What I found is while the new kit is a fairly decent offshore replica of an American industrial artifact, it's a severely overpriced largely innaccurate kit that I was actually happy to resell. The body is fairly close but just seems to be missing something, like most off these offshore kits. As a friend of mine said, they seem soulless. Hard to beat the original master pattern makers from Venice and Dyersville for someone raised on american plastic. To spend 35-50 bucks on a kit that requires as much drivetrain and chassis rework/replacement for accuracy doesn't really make that much sense to me. Can understand a company seeing a hole in the marketplace and making a bid to exploit it though. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edsel-Dan Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 I have the Pontiac & Nova Convertibles as well as the Stock issue Falcon hardtop. Some of the inaccuracies I can see, some I can't. I am disappointed in 2 factors in the Falcon. First, Both THE Bonneville & Nova has Steering kitted, while the Falcon doesn't. Second, The Tires in the Falcon should be the same as in the Nova, (Those match the tires on an Original AMT 64 falcom Promo), but are slightly taller. I can fix both of these. Cut the steering gear apart and assemble with pins to make it movable, and replacing the tires. But I would like to trade the Hardtop for a Convertible before I start modifying it. I have the ALF Pumper too. I would love to get more of that one. The Hobby shop I go tit at ordered it for me, and got a second to put on the shelf. I like that place, but can't get to them as often as I want. He discounts Plastic kits 10 or 15% out the door. They are firstly a Fiber-glass Boat manufacturer. The Shop is in front of the factory. Also, he is in Delaware, NO sales tax!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtx6970 Posted January 28, 2013 Share Posted January 28, 2013 (edited) Found a good deal on one of these new falcons so I thought it would be interesting to check it out against an original 64 amt kit I've got. What I found is while the new kit is a fairly decent offshore replica of an American industrial artifact, it's a severely overpriced largely innaccurate kit that I was actually happy to resell. The body is fairly close but just seems to be missing something, like most off these offshore kits. As a friend of mine said, they seem soulless. Hard to beat the original master pattern makers from Venice and Dyersville for someone raised on american plastic. To spend 35-50 bucks on a kit that requires as much drivetrain and chassis rework/replacement for accuracy doesn't really make that much sense to me. Can understand a company seeing a hole in the marketplace and making a bid to exploit it though. mike Thanks for this info A buddy of mine has a 1/1 1965 Falcon and I have been thinking about building him one in scale. Looking at the prices for these kits, and watching sale prices of a few builtup original AMT kits, I am leaning toward the old stuff because prices seem to be very comparitive Edited January 28, 2013 by gtx6970 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrknowetall Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 The entire Falcon series in the Trumpeter line is discontinued. The two U.S. importers are now in the process of closing them out, so if you want 'em, get 'em now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RancheroSteve Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 I still don't want one. Better to spend your money on an old AMT builtup or a Modelhaus resin kit, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 got a direct link to the discontinued ones at a bargain price? if they were only 15 or so i would buy a few just for parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 got a direct link to the discontinued ones at a bargain price? if they were only 15 or so i would buy a few just for parts. You will never see them anywhere near $15 from a mail order place, that would be way below their cost to the distributors. None of the dealers that carried these kits ever stocked so many of them, that they would be left with a huge overstock. The stores that carried them in my area never had more than one or two of any version. They wouldn't order more until the ones in stock were sold. The high price was probably the reason for that. I bought the stock hardtop (first variation issued), and was disappointed in it so I didn't get any of the others. These kits just didn't sell well enough; the high price combined with the shortcomings did them in. Had they been the same quality as a Revell or Moebius kit, the price might have been an irritant but they would have sold in spite of that. Had they been what they are, but priced in line with Revell or AMT, the accuracy issues would have bothered people but they would have done better. The accuracy issues and the price point together were too much to overcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Janssens Posted February 23, 2013 Share Posted February 23, 2013 You will never see them anywhere near $15 from a mail order place, that would be way below their cost to the distributors. None of the dealers that carried these kits ever stocked so many of them, that they would be left with a huge overstock. The stores that carried them in my area never had more than one or two of any version. They wouldn't order more until the ones in stock were sold. The high price was probably the reason for that. I bought the stock hardtop (first variation issued), and was disappointed in it so I didn't get any of the others. These kits just didn't sell well enough; the high price combined with the shortcomings did them in. Had they been the same quality as a Revell or Moebius kit, the price might have been an irritant but they would have sold in spite of that. Had they been what they are, but priced in line with Revell or AMT, the accuracy issues would have bothered people but they would have done better. The accuracy issues and the price point together were too much to overcome. After reading the first reviews, I decided to pass on them, even though the Falcon was high on my wish list. What's worse is, that they probably killed the possibility of an all new kit (by the domestic kit makers), of this subject altogether.. Oh well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted February 24, 2013 Share Posted February 24, 2013 >You will never see them anywhere near $15 from a mail order place well never say never and i didnt really mean necessarily a mail order place more like a get em out of here discount house. really wishful thinking because i knew they were horribly overpriced but that was the point: if they are cheap i am in. kinda liked the box art 15 $ worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 (edited) One could make a case of Trumiter being the "New " Palmer plastics company . Look at a 60's palmer kit and look at any Trumpiter automobile kit ........................ Edited February 25, 2013 by Eshaver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjracing Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I be reading all the coments about this kit, but I can't figure if this is a good kit or not, without mention the cost. Anybody here build or have one that can say more about the kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 There's a buildup photo on page three of this thread. I have one or maybe two of these kits. But, haven't built either one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62rebel Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 they SEEM to build up as acceptable "shelf-sitters", from what i've seen. unless they're side-by-side with original Craftsman kits or promos, the inaccuracies don't seem obvious unless you're familiar with the Falcon. i wouldn't buy one to do an exact replica of any 1:1 car. i'd hunt down one of the original versions and hope for the best, swap in a modified Mustang chassis plate.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W-409 Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 It is a great kit in my opinion. I don't have the Hot Rod version, but I do have that regular '64 Falcon and '65 Ranchero also by Trumpeter and both of them are super nice. Personally I don't see big issues with the body and what I've built so far it goes together really nicely. I will need to get an other '64 Falcon kit, too to build an old Drag Car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Janssens Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I'm glad they pulled out of the automotive segment and glad Moebius stepped up, 'nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I'm glad they pulled out of the automotive segment and glad Moebius stepped up, 'nuff said. Moebius stepped in, not up. They have their own issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) interesting to note that on ebay right now there are multiples of the Falcon in all its guises for about 22$ and a couple right at 20$. so I wasn't that far off...unfortunately not worth it still when I include shipping. maybe on the ranchero though. that's a kool vehicle. edit to add: now that I look at it further, all the cheap ones are from China. the normal price seems to be more like around 35. but to me brings up the question: from China? does that mean out the back door of the production facility or what? or maybe a Chinese exporter is buying them there real cheap and distributing them via ebay? jb Edited January 4, 2015 by jbwelda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niteowl7710 Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 edit to add: now that I look at it further, all the cheap ones are from China. the normal price seems to be more like around 35. but to me brings up the question: from China? does that mean out the back door of the production facility or what? or maybe a Chinese exporter is buying them there real cheap and distributing them via ebay? jb More like Home Market Discount, remember Trumpeter is based in China. When you buy a foreign kit through your LHS you're paying to keep the lights on at the Middle Man's place too. Similar to how us guys who use HLJ can by $92 LaFerrari kits for less than $40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.