Vintage Kit Review: AMT's Other 1/25th '57 Thunderbird

[John Goschke]

While I fondly remember building AMT's Trophy Series '57 T-bird "Advanced Customizing Kit" with all those cool parts and the all-chrome engine when I was a kid, since I've grown up (using the term loosely) it's a kit that has bugged me with its clunky and oddly raked chrome windshield frame. Later issues, with increasing amounts of flash and a decidedly strange-looking optional hardtop haven't helped. I've looked into adapting the better windshield from AMT's later '56 T-bird but it seems a bit too large (as does the kit overall, except for the engine, which seems too small.)

So, with an increasing desire to build a '57 T-bird, I started considering ways to improve the windshield frame and the top in the former Trophy Series kit. Searching for a good example of the kit on ebay occasionally turned up another '57 'Bird by AMT in the Craftsman series or the "Custom Jr." series. Looking at these kits closer it appeared that their molded-on windshield frame was more accurate in appearance in these simpler kits than that in the other kit. Not only that, but the top looked different as well. After seeing a listing with better than average photos I decided to buy one and see if it might be a better way to go for the build I'd been thinking about. After receiving it and taking a look, I thought the differences were at least interesting enough to share with you guys.

I bought the earlier Customizing Jr. kit, which has an unusually clean box design which appeals to those of us in the graphic arts! This model was also released as a Craftsman kit, molded in pale blue.

The Custom Jr. kit is molded in bright red. Included in the "highly detailed basic parts" is the stuffed hound dog seen in a couple other early '60s AMT kits!

One feature I like, having foiled a few horn rings, is the cleanly molded, chrome plated steering wheel! Note that the screws common in most AMT kits of the period have been replaced by pins molded onto the chassis.

Axles are the thicker splined variety seen in other Junior and Craftsman series kits. In this case they're too long, needing about 1/8" cut off to achieve a sensible track width.

One important detail difference for stock '57 T-bird and '57 Ford fans is that the center of the wheel covers (left) have "FORD" lettering, unlike those in the original Trophy Series kit (right).

[MrObsessive]

You've been reading my mind John! I thought about this very thing as the next "major project" to tackle once I got the '59 Impala done. I was going to do something crazy though.............combine the AMT '57 T-Bird with the body panels (rear fenders and such) to their '56.

Don't know how successful I would have been, but it was a serious project going on in my mind, and I may yet attempt it. Yours will be fun to watch get this old kit together!

[John Goschke]

The big difference is in the optional hardtop, which appears to be unique to this kit. It's shown here compared with a top from a later 1960s "Wonder Bird" issue of the Trophy Series 'Bird, which was also molded in red. The Wonder Bird top is an identical molding as that in the "Vegas" issue kit (the most recent one I have) and, I believe, most, if not all, reissues of the old Trophy kit since the '60s.

Here you can see the difference across the front edges of the roof. Note how narrow the Wonder Bird top (left) is at the front vs. the Jr. kit top (right).

Here's a comparison of the rear of each top, with the WB top on the left and Jr. on the right. The Jr. top's window shape is better compared to photo of the real car, with the sides tapering in at the top, though the distance between the bottom edge of the window and the bottom edge of the roof is more correct on the WB top. The WB's window has an inaccurate "tunneled" appearance.

Inside the WB roof (left) has no detail, while the Jr. roof has a headliner (plus pin marks and a rather large tab at the front!)

The critical difference is the profile of each roof. Here the WB roof is on the right, with the Jr. roof on the left. Note how the Jr. roof has more "crown" toward the front and curves down toward the header, and the upper edge of the side window opening is nearly parallel to the ground. This much more closely resembles to real Thunderbird roof than does the WB roof, which has a high crown in the rear and slopes down to the windshield header while the edge of the side window slopes up.

Edited July 15, 2014 by John Goschke

[jbwelda]

I remember those darned axles from when I was a kid. I was too young to know how to cut the steel so I always left them the length they were and then sweated it that it just looked dumb with the tires sticking out too far. There wasnt access to plastic rod or anything like that, at least not to me at the time, or I would have made some new axles. I tried banging them on further with a hammer which only sent the axle through the wheel front but then at least the tires were inside the wheel wells.

I never figured out why a company like AMT couldn't give you the right size axle!

and back then the car had to roll...they were usually destined to end their lives being dragged in the dirt while I laid on the merry go round.

[John Goschke]

Since I don't have the more common ex-Trophy/Wonder Bird/Vegas T-bird built here's a boxtop shot of one that illustrates why the windshield frame and top in this kit leave a lot to be desired. The windshield frame seems to angle too far forward at the top and the roof looks way too narrow along the front edge...

Here's a profile shot of a real '57 T-bird with a hardtop...

Here's a couple profile shots of the Custom Jr. 'Bird with its top on. Not too shabby, particularly if you're used to the top in AMT's other kit! Also notice the somewhat better (though not perfect) windshield frame angle.

One problem that needs some work is the driver's side front wheel that seems a bit far to the rear in the wheelwell here, and when viewed from other angles. But I'll probably not use this chassis anyway, opting for an original Trophy Series piece.

Edited July 15, 2014 by John Goschke

[John Goschke]

A few more shots of the assembled kit. Two advantages this kit and the other '57 have over AMT's later '56 are the more accurate shaped wheel openings and the lack of under body bracketry that's visible hanging below the rocker panels on almost every build I've seen of the '56. The '56 kit also seems too angular and slab-sided and overscale, as if it might be 1/24th and a half scale.

This kit does need some better headlights and headlight rims, along with some fine tuning of the bumper fit, front and rear. The kit was built for these shots with very little clean up other than that required to get it together. I did, however, do some preliminary filing and sanding on the windshield frame and front edge of the roof for a little better fit.

I think you can see that this simple kit has "pretty good bones" and a lot of potential, particularly if it were kit bashed with its Trophy Series brother, Revell's new '57 Custom and AMT's old '57 Fairlane 500!

Edited July 15, 2014 by John Goschke

[ChrisBcritter]

Very interesting comparison. Let's take it head to head, Craftsman on the left, probably original issue on the right:

Now line up the windshield frames:

It's subtle, but there's definitely a difference.

I have about 3¼ '57 T-birds in my stash; the Craftsman is the most complete. Besides most of the blue one, there's part of another Craftsman and most of a Here Comes the Judge with the 427 cammer. I'd like to build up one as Nancy Sinatra's car from the TV special Movin' with Nancy.

[John Goschke]

Thanks for the additional pix, Christopher. With those wire wheels that likely is an original issue Trophy kit. In that first shot you can also see the better headlight rim on the blue Trophy series car.

[unclescott58]

Now I want a Craftsman T-Bird!

Scott

[pack rat]

Now I want a Craftsman T-Bird!

Scott

There is one minor difference between the John's Jr Trophy issue and the light blue Craftsman; the Craftsman has no rear fender skirts.

[John Goschke]

There is one minor difference between the John's Jr Trophy issue and the light blue Craftsman; the Craftsman has no rear fender skirts.

In Christopher's photos the Craftsman kit is the one on the left, which has molded on fender skirts.

[unclescott58]

Craftsman or Jr Trophy, either one would great.

Scott

[JTalmage]

I was just looking at a '57 Tbird I built as a kid, on my shelf last night, thinking how I'd like to restore it some day. I didnt paint a thing. The body was molded in red, and everything else was molded in white.

[Karl LaFong]

It's a shame AMT didn't release the non-Craftsman T-bird kit with the molded in frame. It's a bitch trying to line up the window glass with the chrome frame & body. Additionally, even when using a sprue cutter, I've ended up taking a healthy chunk out of the chrome frame.

I wonder if the mold for the Craftsman T-bird still exists? I'm not aware of any subsequent re-issues of the kit where the body would have been butchered.

[Toner283]

It's a shame AMT didn't release the non-Craftsman T-bird kit with the molded in frame. It's a bitch trying to line up the window glass with the chrome frame & body. Additionally, even when using a sprue cutter, I've ended up taking a healthy chunk out of the chrome frame.

For taking parts off of the sprue that I think might get damaged buy a sprue cutter like windshield frames and some rims depending on how the gates are molded, I use a razor saw in an exacto blade handle. gives me better control of whether it will take a chunk out of the part or not.

Edited July 15, 2014 by Toner283

[Rob Hall]

Neat...wasn't aware of the Craftsman Jr version.

[tim boyd]

John...excellent info and comparison!

I recall being told a simllar story by Dennis Doty a long time ago, but this is the first point by point comparison I've seen.

Thanks...TIM

[John Goschke]

Thanks, Tim!

While it's obvious that the Trophy Series "full detail" kit and the Custom Jr./Craftsman kit have much in common, I thought the differences that gave the cheaper kit it's own particular virtues were worth noting.

And, for some strange reason when I try to share this kind of fascinating model kit trivia with my wife her eyes seem to glaze over just before she goes catatonic. So I hafta share it here!

[Pete L.]

Thanks for the review, lots of interesting info on one of my "holy grail" type oldie kits...I recall once having a kit of a red AMT '57 Thunderbird. I believe it was from a series called "Elegance", the kit included blue tinted glass and a can of AMT Pearl paint. I just don't remember which T-bird actually came in the box ???

[unclescott58]

The more I look at this review, the more I want a Craftsman T-Bird. I've always liked the Trophy kit a lot. It is the kit I've owned and built the most of over the years in different variations and releases. As a kid I use to have problem with glueing the windshield and it's frame to the car. As an adult (!?), with the glues we have today, and more patients on my part, I find it less of a problem. But, at the same time, there something about the simplicity of the Craftsman/Jr. Trophy Bird that appeals to me. I want to build one right out of the box with no paint or any other enhancement. I don't know why? Maybe it reminds me of the simple fun I had building kits like that back when I was a kid? Make mine light blue. Though red would be OK too.

Scott

[unclescott58]

By the way, it's been years, at least thirty five, since I last build AMT's 1/16 scale '57 Thunderbird. How do these other two, the Craftsman and Trophy compare to it. From what I remember, the 1/16th kit was a lot like a big version of their 1/25th scale Trophy kit. But, like the Craftsman/Jr. Trophy kit it had the windshield frame molded in? It's been a long time. But, that's what I remember. Beyond that, I remember the kit really offering nothing more in detail compared to the small kits, considering its size.

Scott

[John Goschke]

Thanks for the review, lots of interesting info on one of my "holy grail" type oldie kits...I recall once having a kit of a red AMT '57 Thunderbird. I believe it was from a series called "Elegance", the kit included blue tinted glass and a can of AMT Pearl paint. I just don't remember which T-bird actually came in the box ???

Pete, that was the "Wonder Bird" I used for this comparo. It was a version of the old Trophy Series kit. Here's a scan of the box art. New to this version of this kit were the tunneled taillights.

[Pete L.]

John,

That's the one...thanks for the memories !!! :D

[tim boyd]

Thanks for the review, lots of interesting info on one of my "holy grail" type oldie kits...I recall once having a kit of a red AMT '57 Thunderbird. I believe it was from a series called "Elegance", the kit included blue tinted glass and a can of AMT Pearl paint. I just don't remember which T-bird actually came in the box ???

It was the full detail version....and yes, the Elegance series issue was molded in red with the white pearl paint and tinted blue windows. The box art read "Wonder Bird" IIRC....TIM

Edited July 17, 2014 by tim boyd

[Bob Ellis]

The AMT Elegance Series kits had half the parts of a regular version.