14 replies to this topic

[Casey]

I finally picked up two of Round2's re-issued MPC Zingers! Super Van kits, and here's what's inside.

The box itself is completely retro, as we've come to expect (and love) from Round2:




Inside, this is what you'll find:






This is a very basic kit with a parts count around 75 or so, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If you're not familiar with 1/43 scale kits, your first thought upon opening the box will probably be, "This thing looks tiny!" I haven't measured or compared the body to a 1:1 scale Dodge/Fargo A-100 van, but at first glance the body looks fairly accurate, aside from the enlarged rear wheel openings and the hole in the roof through which the engine protrudes. The body appears to be 100% stock, with nothing stretched nor altered. The molded in tail lights appear a bit too bulgy, but that's a very minor complaint. The chrome plated grille and headlights are separately molded pieces, which is a nice bonus in such a small scale. The "glass" is molded in black plastic, but unless you're scratchbuilding everything inside the van, that shouldn't be a major issue.

A few detail pics of the body shell:






The chrome parts are well done and cleanly molded, with no flash anywhere. The vakve covers are Edelbrock script type covers, the rear wheels are generic 5-slot "mags" with basic lug nut detail, and the front wheels, though tiny, are accurate representations of spindle mount Halibrand Sprint wheels. Even the eight injector stacks and two zoomie headers are quite nice.









Also included in the box is a small decal sheet with some peace signs, flowers, and some MPC logos and a glossy postcard size picture of the 1:1 Zingers! Super Van:




My only complaint would be the rear tires appear a bit small, but I'm not totally sure the tires are supposed to be 1:20 scale like the engine, so I won't lose any sleep over it.


This is an interesting kit and I would suggest picking one up to build as a change of pace build, as I think one of these could be completed in a week or over a long weekend if you're the motivated type.

Bravo, Round2, and thanks for re-issuing this and the other Zingers! kits.

[Michigan Madman]

Very cool! MUST pick one up now!

[Casey]

I think the Zinger! kits are actually 1/32 scale ... with 1/20 scale engines.

That's what I thought, too, but 2" x 43 = 86", which is darn close to the A-100's wheelbase of 90":




I do recall the Vette kit was quite small, too, so I'm guessing they are 1/43 with roughly (and I do emphasize roughly) 1/20-1/25 scale engines.

Another pic, sitting next to the AMT '68 Camaro, '69 Chevelle, a '67 Mustang GT die cast, etc:

Edited by Casey, 25 January 2011 - 06:29 PM.

[Dave]

Looks like a fun kit!

[AzTom]

The ads all say 1/20 scale engines and wheels. Does anyone have some good photos of the engines and or wheels?

I have some more 1/20 scale Hubley kits to mod and these parts would be great if they look decent enough.

TIA, AzTom

[Casey]

Here's what's in the Little Red Zinger: http://www.modelcars...0386&hl=zingers

...and some pics of the Super Van (A-100) kit's parts: http://s916.photobuc...gers Super Van/

The engines are really not worth using as donors, as they get cruder (is that a word?) the lower you get on the engine. The Zinger Van has some nice velocity stacks, and the Halibrand Sprint style spindle mount front wheels from both kits are nicely done, but they are closer to 1/43 scale. These kits are better used for 1/43 body parts donation than 1/20 engine parts, IMHO.

The MPC McLaren M8D was 1/20 and had a decent Big Block Chevy from what I can recall. Are you looking for strictly wheels/tires and engines in 1/20?

[AzTom]

Thanks, The top end of the engine looks pretty nice. The rear wheels look okay but nothing great. I may have to find one in person to check out. I stopped at Hobby Lobby today but they didn't have any.

I was aware of the McLaren being 1/20, didn't know it had a big block, better check that one out as well. As far as what I need ..... Just anything that will work with 1/20 scale kit to hot rod them up.

Here is a Hubley Ford with a 1/20 scale 429 Ford engine from the AMT Pop Corn Wagon.

[Casey]

The 5-slot rear wheels in the two Zingers! kits I mentioned are 1/25 scale, and are not too bad.

What is the source of those rear tires on your model? They look like Goodyear Eagle STs...

[AzTom]

Those are 1/18 from the Ertl 32 Ford American Graffiti car.

The Zingers wheels are 1/25? That's a bummer, the ads I have been seeing say 1/20 scale. Do you think the engines are 1/20?

Thanks for your help, Tom

[Michigan Madman]

With a Zinger, the engine is 1:20, the rear wheels and slicks are 1:25, and the body/front tires are a bit closer to 1:32. Generally speaking, anyway.

[AzTom]

Thanks, Tom

[Casey]

With a Zinger, the front tires are a bit closer to 1:32. Generally speaking, anyway.

The Van and Little Red Zinger's front wheels and tires are definitely 1/43 scale, and very nice replicas of spindle mount Halibrand Sprint wheels at that. They may be the third or forth best part of the kits. The front tires are molded off-center, though, so they are rather useless.

[Casey]

Just anything that will work with 1/20 scale kit to hot rod them up.

Tom,

You may want to look into the MPC 1/20 Rupp Super Sno-Sport kit which was reissued in '08 by Round2, as it has a small block Ford with injectors and some zoomie-type headers.

[rasafyff]

You should check out MPC's 1/20 scale Corvettes.There's three on eBay right now for 15.99.They're a good source for big block Chevy motors.

[Casey]

I stumbled upon this tonight and though it was interesting that the Zingers! are molded in pairs, or at least it sounds as if the body shells/parts are. And they were going to mold them in metallic colors, too? I'm glad that didn't happen to the Zingers!, and the Myers Manx ended up being the guinea pig for that experiment.

http://treswright.ve...ages/Page4.html