110 replies to this topic

[Longbox55]

I agree with you, Andy. I'm planning to get a few myself.

[kitswapper]

The Blue Thunder Blazer was never done because it was based off the TV series that only lasted 11 episodes, I talked to Bob Johnson about it years ago, He said after the series was cancelled no one would remember the Blazer so it was a waste of money.

[skmodelcars]

Enjoying this thread! GREAT info here! I have most of the kits mentioned here in some way, shape, or form.

[kataranga]

^^That would explain why I can't find any mention of it anywhere.

^I have two of the original release in black plastic and 75% of the blue plastic release of the pickup, a Mad Mudder version of the Blazer and I have a deal in the works for something else from the list. Update pending.

[Steve Milberry]

Chris, IIRC, the yellow and black stepside was a "Street Coupe" package and was also available in a couple outher colour combos. ,,, At least I think it was a S/C,, might have had another name on the 4X4s,,, it's been a long time.

[Casey]

Yes. RPO Z77 Sport Truck Package. It was a secondary package that was part of the Scottsdale trim level. Only available on shortbed 4x4 models, both Stepside and Fleetside, as well as Blazers.

 77 swb step.jpg   67.43K   9 downloads

 78sport.jpg   107.87K   7 downloads

[Luc Janssens]

One thing about the Blazer (the burgundy one)--that tool broke in half in the door section. When they restored it, they had to retool the door handles, and they did them too small. I've been looking for an original with the right sized door handles for years.

Bob Johnson was the one who told me what had happened to the door handles, so that's probably pretty accurate.

Terry

That, and they're not alligned either, when comparing right to left.

[Casey]

A few things I noticed...

1) The Blazer and Jimmy kits have front (maybe rear, too?) bumper with wide, raised rub strips...:



...while all of the pickup's bumpers do not:



The GMC Jimmy also includes a unique aftermarket style (Hickey, maybe?) hood, which dips at the front:




2) The stepside pickup version seems to have a side-view mirror issue, as they are missing in the first issue, back for the second, then missing again for the most recent reissue. Then, the Pulldozer and Mad Mudder both have the mirrors, but none of the monster truck versions do.

3) Did the most recent aqua blue version of the pickup include the axle trusses all of the other "street" versions did? You can see the axles due to the high angle, and you can see in the image Revell has provided for the forthcoming GMC reissue that the axle trusses are not present.

4) Did any other Monogram kit include the wheels pictured on the GMC High Roller box art? They look different than those on the standard GMC pickups, but maybe they are the same?

5) No GMC emblem on the grille of the original issue? It appears to have been included in the kit, so I would guess the box art model was built pre-production.

[kataranga]

1) The rear bumpers do indeed have the bump strips. I think the GMC High Roller has the same hood as the Jimmy; all the other High Roller trucks have some sort of aftermarket hood.

2) No idea on the mirrors.

3) The aqua/blue version does indeed have the trusses.

4) The GMC High Roller box art shows the same rims as the regular GMC Sport Pickup. If PJ Toys is to believed, the kit actually came with the same rims that are in the Mad Mudder.

5) No idea? The Jimmy and GMC High Roller have the grille emblem so your theory is probably correct.

[Longbox55]

Chris, IIRC, the yellow and black stepside was a "Street Coupe" package and was also available in a couple outher colour combos. ,,, At least I think it was a S/C,, might have had another name on the 4X4s,,, it's been a long time.

The Street Coupe was the GMC version of the Chevrolet Sport Truck package. Other than the brand difference, they are identical, even the RPO code is the same. Also, on further investigation, the Sport Truck and Street Coupe packages were available on 2wd shortbeds as well as the 4x4.

[The70judgeman]

Casey: time to start researching!

Luc: Interesting! Looks like that kit would be a perfect starting point for a JAWS replica as it has the 73-75 roof. That gives me a starting point to try and find box art, thanks.

There was a guy on ebay that had one up for bid a few weeks ago. It looked pretty good. Had pictures of the real truck from the movie as well as the model for comparison. Very close to dead on accurate.

[kataranga]

I was thinking more of the 1:1 replica that keeps popping up. Its a beautiful truck!

[plowboy]

I'm actually using a Mad Mudder kit to build the High Roller that never was: Chevy Stepside High Roller.

I already built one of those using just the tires. One thing to remember is that the axles on the Mad Mudder are quite a bit wider than the stock pickup and Blazer. You may be able to modify the wheel backs to pull the tires back in or just use the axles from your pickup.

[The70judgeman]

I agree with you, Andy. I'm planning to get a few myself.

I contacted Revell over the weekend via Email and got a response today. At least it wasn't a "thanks, but no thanks". It was forwarded to their research and developement department. One can only hope, but maybe they'll start listening to people in the hobby more if we pester them enough.

[Casey]

At least it wasn't a "thanks, but no thanks". It was forwarded to their research and developement department. One can only hope, but maybe they'll start listening to people in the hobby more if we pester them enough.

They probably recognized your e-mail address again.

[The70judgeman]

They probably recognized your e-mail address again.

Doubt it...it's been many years and a different e-mail address then. I'm not holding them to their word or anything. I know how it works with big business...we're the peons and they know what's best for us.

[Casey]

Are the six-lug, five slot chrome wheels in the GMC Jimmy kit the same wheels included with the first and last issues of the Dodge Ramcharger kits?

[kataranga]

The Ramcharger wheels are five-lug. Same as in one of the Bronco issues, actually. They have a different centrecap from the Jimmy/Blazer ones.

Edited by kataranga, 21 March 2012 - 07:14 AM.

[tim boyd]

I contacted Revell over the weekend via Email and got a response today. At least it wasn't a "thanks, but no thanks". It was forwarded to their research and developement department. One can only hope, but maybe they'll start listening to people in the hobby more if we pester them enough.

*******************

Guys...I know for a fact that the model companies do listen intently to what the modeling community says, as well as pay attention to what the modeling community actually does (e.g. spend money on newly manufactured kits). Unfortunately, in recent years )mabye the last 15 years or so), pickup kits (both newly tooled and reissues) have not sold that well. I am hoping that the limited reissues that we are seeing this year (including those 1970's vans) represent an attempt by the modeling companies to see if fresh reissues of pickup kits might be ready to reverse that trend, and sell well enough to justify reopening the pickup tooling banks for more reissues, and someday down the road, some fresh tooling.

My point is simply this - don't assume the model companies aren't listening if they don't issue a kit of your favorite subject. They do listen, but in the end they are businesses that have to manufacture and market successful products or they won't be around the day after tomorrow. They have to be cautious and combine customer input with many other factors (including historical and recent sales trends of similar subjects) before they take action.

Apologizing in advance for those of you that already know this....and I hope this was helpful insight for the rest of you.

TIM

[kataranga]

I made a discovery tonight. The dashes in the pickups and the Blazer/Jimmy are slightly different. The pickup dash depicts a full trim level interior while the Blazer/Jimmy are a lower trim level. The Blazer/Jimmy dash has the speedometer in the left large opening while the right opening is the fuel gauge. The smaller set of four pods are I believe 'idiot lights'. The vent opening pattern is different and the passenger side of the dash has no emblem while the pickup dash does.

In checking with my factory brochures the pickup seat appears to represent a Cheyenne or Silverado seat.