Motor City

Todd, Would you be able to post pictures of the kit - especially the bodies? Thanks.

Joe, I remember talking to someone from Brookfield Collectors Guild at a Toledo show. They were soliciting suggestions for new models, and had recently released the '95-'97 Olds Aurora. I suggested the then-current Riviera. Too bad that never materialized. Sad to say that the '79 Coupe deVille was the last annual luxury car. Too bad no Lincoln Mark III, IV or V has been kitted, as well as some of the post-1969 Rivieras. Casey, You are not going to find ANY kit that meets your "mass appeal" criteria. Cars of different eras is the only way to attract a broader audience of potential kit purchasers. By the way, the car pictured is an Auburn.

Most of us would like to see the results of market research done on behalf of Moebius, Revell and Round 2. I have always liked the full-sized bucket seat models and the muscle cars. I've wanted a Ford GT40 since I was a kid, but also appreciate the styling of the late 1920s to mid-1930s, the fastback GM cars of the 1940s, the large hardtops of the 1950s and 1960s, and the early Nomads. I own GM luxury cars of the '60s-'90s, and an El Camino I bought new (none are in show condition). How would someone such as me be categorized as a potential model car buyer? My nephews like anything fast, especially later cars since they can't really relate to the cars their Dad and I liked growing up. They aren't really into model cars. It has to be difficult to please most potential model car buyers.

I know Hubley made cast iron toys decades ago. Who owns the tooling to their kits, and is there a comprehensive list of the models they made? Thanks.

Whew! I've got so much eyestrain from studying the details of the '69 and '70 that I need to go look at my '65 and '74 Mustang promos! At least I won't be tempted to make any corrections to those.

Raoul had mentioned the lack of hood pins. I've rarely seen a '69 Boss 302, and it isn't in the '69 Ford Performance brochure. Thanks to Robert's photos, evidently the pins didn't come on all of them.

That 1/4 window shape looks more like the MPC Ford EXP. To fix it, you'd have to extend the top and rear of the window back a bit, then cant the bottom of the window up at an angle. To get the bottom correct, you probably need to add a wedge-shaped piece. Then you'd have to get a correct hood with the lock pins. That's more trouble than I'm willing to do.

Raoul, Based on what you have said, it sounds like the best thing to do is take the hood and interior from the Mach 1 and use it in the Boss kit. Then sell the Mach 1 for parts.

thanks for posting the decal sheet, Bill; I like the availability of the stripes in 3 colors; too bad the body doesn't have the emblems; it wouldn't take much to have SS or Malibu scripts included I like what they did for the rear cavity where the taillights go, as it makes it easier to do '68 and '69 versions. The eventual '69 Chevelle will hopefully have accurate lights, unlike all of the AMT/ERTL/Round 2 versions.

thanks, Snake; it's getting difficult to remember details that far back! I used to work with a guy in '74 that had a white '70 Boss 302. It had black stripes and interior, and the color combo did nothing for me. The doors were already rusting out on it!

Thanks for the review, Bill. It looks like another nice model. The included rally wheels were available on non-SS Malibus through at least 1970. I used a set from an MPC Corvette kit to replace the wheelcovers on my '68 Impala SS427 convertible kit, so they will make good upgrades to other kits. I didn't see any engraved emblems on the fenders or trunk. Is this another case of Revell substituting decals for emblems? Are there any photo-etched emblems available in the kit or from the aftermarket?

Bill, Thanks for the nice review and photos. I wonder how difficult it would be to make a fold-down rear seat? Also, I don't remember what colors the stripes came in. It would be nice if other stripe colors could be provided in case someone wants a black car. Hopefully one of the aftermarket companies will make decals. It looks like Revell did a great job!

AMT started in 1948, so this is its 70th year.

It looks well done with nice detail. Now that it has been mentioned that the manufacturer is a Japanese resin manufacturer, I can understand why it was done. But my point is, why can't we buy complete resin kits of American cars that don't require parts being sent out to a chrome plater; and wheels, tires and chassis taken from another kit? Are there any such resin companies in this country?

I've used Elmer's white glue on every model car I've ever built (starting in 1965). The only times I've used model cement or super glue has been to repair broken parts. Also, as mentioned earlier, it cleans up easily. I use water to clean off any residue.

Am I the only one thinking, why this when there are so many cool cars that have never been done?

I was hoping Round 2 would do one from the butchered '66 GS tooling (if it still exists), but I'm not going to get my hopes up. The '65 GS and '65 442 are other obvious cars that would sell very well, and I would rather see than another Camaro or Chevelle.

The original AMT model should have been a '70 XL. Why they chose a LTD still seems odd to me.

This has been one of the most interesting threads I have read here, Tom. Thanks for posting it.

Tim, will do;

What's wrong with the rear bumper? Is the Missing Link bumper plated? There isn't a photo on their website. I see they offer red taillights.

that's what I'm afraid of … too many other things going on in retirement to spend as much time on cars as I'd like

I've been wondering the same thing about retirement, which is approaching soon. The last real kit I built was an '82 Trans Am (in 1982)! It was molded in black, so I assembled the whole thing with Elmer's glue. I wanted it to be like the old promos, so nothing got painted. Since then I assembled a die cast, pre-painted '41 Chevy convertible several years ago for my Dad while sitting in a wheelchair recuperating from a work accident, and then a '14 Mustang snap kit. I can't believe it has been 36 years since I painted a model car. I have done some paint work on several of my real cars, so I guess that counts? I'm looking forward to getting back into it.

I just got my copy a few days ago. It looks to be a great book. I only found a few errors while skimming through it. Tim did a nice job! It is packed with nice color photos.

So is this a good kit to buy if I want to build it stock?