Robberbaron

Some time ago (think it was last summer or early fall), someone briefly posted test shot pics, including the street machine parts. Main thing I remember is a cowl induction hood. They showed 3 body shells: the 2-door sedan and a pair of hardtops. I made the assumption that the hardtop bodies were different, but I may be mistaken. At the time I didn't review the pictures in detail because I was short on time, and assumed they would be posted everywhere. Think they must have been taken down pretty quickly.

When the Mod Rod was reissued 6 years ago, John G at Round 2 specifically addressed this whole debate: https://www.collectormodel.com/round2-models/2554-the-inside-scoop-on-amts-1929-ford-model-a-mod-rod-reissue/ Round 2 is clearly aware of the shortcomings of each tool. No promises were made, but the posting in the above link strongly suggested that they planned to do future revisions to one of the tools to produce a more accurate version of the Ala Kart. Maybe that's finally coming to fruition? Then again, Round 2 recently had the gall to reissue the MPC '69 Camaro abomination as an AMT 1969 Yenko (with deceptively attractive box art vs. the solid waste inside the box). So we can't claim that their motives are always pure.

Jeez, it's been 17 years now? I still think the time to strike was when Moebius brought out their '65. Seems like Round 2 is still working their way through the Model King reissues. Since they're just finally getting around to the AMT Bronco, maybe there's hope for the Comet soon?

Criminy, there they are again...

Yup. Including the slotted mags would be the one thing to get me to pry my wallet open for one of these. First they can't find the stock S-10 drive train parts, and now it seems like the "Street Rat" chrome tree is MIA. (assumption on my part, but you would think they would include those parts if they could) Hope this pattern doesn't continue.

Every time I see those, it's hard to wrap my head around them being a mid-sixties wheel. Design was about 30 years ahead of its time. Monogram Badman has those for the fronts, too. Think I remember seeing some other Monogram show rods that may have also used them. Wheel Corp. of America/Rader/Trans American had several advanced designs. Check out that crazy magnesium 3-spoke:

Also, stopped at my LHS the other day and picked up my 3rd coupe kit. Ran through my inspection checklist: ✔️ highboy frame ✔️ channeled frame ✔️ windshield frame ✔️ Buick nailhead chrome tree All good ? ?

Thought I should follow up and confirm that Revell made good on the replacement windshield frame that I requested. They sent an email on Feb 3 confirming that it shipped, but warning that US customers needed to allow up to 6 weeks to receive. So I was quite surprised to find a box from Deutschland waiting in the mailbox on the 14th when I came home from work. Complete new chrome tree. See below for the original vs. the replacement.

Huh, didn't expect that. Gotta wonder if Revell would ever be motivated to reissue it again?

GMC's have different fenders and hoods too - whole front clip is different. My daily driver for 15 years was a 2006 Sierra, so I'd love to see this variation myself, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I'd be happy enough just to see the stock Silverado reissued.

Thanks for confirming Jason. I was starting to think that they never followed through after they initially promoted it.

Very nice. I especially like the exhaust tips you added. That's one of the best add-ons when you have a promo-style chassis - really helps create the illusion of full detail.

Mine also stopped carrying kits 4-5 years ago.

Just curious, did anyone ever spot any of these displays at a Meijer store? I never saw them in the 2 stores that are closest to me, and don't recall anyone posting recently that they'd bought any kits from any Meijer's, period. Contrast that with Wal-mart, which seemed to have the bigger Round2 displays in a lot of their stores end of last year (at least 3 of my nearby Wal-Mart's had those aisle displays). Wondering if it was just that none of the Meijer's around here got them (as Casey noted, " select" stores), or if the supply chain issues delayed getting any of them before X-mas? I also find it interesting that Ollies also didn't get another batch of kits before the holidays. As quickly as they previously sold out in most locations, I wouldn't expect them to just stop carrying them altogether.

Jim, if you're near the Hobart HL they've had the Coke '32 Sedan Deliveries the last couple times I've been there.

Stopped at my local HL (Hobart, IN) on the way home from work. Was happy to see the '64 Olds Cutlass/442 hardtop, first time I've seen that one there. Grabbed the only one they had on the shelf, and was ready to head to the checkout when I realized there was a hole punched in the bottom. Fairly small and looked like it was probably from shipping/stocking, but it was big enough that someone might have been able to slip the tire pack out through it. Either that and/or the possibility of damage made me set it back on the shelf. Been dealing with too many kit returns lately. Hopefully I can find a clean one soon. Unfortunately this HL is famous for stocking certain kits one time, then they're MIA ever after.

Rechecked, and fortunately all the frames in my 2 coupe kits look fine. It seems like nowadays it's more critical than ever to open and inspect kits as you purchase/receive them, even if you don't plan to build them for years. Looking at build threads on this forum over the last year, it seems like certain types of warpage problems are pretty common for both versions of the Revell Model A. Someone even posted a short shot seat recently. I myself had a short shot Revell Impala SS not too long ago as well, so it's a pretty widespread problem.

Thanks for the heads up on this, Tim. I've bought 2 so far but didn't really inspect the frames, I'll need to do this later today. Matija already beat me to the comment about the windshield frame. My first kit was fine, but the WS frame in my 2nd kit is so warped it's unusable. (This is a very common problem on the roadster kit as well) I still need to get around to doing a parts request from Revell. If either of the chassis frames are warped as well, I think I may just return/exchange the whole kit at the store where I bought it.

AMT/Ertl was the first US kit manufacturer to shift their kit production outside of the United States. Shortly after NAFTA passed, they started shipped some of their tooling to Mexico to produce kits there. We all know that most of the active tooling was then shipped to China after RC2 (Racing Champions) purchased AMT/Ertl. After RC2 imploded, Tom Lowe stepped in to the rescue with Round2, first leasing and then purchasing the tooling. With several ownership changes and the tooling getting shuffled internationally multiple times, unfortunately it's no surprise that some stuff has gone MIA. Even now that their stuff is in China, who knows how many different molding facilities it's been shuffled between?

The gray build that Casey posted is absolutely the same tooling as the CHiPs kit pictured above. Should be 1/25. The same kit was also available with factory style graphics: I received this version as a X-mas present from my grandparents probably around 1983-ish. Here's what I recall: tires were hard plastic Goodyear GT Radials. In the top picture (gray build), the centers of the wheels looks incorrect because the center cap is really the retainer pin that holds the wheels on (each wheel has an open center). The Monogram Monte SS kit has correct versions (albeIt 1/24 scale). Kit has an opening hood and a fairly detailed engine (for a snap kit). Leaf springs/rear axle are separate assembly, I think driveshaft is also molded with it. I think exhaust is molded into the chassis, but exhaust tips are molded onto the rear bumper to create the illusion of the exhaust being separate. Headlights and parking lights are all molded into the front bumper/grille assembly. Likewise, rear lights are molded onto the rear bumper assembly. No front side markers molded into the body, which always annoyed me whenever I looked at it. Fairly good looking sport mirrors. Being objective, Revell put quite a bit of effort into this, and it was above average compared to most snap kits in the early '80s. However, if this is really what is being released now, I'm not sure how well it will be received by adult modelers in 2022. Maybe it doesn't matter - it will be the only '81 Z-28 kit available. I've still got my build packed away somewhere. I'll have to exhume it and take some pictures (but it won't be pretty, trust me).

Definitely like the steel wheels and poverty caps! Looks like a winner. Personally I'd prefer the wedge engine like the '65 Belvedere, but I understand doing the hemi for the A990 connection.

The requests for the resurrection of this kit have taken on a life of their own (disproportionate to the popularity of the 1:1, if we're being honest) ever since RC2 mistakenly announced its reissue lo those many years ago. That being said, Round 2 definitely seems ready and willing to play an angle like this. How many years did we all view and discuss those old AMT/Ertl pictures of the "hanger shot" of the '64 Cutlass convertible? While Round 2 decided to retool both the hardtop and convertible bodies, they led with the announcement of the convertible, since that was the true fulfillment of all those years of discussions. Same for the stillborn GarWood garbage truck. So at this point, there may be so much built up hype for the '68 Coronet that I could see them actually following through on it. You can't buy 15+ years (?) of publicity like that...

As explained by Casey: I believe the tall deck versions were the 400, 425, and 455. All other versions were the "standard" deck, including the smogger 403.

The last version of the '72 convertible included a correct 442 bumper/grille assembly. There's no business case for a Revell '69 442 and H/O, since we have the excellent MPC/AMT kit, which has few if any shortcomings. '68 is a different story, and I fully agree we need one of those, though I wouldn't hold my breath. Fully agree that a '70 442 variation is doable/probable, though I'd prefer it as a hardtop. Once we would get the '70 parts, we could mix match parts to create convertible/hardtop versions of '70/'71/'72.

Only other difference is the grille color. '71 442 grille is black, '72 is argent (silver). Same pattern, though. So as you point out, in model car form the only parts difference between a '71 and '72 is the taillights. All other differences can be accomplished with paint.