mikemodeler

From the Stevens International page for MPC kits....Shown as release date of TBA.

The number of people who know and understand the operation of an IC-powered vehicle AND are willing to work retail hours/pay are small. With the demise of shop classes and focus on going to college, many kids today have little to learn from. I read Hot Rod magazine as a kid, built model cars and hung around the older kids in the neighborhood who worked on their cars to gain knowledge. Those opportunities aren't as common for kids today, outside of model building. From my experience, for every one employee in a parts store that has knowledge or passion for automobiles, there is an equal or greater number who view working there as a means to support themselves and would be just as happy at Best Buy selling TVs or Home Depot selling toilets, if it meant a paycheck.

The cars are more complicated and the management is more complacent. The turn over rate in the retail auto parts world is significant and most times a manager is happy to have a warm body behind the computer/counter so they don't have to work the extra days/hours. As you mentioned, NAPA is/was good about product training but if held during store hours it was difficult because of the demands of the business. Company owned stores tended to push the training more on all employees and whenever I held training classes off site I tended to get the top employees from stores because the managers wanted their best and brightest to continue learning. Maybe because of my background I see things different, but I tend to do my research before I walk into a parts store equipped with what I want. I will order online if it isn't in stock locally because I don't want to fart around with them ordering it and remembering to call me to say it arrived. And most times it will be shipped to my house faster than to a store.

So what you expect is for ANYONE in the parts business to be as knowledgeable and skilled as you are after all these years,without question? Get real. As a supplier of parts to the trade, I expect anyone who installs my parts to be trained in the correct procedure and process of installing my parts, but yet I get calls and emails about how mine failed. And when our technical department inspects those returned parts? 95% of the time it was installer error, 4% of the time it's hard to tell and 1% of the time it's a true defective. You want a perfect world, I'm here to tell you it doesn't exist. Maybe in retirement you should consider working part time at a parts store and help train the next generation of parts people instead of ranting about them online, seems like you would be doing a lot of people some good.

When Danny was the owner of Scenes Unlimited he had a bunch of wheel backs. Wish I had bought more before he sold out. New owner has gutted the old SU catalog, mostly just semi tires now.

Second, yes, it's appalling the lack of knowledge most parts-store countermen have these days. When I got in this business, there were still countermen who seemed to know every part number for every part ever made, and knew terms like "head set". Not any more. While I do agree that the knowledge of many of the counter staff has suffered, the parts proliferation forced by the new car manufacturers and complexity of vehicles plays a part in that. While the typical tune up today only has spark plugs in common with one from 30-40 years ago, the multiple of sensors and switches and other electrical components can make your head spin. Cap, rotor, plugs and wires is great for an old V-8 with a carb and easier to remember because it was the same for years, but today's vehicles can change from year or VIN breaks. Blame it on the engineers and federal regulations.

I can understand the frustration of buying parts from reputable sources only to have them fail or not perform to spec. It's happened to me and usually when it does, it is not at the most convenient time. I have worked in the automotive field for close to 45 years. Started out in the shop at a dealer and then went into the parts side of the business. After a few years of that, went to work for various parts manufacturers and distributors since the late 80's. I have seen a lot of changes and some have been good, some have been bad. Technology has played a large part in the improvements but as we all know, it's only as good as the person using it. What I can tell you is that the biggest problem in our business is the unwillingness to pay for parts. By that I mean in my current job, whenever there is a price increase I get hit upside the head by customers' refusing price increases because "it hurts our competitiveness in the market". These are the same people who want to have a 60% Gross Profit Margin on our parts, extended payment terms, additional discounts just because and expect us to fund their promotions and trade shows, all with us holding the line on price increases! Apparently in their minds, the only ones who have had operating cost increases are them, not us manufacturers. The reason why Rock Auto and places like them have become popular is the perceived bargain they represent. Quality parts from an online source cheaper than the parts store or dealer down the street. It's the race to the bottom that is dooming the parts industry because if we can't raise prices, we have to do something to remain profitable. Just like the mechanic who has to buy tools and equipment, manufacturers have to as well and we like to eat and sleep indoors just like the rest of the world. So when you complain about the quality or the cost of replacement parts, remember it's the place you buy them from that is driving the business. And the body parts business? Yeah, you can thank the insurance companies for the issues there. Insisting on using cheap off shore parts to keep their costs down and profits up, not caring how much extra work a body man has to do to make a part fit and look presentable to please a customer. Retirement is getting closer, can't wait to be able to wake up in the morning and start my day at the model bench instead of at the computer dreading opening my inbox to see what fire is burning and needs to be extinguished because someone at one of the parts distributors insists I sacrifice my margin so they look good to shareholders.

You can always check with places like Staples that sell boxes and find something close. And like others mentioned, take a larger box and cut it down to size.

I wonder what it would cost to tool up that engine and engine compartment to give enough detail to appease everyone? I look at that and see a ton of black plastic with bits of aluminum here and there. Imagine having to run some of those hoses and wires after installing the engine? I think Revell made the right move, adding that engine would have driven up the cost of that kit to the point where they would have had complaints about the prices. And who knows, maybe they have a full detail kit in the future? I, for one, would be more inclined to purchase the snap version as I am not one to detail engine compartments beyond box stock.

Some nice stuff there, a few will get added to the stash. As far as the Mustang not having an engine? Who's fault is that, the model company or Ford? Could be Revell has a budget for new tools and they know they can sell the snap kits easier because of the broader appeal and price point? Not sure how much detail can be shown in 1/25 scale of a modern engine compartment given the amount of plastic coverings commonly found on them. Maybe Ford doesn't want to share the underhood details and drawings with the model companies? Maybe as a former Ford employee Tim Boyd can shed some light on that? We all have to adjust our expectations and budgets when it comes to model kits. It sucks that I just paid $34.50 for the Jeepster kit that is coming as I am sure I bought that kit for a tenth of that price back in the day, but back then I was a young kid with a $1.50 a week allowance and had to choose wisely because I needed paint and glue as well. New kits are going to cost more, whether it is licensing, production costs or import fees and tariffs, it's the reality.

Well, the man from Moebius shared what they have worked on so far, maybe this detailed information will help them figure out how to maximize without compromise? I'm hopeful that this will yield a variety of kits in drivetrains, body configurations and options.

Yep! Just placed my pre-order earlier today with Wes. He is a straight up, no BS hobby shop. Fast service and very fair pricing, he has them for $34.50 plus shipping.

IIRC those series of snap kits were kinda crude in that they had plastic tires and very basic in details. I have enough squarebody kits (plastic and resin) to last two lifetimes so this would be a hard pass.

Typically they go up for pre-order when the distributors receive notice of when their orders will arrive. I would expect to see pre-orders sometime this month, as Round2 just showed this kit on their August preview, which is good indication that the kits have been shipped from China.

I had a cardiac arrest in June and have a defibrillator now, and I lost my job at Dow because of the economy so I have to focus on finding another job right now. Sorry to hear of that double whammy Jim, hope your health and job situation get better. You and Chris have been thru a lot in the last few years. Appreciate the update and hopefully you're back at it soon.