Mark

Nope, those front wheels were probably cheaper/easier to tool, seeing as this was a 49 cent kit.

I've got a couple of pieces of that stuff, I always thought it was Mylar or something similar. Definitely not BMF or anything in the same neighborhood. The original Marlin has the 1966 upholstery pattern on the seats, USA Oldies kits have a different pattern, possibly from one of the later Ambassador kits. Jo-Han recycled a lot of parts from earlier kits into later ones. They tooled that chassis and engine for the '66 Marlin kit (there was a '65 promo but no '65 kit). Jo-Han reused both in several later AMC kits, but they are correct only for the Marlin! AMC phased in a new engine during '66 and introduced a new Unibody in '67.

Worse yet, later RC2 kits sometimes don't have all of the parts for any one kit. Some of the '71 Charger kits had '66 Riviera bodies in the box along with the bagged parts, chrome, tires, and clear parts for the Charger. I'd imagine there are RC2 Riviera kits out there with Charger bodies as well.

Those post-2000 RC2 reissues are a gamble...box shows one thing, what's inside could be something else altogether. There was: -the AMT '76 Nova reissue that showed the stock version on the box but had the Pro Stock kit inside (the stock version has never been reissued) -a Mustang II reissue that showed a stock MPC kit on the box but the AMT kit was inside -a '72 Chevelle reissue...MPC kit on the box, AMT inside, and with a terrible retooled front bumper/grille to boot -private label DTR issue '32 Ford coupe with Trophy Series original box art, but many of the parts shown were not in the box And there are others... Best to either avoid sealed kits from that period, unless you already have one and know what to expect, or just search out other issues where you know what you are getting.

Only if you have access to one of each, you can inspect and compare both to see if any major die castings like frame and fender units are shared between the two. Things like location of assembly screws will give you an idea. Die cast models are sometimes designed one at a time, different from kits which often have three or more variations, sharing major parts, designed in from the start.

The way those parts are arranged, I'd bet that in the earliest issues of that kit, the cowl lamps, radiator shell, and fuel tank may have been brass plated.

I'd go with a combination of colors as Snake has described. The car wasn't around long, from what I have read about it, the 'Vette was put together for Vern Smith to drive, and it turned out he wasn't a particularly good drag racing driver...

I've got the previous issue of this kit, the decals got damaged so I might see if I can get the new issue decals from one of those eBay "break up a kit and sell the parts" sellers. As for tires, I'd definitely look at the Fireball stuff, particularly the tire lettering decals. Those big, blocky lettering styles like the Super Stock Formulas would be perfect for a Seventies van.

Are there plated parts in that kit? A number of people have mentioned right here that the "chrome" in late production kits is all just silver plastic...

Just looked at my copy of the book about Bill Jenkins' cars, the lettering on each of the Old Reliable cars is a different color! The red '61 Biscayne had white lettering, the white '62 Bel Air had blue lettering (matching the interior), the short-lived white '62 Impala had red lettering (again matching the interior), and the '63 Impala had black lettering with a touch of yellow shadowing. The pictures of the '63 in the book aren't particularly clear where the interior is concerned, but I'm pretty certain it is black. That said, if I were building the (again short-lived) Corvette, I'd go with black lettering and coves that matched the interior, probably stock Chevrolet colors.

Lettering (all of it) looks like black to me, if I remember right the lettering on the white '62 Bel Air and the '63 Impala was black. The 'Vette would likely be the same. The interior seems to be the same, or similar, blue as the side cove. For that, I'd first look at stock 'Vette interior colors and go from there.

We might see new tires in this kit, as the existing tires that might have been used had Revell reissued this kit are also used in other kits for which Revell has kept the tooling.

Revell. The Aurora engine really isn't very good anyway.

The box art isn't going to make or break this particular kit. Someone with no interest in early Sixties dragsters wouldn't be swayed by even the best artwork, and anyone who knows what is in the box won't be deterred by poor artwork. It's going to sell X number of units, regardless of box art.

The original double kit did not use the dragster chassis speed equipment pack, it used the roadster chassis equipment pack. Since the new issue will build one car, hopefully it will include the dragster chassis equipment pack.

As for a blower setup, I would first try any small-block Chevrolet setups that you may already have. One of those may work as-is. None will be a perfect fit, problem areas will include the width of the intake manifold as well as where the lower pulley attaches to the completed engine (could be too high or too low, necessitating alterations to the blower drive belt). Another option might be to swap in another complete engine, that way you will know that the intake setup fits the engine. If the width of the new engine is comparable with the Nomad engine, the Nomad's headers should fit. As for the drag front suspension, it should fall into place provided the instructions are followed. I did one some time ago, as I recall the crossmember fits into notches in the frame and fits with the spring mounting tab pointing one way (would be difficult to install pointing the other way). The crossmember has pins for attaching the tops of the shock absorbers that are molded to the axle. Provided the parts are cleaned up (recent issues probably have some flashing on the parts) and the crossmember is attached with the tabs pointing correctly, everything should fit as designed.

Give Atlantis some time, up until now they have done little in the way of automotive stuff. But they seem to be going all-in judging by what we have seen in a short time. I can't wait to see what they come up with once they get licensing for Ford and Chrysler stuff...

Those parts are from a Lindberg kit. Slightly smaller than 1/25 scale, and had provisions for an electric motor (notice the filled notch in the body side).

That is a Monogram kit that dates back to the late Seventies, one of their better ones from back then. Early issues had radial tires with raised lettering. The whitewall insert tires (which are older than the kit) were put in after the first few issues. Most Corvettes 1956-61 were two-tone, only a handful were one color. I believe the hard top should match the main body color and not the side cove.

Why change them, those aren't bad tires. If you want black sidewalls, paint the inserts semi-gloss black and install the tires with the painted inserts to the inside.

The MPC '79 Pinto Cruising Wagon has a set of wheels with four-lug detail and five slots.

I believe the Imperial wheel covers were included as a custom option in a couple of other kits, that's why a lot of them are floating around in old parts boxes.

Early Sixties Imperial, probably '60 or '61.

First off, thanks to all of you who serve, or have served in the past. Second, I haven't seen it today, but you can find it easily enough in a search. If you haven't read it, there is a story out there regarding the fates of some of the lesser known signers of the Declaration of Independence...it's well worth a read. That's all I'll say...

One other thing: I don't put smaller parts like engine blocks or suspension pieces into the "big tank" unless they are attached to something bigger. Those go into smaller containers like prescription bottles or small plastic jars, with snap-on lids. Less likelihood of small parts getting lost that way.