Mark

The older kits were molded using bigger machines. As I understand, overseas kit production uses smaller groups of tooling injected using multiple smaller machines. Not sure what the reasoning is, but it is what it is.

The individual bags of white/unplated parts likely each contain the output of one molding machine. The axles and (if any) other metal items like screws or hood clips are packaged in another area (probably in advance) so those will be bagged separately. Clear and tinted clear parts are also made separately from the main portion of the kit, so those too will be bagged separately to avoid scratches and loss of individual parts. They wouldn't do it if it weren't necessary.

The window piece for the chopped top doesn't fit particularly well, especially at the back.

The wheelbase of the AMT F-350 Camper Special is a scale 8" longer than that of a regular F-100 pickup. As for the short bed version of any pickup versus the long bed, the thing to do there is get data on both (brochure, online) and just figure out the differences.

WM in my area have not carried model kits in over fifteen years, except for the temporary Christmas displays in the aisles. Even then, not all stores; in fact this holiday season only one area store even had that.

He's still wondering why he hasn't made middle management yet...

Unless American hot rods become more than a niche item in Japanese culture, I wouldn't hold my breath. Believe it or not, the items they do produce are chosen pretty much for the home market, meaning Japan. Any additional sales are icing on the cake for them. Besides that, in all likelihood they would go with 1/24 scale whereas the vast majority of American automotive kits are, or are claimed to be, 1/25 scale. Monogram was the lone holdout for 1/24, and they flipped to 1/25 thirty years ago with the exception of their NASCAR kits which they no longer produce.

The AMT newer Charger is a 2021, it has a modern Hemi. The Revell Challenger has one, as does their Magnum wagon kit, but that one hasn't been out for awhile and might be hard to find. The modern Hemi can also be had from several 3D print vendors, in various versions.

Most companies started cutting corners with decal sheets at some point. I've got sheets from the same issue of particular AMT kits, one larger than the other. Same with MPC, the Malco Super Vett is one that springs to mind. Revell did theirs differently...they approached aftermarket parts and tire companies and had each kick in a few bucks. Their contribution got their decal on one million sheets, with the promise that a competing company would not have their decal on the same sheet. AMT got down to some postage stamp size decal sheets in the mid Seventies; notably the ones for the Mopar Kit Cars. The lack of striping and paint scheme decals probably hurt the sales on those kits, as only the numbers and logos were included. Jo-Han eliminated decal sheets altogether in their USA Oldies kits.

There were eleven '58 annual kits; some had the stock covers, others the generic tri-bars. I'm pretty sure the Edsels, Pontiacs, Buicks, and Imperial convertible (no hardtop kit that year) had the tri-bars. That leaves the Chevys and Fords, which I believe came with stock wheel covers. I do have an unbuilt Buick convertible, will check it later and report back.

Yeah, it probably got fixed and sold. Now, whether or not the buyer knew about this, that's another story...

Whoever did it did a bunch of work, but didn't bother to fix the original Demon kit's incorrect front wheel openings or its too-flat hood. The turn signals appear to stick out way too far also.

The only 100% stock ones are in the Revell/ex-Monogram '59 Cadillac kits.

'70 Shelbys were literally leftover '69s with the hood stripes and spoiler added after the fact.

Revell has Pirellis; they used them in their early Gasser kits (SWC Willys, Thames, Anglia). The '31 Ford Sedan had them also, as did the Miss Deal Studebaker. The Atlantis parts pack Fiat coupe and their version of the Stude have no-name copies as they did not get tire tooling in their deal with Revell. So the Pirellis should still appear in Revell kits from time to time, it's a matter of figuring out which ones. The newer Revell Willys Gasser has slightly wider front tires, not really 100% suitable for a Sixties style build. Revell also had a narrow Firestone front tire but it only appeared in a handful of kits, the Orange Crate Deuce sedan and a couple of issues of the ex-Tweedy Pie T roadster. AMT had a similar Firestone front tire but, again, it wasn't around long. Only used in a couple of parts packs, the first issues (only) of the '55 Nomad and '56 Ford, and possibly some early '40 Willys (the one in the double kit with the custom '32 Ford). I say possibly because the first issue double kits I have had did not have that tire. For other kits, it seems AMT tooled plastic tires when they needed those small fronts. They did tool a hollow Firestone tire in the mid-Seventies that could pass for a Gasser front tire though. And the new tooling altered wheelbase '65 Chevelle has narrow vinyl no-name front tires.

It's the best option for those who don't use an airbrush. Those who do use one have other choices: Molotow refill, Green Stuff World chrome, Alsa Chrome, and Alclad among others. The cost can be mitigated through careful use of the spray can, including first applying another less expensive product to backsides of parts and in areas that won't be readily seen.

I'm no expert on 1/32 scale truck kits (my only experience is in using their chassis under 1/25 scale medium truck cabs). But there is a Monogram 1/32 scale Mack pumper (fire truck) and it has spokes all around. Pics of it are easily found online; find one and make a determination as to the accuracy and suitability of the spoke wheels for your project.

AMT '59 El Camino. Impalas use a different wheel. El Camino exterior trim corresponds to the Bel Air, interior trim corresponds to the same-year Biscayne.

Only the Monogram '53 hardtop, in 1/24 scale. The Revell 1/25 scale '53/'54 is not stock, and has some customizing on both bodies (sedan delivery and two-door sedan).

Firestone (right) are AMT, 1963 or so through about 1966. There were narrow and wide (wide ones came mostly in Trophy Series kits), there is also a softer version of the wide one that came in early '58 Impala kits. Left ones are early MPC, day one through about '67.

I'd imagine these "inspectors" can provide you with a list of hunting buddies/campaign donors/"qualified contractors" to do work that would invariably "pass inspection"...

Get the rest of them! I bought an issue here and there, had maybe six or seven total. Later I bought a complete set at an IPMS show, threw my "extras" on eBay. Got more total for those than I paid for the set. That was some time ago, but I'd imagine individual issues are still in demand.

AMT '34 Ford pickup has a few small tools included. Revell '53-'54 Chevies (not the Monogram hardtop, but the sedan and sedan delivery) have a small chunk of the Revell display item parts pack with some small hand tools.

The Firefighter kit's main attraction for building the Sudden Death street racer is its pre-tubbed interior bucket and chassis plate with (some) front suspension detail. The AMT stock version kit's body is decent and has a separate hatch, but the interior is extremely shallow (reminds us old guys of the early Sixties Jo-Han kits). The chassis plate is shallow also. There used to be MPC kits with stock versions, but the last one appeared in 1978.

Those Hunt Brothers signs started popping up at gas stations around here recently. I was wondering what special acumen they possessed regarding pizza. Which also reminded me, what did the Red Baron ever have to do with pizza?