Mark

I would never soak resin in anything in order to remove paint. Is it just a poor paint job that you'd like to re-do, or do you want to change color? For the former, would it be possible to clean it, scuff it, and re-shoot? Or is there too much paint on it now? If it's the latter, and the paint on it now is good, I'd leave it alone. Just my opinion though.

The kids building back then often wanted to build racing versions, mostly drag cars with the occasional NASCAR build. NASCAR did have a convertible division through about 1962, but the hardtops were more popular. I don't think drag cars were allowed to race with the top down...so with no raised top included, no drag version. Most guys wanted hardtops for customs too. All that would explain the convertible kits being leftovers at years' end.

The Mustang II parts are from an MPC annual kit. The GTO is the Super Stocker (dirt track car). There was a pro stocker but it was a '72 drag car, totally different thing. The kit you have was recently reissued so you should be able to locate a hood. The reissues do not include the "pony" or "floater" tire (left front tire that looks like a grooved drag slick).

Right in the instructions, step 1: "locate engine to chassis". Last time I looked, it only fit one way...

It all depends. With built or started kits, they're all over the map. At the last pre-Covid local IPMS meet, myself and two friends always get three tables and set up. Naturally we rifle through each others' sale stuff the day before, and while waiting for everyone else to set up. I spotted a built/unpainted AMT '63 Stingray. Looked it over, it looked really clean and was all there. Three bucks. I said to my friend "you did know this one is an annual, right?" He said yes he knew, but at that time he wasn't able to get more than $5 for a built one regardless of issue. He had it at $3 because he'd brought a carload and a half of stuff to sell, was blowing everything out because he didn't have the extra half carload of space to get back home after the show. So, for $3, I snagged a decent, clean, annual issue Corvette. I myself prefer early issues of many-times-reissued kits...sharper detail, (usually) harder plastic, (usually) molded in opaque white. I try to steer clear of issues molded in black, yellow, orange, or red, and anything with satin finish or gold tint plating. Just my preferences though.

I'll see what I can do regarding photos...I've already taken a number of parts off of the trees! But I thought some of the trees have already been seen here. The Ford and Cadillac engine packs, for example. The suspension parts, wheels, and slicks are included in the Mooneyes dragster, and the chassis pack in that kit (included for only one part) is somewhat like the one in the Fiat coupe kit. I also got another kit yesterday (new tool Porsche Carrera) and was thinking about a few pictures of that one also. That one might just be the highest quality "regular kit price" car kit I have ever seen...just my opinion, but it's 90% or more of a Fujimi Enthusiast Series kit at a fraction of the price, and with what looks like easier assembly...

Depends on a lot of things: condition, popularity, content of one versus another. Many times the newer issue has better tires or decals, or is molded in a different color, making the finished build better. Sometimes newer issues aren't molded as crisply, leaving some details softer than the originals. It all depends on the particular kit.

Essentially, yes, a big box of parts packs. Some of the assembly isn't explained well (like how the lower body pan fits the chassis) and some hand work, pre-fitting, and alterations will be necessary during assembly. Don't take any of this as complaining...I knew precisely what I was getting, as will most of the other people who buy one. But this is not one of those "shake the box and it all falls together" kits.

Looking through a 1964 Auto World catalog, they did carry prior years' annual kits. They may have bought leftover warehouse stock from AMT or a wholesaler. The '64 catalog includes no '58 or '59 annuals, and one '60. Most are 1962 and 1963 annuals. Most are convertibles. In instances where both a hardtop and convertible version of the same car were manufactured, there is not a single instance where Auto World had prior year hardtop kits but not convertibles. In some cases they had both, and of course they had a few hardtop or sedan kits in cases that no convertible was offered in 1:1. But, when both were made, the last ones left unsold were always convertibles. That would seem to bear out Tim's assessment of the situation, and would explain why not all of the convertibles made it into kit boxes starting with the '65 model year.

The instructions don't show a lot of things, like the inner rear fenders that come with the body or the floorboard that comes with the frame. Those parts won't necessarily fit without alterations though, and the kit overall is probably more of a do-it-yourself project than the average kit. But those who like the subject matter will likely know all of that and will buy more than one copy anyway.

That pack is included in the Mooneyes dragster kit. The dragster uses only one part from it: the tow bar (or maybe the push bar), which was repurposed as a suspension piece for the dragster. The Fiat coupe kit includes the tubular frame pack, not this one.

I got one of these today, a few observations... -The dragster front tires are included. -Body and related parts, and the two engine trees, are molded in gray that is pretty close to the lighter of the two grays Revell molded the parts pack body in. The double kit made up of parts packs had the body molded in white. It would be easier to paint the body yellow over white plastic as opposed to the gray. -No plated parts at all. I'd like to see the suspension parts tree plated in one of the upcoming kits... -Instructions show one version, with the choice between the two engines. Using the Ford engine with the blower will necessitate enlarging the hole in the body. The built version shown on the box has the hole enlarged but doesn't show the bugcatcher. -Ford engine version with the blower has the magneto (incorrectly) at the rear. The AMT Silhouette kit has a front cover with provisions for a front drive distributor or magneto. -Instructions don't show other possibilities for the use of the other parts in the kit, specifically the suspension parts and other wheels. -Instructions show only the nose piece with the grille detail. The smooth one is in the kit, mine was a very slight short shot. That's no big thing, the tiny gap (at one corner) would get filled anyway when the nose is molded to the body. -The hinge for the right side door isn't mentioned in the instructions. Mine was broken, not that it would work too well anyway. The right side door line needs a bit of cleanup at the lower edge regardless.

We've got to remember that the annual kits existed mainly because of the promo model contracts. They were made to fulfill those contracts, with the auto manufacturers allowing AMT/SMP to produce them as kits afterwards. Producing the kits probably allowed for a minor price reduction on the promos. But the parts breakdown of these things is mainly owing to the promos. AMT/SMP tried to strike a balance between accuracy and ease of (promo) assembly (meaning fewer parts). The big rear window and upscale trim is there because Ford and Chevrolet wanted it there to promote the deluxe packages. The long/wide pickup beds, with no alternative, was the same deal. That's what Ford and Chevrolet wanted, that's probably the configuration that sold in the biggest numbers.

Weren't the SATCO tires (those not from existing kits) made in China? I had once heard that the SATCO unique tires were retooled once because the factory that made the earlier ones seized the tooling. Even if he'd gotten control of it back, he wouldn't have been able to move it to another factory...

The Australian beer... which every Australian I have ever run across completely disavows...

The early versions of the AMT Chevy van didn't have the roof ribs. Those were added for the A-Team version.

The original '68 and '69 AMX kits were quite good; chassis and engine detail and accuracy are far superior to the 1/24 scale Jo-Han kits. Minor errors in those kits include extra lights engraved into the grille (pretty sure a part is included to cover those) and early style valve covers. The 1968 version was first sold by mail and through AMC dealers, so AMC may have been to blame for those errors. The '70 version went off the rails a bit, as MPC did that update out of their own pocket to get another year out of the kit. The front bumper/grille could have been better, also the seat and door panel detail was not updated. The '69 interior with a '70 instrument panel is the opposite of reissued Jo-Han kits, which have '70 interior and seat detail but a '69 dashboard.

To sum it up... "Your results may vary".

AMT '62 Bel Air and Impala convertible kits have a 409 unit. The Model King reissue '69 Camaro funny car from a bunch of years ago has a big-block piece on one of the plated trees. It isn't used in building that kit, but the body in it is modified from the annual kit. The manifold was used in the annual kits, and happens to remain on the plated tree.

The idea probably didn't involve more detail, so much as just making the parts easier to handle. The boxes were bigger too...another part of the deal...leaving less shelf space at the store for competing items. The first S-10 was disappointing, the Stealth and Mitsubishi had that terrible looking roof. The later kits aren't bad, I have the later S-10 and one of the Firebirds.

I wouldn't bet on any of the SMP parts being anywhere close to fitting a Revell body. The SMP kits are on the crude side, the bumpers are no exception.

Starting in '65, AMT began thinning the herd as far as convertibles went. The full size droptop kits were probably lagging sales-wise, so they only kept the Chevy and Ford big cars through '67. Funny thing is, they probably could have done both GTOs (hardtop and convertible) instead of combining them into one kit. And the Mustang was so hot back then, that they could have offered all three body styles as individual kits.

They haven't done a decent job of keeping people informed, but they are supposedly working on getting back in print. The last issue was in the pipeline, but it has been said that some distributors destroyed unsold copied because they couldn't ship them or store them. From what little I know about magazine distribution, that doesn't cost them, it all comes out of the publisher's bottom line. I've read about no copies reaching subscribers in Australia, for example. Whatever the case, I'm pulling for them. It would be easy to hide behind the "well, you know...Covid" excuse so many others seem to be doing. I too plumped for the "lifetime" deal, it's by far the best car magazine out there.

There was/is only one Skylark. The body was converted from closed hood (promo/Craftsman) to 3-in-1 by switching out part of the body tool around the hood area, and unblocking the optional parts. The Modified Stocker reissues include the stock wheels from the Craftsman version, and some of the custom parts from the 3-in-1 version.

I brake for tailgaters.