67airvair

Snake45, I'm not aware of a specific site, other than if you were to investigate the Corvair community's multitude of sites. But as to specifics on the kits, I'll try to list them here, as briefly as possible: First, there are year model kits, then there are a number of repop kits. All the repop kits are basically the same as the '68-9 year model kits, though with various part option differences, like wheels, custom panels, and the like. However, on the last two repop kits, AMT has become "creative" by adding parts and other things. I haven't checked the latest for its differences, but I understand they have done some worthwhile things. As to year model kits, there's one for each of the years '65-7, the first two being Corsa models with different side model emblems than the later years' Monza models. (I'm purposely ignoring the '68 and '69 kits, as they are essentially just like later repop kits.) The '65 is almost singular in itself. The kit has some old-style kit technology. It is put together with screws in the front, the tires are blackwall, with stick-on decal whitewalls, and other oddities. The model of the kit is a Corsa. The car differences are a different (wider center triangle) nose bar, Corvair nameplate on the front hood, and rear (two separate outlets) air exhaust grill. The upholstery pattern on the seats and side panels is unique to '65, and hard to describe in words. Look to the Corvair community for a further detailing of this pattern. The kit has some unique parts that aren't in later kits. The '66 model has no screws, and the whitewalls are imprinted on the tires. The car differences are a new nose bar (it's kept for all later models) with a narrower center triangle, Corvair nameplate beside the headlights, and a single, wide air exhaust grille with a thin split bar in the center. The upholstery pattern on the seats and side panels has also been changed from the '65 kit. This kit also has some unique parts, like 13" Cragar wheels, that aren't on other kits. The '67 model also has some changes from the previous two years that reflect the actual car. The Corsa model being discontinued, the model is now a Monza, with only one model emblem (the Monza cross) on the side (behind the front wheelwell) instead of two, and the thin split in the rear air grill is gone. The interior upholstery pattern is the same as the '66 in the tub, but the seats are different, reflecting the change to the Astro buckets. The dash has been changed from the Corsa (2 large and 4 small holes) dash to a Monza (3 large holes) dash. BUT it is the only kit to have an automatic dash shifter on it (later kits deleted it). Also, it has the Corsa wheel covers, which were deleted the following year. The rear decklid has had the turbo's round center emblem deleted, and some (only some) of the turbo engine parts are starting to be deleted from the kits in this and subsequent kits. The rectangular hole in the chassis which is part of the turbo option also disappears in later kits. Also of note is that '65 through mid '67 the year was imprinted in raised numbers on the front license plate area. At some point in mid '67 this was removed, so some '67's have the year designation and others don't. This feature was not put on any later kit bodies. None of the pre-68 kits have side lights, as that came on '68 and subsequent cars. Also in '68 the upholstery pattern was again changed on the seats and side panels, and looks similar to a waffle pattern, with little tiny holes dimpled across the inserts. The wheel inners and cover outers were change with the Prestige kit, adding a wider, now Monza, wheel cover and thinning the wheel inners. Stock wheel covers are also devoid in '68 and later kits, up to the Prestige kit. Tires were also changed with this kit, and are no longer the original type factory tire. Also, some repop kits have chromed plastic plugs for taillights, instead of the traditional clear red taillights with chrome backup inserts. And some repop kits, like the notorious "Custom" kit are also devoid of some stock parts. The "Custom" kit was missing the stock wheel covers, seats, decklid, and one other item I can't remember at this moment. Hope this helps you. -Mark

Concerning the taillights, it's good to hear that they restored the clear red ones that used to come in the kits. I never used the chrome plugs the Prestige and other kits came with, getting replacement clear red ones from Modelhaus. They also have the chrome backup inserts. But of late, I've been using some clear plastic tree material that i found was about the same diameter, or filing down near-correct diameter material. They look a lot better than even the chrome inserts. And speaking of those wretched chrome plugs, they are actually just the ticket to use on a '65 500 type model, if one cares to do such a model. The backups were optional until '66, so the plugs are perfect for that use. As to tires, I've taken to using Modelhaus tires T-265 promo whitewalls. Just cut the promo backing out and they fit any stock Corvair wheel inner and cover combo perfectly. I haven't gotten one of the new issues. Guess I need to check one out. Am thinking of doing a plain '65 500 anyway, if I can get a spare vintage '65 body. It'll be a stock version to go along with my green '66 500 2 door sedan "what if" car (see previous post).

Speaking of repop parts, I wonder how many people would be interested in having repopped rear lower struts available. I seem to have a problem with losing them. One I was spray painting with the aid of an alligator clip. Suddenly the clip snapped, and the strut went *PING* flying off God-knows-where. Another I lost just the other day, when a set of pliers slipped and snapped it off the trailing arm that it was glued onto. I'm going to try to talk Modelhaus into repopping them, and I need some backing to convince him. BTW, does everyone know there are two lengths to them? Put a pair from a kit side by side and see.

Yea, the automatic trans conversion kit comes with a left and right half engine/transaxle parts, automatic trans oil pan, and LM Monza dash with the shifter on the dash. They are pure drop-in substitutes for the stock. full-car kit parts. It wasn't designed to be used on the parts pack kit that has an all-chrome EM 145 cube engine, along with a blown Chrysler engine. That engine only goes as far as the bell housing and doesn't include the transaxle. It's also split horizontally, whereas the car kit engine is split vertically and doesn't have a transaxle. Not sure how the mating would be for that particular AMT offering, but I suppose it could be done. -Mark

One type of Cragar wheel that is hard to find is one for the 13" tire, as in the '66 Corvair year model kit. I tried to get Modelhaus to repop the set from the kit, but Don didn't make them like the kit set. He cut off the backing parts (steel axle studs on the front and a short stud sleeve for the rear) and made them as outside-only halves. I not only didn't get a proper repop part set, but he kept the originals (which he had cut up, anyway.) A 13" wheel is the size used on stock Corvairs, Falcons, and a few other cars. Granted, limited production items, but I always liked the look of a set of Cragars. My favorite on full-size cars, though is the GT version of the iconic SS wheel. The difference is that the GT wheel has a brush finish rim and dark gray/flat black spokes. Would love to have a set on my full-size Corvair. -Mark

Thanks all for the compliments! Hey Scott! I'll have to shoot some pics of the 62 wagon and post them. It's a very old resin conversion, and I had to hand carve the air intake slots in it plus some other adjustments. But the tub was the worst mod job to do. Will have to explain it when I post the pics. As for a convert, Modelhaus does offer a windshield frame conversion part that can be grafted into a coupe body. They also have my convertible uptop master and a repop boot. The uptop can be fitted so that it will clip into the roofless body and convertible tub combo, so that it can be displayed in either mode. They also offer a repop of the '66 Corsa convert promo body. And don't forget the turbo kit, which has a real turbo tail pipe, which was never offered in the kit. Also the automatic trans conversion kit. Both are off my masters, and fit as drop-in parts. -Mark

BTW, in looking thru some of the posts, i see it was mentioned about the difficulty of working with resin kits. One thing I'd like to point out about the LM Corvair 4 door resin conversion kits from Modelhaus is that they are virtual drop-in parts. There is almost no cutting, grinding, filing, etc. whatsoever to fit it to the kit parts. It's the best fit resin conversion I've ever seen, and I've done many resin kits over the last 20-30 or so years. -Mark

Hey 250 Testa Rosa, the 4 door hardtop conversion kit is available from Modelhaus. If you need more info, just ask. -Mark

More pictures of the 2 door sedan? Sure thing. This is the full set of quarter shots. The rear roof around the backlite, plus the air intake grille was the section I cut off the resin 4 door after I grafted the wagon section to it for the LM wagon. I looked at the section, and decided to make a traditional 2 door sedan, like auto makers would normally do, and Chevy did with the Biscayne and Chevelle 300 base 2 door sedans. The drip molding, however, was just the coupe drip molding shortened a little and bent down to the right spot. I also added the sedan "B" pillar from scrap flat stock,and I had to do a little fill work with the "C" pillar to blend it in. Over the years, I've made a number of 4 door hardtops from the coupe models, the first one in '67. So this 2 door sedan was a piece of cake for me. The worst part of this 2 door 500 model was actually finding a suitable 2 door bench seat. I was lucky in finding one in my junk box, so I have no idea what model it's from. But it fit like a glove, with just a little shaved off the bottom to give it the right height. But as interesting as this model is, the wagon is, to me, even more interesting; Unfortunately, what makes it interesting doesn't show on the outside. I made it on a promo chassis, with an extended tub, and interlocking those two pieces together with the body. It required some real precision fabrication, and that made it a real fun challenge for me. I really need to disassemble it so I can shoot some pictures of the construction. -Mark

All, Let me introduce myself, having just joined this forum, courtesy of a friend. I am Mark Corbin. Perhaps you have seen my name in the Modelhaus catalog, as I have originated several of his Corvair offerings. I have been building models for over 50 years. The first car model I built was the '61 Corvair Rampside by Premier, which I still have. I've had probably about all the Corvair models that AMT ever issued, though I have generally avoided models that I couldn't build as stock vehicles. Some of the items I've mastered or originated for Modelhaus have been the '66-7 Monza 4 door, the turbo kit, the uptop, '68-9 headrests, and the automatic trans conversion kit. I also pushed Don into repopping a number of replacement parts, such as the Corsa dash, rear axle, and various other parts. Several of the models I did recently, for my own pleasure, were a '67 Monza wagon, a '66 500 2 door sedan, a '65 Monza convertible w/right hand drive, and a '62 Monza wagon. The first two are modifications of the '66-7 4 door conversion kit and a kit model, respectively. The '65 convertible is a small version of an Aussie friend's real car, one that he converted to right hand drive, and complete with Corsa dash, factory air conditioning, automatic trans and stereo multiplex, all of which I faithfully reproduced in the finished model. The '62 wagon is a resin model that I have had for many years, just never got around to finishing it until lately. I've attached photos of three of these, hope they make it through. Anyway, it's good to see that there is such interest in Corvair models. Maybe it will help me prod more parts and new kits from some of the resin makers. In the mean time, I'll keep working on my full-sized Corvair,and when it's too cold to work on it, the small ones as well. I love seeing what others have been doing, and all the discussion of the new reissues. -Mark