stavanzer

I was just looking at pics of the Tonka Diorama Kits with the Model T Fords, both the touring and the Fire Truck. I know somebody posted some photos years ago of the contents of the kits, but I have had no luck Finding them. My Google searches got many hits, but none from here, and almost all pics are repeats of older pics. The same photos seem to cycle over and over in the search engines. I am just wondering, how they compare to the new(ish) ICM Brass Era Model T kits. It would be nice to be able to do some side by side parts comparisons. I remember reading that the Tonka kits were Okay, but no better than Okay. I don't even recall if the Tonka kits were Curbside or had complete engines. One Final Gripe. I wish Kit makers would look at a "modern' Restored Model T Ford, before they tooled things. Almost all "stock" T's you see being driven use a VW Distributor instead of the Ford Timer and Coil box. Cheaper, Easier, and much more reliable, just about every T in the Club I belonged to used this trick, including cars that had been restored in the 1970's. I would say that most 'stock' Model T engines today have run a VW Bug (or other style) 4 cyl distributor, longer than they every ran the old factory timing/ignition system. Another thing. Every stock T engine in every 'stock' T kit, includes the flimsy sheet metal stamping the Ford used on the mouth of the sidedraft carb, curving up to the rear of the exhaust manifold. In the real car world, only a handful of cars still have them, although you do see them some times in engine pics. That small sheet metal piece was thrown away by original T owners by the tens on thousands. Why? It blocks the carb throat when you are busy Priming, Choking, and Fiddling to get your T started. A good T will run well when you learn it, but I always had to mess with the carb a bit on every start. Those Carb Heater pieces were discarded in such numbers that find a good one was hard for many years, if you wanted a "Show Quality" T restoration. So, can we get rid of it on the kits, please? The way it is usually tooled on the AMT "T" Engine, the upper edged is blended into the exhaust manifold in such a way as to make removing it a pain. Anyway, just thoughts from a former Model T Speedster Owner.

That is a Clean, Sharp Build! It really showcases the old Monogram tool. My hat is off to whoever built it. It makes a Half-Century Old kit, look like a million bucks. Of Course, not as detailed as a modern kit, but this build showcases the charm inherent in this kit. Bravo! I hope you sell all you can get, Justin.

A Cool 'Mainstreamer', as Tim Boyd was calling them. It was a Trend I liked, and I wished it had caught on more strongly. I had always wanted to try to build a "Mainstreamer: 70 1/2 Camaro, using the 1990's AMT Kit.

I Thought that was "dairy-aire"

It is very NIce. The Red really stands out.

After spending some Quality Time drooling over Tim's photos, I have to say that if this kit does not please you, very little from Round2 will. I understand that certain subject matter builders (Supercars, JDM Fans, ect.) may not like it, but American Iron Builders of all kinds should be buying this kit in case-lots if only for the extra goodies. There is a essentially complete Diorama in each box. Just add time and paint. Add the new Mooneyes Dragster, or Revell Slingster, or even the Revell Kurtis Midget and everything will make a magnificent display. Next year, will see some jaw dropping builds of this kit, I predict.

I Thought it was great. Too bad most of the kits you mentioned are "Un-obtainium" now. I have only the Super Bird Nosed (MPC)Satellite? with the yellow car on the box top. The rest were far beyond my means. Seeing what is left of the Ventura in the Squad Rod Nova is what got my brain working on the idea that they might have been issued together, as sometimes MPC would "twin" the chassis, ect. of kits, just changing the bodies to get more mileage out of the tooling. Anyway, Great Article as I said and a great kit of Both 1/1 and kit archaeology.

I got my replacement tags from a Vendor at the March Meets several years ago. He had a Vietnam Era Tag Embosser and made 1970s style tags. He traveled up and down the West Coast going to Car Shows, and Swap meets (not just Car Swap Meets, but all kinds) selling tags. He always had a line waiting for tags. I know this doesn't help you much, but there are folks out there doing it.

I still think a back date of the tooling to the Ventura, could squeeze out some significant sales. Tim mentioned this kit in an article in the Late 'Scale Auto Mag' about 74-75 Almost Muscle cars, as shown by tooling, decal, and box art illustrations that showed cars that made it to kit form, but never in real life. It was a great article. I wish Tim could share it here!

Pup'n'Taco? I want Naugles! Back on Topic, these "Funny", Funny Car kits may sell well to the same folks who built them years ago as first kits. They will probably sell well to kit bashers and folks who like the looks of the kits. As long Atlantis keeps up the "This is old (restored) Revell tooling" disclaimers/notifications there should not be too much, "What a Blah-Blah piece of trash!" griping either. I think Atlantis is making great choices on what kits to release. Kind of Quirky. but driven by both tooling and financial realities that none of us here can know about. I hope it continues to work for them.

I am truly fascinated by the so called "Dirty Bits" of modeling as I get older. The work needed to craft the metal that produces our plastic amusements is incredible.

This kit plus either the Mooneyes Dragster or the little Monogram Dragster that Atlantis has announced will all look great together. This is going to be an awesome seller. Thanks for your dedicated and detailed review, Tim.

I Think that a Gasser is a perfect choice. I do like your thinking so far. I'd keep the running boards, they keep the flavor of the OBS.

Thanks, James. Looks like another Tamiya winner.

Any Pics of the Hellcat T.D.?

Alistair Maclean, my Favorite Thriller Writer! His early books are his best, but the Mid Year books are good too. His last few books recycle much of the plots from his early books, and are thus sort of bland. Ice Station Zebra really demonstrates Maclean's talent for writing about the Arctic and Cold Weather. Read it in July, and you will be 10 deg colder by the time you are done. I've read every book he's ever written. The way to Dusty Death is a great book, capturing the atmosphere of mid '60s/'70s, F1 Racing. Fear is the Key, is one of my favorites. Creepy, Moody, and still plausible, it has some of his best writing. Now, My Review. My Wife and I watched the 1992 Movie, Universal Soldier. Stars Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. It showcases a really cool Transformers Style Big Rig, a 1955 Buick in the most "Improbable Paint Job Ever". The Movie starts with a Bang, showing a terrorist attack at the Hoover Dam. The US Gov't end in the UinSols. The arrive by Plane and deploy. It shows the only Footage I've ever seen of a SuperGuppy AirFreighter. They unload the enormous Rig from the Guppy! Fabulous. Once this happens, the movie goes down hill fast. I'll not spoil the rest, just note that this movies allows Dolph Lundgren to showcase "BOTH' of his expressions. A real stretch on his part. The story remained Silly, but Believable in a Cartoon Way, up until the the final confrontation. It was, 'over the top', contrived and pushed the movie from Fun to Stupid, in just 10 seconds. On the old Car Model Magazine "Reel Review" Scale, I give it 2 out of 5 gluetubes.

Another old kit. I hope it sells, well in order to finance stuff I like.

"Many Unique AMT Features" What the........? What would those be? Boxart> Decals? Decal only version of the Rat Fink Truck that just doesn't make any sense, trailer or no trailer.

david, I suspect the previous issue was a "Testing the Waters" deal. Had to see if the actual sales and public acceptance was in line with their own projections. Apparently it was. So, now this kit follows. I'm sure Round2 had planned all along to do this, but could have pulled back if the Curbside '63 had been a flop.

Joe, great thoughts on the '55 Wagon. Red or Green would work too. There are so many ways you can go with that kit. It should have a huge Decal Sheet.

Amen, Bill & Luc!

Movie Cars... I'd say if Round2 is going to tool up an "All New Movie Car" a very strong case can be made for a new '74 Monaco Bluesmobile. A Semi-Promo Style Chassis (like the '70 Ford Police Car or many of the early '70's MOPAR MPC kits should work, with the detail focused on the Body, Engine, and Interior. Of Course, it will need an authentic Air Raid Siren/ Roof Mounted Horn, and to increase sales/build options parts and decals to produce both a Genuine Mt. Prospect PD Cruiser and the Surplus Version seen in the Movie.{so Full Cop Gear, and Push bars, ect} Then, CHP Markings are almost a Must Have since the '74 Monaco was used in vast numbers by the CHP. I am not sure the Difference in 73 or 75 Monacos, but if minor tooling changes could cater the differeing model years easily, it might be worth build them in from the start. Next, Taxi Parts and Decals get yet another version, as does Fire Chief Markings. Lastly, Including the Full Factory Wheel Covers, would allow a Plain Vanilla "Grandma Car" like so many folks owned back then. (My Grandma's was Brown) So, For the Monaco Tool. 1. Bluesmobile. 2, Mt Prospect PD Cruiser. 3 CHP Cruiser. 4 Fire Chief Car. 5. Taxi Version. 6 Grandma's Grocery Getter. That is not counting other versions that other people can imagine. Now, Another Idea for the tooling, going a totally different way. Use the same Chassis, engine, wheels, dash, ect, and tool up a new Body, Interior, Grille, and wheel covers, and make the Family Truckster. While the Body is the most expensive part of the tool, if you are working from a clean sheet from the beginning, designing for both should reduce the workload, especially since most compromises can default to "Dodge Monaco" rather than "Fictional Movie Station Wagon". We know that the real Truckster was Ford based, but for a model, this should cut it. Still, I can see the same chassis, and dirty bits yielding a couple Police cars, with a long series of variants over the life of the tool, and a One Off Movie Station Wagon, that should sell well enough to assist the primary kit in breaking even. So, what do you guys think?

Well, the First "Lost Kit" version will sell loads. Then the "Coke Version" will sell to the Coke Collectors, then it will be time for the Updated version with a newly tooled accessory or two. (Hint. Maybe a Dumpster or Trash Cans....?) So, I can see this totally working.

Great Build!

Those Hubcaps look vaguely 'ford-ish' or 'AMC-ish' to me. Maybe the stock hubcaps from the AMT Sunbeam Tiger, might be a place to start, however.