Dave Darby

Not everybody reads this forum, or is privy to this information.

I owned a full size 57 with a Y block, and I grew up them, but that fish nor fowl version doesn't bother me any more than the Lincoln engine in the 25 T. I'm just hoping the unibody 61-63 F100s are in the future plans.

For context, John G works for Round2, who manages the AMT brand: JohnG says: July 31, 2014 at 7:40 pm This is only a portion of the molds, but goes way beyond the latest catalog. Some tools were never sampled in this program. I can say without a doubt that the early 60’s Ford trucks are long gone, unfortunately.

Pretty sure the 60 tool is gone as well.

I owned a real 57. Neither the fenders nor the valance are the same. The 57s and 58s have a slightly flared out round opening to accommodate the round parking lamps. The 59-60 fenders have the parking lights inboard of the fenders.

This won't be a reissue. This will be a clone tool similar to way they did the Nova wagon. But with the 57-58 having slightly different front fenders than the 59-60s (owing to parking light shape) I'm not really foreseeing too much in the way of different year variants either. But I could be wrong, and I hope I am.

Looking great! What paint did you use on it?

Now that's one groovy TOC page!

Dave, that's 217.

Yea, like the removable top and the spare tire. I may have a top that will work. Top, yes. But this kit never had a spare. BTW, a little easter egg for Little Deuce fans, this release and the Basic Builder issue (only) have the front mag wheel center caps for the Little Deuce on the chrome tree.

I'm a little late in the day here, but the 6 carb intake and finned valve covers from the Monogram 30 Ford Woody fit on this engine like they were made for it, and give it a nice trad look. I love the axles and brake backing plates in the Deuce kit. Very accurate for an period hot rod. Best ever in fact, IMO.

Very, very true.

Has that been verified? Could be the AMT/Ertl kit with retro box art. Or, perhaps a cloned new body, possibly using the remains of the annual kit that didn't get turned into a "Funny car".

Yep.

Nothing against gluing fiddly panels shut.

Anybody catch the gluing of the tailgate, where he painted the entire area around the tailgate with liquid cement? Epic.

My guess is this will be a clone, not from the likely long gone original tool. While my preference would be the 61-63 unibody, I'm definitely up for one or more of this one.

Here's the SMP 1960 issue. The lift off hardtop is molded in clear plastic. It's also the only issue with the clear red taillights. Those aren't kit wheels. Here's a real 59 annual.

Tim and I were very excited to put that one together. I found the pic of Bob's Telstar a couple of years ago in the Petersen Archives and tracked him down. Very gifted modeler. We have a few more like that coming down the road.

It also deserves a good old fashioned open every gate in the tool treatment. Maybe the clear hardtop is still around. I see the skirts are still with us from the pre-paint issue.

It's showing up in the center of the parts layout on the bottom of the box.

I don't think the slotted mag wheels would fit into that equation. As far as oldest surviving model kit goes, the 60 kit is a second update from the SMP 1958 promo tool. The two kit releases in 59 and 60 were likewise under the SMP label. It was never released under the AMT label until the 1970s, as a "1959" in the Street Rod series box. The 1957 T Bird kit was based off of one of the AMT 57 promo tools. (According to Ertl, there were two, one of which produced the Craftsman kit). That would make the 57 Thunderbird the oldest surviving AMT tool. Especially if it (possibly) was itself an update of the 1955-56 tool.

I don't know, they certainly could have done worse. Like this one with the upside down headlights. What would you have picked?

For you guys that like the historical stuff, you're in for a treat!

I'm a fan. And yeah, those old Revell multi-piece body kits are under-rated. Not sure how much of a fight that body put up, but you definitely slayed the dragon. Well done.