Dave Darby

Green Hornet is all new tool.

AMT did a mass scrapping of tools in the early to mid 1970s. Add to that some shrinkage from several transfers of ownership. As I understand it, even some tools created during the Ertl years are MIA.

Very very nice! @gseedsyou have some competition!

I just can't help thinking about what a job it had to have been to engrave those.

The 64 actually is quite a bit different than the 65-67 annuals, in that it doesn't have the working coil spring front suspension. It also has the 1964 Interior, and no stock wheels or side pipes. While the 65-67 annuals have Fenton mags, the 64 has Americans. Only the 66 and 67 have stock wheels. Stay tuned for The Vintage Workbench column in issue 214 of Model Cars Magazine for a complete history of the MPC 64-67 Corvette kits.

My post last night must not have gone through. The Roth Outlaw has a Cragar labeled 4 carb manifold. The Parts pack 4 carb manifold is a bit different design, and has no labeling.

It's actually too high from the very front to past the back of the door.

Pretty certain that was an Airfix tool. Pretty cool kit tho...

Keeping in mind that my words were " in many areas" I'll go down the list. (And I should have specified the old tool AMT kit). Your top photo speaks for itself. That side trim is way off. The rest of the proportions are pretty good. Looking at the new tool AMT kit, it appears it has a subtle trace of the same problem. Now as far as the areas I am thinking of, I would put forth that the chassis and running gear are far superior. The engine and transmission are as well, when you get down to the nitty gritty. Jim Keeler's small block Chevy is one of the best ones ever tooled from from a scale and detail standpoint, rocker covers not withstanding. Then you have some really nice speed and deatil parts as well. Studying the the two box art cars, I'd say the red one is stock out of box, and had the builder set the ride height correctly, and added some whitewalls, it really doesn't look too awful bad. Definitely no MPC parts, as the the MPC kit doesn't have the separate upper grille trim piece, and has molded in headlight lenses. I'd be inclined to use the AMT front bumper and headlights on mine though. If you want my opinion on which 1/25th 57 tudor hardtop has the most accurate body, for me it would be the Revell Wheels of Fire Snap kit, followed by the new tool AMT. The worst, by light years is the Monogram 1/24th kit.

I never build a kit expecting to bust it out the way I want it using only the parts in the box. Window fit not withstanding, the Revell 57 is in many areas much more accurate than the ubiquitous AMT 57. Especially the wonky side trim on the AMT.

Me too. Even if they were to just tool up new bezels and lenses, with instructions to file the molded in ones flat.

My guess is that quite a few of the sedan parts inserts still reside in the Willys tool. I realize the pickup cab, interior, and bed parts take up some real estate, but that still doesn't equal a full kit. That could even be where the missing body is...

I think that alone would make them pretty special. Very nicely done survivors. I especially like the black one, but both are very, very cool.

As far as I know, Roger Sills still has it.

The original from 1962 has the green & white box. The second issue (1965) has the blue box. The third issue came out in 1968 with a red Mod Rod on the box top. The final issue with the original Ala Kart still intact was in 1970, with a yellow fenderless Mod Rod on the boxtop.

Original 1962 issue.

You do reeeeally nice work, Steve. Photography is top notch as well. Gorgeous build.

I agree. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. That's where the Revell SnapTite and the new tool AMT 57s come in. But the olf tool 57 does offer a plethora of cool vintage custom and speed equipment, along a nice pair of Chrome reversed wheels.

Does not, and never had the the rib detail. I wouldn't look for it in future issues either. One nice thing about that though, is that by modifying (shortening) the spear on the top of the fin, you can make a 210 hardtop.

Comparing the two in photos (I've never owned the MPC kit) I'd give the AMT body the edge in accuracy and crispness, but the MPC isn't bad.

Actually it's 2002 tooling. And unfortunately, the cowl, hood and nose are way too square. The wheels are pretty off, too.

Times two. Gentle cleaning, replace missing parts.

Right? And as you can see, there's even a few parts missing off of that original tree probably sitting in the box i pulled it out of.

Conversations with Round2 management indicate it will be a straight re-issue of the previous Pepper Shaker, with the box art of the Gen 1 Pepper Shaker. The box side will be updated to to reflect the available parts. Everything except for the custom wheel covers still exists in the tool (and I let them know that), so let's hope that the next reissue contains those parts. You can see a short shot of the rear Styline extension on the upper left of the photo. This is from a 1990's AMT/Ertl issue.

This is really good. They took away all the negative gimmicks from the Rat Roaster, and added some cool stuff, I'm in for multiples. I do agree that a beam axle would have been nice though. Kitbash in the flatty from the Tudor sedan, and you're almost to the Doane Spencer roadster.