Dave Darby

Tulio, you never disappoint. Well done as usual!

Last I heard was it wasn't going to happen, at least not anytime soon. Shame.

I agree on some of the points, but I can see even from that half a photo that there are quite a bit more of the old AK parts back in the fold than there was previously. Plus some of those parts will be chrome again for the first time in decades That said, the original Ala Kart does really need to be restored, and I wouldn't be a bit heartbroken if they scrapped the crude and inaccurate new tool to help pay for it.

Or nah...? Nobody got any photos of this at NNL East?

Man, I sure like that box art better than the current art for that kit!

Round2 had a test shot on display at NNL East. Anybody get photos? I snagged this one off of that other message board, from Chuck Rehbergers post, but it's cropped a little high. Sure do like the box art graphics for the 57 Vette!

I'm not going to say never in the history of 'implement' tires have their ever been any, but those instances are pretty rare. So to my eyes, they look a little weird and overdone with them. And speaking of to my eyes, I probably came off a little harsh on the box art. First off, the builds are first rate. My issue, as it were is with the graphics. For the type of culture and era these two subjects represent (the 30 A Coupe and 57 gasser), the graphics should be be more of a retro flavor. The beveling and embossing (Making the lettering and rivets (what do we need rivets for anyway?) 3-D and metal looking) just smacks of Neo Retro to me. Like they plastered an erector set on the box. Don't get me wrong. I used a very complicated, layered version of the bevel and emboss/metallic technique quite a few years ago when I created this logo... (and cover) Obviously Model Cars Magazine has a new cover logo now, and quite frankly, I like it. In fact, it's closer to what Revell should be using for those boxes. Consider this vibe... (Still a bit overstated, but more retro) Or this (Very fitting)... So, not to pick on Revell/Monogram, but I just think the box graphics are overdone, and take away from the models, which should be the focus. But again, that is just my opinion, and it doesn't take away from the model kits in question. There will be multiples of each in my stash. But great box art DOES grab your heart strings, and thereby your purse strings. Would it make a difference in this case? Who knows? Anyway, that's just my take. There are a lot of guys out there who enjoy making faux box art, to varying degrees of... um quality. This pair made more than one person think it was one of those.

Old school silver painted trim. Mad props! I like it.

Probably not too well. The 57 Ford is wider than the 56. Why go to the trouble?

That's why I put Implement in quotes. I know they aren't actual implement tires, that's just what most people refer to them as. Regardless, I've never seen any with whitewalls, and it just makes it look like someone didn't know what they were doing. Kinda like the amateurish graphics on the box art. Case in point; it's so bad that a lot of people didn't even believe the 57 Ford Gasser was real box art. It's not as bad as that scary LSD trip stuff RC2 was doing around 2006 or whenever, but it still isn't very good. (And my apologies if anyone here on this board did that work. It's just constructive criticism.) Anyway, I see a lot of old school goodness in that parts inventory.

That "ding" is a hole for the crank. (Cars came a equipped with cranks up through the 1940's just in case of dead batteries.) Some cars even later. I had a 1966 Datsun pickup with a hole for a crank, and slots in the crankshaft pulley bolt for one.

Well, since I am Facebook friends with one of the guys who builds box art stuff for Revell, I am now prepared to eat my words. I saw pics of the build used for the box. Robert Gluckman, who also used to build for AMT/Ertl built it. It's legit. I still think the sedan would have made more sense, but I'll probably still buy a couple. I'd still never sit a 56 body on that frame tho. If I wanted a 56 Gasser, I'd just borrow the suspension.

I agree, plus, Skill Level 7? I don't think so. Doesn't even look like Revell/Monogram Skill Level logo artwork, which is round.

56 Ford used a totally different (straighter) chassis with more in common with the 1949 Ford. 57 used the cow belly frame that lasted through 1964. That gasser version does a good job of pointing up how Revell screwed up the front fenders. The bumper splash pan should wrap around, and the front fenders should end (not go lower than) even with the bottom of the grille. Odd they didn't base that kit off of the sedan. (Which also still has the same faults.)

OK, so apparently my reading glasses need glasses. Now we can all get back to griping about the firewall and the top insert. (Just kidding). This one's for you, Tim.

I would tend to agree with you Tim, but this photo isn't blurry, and it clearly shows only 7. (Unless two are Siamesed? - Still not good) Won't stop me from picking one up, but if the one I buy has only 7 towers, I will grumble...

I refer to the ones on the front as Halibrand Kidney Beans. Love those wheels.

From what I have seen, the AMT Duster is the simplist (same wheelbase in real life), while the Revell Dart chassis/engine compartment is probably the most accurate (but will need to be shortened). I'm thinking the extra wheelbase and chassis length are probably just ahead of the rear wheels tho. Not at the front. In fact, I will guarantee it. After all, the later big bumper Darts (1974-up) used the 67-69 Dart fenders with a 69 Barracuda hood.

I'm sure that when the budget permits, they will. Give them time, they just bought the company from Learning Curve a while back, and they are a shoe string operation.

AMT Round2 has a 67 Shelby kit (or you could look up its sister kit, the 67 Mustang, and slide the chassis/engine compartment bits from one of these under to make a full detail model, like you have in mind. it's funny, you know, that back when I was young, a model kit was more of a starting point for something else, not an end point. We NEVER EVER built one straight out of the box. Ever. We kit bashed and tweeked, and made every one unique. When I built a custom, my motto was - if you could tell what I started with, I wasn't finished. I remember back in Jr High Art class, when we were allowed to pick our own project, having to convince my art teacher to let me build a model, because he equated it to putting a puzzle together. And it seems more and more, with today's more detailed kits that aren't as receptive to kit-bashing, that this is the direction we are going. But I digress, Anyway, model kits are like a box of chocolates, so to speak. There will always be some that rise above your expectations, and some that disappoint you. But in the end, it's all about what what you make of what's in that box. I built the Vette you see below from the MPC Streaker Vette when I was 16. Google Streaker Vette if you want to see what I started with.

I guess we have you to thank then!

Thanks for posting, Colby. I too find it a little odd they didn't include the Hemi heads, but I still wouldn't consider it a poor quality kit. I don't see any flawed workmanship, and it looks exactly like a 1969 Barracuda. Yes it has the promo based chassis per 1960s tech, but combined with the AMT 71 Duster, you could have a very accurate 1969 Barracuda. One of the things I like about these older designs is that it is very easy to change the stance, without a bunch or re-engineering. Plus they go together quickly and look good on the shelf. BTW, anybody know if the "Bacaruda" decal is a carryover from the original issue decal sheet? Hopefully an intentional miss-spelling.... If the lobby of the hobby gets any in, I'll burn a 40 percent coupon on one.

Curious to see what's new and back in the box. Here is the description from the site, but I wanna see pics. MPC’s 1969 Barracuda kit receives a long overdue retro packaging facelift with a combination of vintage and new illustrations! They convey some restored parts once again included in the kit along with an added bonus set of vintage mags. 1/25 scale, skill 2 Molded in white 383 cu. in. motor Many optional custom and racing parts – seats, front grilles and more Bonus set of vintage-style custom mags Large full color decal sheet Vintage Retro Deluxe™ packaging MPC’s 1969 Barracuda kit receives a long overdue retro packaging facelift with a combination of vintage and new illustrations! They convey some restored parts once again included in the kit along with an added bonus set of vintage mags. 1/25 scale, skill 2Molded in white383 cu. in. motorMany optional custom and racing parts – seats, front grilles and moreBonus set of vintage-style custom magsLarge full color decal sheetVintage Retro Deluxe™ packagingMPC’s 1969 Barracuda kit receives a long overdue retro packaging facelift with a combination of vintage and new illustrations! They convey some restored parts once again included in the kit along with an added bonus set of vintage mags. 1/25 scale, skill 2Molded in white383 cu. in. motorMany optional custom and racing parts – seats, front grilles and moreBonus set of vintage-style custom magsLarge full color decal sheetVintage Retro Deluxe™ packagingMPC’s 1969 Barracuda kit receives a long overdue retro packaging facelift with a combination of vintage and new illustrations! They convey some restored parts once again included in the kit along with an added bonus set of vintage mags. 1/25 scale, skill 2Molded in white383 cu. in. motorMany optional custom and racing parts – seats, front grilles and moreBonus set of vintage-style custom magsLarge full color decal sheetVintage Retro Deluxe™ packaging

Here's one more, an AMT 57 Skyliner Conversion I did back 1990///

AMT 1956 T Bird, with goodies from the 57 T Bird, and 40 Ford. We'll compare that to this blast from the past. I built this MPC 1976 Monza as a 15 year old back in 1976....