Pete68

Thanks Chuck. I had those made many years ago and printed. The wrecker is a nice one too get it out and start building.You can even use it for our GB we have going on.

Nice Louisville

I’ll go take a look

Thanks. It’s so long since I built this kit I can’t remember my trouble with this kit seems like it was the sleeper lining up with the cab

Here’s a update on my progress just waiting for a good day to paint.

All of those colors sounds good. Did you have any problems building the frame? I like this one you posted

Like the colors looks good

I think this one takes the cake when it comes to modifications. I wish they didn’t put those holes in the side of the cab for the grad rails so could make a older one wish they would have made it where you drill them out like the cab lights and wish they would have kept the old style grab handles too but you can see where they Blanked them out on the mold tree. Oh well it’s still a good kit in my book and I’m glad they kept a few old parts like the round turn signals I just feel for the ones who never built the older versions of this kit and I see where this kit can be very confusing.

Warren what kinda wheels are you going to use?

Nice looking resin piece

Nice combo I’ll be closely watching this one.

Nice I like those front floats on there

Wow that a lot of parts combinations I’m sure you can mix all these ingredients together and come out with something good.

Me too. Nice start I haven’t built one of these since around 1998. I think I’m going to get one and try it again. The white frame and wheels will look nice

Very nice combo can’t wait to see you get going on this.

Nice updates

Unfortunately I don’t have a original kit or I would show you. The marks are still on the cab where you mount them thought if you have a Astro cab there on the corners the look like mold lines.

Yes I noticed that too just on the right side. Glad you liked the thread.

The GMC Astro has always been one of my favorites of AMT’s line up of Cabovers. For some it’s a easy build and some it’s the biggest nightmare of Model Truck building. For my oldest Brother Chris this was a Nightmare in 1972 when he first bought his new AMT GMC Astro. My Brother Bill said his was just about finishing with it but struggling with the front cab mounts and the next thing my brother Bill said he knocked it off the kitchen table and said he was done with it. He moved on to the Ertl International kits which he built those very well. Back to the subject. I wanted to do a blog on the time line and various changes to this kit for awhile so here we go. In 1971 AMT announced it in there catalog with no box art yet. In 1972 we have box art. The kit ran till around 1974 then dropped. In the 1976 Catalog it appears with no box art and “Dragfoiler” air defector added also In 1976 the Real Truck was released with the “ Dragfoiler” air defector options. In 1975 the Real Truck had updates including the steps, turn signals and exhaust option . In the 1977 AMT catalog we have Boxart and another Astro was added to the line up the “Miller Beer” truck and Gift set. In 1978 Lesney/Matchbox co. of UK bought AMT and the GMC Astro was dropped till 1981. This is the debut pic and Model Boxart. This is the same year when they changed the grill to the smaller one that is installed from behind the cab instead of the front like the previous years. In 1983 Ertl bought AMT and the box art had little change. The instructions were also changed a little also. Ertl kept the Astro till around 1988 and it did not appear till 2004 with this Boxart and very disappointing mold issues. I had 2 of these poor kits both had cabs that were warped and the gray soft plastic and the yellow tinted chrome. Finally in 2019 Round2 Models save the day with this kit very nice cab and updated decals and super nice chrome. They keep the Ball rolling with this re-release of the Miller Beer truck. in 2021. Times sure has changed thought I would never see a warning label on a Model kit for age limits. That’s the World we live in now. I’ll do some comparison of the different grills in these kits and where Matchbox plugged the holes up on the cab that makes this kit so difficult to mount the cab hinges for some people because the instructions are very miss leading. Hope you enjoy this thread and see you next time.

Another great one Al looks nice and clean

Looks good Al. I like those front wheels

Great looking mock up its looking good

Updates are nice it’s shaping up.

Looking good

Looks like a good start