tim boyd

I'm pretty sure you'll see some conversion kits from the aftermarket before long with a transverse leaf spring and Quick Change Halibrand...one of the hobby's most respected resin aftermarket casters has had his hands on test shots of this kit for several months. I talked to him about this very idea. TIM

AMEN brother....TB

Bernard...I was wondering when you'd see this and weigh in with your perspective....guess we know now! Can't wait to see what you do with this kit.....TIM

Mike...no hood or hood sides this time. It would be pretty easy to kitbash one, though, I expect. TB

Casey...the wheels and tires are the "new format" Revell design and I think both the front and rear tires are from entirely new tools. I don't have the very latest Black Widow release, but I have one from a couple of years ago and I don't think they are the same. I need to go find it and compare...will edit this post later if I find they're the same. (UPDATE - I just checked, the tires are entirely different than the latest Black Widow kit I have (the 2010 release.)) The frame is entirely different from the Rat Roaster....all new tool. One obvious difference is the open frame design (it's not molded with the floorboard attached), another is that the new frame is "stepped" inward slightly at the forward edge of the rear wheel well, to clear the '29 fender wells and bring the wheels/tires closer to the body. Best regards...TIM

Wayne....I think we all feel this way. This time, my own role was just as a reporter....the team at Revell and those several "outsiders" I mentioned deserve all the credit on this one....TIM

Surprisingly enough, the body length is identical to the AMT kit....TIM

For those that haven't already seen it, here's what I know about the all-new Revell '29 A Roadster on '32 Rails/Lowboy Channeled Roadster, copied from the Revell 2nd Quarter Announcements thread also in this folder...seems like every once in a while, the model Genie does actually grant our wishes!: *********************** I've been waiting for this news from Revell to officially break for a long, long time. I first heard rumblings about a project like this a number of years ago, but never had any official confirmation until I was commissioned by Revell about a year ago to do some minor work on this project (after it had already been designed and tooled). Now Ed Sexton has given me permission to share my impressions about this upcoming kit with you, after having assembled the first test shots from the tooling vendor. I'll start off by saying this is a most ambitious project. It's like if you listed everything you would ever want in modern / traditional hot rod kits, and then Revell reads your mind and develops the kit accordingly. It has about 95% of what would be on my own personal mental wish list, and several surprising things that go beyond even my most ambitious thoughts. Here are some elements of the kit that I think you'll find interesting... * The engine is the one that has been at the top of the wish list for everyone who builds traditional hot rod models....it's a recreation of the 401 Nailhead V8. Of course, I want to hear what the rest of you say after you have a chance to build it, but it's certainly a candidate for the best Nailhead ever put in a kit... * Two versions of the engine are provided, one with six two-barrels on a log manifold, the other a Hilborn style fuel injection. * At the time I did the work - get this - the Hilborn setup included a complete fuel block with eight individual fuel lines routing to each injector! * The basic kit builds two ways....as a traditional '29A Roadster Highboy on a '32 Ford frame.... *...AND as a channeled '29 A Roadster on a "Z'ed" Model A frame. Separate transmission crossmembers for each are provided. * Both frames and the elements that go with them (suspensions, crossmembers, exhausts, et al) are all new tools – nothing is shared with the prior Revell ’32 Ford Street Rod Series. For instance, the ’32 frame is slightly narrowed ahead of the rear suspension via an inward step in the frame rails. * Two different traditional tuck'n'roll interiors are designed to fit the Highboy and Lowboy versions. * The wheels and brake drums are highly detailed....with studs on the finned Buick-style brake drums and holes in the wheels for the studs....and the wheels include fine valve stems. Backing plates front and rear are the traditional ’40 Ford style. * The ’29 A Roadster body includes a modified rear quarter panel with the wheel well openings moved up in the body (like the Troy Trepanier light olive green roadster from about ten years ago, and several more recent high-viz build projects from others), which then places the tires in the center of the wheel well openings even with the much lower ride height/modern stance incorporated into the Highboy Chassis. * Speaking of the rear fender wells, Revell's kit fixes an error that is on every kitbashed '29 A Roadster model built with the old AMT body (including my own)....the strengthening ribs on these panels actually protrude outward instead of being recessed as on the AMT body. * And speaking of tires, they're all new tools and appear just about perfect for all our Traditional Hot Rod Builds... * One thing that caught my attention is the heavily engraved floorpans for each chassis – all the strengthening ribs you’d expect to see on a 1/1 scale steel body are there. * There are a number of building options engineered into the tool and when the Revell announcement flyer says “loaded with building options”, let me assure you, they're not kidding. * The suspension is very traditional up front, with a dropped I-Beam (yes!) and split wishbones. The rear suspension design is more contemporary - what you'd see in a newly built traditional rod designed for driving long miles rather than just posing at the local Rat Rod show. It's a well-executed So-Cal style coil over setup with a modern Dana style diff, very well done with a deeply engraved, separately molded differential pumpkin. (Don’t worry – there are no molded air bags like the prior ’32 Ford series). * The ride height for both the Highboy and Lowboy chassis appears spot-on - you shouldn't have to be kitbashing on this one to get the ride height you want. * Wait 'till you see the fuel cell and trunk mounted battery case… Keep in mind that these observations were based on first round test shots, and there have been many refinements to the tool over the ensuing months, as you would expect. As a result, some things may have changed vs. what I am reporting there. It should be obvious by now that the kitbashing potential of this kit, with its two different chassis, Nailhead V8, and the many other options it will include, make it every bit the equivalent of the start of Revell's '32 Ford Street Rod series of the last two decades. I'll provide a bit more background on what I know about this whole endeavor when the kit comes out and you can actually get it in your hands...but as you can imagine, a kit like this does not occur on Auto-Pilot. There are many "heroes" on this project inside Revell, and at least a couple of experts from the outside that I am aware of, whose names you would probably recognize. So....if you are a Traditional Hot Rod model builder (and based on your comments above - and in many other past threads on this Forum - I know many of you are..), or if even if you’ve never built a hot rod model before but are interested in a very interesting new model kit, this is one that you may want to check out in person on your own modeling desk, and then form your own conclusions….TIM

Isn't this the MikeBishop/Vern Tardell Model A....uh.....yes it is. Check out the entire book written about this project...it's called "How to Build a Traditional Ford Hot Rod", c,2000, Motorbooks/MBI Publishing.

I've been waiting for this news from Revell to officially break for a long, long time. I first heard rumblings about a project like this a number of years ago, but never had any official confirmation until I was commissioned by Revell about a year ago to do some minor work on this project (after it had already been designed and tooled). Now Ed Sexton has given me permission to share my impressions about this upcoming kit with you, after having assembled the first test shots from the tooling vendor. I'll start off by saying this is a most ambitious project. It's like if you listed everything you would ever want in modern / traditional hot rod kits, and then Revell reads your mind and develops the kit accordingly. It has about 95% of what would be on my own personal mental wish list, and several surprising things that go beyond even my most ambitious thoughts. Here are some elements of the kit that I think you'll find interesting... * The engine is the one that has been at the top of the wish list for everyone who builds traditional hot rod models....it's a recreation of the 401 Nailhead V8. Of course, I want to hear what the rest of you say after you have a chance to build it, but it's certainly a candidate for the best Nailhead ever put in a kit... * Two versions of the engine are provided, one with six two-barrels on a log manifold, the other a Hilborn style fuel injection. * At the time I did the work - get this - the Hilborn setup included a complete fuel block with eight individual fuel lines routing to each injector! * The basic kit builds two ways....as a traditional '29A Roadster Highboy on a '32 Ford frame.... *...AND as a channeled '29 A Roadster on a "Z'ed" Model A frame. Separate transmission crossmembers for each are provided. * Both frames and the elements that go with them (suspensions, crossmembers, exhausts, et al) are all new tools – nothing is shared with the prior Revell ’32 Ford Street Rod Series. For instance, the ’32 frame is slightly narrowed ahead of the rear suspension via an inward step in the frame rails. * Two different traditional tuck'n'roll interiors are designed to fit the Highboy and Lowboy versions. * The wheels and brake drums are highly detailed....with studs on the finned Buick-style brake drums and holes in the wheels for the studs....and the wheels include fine valve stems. Backing plates front and rear are the traditional ’40 Ford style. * The ’29 A Roadster body includes a modified rear quarter panel with the wheel well openings moved up in the body (like the Troy Trepanier light olive green roadster from about ten years ago, and several more recent high-viz build projects from others), which then places the tires in the center of the wheel well openings even with the much lower ride height/modern stance incorporated into the Highboy Chassis. * Speaking of the rear fender wells, Revell's kit fixes an error that is on every kitbashed '29 A Roadster model built with the old AMT body (including my own)....the strengthening ribs on these panels actually protrude outward instead of being recessed as on the AMT body. * And speaking of tires, they're all new tools and appear just about perfect for all our Traditional Hot Rod Builds... * One thing that caught my attention is the heavily engraved floorpans for each chassis – all the strengthening ribs you’d expect to see on a 1/1 scale steel body are there. * There are a number of building options engineered into the tool and when the Revell announcement flyer says “loaded with building options”, let me assure you, they're not kidding. * The suspension is very traditional up front, with a dropped I-Beam (yes!) and split wishbones. The rear suspension design is more contemporary - what you'd see in a newly built traditional rod designed for driving long miles rather than just posing at the local Rat Rod show. It's a well-executed So-Cal style coil over setup with a modern Dana style diff, very well done with a deeply engraved, separately molded differential pumpkin. (Don’t worry – there are no molded air bags like the prior ’32 Ford series). * The ride height for both the Highboy and Lowboy chassis appears spot-on - you shouldn't have to be kitbashing on this one to get the ride height you want. * Wait 'till you see the fuel cell and trunk mounted battery case… Keep in mind that these observations were based on first round test shots, and there have been many refinements to the tool over the ensuing months, as you would expect. As a result, some things may have changed vs. what I am reporting there. It should be obvious by now that the kitbashing potential of this kit, with its two different chassis, Nailhead V8, and the many other options it will include, make it every bit the equivalent of the start of Revell's '32 Ford Street Rod series of the last two decades. I'll provide a bit more background on what I know about this whole endeavor when the kit comes out and you can actually get it in your hands...but as you can imagine, a kit like this does not occur on Auto-Pilot. There are many "heroes" on this project inside Revell, and at least a couple of experts from the outside that I am aware of, whose names you would probably recognize. So....if you are a Traditional Hot Rod model builder (and I know many readers of this Forum are...), or if even if you’ve never built a hot rod model before but are interested in a very interesting new model kit, this is one that you may want to check out in person on your own modeling desk, and then form your own conclusions….TIM

To add to the discussion here...the Revell that existed prior to the acquisition/merger with Monogram was an entirely different company than the Revell afterward, which was managed/developed/manufactured by the existing Monogram crew in (then) Morton Grove, Illinois. With your examples, the break took place between the third gen Camaro kit and the 1989 Grand Prix shown here. TB

JB - you nailed it, I just confirmed you are correct. I used the 2001 reissue (in the original box art) for this build. TIM

Harold....what I was told (and this info is probably a year old now), the Two Door Fastback Sedan kit was going to be reissued with the woody option. It was to include the wood framing as separate pieces, and decals for the inserts. Let's hope that is what materializes....TIM

Stu...I need to go back and check the original build....I think the wheels were in one of the Roth kits....maybe the Outlaw? I can't recall for sure, but it seems to me that, as you suggest, these wheels were also in the Revell Wheels and Tires Parts Packs. CORRECTION- it was the Beatnik Bandit, not the Outlaw (thanks JB). Those are what the wheels look like if you assemble them without the BB's hub caps. Those narrow tall & taller tires were definitely from the Revell Wheels and Tires parts pack, although these may be Norm Veber's knockoff of those. Thanx for the comments...TIM

Harold...I never heard that AMT was gonna reissue the Astro 1 back in the 1980's.....that would be very,very cool. I don;t know how much the body molds were torn up to do the Scorpion mid engine funny car kit... With the miracles that John G. and Tom Lowe are doing at Round 2 (along with the help of dedicated and knowledgeable contractors like John Mueller), if this is possible, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it resurface one of these days.....TIM

Thanks Guys for the feedback...yeah...this was a fun model to build. And about that small block Ford...when you go back and read the 1960's and early 1970's car mags....the Small Block Ford V8 was the way cool, bucks up engine to run in your Ford rod, and to a lesser extent, drag car. And I've always thought those Cobra valve covers, equally spaced exhaust outlets, and that cross ram manifold (from the AMT '66 Ford Mustang Notchback or AMT Surf Woody) was too cool! TIM

The interesting thing about this kit is that if you go back and read the original Monogram magazine ads from the early 1960's (in both the full size car mags and the model mags), they list the exact specifications of the Big T/Little T kits....and the frame in the T Bucket is listed as a "Z'ed" model A frame. Which makes it the obvious choice (then and now) for many traditional hot rod projects, including those using a Model A (instead of Model T) body. Not to mention kitbashes using the resin T Turtledeck bodies and AMT/Revell T Touring bodies that are out there.... More pictures at this link.... Thanks for looking....and joining me in my scale hot rod dreamin'....TIM

I believe Missing LInk is considering offering these parts in resin....you might want to contact them for a status.....TIM

I personally liked the Phantom Vicky frame, particularly the tubular frame crossmembers which were more current in design than those in the Revell Duece frame. But IIRC it didn't have the typical '32 Ford frame "sweep" on the frame rails, And Round 2 seems quite busy with their present business model restoring and reissuing old tooled kits... Still...it would be a very cool product....TB

Wayne....thanks for the support on this. Revell would seem to be an obvious source, but I'd be happy with a kit of this subject from any of the kit makers.....as long as it's in 1/25th (or 1/24th) scale... TB

P., you are correct, AMT was struggling financially in the late 1970's. I was nearing graduation from college and wanted to go work for them full time (i had been doing commissioned projects for them for several years) . AMT's quarterly financial statements, combined with what I heard from insiders at my visits there, made for an interesting "case study" in my junior and senior Business Strategy and Financial Analysis courses. Long story short, they built a second factory in Baltimore, which was highly automated, to crank out those truck and trailer kits which had been really good sellers for them. But with the increase in raw materials costs due to the Arab Oil Embargo and its after effects, plus the natural lifecyle of new produce categories (sales drop off when the newness wears off), they had a ton of fixed costs that made for financial struggles. Then the unionized hourly work force at their Troy, MI plant (which was not as automated) went on strike, and their management decided to take a hard stand. Eventually they decided to shut the plant, move everything to Baltimore, and things went downhill quickly after that, with the sale of AMT to Lesney Matchbox not long thereafter. I had wanted to work for them after graduation, and interviewed with them including one of their top 3 executives. Fortunately for me, with the troubles on the horizon, they declined to hire me. ( I then went on to a long and successful career at Ford) . There's more to tell....maybe someday! TIM

Art....so true, so true. And that one has been (and still is) near the top of every list of new kit ideas I offer, when ever I am asked by those who are in a position to do something about it... It seems particularly timely these days given the growing interest in that body style from the 1/1 scale "Traditional" hot rod crowd....TB

Thanks CobraMan....TB

Thanks Chuck! The front wheels are from the trailer in the RC/AMT/LC issue of the old MPC '76 Caprice kit. They were also in the MPC early C3 Corvette annual kits. Thanks for noticing...I kinda snuck those in to see if anyone was watching! TIM

Christian....yeah...I see your point there. Particularly since everything I mentioned has happened in just the most recent seven or eight years....TIM