tim boyd

The A-M McLaren kits were featured in the "Classic Kits" column in Fine Scale magazine a few months ago. Included info/background that was not previously in the public domain to the best of my knowledge. LMK if you need the specific issue date/pg #....TB

Chris....this is a most impressive piece of work on your part. I thought I knew a lot about this kit series but you've uncovered a ton of fresh info, at least for me. Big, big congrats. One comment/possible addition...and I am doing this from memory so take this as unconfirmed rhetoric as opposed to confirmed fact, but my recollection is that at least one of the two 1980s reissues of the MPC 1972 Chevy tooling included optional engine parts to build a dual turbocharged street fighter type powertrain. Here is how that engine configuration appears in as installed in an AMT 1953 Ford pickup model I built back in the early 1980s.... (the air cleaners and radiator hose were later adds, not in the kit engine...): Thanks for taking the time to research and document this kit history. Count me as among those very, very impressed with your efforts here. TIM

That's what I vaguely recall...that the T5 was a running change later in the 1983 model year. My '83 GT was the 4-speed overdrive IIRC....TB

Believe it or not, the Nitro Charger chassis and the MoPower (originally tooled for the Larry Fullerton "Trojan Horse" Mustang II F/C kit) as well as the powertrains are entirely different. IMHO opinion, the Nitro Charger parts are better detailed, but the Trojan Horse/MoPower parts (also used in several other AMT kits of the era) was much easier to assemble. The engine in the former had one of the few Hamilton blowers, while the latter had what was purported to be a 417 Donovan block....TB I'll try to post photos of both chassis later...TB

The MoPower is a rare kit...featuring a somewhat exaggerated body based on the 1.1 scale 1974-74 Plymouth RoadRunner/Satellite. Here's my kitbash build of this kit, with the body/hood area revised to some degree to eliminate of the more cartoonish elements. Nice kit, will be good to have it back....TB

Yes the 5.0L was available in the '79 Mustang...as I had a factory ordered Ghia two-door with that engine and the 4-speed overdrive. (Scroll down this page to see two images and my follow-on comments about the '81 4.2 and '83 5.oL) It wasn't nearly as fast as my '74 E58 Road Runner but it was a very fun to drive car (along with the TRX suspension/tires). I also drove a 1979 5.0L Automatic Indy Pace Car company car and later on a 1981 4.2L automatic hatchback company car that was just gutless. Then drove a 1983 5.0L GT manual company car and it was a big improvement over the '81 and somewhat faster than the '79. My next one was an '86 5.oL EFI convertible....don't recall it being much different than the '83....TB

An interior refresh is planned and is to include a revision to the console as you suggest....I believe I read this in Automotive News a couple of weeks ago in their annual GM Product Plans recap....TB

What Dave said. I did exactly the same on my first ever '29A/'32 highboy kitbash built back in 1974-5....TB

From my 1/1 scale automotive design POV, the C8 Corvette is heavily over-sculpted on its exterior, far more so than just pure Aero considerations would dictate (I'm sure GM Design Staff would challenge me on that statement). But if I didn't already have 150 projects on my build list, would sure be fun to redesign the kit exterior into a cleaner, more organic form! Then again, maybe not....TB

Agree. Little known kit variant and lots of cool parts hiding in the box....TB

I am working right now on a rod project using the more recent Mod Rod kit. I had never looked at the 2015ish reissue.refresh all that closely, but I have recently and it is pretty amazing how much of the original AlaKart kit content resurfaced here. And turns out with just a relatively few changes it can construct a really sharp traditional rod of its own. Proof of that statement to come, hopefully sooner than later....tB

I recommend Spotlight Hobbies, Model Roundup, and Model Cave (a local hobby store in Ypsilanti, Michigan). I've done business with all three and they are top notch. I'm sure there are many others out there that also provided great service....TB

Chuck that factory stock R/T buildl is outstanding! Nice work! Cheers...TIM

Me as well...TIM

Paul and Wes....terrific work! Onward!!! TIm

James...big thanks for taking time to photograph and post those images.... As for the Blazer....wow! was my first reaction. Those separate frame rails? First impression is that the standard set by the '71 Boss 351 appears to being carrying over to this kit. As always time will tell, but as noted by many of you above...really good for first impressions....TIM

What John said, and for what it is (e.g. a typical Mattel era oversimplified engine), it's a pretty nice Flathead, too. TB

The AMT/Ertl '56 T-Bird is actually a really nice kit, except that the Y-Block engine proportions are really off. Substitute one of the y-blocks from any of the Revell '57 Ford 500/Del Rio kits and you're golden! TB

Agree....TB

John....sweet cars (both the model and the 1/1). A '69 300 Convertible is one of my dream cars. (I drove a nearly new 1969 Town and Country in my junior/senior years of high school). Juha Airo did a resin casting master of a 1970 300 hardtop a long time ago, and Art Anderson (AAM) did some castings of it before he ran into trouble with business. Later on, a couple of other casters did them as well (thought to be copies of the original). More recently, AirTrax (overseas) has done a '69 300 transkit. I have all of these, they are very nice but the overall proportions seem just a tad off to me. Still well worth it if you could find a sample on the auction site....TB i

Chuck....so my view is, build it as a LWB, without apologies! Better weight distribution with the longer bed/more weight on the rear tires. You could present it as a "version 2" or an updated prototype from the Ford Factory, DST, or whoever built the original. TB

Just to add to the chorus here, I bought one of these castings a few months ago just after Ed introduced it, and it is as near a flawless piece of work as you could possibly imagine. Highly, highly recommended. Plus, Ed explained to me (perhaps better than any other caster I have spoken to on this) why resin-based bodies tend go out of production and seldom return to the market. Bottom line? You want it, you buy it now (my words, not Ed's) or you (and I) may regret it later! Cheers...TB

Heh Terry....looks really clean and purposeful....good luck proceeding forward! TIM l

According to the 1963 Ford Full Line Truck Catalog, the only V8 available on F100, 250 and 350 4x2 and F100 and F250 4x4s was the 160 hp 292 cubic in Y-Block 2-barrle V8....no FEs at all...TB

Working from memory, I don't believe the FE was available on the F100 in 1963. Will check my references and report (probably tomorrow, sir!) TB