tim boyd

The Sock it to Me decals from the original 1969 Trophy Series release fit the new Revell '62 Corvette body perfectly. Hopefully the ones from the new reissue will do the same. TIM PS - the original Sock it to Me has some VERY nice narrow'n'deep Halibrand 5 slot mags - the fronts molded with open hubs (bearing caps showing), which made it through to the Countdown Series reissue but were replaced in subsequent issues by the late 1970's ribbed ("Cyclone II?") wheels....hopefully AMT will restore these slot mag wheels in their original form, because they are perfect 1960's vintage pieces and I've never seen them rendered in this way in any other 1/25th scale kit. TB

I built the original issue of this kit over one weekend soon after it was introduced, and encountered no issues along the way. In fact, it was probably the best Revell 1/25th scale kit ever at the time it was released. Can't comment as authoritatively on the reissues over the years....but the posters above make some good points on how it can be improved even further... TIM

Gerald....I bought several of the kits and they had either perfect frames or ones that were just ever so mildly twsted - easy to twist back into shape. This one, however, looks very poor. You should ask for a replacement. I am aware of one other modeler - a very well respected drag racing modeler - who got a kit with warpage similar in scope to yours. I've notified my contact at Round 2 about both your frame and that of the other builder. Overall,,,,it's a good kit (with some minor build issues that can be dealt with) - please don't let this one bad experience keep you from trying to build it. Best regards...TIM

Very cool subject and pictures. I was thinking of building a Chevy Ratmotor FD using the new Young American without the front body panels....these engine picks would be a great reference for that project. Thanks...TIM

Super Sharp! All the details are perfect. Congrats...TIM

Brett...thanks for the comprehensive review and everyone else, thanks for weighing in with your points of view. As for me....the thought of an SBC in a FORD hot rod makes me noxious. I can understand (sort of) why you'd do this in a historically correct recreation of a Deuce icon like the McMullen Roadster - or any Deuce built from the mid 1950's - late 1960's. But once the small block Ford became available at affordable used prices, there really was and still is little justifiable explanation for defacing a Ford product with a Chevy engine. Just as putting a Ford engine in a '69 Camaro wouldn't make sense either. I guess I had a silent hopeful thought that in doing this kit, Revell would have chosen not to put in the SBC parts and instead would have done a 5.0L Ford with the Rat Roaster induction system (or an FE Ford, or a 385 series SuperCobraJet, or 351 Cleveland, or..well, I think you get my point here). Now any of THOSE would have been yet another reason to buy multiple copies of this kit. A generic as heck SBC? Not on your life. OK, rant over. Realize I'm in the minority here, but that's how I feel! It will be interesting to buy and build a new '32 Ford Hot Rod kit, but it will have to go a wide and long way to top the first build I did of the circa 1996 Revell Deuce 3 Window! TIM PS - I too sense that a more traditional hot rod chassis might eventually be in the offing, but maybe not exactly in the form we'd expect, and certainly not in the near term future. I have NOT heard this from anyone inside Revell, Round 2/AMT, or the other manufacturers, but I have heard tidbits from outside sources. Time will tell....TB

Here's what it looks like painted in MCW '53 Cadillac Pastoral Blue. This one was completed around five years ago using the Rodder's Journal article as the key reference. It also contains the correct, original issue styrene molded tires. 17 more photos including detail shots at this link.... http://public.fotki.com/funman1712/tim-boyds-124th--12/boyd-gassers/page2.html Thanks for looking...TIM

Rob, you are correct, it was based on the promo convertible body. It was nicely done and this reissue will be very appreciated. TIM

The very first issue (circa 1968) of the '33 Willys had bodycolor styrene molded front and rear tires (rather than black vinyl molded tires.) They were nicely done and somewhat unique in shape/diameter from the more normal AMT Trophy Series tires back then. TIM .

John....what a great project! Can't wait to see more details when you get around to it. You probably alreadyknow this, but Jack Smith at Top End Decals has the correct livery for this project... Best regards...TIM

Terry....here is one....an Anglia Gasser completed in fall, 1966 with a Hemi from the Double Dragster, a front suspension from the AMT '55 Nomad Gasser version, and a one-piece liftoff front end. Yes, that is a piece of the blue "Plexi" window material hanging down from its former location as the rear quarter window! TIM

John...don't you dare touch that model (smile). Not only does it look terrific, it's a signpost along the way in your journey to becoming the terrific modeler you are today. On my fotki site I have some models posted that I built as long as 47 years ago. Lotsa mistakes in those! But some of them are among the most popular (judged by page views and comments) on the whole site. Not that I feel strongly about this or anything.... Best regards...TIM

Round 2 has even gone so far as to spring for the flourescent orange ink on the box top (which I had never noticed until they mentioned it to me) so that the new box matches the 1968 vintage original. And supposedly the decals look even better than the originals....(I won't even begin to mention what I had to do to salvage the original decals I used in my build referenced by Brent above...)_ TIM

GTX - thanks for that link...a very cool reference site. Includes info on color keyed exterior component options. All - Be aware that if you click on the color charts tab, the colors chips shown are a generic listing for ALL 1971 Dodge colors....the A, B (Charger) and E body Dodges did not offer every color listed here. For instance, Indigo (a super-rare color btw) and Turquoise were not available on B-bodies. TIM

Casey..that's a highly comprehensive and really well written kit review. I agree with your conclusions and overall comments....I have built two of these and have two more partially completed, and I found them to enjoyable, highly accurate builds with just a few modifications/corrections as noted below: 1. The hood in this kit is the standard R/T hood which did not have functional air scoops in the hood (the hood insert was decorative only). One had to order the optional Air Grabber hood to get a functional scoop. The Air Grabber hood is in the "Street Machine" variant of this AMT/Ertl tool. 2) The seat included in this kit was available on the Super Bee, but not on the R/T version replicated in this kit. The R/T was only available with bucket seats, either with a console or a separate center pad/armrest unit. To be an accurate R/T, you should separate out the bucket portion of the seat (the upholstery pattern for this area is correct for the buckets), build new seat edges (easy to do), and then add the '70/'71 console from some of the other Mopar kits on the market. 3) The outside rearview mirror in this kit is the manual adjustable version. I have never in my life seen a '71 R/T with this mirror (though I do believe - without checking my resources - it was technically available on the R/T). It is very seldom seen even on the less expensive Super Bee. Instead, most R/T's and 'Bee's had Chrysler's new "Dual Racing Mirrors" - either plated or in painted when ordered in certain exterior colors. I would recommend everyone do this swap when they build this kit. 4) Finally, the original decal sheet had a hood blackout panel that did not cover the entire hood surrounding the fake louver vent insert; I don't know if this was corrected in the Checkerboard edition. The side stripes shown, though, remain incorrect - they have a "hump" over the rear wheels that is not correct for the 1/1 car which had a smooth, continuous curve over this area. This was one of a number of outstanding newly-tooled kits from a second "golden age" at AMT, just before Racing Champions took over the company. Casey your review does a great job of documenting (and for me, reminding me of some feature oft his kit that I had forgotten about) an example of this second "golden age" kit series Thanks and Best regards...TIM

Gorgeous. Simply gorgoeus! TIM

Gerry...I bought what I presume was the Western Models White Metall Lusso from Dave at RnD Unique (IIRC) back around 1987 or so, paying at the time what I think was around $150 for it. It was admidtedly a gamble, and when I got the kit it was exactly what I expected - typical white metal kit that could be build into a beautfiul replica given unlimited amounts of time and talent. I still have it, (the kit, that is, unbuilt) but I long for the lack of assembly complexity and the exquisite detail that a high-quality styrene replica from Revell or RoG could give us (Tamiya, quite frankly is still on my hit list for what they did (or did not) due to their Aston Martin kit re lack of realistic engine execution). I recall seeing an absolutely gorgeous Lusso build from David Morton who used to (and may still) attend the NNL South in Atlanta. Don't recall what basis he used for it but the build quality was spectacular. TIM

Larry....AMEN brother, AMEN! Best regards...TIM

Tony - very nicely done! Love to see projects like this one.....the interior and engine shots look great! And as for decals covering up paint boo-boos, I learned that myself some 40+ years ago when doing a funny car for the MPC contest series....one of the things I really like about building drag racing model! Best regards...TIM

Outstanding collection! TIM

Jack Smith at Top End decals has a great choice of 1960's era drag racing decals....highly recommended. TIm

Thanks Wayne and Jesse. Once it became evident to me just how much the chrome runner had changed vs. the original Garlits issue, it also became clear why Round 2 had not attempted to reissue the Don Garlits version of the kit. By the way, note that the new YA version has the same valve covers as the Rail Rod, NOT the same ones as the original YA. Also, the distributor/magneto in the new version YA did not match the instruction illustration and did not match the original mag I recall from building the original issue Garlits kit. (You can see the original mag in the top left corner of the Garlits kit chrome tree in Jesse's post above.) It doesn't also does not fit the distributor location for a second gen 426 Hemi block properly. There is also a big hole in the engine block at the top rear, right where a first gen 392 Hemi would have its Distributor/Mag (you should fill this hole when building your YA). All of which makes me suspect that the engine block and Magneto carry over from the Carl Casper Cosmic Charger version of the kit, which represents a pseudo first gen Hemi with "Imperial" lettering on the valve covers.... All this must drive the guys at Round 2 crazy when they attempt to do a kit reissue. For us as experienced modelers, I guess in the big picture it really doesn't matter much. It's just GREAT! to have this kit back! TIM

Don't forget Steve Perry's site....very high quality masters and excellent casting....and very reasonable prices.... http://hstrial-calnagacastings.homestead.com/index.html Best regards...TIM

Thanks Alan! TIM

Not sure if I am following this thread correctly, but the reissued Young American kit has the following differences vs. the original Don Garlits Wynnscharger: New larger fuel tank located farther back in the chassis, replacing the Garlits tank. New oil tank (?) and dual oil filters (?) attached to new frame crossmember. Ballast box in frame near front axle, replacing the axle weights and front spoiler in the Garlits kit. Different tie rod and steering link off the driver's side kingpin (vs. the center steer tie rod linkage in the Garlits kit. Different valve covers (these actually carry over from the Fiat Railrod Slingshot issue; the original Young American kit did have the same valve covers as the Garlits kit from what I recall. And of course, the box art, instructions, and decals. Apologize if I misunderstood and am restating the obvious.....TIM