tim boyd

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

Del....I bought mine from the Autoworld (subsidiary of Round 2) website about three weeks ago and they were on my doorstep three days later. Good luck....worth the effort to search it out. TIM

John....an outstanding and very tasetful build. Where did you get the decals? The injected Hemi is a nice change from the usual blowers, and the car number placque in front of the injectors is the kind of added detail that I find appealing. You've just reminded me why the MPC Bantam Blast is one of my all time favorite drag racing kits. TIM

Wayne....agree with you on both counts. The tank appears to be part of a dual oil filter system, although if you look at the "filters" they appear too long and too small iin diameter to be typical automotive filters. Then there's the regular Mopar 426 Hemi oli filter, which appears to me to be turned verticle on the front cover (which of course comes from the original Wynnscharger kit), so the Young American may have 3 oil filters in total! Your frame dimensions sound right on the money, and like you I loved those combo rail frame and body shots above! TIM

Jesse....yeah, it's the piece in the far right hand upper corner of this picture posted by Waye a few days ago. The new, big fuel tank is at the bottom center of thsi photo (two pieces next to each other). Best regards...TIM

In checking the version of this tool with the Fiat Altered body, it appears to me to be the identical to what I remember of the Wynnscharger chassis, except for the added rear airfoil, Fiat body and wheelie bars. But what is doubly interesting is that in addition to the oiling system (?) parts referenced in the above posts, the Young American has an entirely different plated fuel tank, much more square in shape, and it sets much rearward in the frame vs. the Wynnscharger/Fiat Altered version. But the Young Ameircan still has what is similar too, if not the same as, the far forward Wynnscharger fuel tank as well, maybe reconfigured as forward chassis wieghts (this Young American version of the kit is also missing the forward of front axle weights of the Wynnshcarger kit. Another difference is that the Wynncharger version has a center idler arm for the front tie rods, whereas the Young American has a more typical left spindle connection for the steering drag link. Bottom line, the chrome trees of the two kits (Wynnscharger/Fiat Altered and Young American) have more than just a couple of differences. Plus there are the differences in the Cosmic Charger kit, which is pretty heavily modified vs. these two. Don't you love this hobby and the intracacies we find when we start to investigate stuff like this? TIM

Daddy...I'm looking right now at the (empty) box art and let me assure us all, it reads "Don Garlits' Wynnsharger" and it is the same kit as the Young American, except for the decals and the parts described above. The kit # is 729-200 and it was released in late 1970 IIRC. When I get time, I will try to post the instructions page that shows what I think are the new parts vs. the Wynnscharger. In the meantime, you can see the tank part of the assembly in the far upper right hand corner of the chrome tree frame in the kit contents slides posted above. Best regards...TIM

Those of you familiar with the original MPC Wynnshcarger...the new Young American has what appears to be a dry sump oiling system with dual oil filter that I do not recall from my original Wynnscharger kit from 1970. Does anyone have access to both the new Young Amierican and an original Wynnshcarger to see if the new parts are also in the original Gartits kit? l Best regards all...TIM