Chuck Kourouklis

Well yeah, Tom's article spelled out the biggest problems with the bodies, so I went into this knowing just what to expect there; and without any nasty surprises, it was easy to be blown away by the rest. It's also interesting that there's something to the engraving "flavor" that seems similar to the MPC big-scales of the time - don't know why a shared molding facility would bring that about if different artisans handled the tooling, but there does seem to be a certain subtle kinship there.

I just come to a different conclusion, Casey. For the era, the bad parts aren't so far off, and the good parts are pretty unbelievable.

Not that I don't like 'em, but I'd guess the green and blue studies still look too much like the current car. Then again, allfordmustangs.com sent out this link, and there are some pretty heritage-looking touches in these purported clays: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2013/03/2015-ford-mustang-clay-models-reveal-fastback-design.html

Yeah, spent X on these - a big enough X, don't you worry - and I got no regrets at all: They're everything they've been cracked up to be. Not slapping 'em together any time soon, so if tech advances quick enough to make 'em re-doable, I may just have some usable masters.

Not quite so simple for those of us just starting to look into this, which is why I appreciate the response. Thanks!

So Frank, you're on the vanguard, man - got me wondering what it is about that heated plate.

See, first thing I thought when I saw the Evos on top was hey, there's some Mustang in that! Something around the front quarter, maybe in the fender flare/character line relation, or the countenance of a Mustang in the grille and headlights, if not the slavish recreation of detail. I'd agree that bottom concept looks good, but it seems a wee too retro yet. Don't think the headlight design is gonna transfer from this generation to the next...

Kool! Diggin' the ref! Wouldn'a guessed the metal finish on that pan. Meantime, I'm diggin' how well those factory robotic spray guns are just totally eliminating the body-color overspray... Y'know, if I just felt like sending in some horse-scat to an editor somewhere about how all modern factories are now using anodized steel floorpans just because I had a little wedgie about how other builders finished their models, I wonder how many people would buy it just because it was printed...

Oh, they very nearly had the better version without! This cinches it absolutely, in my humble estimation.

I'm guessing that they're starting from a marketing standpoint in a culture where curbsides are just generally better accepted all around, and then they deliver a little extra gravy for more enthusiastic modelers after the initial, primary release. Also, it just so happens that modern, under-trayed and over-stuffed engine bays forgive this approach more easily than the airier compartments of yore...

Well, if you look at the trees Jonathan has posted above, you'll see not only the separate undertray/front suspension lowers piece - which ain't really the issue blocking the engine bottom - but also that web of plastic molded to the same area of the chassis plate, which is. The various R35 kits have something similar going on, and Aoshima's Aventador bay is kind of a box into which either a one-piece insert, or a more-detailed-but-still-bottomless multi-piece engine drops. If you have a look at the top left corner of the top black tree in Jonathan's shots, you'll see between the front struts on the left and the rotors on the right a piece which encompasses the lower bell housing, crossmember, and bottom surface of the oil pan (the transmission is complete in 3 dimensions and very well engraved, btw). So I guess someone could separate the undertray from the lower suspension and have a fair representation of the engine bottom, long as he didn't mind black webbing filling the space on either side. A complete engine will require a layer of bridging work, though.

Seems to be - R35 GTR, Aventador, now this 86/BRZ all bear it out. Not atypical for Japanese manufacturers, though; up till this one, the most bewildering was Fujimi's insert for its R35, nearly 30 pieces with all the lines and doohickeys anybody could reasonably expect - but still not a complete engine with a proper bottom end, no matter how complete it looks from the top.

Thank you very much for that Eric, and yes, I have a few documented, anecdotal cases of people who saw that the AMT kit was more correct overall, and bought the Revell kit anyway because AMT's kit was not as much more correct than Revell's as Revell's was more detailed than AMT's. If that makes any sense. **edit** - I just realized, you were talking about the Revell '69 Camaro snapper, weren't you? L. O. L. My bad...

I really dislike the conclusion you come to, but I'm forced to agree. Course, there's the matter of where we core guys nearly drove them off a cliff, too. We'd holler and clamor for certain subjects, they'd listen to us, and we'd wind up buying not nearly what we promised to. How many of those hobbyist-oriented subjects blew out the first run, maybe, then sat on the shelves collecting dust thereafter. Little surprised to hear the '50 Olds has legs, but glad about it too.

An expanded review of the AMT Camaro, huh? Maybe even in a comparison with the Revell kit? With full building impressions, progress shots, clues what to watch out for? Good idea! I'll get right on it.

Well, comes to that, the chassis pan doesn't look as if it allows for the bottom third (more like fifth, really). Would have been obscured by an undertray whichever way. Far as engine inserts go, this'n is crazy engraved. Blows Tamiya's out of the water, recalls Fujimi Enthusiast more than anything else.

Hohoho, just you wait - What Jonathan's posted is a curbside, but future versions of Aoshima's 86/BRZ got THIS comin': Thems of you what ain't got it yet and like the subject might just wanna hold on a wee bit longer...

You jest, Brett, but you're also almost exactly correct. It was late summer 2007, and I think the earliest anybody saw one was maybe end of July at the front edge of the WalMart release. Everybody else was gettin' 'em right about when you said.

Supra was ok, better in the later version. The rest of AMT's offerings were jokes. Revell's Eclipse beat theirs to a pulp, and I'm loathe to besmirch JADA by comparison to AMT's Z and Evo sedan - those were straight-out caricatures. So no, they're not the best examples. But much as I don't like what Brett's saying about current releases, it's inevitable that until contemporary subjects can land a little closer in release to their 1:1 counterparts, they're just not going to sell as well as they could. Somehow, Revell was early enough on the curve with Mustangs, 'Vettes, and Vipers up until a few years ago, when some paradigm shifted someplace - those promo contracts, I guess.

Just a thought, having seen a few of these now - aside from making sure your prank lands on the date, how about making the rumor something horrific, so that everybody is relieved instead of disappointed when they realize it's a joke? "Revell has just announced that due to unrelenting customer scrutiny and complaint, they will be ceasing development of all new automotive tooling and partnering with General Mills for a new line of cereal box toys." "NOT!" See what I did there? You could even work some satire into it if you wanted.

Ah, alright then. That explains it. A number of things actually, so thank you.

Okay, sure. But why wouldn't Revell have access to the same data, is what I'm getting at. Would you know? Did GM deny them for some reason?

Oh, I certainly get why AMT would have the CAD - just don't understand why Revell/Monogram wouldn't.

Not at all surprised - jives very well with my observations of the AMT & Revell kits, in fact. Any idea why that would be?

You want a white-knuckle experience, try working an EM Countach body shell over the finished chassis according to the instruction sequence. That it all came together without anything shattering or splitting in half was all the proof of a benevolent God I needed. I'd agree with Sonny that the Tamiya's 200+ piece Enzo came pretty close and their Carrera GT and LFA kits aren't too far off the mark. Fujimi's own 250GTO has parts that number in the 190s, and if the engine were a little sharper, it would have been a perfect latter-day EM kit.