Casey

"If it goes in a straight line, post it here!"

http://www.miniatur-models.com/models.html

Considering Round2's pattern of creating all-new wheels and/or tires, including them in kits, then offering them as a separate parts pack, I expect much the same for these. Which recently reissued or soon to be reissued AMT or MPC kits have all-new wheels and "custom caps"?

No public announcement, but not much to say. Product is trickling out, as you've noted, as the other announced kits ('69 Mustang Boss 302) will be here...soon. This was the go-to topic for Revell-related info and news (and some misinformation), but there doesn't seem to have been much news to report lately: I noticed a production date of mid August on the bottom of the Greased Lightning box I looked at, so I'm guessing everything Revell plans to release in next few month has to be first produced first, i.e. the kits weren't already manufactured and bagged, sitting around waiting for packages pre-Hobbico bankruptcy. I would guess any existing debt to the molding facility needed to be paid off before they'd begin production again for Revell, USA, so that probably put Revell USA at the back of the line, too.

The 1/25 AMT GMC Astro 95 cabover tractor has been announced for reissue in 2019 as kit number 1140. Sorry, no GM Turbine engine this time around. Here's the box art:

Maybe they'll be the same tires included in the '53 Ford pickup reissue from 2015? Not sure if Round2 will include a set of four wide whites and another six blackwall tires, though: I would be surprised if one single person laments the loss of those full wheel covers.

Should be out within the next two months or so. Excellent choice for the box art.

Technically speaking, this project got under way last year, but I began working on it again this week, and made some progress worth documenting, so we go. My inspiration is this forlorn blue '41 Plymouth Coupe found on the web years ago. I am planning to lean more toward the 'nose high' look with this project, but not quite this high: Body work so far includes scribing the door gaps deeper, removing one molded on windshield wiper arm and blade, filling in the hood ornament recess, removing the vent window guide channels and cleaning up both doors' window openings. The windshield opening is a mess, so I may end up making a new windshield and/or gasket to improve things. Changing the nose to a tilt front end is an option I'm considering, as it will conveniently allow me to remove all of the panel joints and the welting between them, and make the nose a one-piece part. As for the engine, I'm using the early Chrysler Hemi from the AMT '57 Chrysler 300C kit, which is nicely done. The block halves and cylinder heads have been assembled, and the stock transmission was removed in preparation for the aftermarket trans adapter and B&M HyroStick trans. I was planning to use the trans from the Revell Orange Crate, but lucked into a Revell modern '41 Willys kit trans, so that'll be used instead. I'll probably keep the stock valve covers, but the intake choice is still undecided. Below are pictured the engine parts, gauge cluster from the AMT '37 Chevy Coupe, steering wheel from the AMT '58 Impala, unknown blue hood scoop, and the stock Plymouth firewall and radiator, as well as a radiator from the same Revell Willys kit as the trans?: Suspension bits are form the AMT '50 Chevy Pickup (front and rear leaf springs and front axle), shock mount plates from the '57 300C, "Traction Masters" from an AMT early Funny Car kit, and a driveshaft and wheelie bars from the parts box. Still need to decide on a rearend, too: Tires are some vintage AMT Firestone skinnies and Revell M&H Racemaster pie crust slicks for the rear. Front wheels will be the pictured five-slots for now, rear wheels TBD:

Love it in the yellow color. This is really a great kit, but foiling all that trim is no picnic. Congrats on doing it multiple times.

Thanks, all.

Done.

There aren't any trim rings included.

Please, watch the video Alan posted. Chris' review videos always show the contents at the very beginning. This has always been an excellent kit, originating as a Revell-Monogram Pro Modeler kit in 1998. There are review topics here on the forum and elsewhere for the closely related Revell '48 Ford Custom and Coupe kits, too.

Yup.

Sorry, JC.

I picked up these tires in a lot, and would like to know the original kit(s) they were included inside: #1 -- Firestone *500* (* = checkered flag) 8.00 x14, soild vinyl, O.D. = 1.107" #2 -- Goodyear Sports Car Special, 1.025" O.D. - Maybe vintage Monogram European car? The vinyl is slightly softer than normal, allowing for some 'squish': #3 -- Goodyear Sport Car Special, this one with (I'm assuming) it's original silver plastic wheel still present. Wheel has a long mounting stud, and a parts number of '17' molded onto the back face of the wheel, .968" O.D., slightly narrower than #2, too:

http://www.drivehq.com/file/df.aspx/publish/tonhazelaar/wwwhome/kits-renwal.html

Those are Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires, IIRC, and predate the Eagle GS-C tires. The tires' 'shoulder', where the sidewall meet the tread, is a bit more square than the more rounded GS-Cs. That's my recollection, too- basically high performance cars (Corvette, Trans Am, Camaro, Mustang, etc. and a few street machine type cars and trucks). The top tire with the solid lettering is definitely AMT, as it has a thick inner 'step' between the sidewall and inner bore. I can't say 100% the bottom tire is AMT, too, but it sure looks the same, save for the hollow lettering on the sidewall. The AMT '55 Chevy Stepside included the same Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires as included with the '34 Ford above. Maybe the late '90s issue '57 Chevy stepside did?

There is a pinned (by request) topic in this very section with multiple methods for making hinges:

OK, who picked one up and is willing to share pics of the contents?

Here are the engine parts from the AMT '66 Buick Riviera, this particular engine coming from a pre-pained issue:

I stripped the pre-painted AMT '66 Buick Riviera's V8 with 91% isopropyl alcohol, trued the flat surfaces, and generally started prepping the engine parts for assembly. After doing some Buick V8 research last night, I noticed something on the 1/25 scale block was a bit off. The bellhousing flange at the rear of the block (and the bulge for the distributor too short) looks too high in relation to the rest of the block. Here's a shot of both a '65 Buick 401 and the AMT '66 Riv engine: I already cut off the stock auto trans, so while I still need to trim the lower half of the flange off, I am a bit disappointed by what I discovered. Overall, the 1/25 AMT '66 Riviera engine looks very good compared to the real engine reference pics I've viewed, and the only other clear omission is the lack of any valley pan detail. Granted, most of the valley area is hidden when the intake manifold is in place, so I can live with it. I think the block's skirt is a bit short, too, but maybe things were compromised in that area to ensure the engine would fit under the Riviera's hood. Not sure, but the engine looks a bit vertically compressed, if that makes sense. Fortunately, the bellhousing flange is the only area which really stands out to me, so once I source a bellhousing, I will decide if I want to modify it or just live with it. Here's the engine as I received it, presumably from one or the AMT 'Pro Shop' prepainted issues: