Casey

The AMT '34 Ford pickup has two (maybe four?) CMU/concrete masonry units/concrete blocks, too, as well as an engine stand, tool box, and more:

I'll add these, which someone posted in the comments section of an Atlantis facebook post at least a year ago:

https://atlantis-models.com/blog/the-aurora-molds-urban-legends/?fbclid=IwAR2-9FZAKCPwM1TgzY6zte5K8pSzrKDbUpzwqh6PSYq8grlexa_xBwtMMZA Copied body text of the above linked content in case the link dies: The Aurora Molds "Urban Legends" Aurora Molds - Urban Legends… Author Bob Johnson, Contributors Ed Sexton and Peter Vetri Ever since the mold inventory for plastic kits from Aurora Plastics Corporation was acquired by Monogram Models in the late 1970's, there have been no end of rumors and speculation from the "infamous Binghamton NY winter train wreck" (fact) to the disposition of various tool sets over the following years. Even reading the description of the trials and tribulations of Aurora on Wikipedia, there is no mention whatsoever of the purchase of some tool sets by Monogram during the winter of 1977. By mid 1978 the acquisition was completed and internal records of Monogram Models, Inc. indicate that approximately 740 molds +/- were shipped to Morton Grove, Illinois. The quantity damaged beyond repair was less than 30 molds (assessing a "mold" as the cavity and core halves even if separated in the train wreck) and by late 1979, as many as 500 molds had been scrapped. In addition, Roughly 51 molds sets composed primarily of character figures and 12 various cars; likely in 1/32nd scale, were not part of the sale to Monogram. Most of these molds were scrapped for various reasons or mold bases repurposed by Aurora themselves. Without question, any modeler who built Aurora kits in the 1950's and 1960's has a "favorite" from Frankenstein to the turquoise P-38 "Lightning" to the Douglas MB-2 mailplane, "Mod Squad" Ford Woody Wagon, and the North American B-70. Those who built these kits as youngsters surely had different interests than senior management at Monogram whose primary goal was to acquire the Aurora molds and restrict further production primarily to ensure that existing retail shelf space was given to large numbers of reissued Aurora subjects from a potential new firm. You can see exactly what kits went right into the Monogram line by looking at the 1979 Catalog. The potential for reissues was weakening as vintage items were looked upon as less detailed and less accurate than new kit creations in the 1970's. It was a reality of what was already a shrinking market. The shelf space the industry once possessed is long gone. After 1990 or "thereabouts", there were beliefs among the modeling community that Aurora molds stored initially at the Monogram facility in Morton Grove and relocated when Revell-Monogram changed ownership and moved to Northbrook, Illinois, and then moved a third time in 2007 under new Hobbico ownership when offices and molds were moved to Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Between that time and the Chapter 7 bankruptcy of Hobbico in 2018 and the sale of Revell assets to Quantum Capital Partners in Germany, only one 3 Aurora mold sets were sold; a duplicate 1/32nd scale Batmobile and the Monster Scenes Animal Pit and Dungeon molds. Other firms may have marketed kits based on Aurora molds, but that process utilized bagged assemblies produced in the Morton Grove facility. Many Aurora kits were reverse engineered like the Moebius Models Dr. Jekyll and the Atlantis American Bison to name a couple. The sale and purchase of bagged assemblies is a common practice in the hobby kit industry, and has been for decades and continues today. Throughout the period from 1991 through the closure of Revell in 2018, ownership and management changed... but, one constant was the Product Manager. This person worked with several firms that purchased bagged assembly items from the overall Revell mold inventory. Following the purchase of Revell assets in the USA and Germany, "interests” for the German buyers specified molds held in China and the USA that they wished to retain for future production. There were a number that were not selected and those were set aside to be scrapped. Knowing that this would lead to a number of vintage mold sets from Monogram, Revell, Aurora, and Renwal disposed of for material value only. Revell product manager Ed Sexton saw the value in selling a quantity of the remaining molds to a viable buyer; Atlantis Toy and Hobby inc. Located on Long island New York. Fortunately, these principals saw potential in future production from most of the molds scheduled for destruction and a business "deal" was negotiated. Those that remained were transferred to Atlantis; a major undertaking all its own. The past 3 years has seen the limited production of vintage kits that had not been produced in years. If you appreciate what Atlantis is creating, support them with purchases! We need to thank Ed Sexton along with the cooperation of Lou Aguilera, President of Carrera Revell of Americas, Inc. that a "quick sale" to a junk dealer did not happen. While Ed worked with principals at Atlantis Models, Lou negotiated with the new German owners to achieve an acceptable solution. Their foresight to find a small firm that was (and is) committed to work hard to survive in a very different hobby market is not only laudable, but provides future kits releases from vintage molds that otherwise would have been lost. Atlantis co owners Peter Vetri and Rick Delfavero are taking on a massive challenge that goes way beyond what you see when a new Atlantis kit makes its way to a retail shelf. Hopefully, this provides facts that refute the "what ifs"..... and before anyone asks, there is a list of what was purchased and that remains the confidential property of the new owners. Support them all that you can. Better to buy vintage kits! Feb 10th 2022 Bob Johnson

Not sure where you are in Maine, but some larger Ace Hardware stores carry the K+S metals racks. Also, here: http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/k+s/k+s3407.htm?source=froogle eBay, Amazon, maybe even Grainger....just Google the specific part numbers after you go through the catalog at the link Joe provided.

I edited my original post to make things clearer. Yes, I understood you were speaking of the newly-tooled-in-the-'90s kits. I don't see much of a case for the DeSoto nor New Yorker, honestly. They were specialty cars when new, without much broad appeal, and with Moebius' '55 and '56 Chrysler 300s saturating the market for years now, I don't see that as a viable option. The '58 Plymouth-to-anything else, same thing IMHO. I think the only reason that one ever got off the ground originally is because of the movie association. A Dodge Demon from the '71 Plymouth Duster 340...maybe. I'm sure Round2 has considered it. A '68 Olds 442 from the '69 442/ Hurst Olds is possible, but does a '68 Olds 442 have a wide enough appeal to justify the investment? I don't think it does. I think they are doing just fine overall. Remember, they have a much larger portfolio as a whole than just plastic model kits, so while the lack of a '71 Dodge Demon 340 kit might seem incomprehensible to some of us, it's merely one product among thousands for them. I suspect the investment partner who injected some cash last year feels very differently, but, time will tell. I have no doubt all the Star Wars kit releases are not a lucky guess on Round2's part, either. They have a good idea of what will sell, and they are in business to make a profit, not satisfy a few hundred peoples' specific kit wants. I'm not so sure I would hold either of those companies in much higher regard. People need to get over the Coca-Cola branded kits. It's just a decal sheet and box art. Round2 pays for the license and uses it because it is profitable to do so. Round2's M.O. has been to reissue kits with some added enhancements since they started in 2006, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Their bread and butter is reissuing vintage kits, and one look at the Hobby Lobby topic here on the forum in Gen Disc. will make it painfully clear why that business model continues to be successful. The masses want cheap kits, regardless of subject, and Round2 is more than happy to fill that demand.

Atlantis just shared an image of some painted test shot bodies and parts for their forthcoming 1/32 (ex-Monogram) Chevy Camaro Funny Car, as well as the Charger, Mustang, and Duster bodies, kits of which will hopefully follow at some point-- the latter three are not on the release schedule as of now, just the '70-ish Camaro and the '74+ Vega for now. "Just received test shots of 4 1/32 Tom Daniel Funny Car stretched bodies....Each kit will have properly done new artwork and decals with original decals as well. Artwork and graphics by Kelly Daniel. Molded in clear, black, silver and 2 body colors TBD." These are the originals(Charger and Gremlin not pictured) from the 1980 Monogram catalog:

Some possible options, though the middle 1/25 14" Firestone and 14" right tire appear to not be radials...hard to tell on those two. The 13" Firestone Super Sports tire on the left has tread blocks which appear too heavy to my eyes. 🤷🏻 I am almost certain they were included with the reissued AMT VW Scirocco kit a few years ago, though.

Early Pinto dash?:

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Yes-- the ex-Lindberg Nisan Hardbody 4x4, GMC Sonoma, and Chevy Camaro SS convertible kits.

It looks like that's exactly what the builder of the 1:1 shovel did. 😁 Doesn't look overly complicated, with many straight beams, but plenty of cables going every which way.

Definitely. The outer ends of that bumper tab are rather unique. Looks like an exact match:

True, and while the matching wheelbase issue is a very important factor (IMHO), it's not the only factor to be considered. I suspect to make serious modifications, Round2 wants to hedge their bets in the "this is definitely going to sell briskly" direction, too. I think that has happened with the Supernatural Impala, no doubt due to the legit TV show tie-in. I'm honestly nor sure how well those annually updated 1:1 big cars you mentioned would sell as 1:25 kits. Maybe fodder for another topic. Was it supposed to be 5280, i.e. 1320 x 4? They have, although some were ex-Lindberg kits in the oddball 1/20 scale. There were have been several AMT '90s era kits re-issued-- GMC Sonoma, Ford Lightning F-150, '88 Mustang GT, Plymouth Prowler, and '94 Mustang GT come to mind. I think we'll see more re-issues aimed and the Gen Xers soon enough.

Thanks, Steve. One more, a bumper and valance panel combo, early Camaro sized or so: Backside: Top view:

Just like the 1:1 restorers, now we're getting into date codes. 😁

Once you start doing that, where do you stop? I suspect that was a topic discussed regarding the AMT '63 Chevy II Wagon, and they decided it was best to create an all-new kit instead of backdating the Boss Nova. Once you upgrade the engine, then the exhaust to match up with it, and the front and rear suspension, then modify the chassis to make it all play nicely together, and whoops, it no longer fits inside the body shell nicely, and wow does that engine bay with the molded in wires look terrible now...definitely a slippery slope. Where do you stop and run the risk of turning customers off by not going far enough or not leaving things well enough alone? I suspect the latter (and nostalgia) is why we see so little of what you suggest. Not sure how many other new-in-the-'90s kits Round2 could modify like they did with the '67 Impala/Supernatural 4-door hardtop, though. Shared wheelbases are key, and some of the tooling is one-off and funky (Wagonrod, Phantom Vickie), so not much potential for heavily modified reissues there. Heck, they'd do well just to re-issue the '94 S-10 SS/LS, '96 S-10 Sportside, '95 S-series Blazer, Ford Rangers (both bed styles), and '55 Chevy Stepside with the Street Machine parts.

Try a tiny bit of superglue for the tacking part, then flow the liquid cement into the joint after the tape is removed.

The rotating display stand (powered by a rubber band) which first appeared in the 1/25 MPC '65 Dodge Monaco 2+2 Hardtop kit, seen at the center left in the below image: The same rotating stand then migrated to and was included with the AMT Car Craft Magazine Dream Rod kit: The instruction sheet shows how the parts were to be assembled, and how to power the base: The display base remained with the CC Magazine Dream Rod through its transition into the Tiger Shark, touted here on the end of the MPC #502 issue box: The rotating display stand is still included with the Tiger Shark kit, and can be found in the most recent MPC #876 issue, from 2018: The rotating display stand was also available separately as a mail-away item for $.50 each, as shown on this vintage MPC insert:

That's where I think you are way off. Other than construction companies, nobody buys a single cab pickup, much less a long bed. Short beds have much more appeal. I think if people want a 1/25 scale version, they tend to learn toward what they have in their driveway, so extended and double cab trucks. Considering the different frames, interiors, and bed lengths which would be necessary for standard, extended, and double cab versions, you can see why it's a major investment for any model company. Really, Revell would be wise to just reissue this kit as it is.

Here are the instructions for the race version: https://modelkitreviews.proboards.com/thread/1412/monogram-2111-triumph-tr7-racer 1/24 Monogram Triumph TR7 Wedge: 1/24 Monogram Triumph TR8:

Yes, someone mentioned the Kelsey-Hayes Mag Star wheels were included the original release of this Corvette kit, but they are no longer in the kit, and they are not included in this forthcoming re-issue. This kit has gone through many changes over the years, but what is shown in Steve G's images on page 2 is what the soon-to-be-released kit will include.

Is there a production date on the bottom of your '77 Pinto box? The white letter Rally GTs might've been a rolling change, it sounds like.

Thanks. Never would have guessed that, as there appears to be a leaping/pouncing large cat at the top right. 🐱 Thanks, that appears to be a match, too: Thank you. Thanks, I'll have to do some online sleuthing.