Brett Barrow

Considering the Revell as we know it today has only existed since around 2008 when the changes instituted by new owners Hobbico began to take effect, what blunders exactly are we talking about? The Tuner kits sold well, very well in fact, but what good are they to them now? The problem was that Revell and its ownership at the time continually tried to chase the next big thing for tweens and lost sight of their core business, which is making models, specifically making models that have staying power. VEX Robots, 24th scale NASCAR R/C cars, Spin-Drive slot cars, Mag-Clik magnetic jewelry, R.A.M.S., Power Modeler CD-ROMs, - you want to talk about some blunders? I know that just Power Modeler and Mag-Cliks cost them a combined $11 Million, as they occured during the time Revell-Monogram was a publicly traded company. That's what Revell's owners before Hobbico chose to do with all that dough they were raking in from selling models to WalMart and other chain stores (Revell actually used to have 2 full time employees working in Bentonville at WalMart HQ just to handle their purchasing). Where are the classic kits from that era, where are the Tom Daniel and Ed Roth kits of that era? Where are the Lil' Coffins and Boot Hill Expresses of that era? Revell of 2013 doesnt have 12' of shelf space in every big-box department store in the country now, they can't count on WalMart to guarantee every kit they make will turn a profit on the first run. They have to make choices that can be spread out over multiple releases over several years to amortize the tooling costs. That's the reality of today.

AMT was using some strange plastic during that era. Revell also had some weird plastic issues around that time as well. The story inside the industry was that it was due to the construction of the Chinese F1 race track which used up the entire Asian polystyrene supply at the time. I'd chalk this one up to plastic weirdness. I had the same thing happen to an AccMin Grand Sport I tried to strip in Super Clean. First and only time I ever used it. I poured the rest down the drain.

I'll keep digging but I won't get anything out of them. I just hope they start letting some rumors drop at the NNL's this month. I could start a few, but it'd be too easy to figure out who I heard it from and who he heard it from and who he heard it from... and there could be NDA's and contracts and stuff involved and I don't want get anybody in trouble. But if/when I start seeing rumors floating around I'll start spilling the beans . I could be persuaded with models, though... Anybody willing to trade a mint Jo-Han 60 Desoto Adventurer for a couple industry secrets?!?!?

Yeah, the 'cuda and Mustang were announced last fall for release this spring/summer (Mustang will be out in late May, still no official date on the Cuda, it's not on the schedule yet, which right now runs through June). What we're speculatin' on now is what announcements will be made this spring for release this fall. Fall releases are usually just straight reissues or modified reissues, but there is a slim chance there might be a new-tool kit(s) announced. They usually announce the new tools in the fall, at or around the iHobby show. We'll find out for sure May 1st...

Blue Ovals don't look right on a Mustang. Mustangs should have their own badging. And they should indroduce the new Mustang as a mid-year 2014 1/2 model, to pay tribute to the original 64 1/2's 50th Anniversary.

Does anyone have a contact for Mr David? I'm looking to sell a very valuable and historical landmark in NYC he might be in the market for. Beautiful river-front views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. That litte pumpkin-pie haircutted freak...

Well, I found out I'm somewhat warm with at least one of my guesses, but that's all I could get out of them. May 1st!...

Didn't the other rag do an article on the Red Alert fairly recently? I forget who did it or what kit they used, but I agree with the assessment that the Revell snapper is the best looking out of all of them.

It's funny, but I read this and I can't help but think this is exactly what people must have said back in the heyday of the "kustomizers". "They ruined that car, it looked better stock". "All ____ does is slap new wheels on it." "_____ can't hold a candle to _____". I wonder what they would have said on the Little Pages' website had the internet been around back then... Every custom is one man's vision. There are very few that have mass appeal. But they only have to appeal to one person - the builder or whoever is footing the bill.

Revell's '63 Vette snap kits aren't bad at all for what they are - a modern interpretation of a promo. If you just want a 63 to sit on the shelf I'd go for the Revell snapper all day, but the AMT 63 looks very good when built as a shelf model. If you just want the best C2, regardless of year, it's the Revell 67, hands down. If it's gotta be a 63, you could go either way IMO, Revell snap or AMT, or kitbash the AMT with Revell's 67 for a full-detail model. Note that there are ex-Monogram 1/24 66 and 65 Vettes out there, too, also in Revell boxes, but they don't share anything with the 1/25 67 and are nowhere near as good.

I've owned a 155 since they first came out with it. I have other a/b's, but it's always the one I reach for when I need one I know is going to work. Makes a great workhorse a/b.

May 1st will be the day for the fall announcements, so looks like we'll have to keep this little game going for the rest of the month... They could do worse... I was just thinking it's about time for the T and Duster F/C... Maybe Fooseified this time? Or maybe the T can get a set of the "Rat Rod" wheels and tires? Actually, that wouldn't be that bad an idear come to think of it...

But if I were Revell - I'd let the 62 go for another year or so, and reissue the 59 as this instead - the Purple People Eater -

I've heard the AMT top fits pretty good. The test shots had a back glass piece, so I know Revell has a top planned for this kit. The easiest way to get to a 61 would probably be to take a Revell 58/59 and graft the sides onto the 62 and use the top from it. I still haven't heard for sure whether or not the 58/59 Revell top fits, though - in theory it should. Ah... The 62 Gulf Oil Vette. I'd go ape for that, too. That wouldn't surprise me one bit if they did it. In fact, I'd be more shocked if they don't do it (eventually).

61's had the 3 little spears in the side cove "vents", 61 was the last year the side cove was painted a constrasting color, and there's a trim molding separating the side cove on a 61, 62 lacks this molding and the coves were painted the same as the body color. The 3 spears and cove molding would be the biggie on a model. 61's didn't have rocker panel moldings, 62's did (but it's a separate part in the 62 kit). Front emblem is slightly different, (crossed flags and "Corvette" lettering, on a 62, the crossed flags are on a large round badge**). Grille is the same but unpainted on a 61, painted flat black on a 62*. I think the deck lid emblem is different, too, but the parachute on BLM's car would cover that up. Plus BJM's had 6 taillights (a very common period custom touch on 61 and 62 Vettes, as well as the C2's which shared a similar rearend). I don't know for sure, but 61's and 62's probably had different interior patterns as well, that's typical of Vettes around this time (I know each year of C2's had a unique interior, I don't know the 61's and 62's as well as I know the C2's). So, there's a lot of little things, but entirely doable. *or anodized gold on late 62's ** take that back, it's not a badge, they're just inside a circle.

BJM's Vette was a 61 and I'd go absolutely ape if they did it. Heck, I'd go absolutely ape if they just did a BJM-esque 62 gasser to be honest with you. A 62 with a hardtop, dual carbs and a handful of road racing parts would be just fine, though... There are flashed over holes in the interior tub right where a roll bar would go and there were a few parts on the test shots that didn't show up in the production kit (like a sway bar) so I think that's more likely.

Yeah, I don't think they're done with that A-body platform. Sometimes it's smart to start with the oddball. Plus somebody at Revell is/was a total Indy Pace Car nut. Forget who and they might not be with the company anymore. Might have been Bill Lastovich. I expect to see more 50 Olds versions down the road - convertible, Holiday hardtop, Club Sedan (fastback), maybe even some Chevys... The 57 Ford is currently our #2 best selling car model, right behind the Olds.

My one sure bet- 57 Ford Custom F-Code (Supercharged NASCAR special) My total WAGs - no inside knowledge of any of these - It's about time for a Predicta or Lil Coffin reissue A couple more Foose kits. 58 or 59 Corvette (or another version of the 62 with hardtop) 48 Ford Woody w/ one of the Kurtis Midgets 64 T-Bolt with decals for a real one. Some form of the 40 Ford (I hope with the Columbia 2-speed axle that's only been in the Standard Coupe) Several things from the 90's that go for around $10 on eBay. 50 Olds Club Sedan (fastback) if we're lucky.

As a modeler, I don't like it either. 72 Olds convertibles, anyone??? Blew out for a couple months, now neither version is in production. ZR-1 Vette and ACR Viper never really did blow out even at the beginning, they're pretty much dust collectors now. 50 Olds just won't stop. I've never seen anything like it since I've been in the buisness. Wonder if they'd trade any of those lowriders and tuners from the 90's and early 2000's for the 50 Olds now (or to go back and beat Moebius to the punch with Hudsons and the 55 300) ?

Could you maybe do one on the AMT and Revell Challengers while you're at it?...

I'm working on it...

True, but the snap Camaro is in decline - it's run its course. It's barely in the top 25 of kit sales since the start of 2012. And it's barely the top snap kit right now, the good ol' 34 Ford is hot on its heels... The top selling Japanese kit over that timeframe for us? Aoshima's Aventador, which I had to run a top 200 1/24th scale items list just to find it - in 176th place (the list included both accesories and kits). It was just ahead of Revell Germany's London Bus, but about 20 spots behind Monogram's Tom Daniel S'Cool Bus, which we've had in stock all of 3 days... They want to buy kits direct from Japan, let them. Saves us from having to buy them and pay freight and customs to get them here. If it takes a dollar to make a dollar, then saving a dollar is a good as making 50 cents. Goes right along with the point I've been trying to make all along - that a smart divestment is just a good as a smart investment. I think Kenny Rogers wrote a song aobut knowing when to hold 'em and knowing when to fold 'em... The message boards, the model clubs, eBay listings, etc... they don't represent the model-buying public as a whole. Boards and clubs are maybe the top 1%, or maybe even just the top .1%. I'd go hungry catering to the whims of clubs and boards. It's a big world out there, a lot bigger than what's represented by boards like this, or the model clubs. It's bigger than most of you reading this will ever even realize. I live in that big world. I work in that big world. I sell to that big world. I remember posting on one board (it might have been here, but I think it was an airplane board) that the industry estimates that there are about 3 million modelers in the US, and geting basically laughed off the board, even though I had industry data and studies to back me up. But I'm a 1%er, too, Modeler Brett understands you, Modeler Brett hears the voices on the boards and clubs loud and clear. But Businessman Brett knows the reality of the situation... Keeping Modeler Brett and Businessman Brett separate is something that's taken me a long time to learn how to do. If Modeler Brett had his way, I'd be begging them for a '54 Facel-Vega...

I sell those kits, too, I work in hobby distribution. That's been my point - ask Aoshima for the kits that Aoshima's more likely to provide. I probably sell 20 Revell kits for every one Aoshima kit I sell. This is my job, Monday-Friday, 9-5, I do wholesale - all day, every day, and you can add a Saturdays and Sundays part-time in a retail hobby shop on top of that. This is my life, this is my career. This is what I do. I take it seriously. My point has been that everyone seems to think that the descisions of the 90's and early 2000's were great decisions and need to be repeated. I'm just saying that they were poor decisions and need not be repeated. I've got skin in the game, this is what I do. Bad decisions by model companies don't put money in my pocket...

I really needed my sarcastic font for that comment. Wally World was the worst thing that ever happened to the American side of the hobby and it was making kit choices based on the whims of WalMart and KMart in the 90's and early 2000's that put us into the situation that put Revell and AMT on the brink of going out of business when those big box stores pulled the rug out from under them. THAT's the point I've been trying to make all along about late-model subjects. When they had 12 feet in every big-box mass-market department store in the country to fill with models they made totally different choices of subject mattter. But that ship has sailed, those days are over, and it left the American model companies in a shambles that they've been lucky to recover from. They're not going to go down that path again. If they do, they're setting themselves up for disaster - again... As for his dislike of the RPP program, there's nothing stopping him from participating. But he just wants to deal in cars on his little website and eBay store, and not buy the planes and military subjects that go along with the RPP program. He could open up a brick and mortar store and sell all types of models like the shops that do participate in the program. Or he could continue to complain from his little board. His choice. Adapt or die...

That's Revell and AMT catering to younger modelers with kits of current subjects at that time and it nearly put both companies out of business. That's the point I've been trying to make all along. Please feel free to tell me some specific subjects you think they should do and I'll be sure to pass it along to them. What would the non-AARP crowd like to see?