SteveG

There's been unexpected delay at the factory that has this tool in getting approved test shots to us. We would still like to run the '81 Camaro kit this year but I'm not holding my breath waiting of it. If it's not resolved, we may end up moving the tooling which will delay it into next year. -Steve

The first test shots for AMT1412 '63 Ford F-100 Camper Pickup, AMT1407 '60 Ford F-100 Pickup with Trailer and MPC997 '71 Dodge Demon arrived mid-August and I've been busy completing the reviews and the first build ups. I'm still trying to get all three released before the year is out. Of the pickup trucks AMT1407 is supposed to ship first with other to follow about 8 weeks later, all subject to change based on final approvals. The box art for all three will most likely debut at the New York Toy Fair on Sept 30th. The built models are with me in Ohio and will most likely debut Oct 14th at the Plastic Undercover Show in Akron. I also plan to be at the Detroit show too in Nov. I may share some photos between now and then, will see. -Steve

It's certainly possible now although it not part of any specific plans. It's also been suggested to me that we make an all-new team using the AWB Chevelle and the '65 El Camino and Camper. Any thoughts on that combo? -Steve

Looks like they copied the raised center on the hood, same as the El Camino which I'm assuming is also wrong at the back edge. Looks like it supposed to taper off toward the back edge. One of the downsides of cloning old kits is sometimes the errors are copied too. -Steve

The chromed tail lamps have been unblocked and are included in this latest issue of the Elky, but they are not shown on the instructions sheet. I just checked my test build and those are what I used. The red lenses are still included but are a poor fit without the original chromed bezels. The clear custom grille was also restored with clear camper windows. The drag engine parts have also been returned for this issue. Note this kit will also make a good donor for another project I'm working on, yet to be announced. -Steve

The '65 Chevelle AWB tooling itself is all-new, but the design is cloned off of the original Funny Car kit with minimal changes to improve the fit and some of the stock body trim was removed. Also, the tires are now molded in a vinyl like material vs hard styrene. It's close enough to the vintage kit that we could re-use the original box art. The dirt track '65 Chevelle tooling is untouched and can be re-issued in the future. -Steve

The New Tool Bronco kits landed at our main distribution center on the west coast a few days ago. These kits should be widely available any day now. -Steve

Initial tooling is completed, and I should have the first round of test shots around August 1st. Most of the packaging is already done. I'm still trying to get them out there for sale by the end of the year. -Steve

The body for the Streaker Olds Funny Car still exists unchanged from 1967 or so, that's why the new bodies were created for the '64 Cutlass Convertible and 442 Hardtop customizing kits. With the release of the '65 Chevelle Funny Car I believe we should now have everything we need to run the Olds version in the future but there is no specific release plan or official announcement at this time as it's not my project. Assuming I'm correct the earliest we might see it again is likely late 2024 or 2025 depending on sales on the '65 Chevelle. -Steve

Jim I'm a fan of the anything El Camino or related, and Ranchero's too. A lot depends on what's left of the early tooling for those. Just one of many good ideas I need to look into. -Steve

More along the lines of a significant tooling change to something we've run before, like how we brought back the MPC '81 Chevy "Sod Buster" pickup. -Steve

The production samples arrived this week and were just approved to be shipped. They should be on the water by next week. I'd say they should be available for purchase end of August or early September. I'll have one in hand shortly. -Steve

No news, just a future project idea. I'm currently working on bringing back a different MPC kit item that I found the inserts for, this version was last seen in the late 70's. Announcement will be soon. -Steve

I don't see that one making a comeback as a mass market kit. If you're a box art collector or movie fan it's certainly a cool item to have, the contents were all bagged MPC kits, possibly overstock. Most contained a mid '70's Camaro but others had a Trans Am and I heard that some even had the Dodge Warlock Pickup inside, but I've never seen one in that box. -Steve

Chris, DM me regarding your wrong glass. -Steve

Latest release MPC994 will have pad printed narrow whitewall tire set and a pair of M&H Racemaster slicks. -Steve

The wheels look small, supposed to be stock size 15' x 7" which is tiny by today's standards. I measured a set today, they are 15.12mm x 8.0mm based of the '92 promo wheels which are a little smaller than the original kit version wheels. In hindsight I could have gone a little bigger and or offered some optional modern custom wheels and tires. -Steve

I'd say March/ April 2024 is my best guess for now based on current scheduling but too soon to say for sure. -Steve

There are test shots of the next version of the '68 Coronet R/T but you will have to be patient. It's not scheduled to be released until later winter 2024. I expect there will be something to display this fall. -Steve

If the email went to the Autoworld team, they wouldn't know the status of any tooling. If they forwarded it, I never saw it. To the best of my knowledge the 1932 Chevy Cabriolet is in the same tool as the Vampire Van which we ran once as MPC763 around 2011. If the '32 Chevy is still complete, we may see it again. -Steve

To the best of my knowledge, I don't think that one has ever been reissued so I'm thinking we don't have it any longer. I don't recall seeing it on any viable tooling lists, but I'll keep any eye out for it just in case. -Steve

I think it's already too far along in the process to make any changes, but I'll keep an eye out for another opportunity to get the Spyder wheels back into something. -Steve

That's good information, I had suspected that it had be repurposed into the L.A. Dart haven't had the chance to do a side-by-side comparison. The big question now is if the '69 HUG body still exist. If so, that would increase the chances of seeing it again greatly. Right now, I'm knee deep in trying to resurrect another long-lost vintage drag subject, so this one will have to wait for now. -Steve

I know it's not the H.U.G. It is the MPC 1969 Barracuda customizing kit, last seen in 2016 as MPC832. -Steve

AMT1393 1966 Ford Galaxie "Sweet Bippy" has the same parts content as the previous release AMT904 including 10 tires. Only the printed items are changed. -Steve