iBorg

Prior to the CART/IRL split, Indycar in the late 1980's had recaptured the magic of the 1960's-early 1970's. Both AMT and Monogram offered kits in 1/25 and 1/24 scale. The AMT kits were the better of the two. During this same period Tamiya offered a 1/20 car with the markings of Mario's last competitive ride. Revell also offered Indy cars from the late 1990's. While the Revell cars lacked engines and difficult engineering, they built up into the best replicas.

The Petty was out not that long ago. Guess they're trying to cash out before the Salvino's comes out. Beyond that, I'll be saving my money for the Atlantis kits.

Didn't Revell do the same thing but with an early 60's Dodge on it?

I have almost a full collection of SAE and MCM. I also teach graphic design as well as playing with model cars for about 50 years. I believe I'm qualified to make a few comments. If you compare SAE to MCM going back about 5 years ago, MCM was a far superior magazine. This issue is very close to the high water mark of the best MCMs of that period. If the quality can remain this high, very few people will miss SAE. If you haven't got a copy, take a look at the stocking shops and GO BUY IT! The magazine has several returning advertisers.....we need to try to support them. The magazine has very little "filler". Most of the content is different than the forum....a great editorial decision. I believe this is the first issue to have a UPC bar code on it. It is also reassuring of future intent with the postal circulation information included on the contents page. Page count is 64 pages including the cover. That's a good page count for most presses due to signature size. The only way to have more page count is to have more advertisers and more submitted copy. All is not rosy.....the paper stock could be a few pounds heavier. The cover is the same stock as the contents. Hopefully that can be addressed in future issues. This may just be the way it is for a digitally printed magazine.

They're at Teays Valley Hobbies in West Virginia has them....I'm looking forward to reading it this weekend.

When should we anticipate the new magazine be in the shops?

Very nice start.

I can't believe the steering wheel is as simple as an adhesive wrap. Wow.

I went to the Charleston, WV store.....nothing worth considering except the 1/32 pumper. Some may have a use for that. My cart stayed empty.

I agree. Please do a tutorial on how to replicate that steering wheel?

So what have you been doing for the past ten years? That is an outstanding model.

The eyes look quite realistic.

Also in 1/16 scale is the Revell drag racing series. Possibly the best early 70's darg racers. The front and rear engine dragsters are pretty nice. The initial two funny cars, the Gene Snow Charger and the Whipple and McCullough Duster are accurate. Unfortunately Revell used the dated chassis for newer body styles like their Vega. The Duster body evolved but Revell didn't change it. Be aware that any Revell kit over ten years old is likely to have deformed rear slicks.

Monogram used several variations of the same chassis with changes appropriate to the era for different bodies. I'm pretty sure the Pontiac chassis you have is different than the Lumina. I think the Lumina is better. Most of the chassis seem to not fit as well as they could with their fit around the body. The interior color varies. Early cars were several colors although most were a gray gloss. I'm pretty sure Nascar now mandates the gray gloss for the interior now. Typically the interior and chassis are the same with a white driveshaft, which is required by Nascar. I think the dash would be either semi gloss or flat...typically black but you need to research the specific car. The early Nascar kits are pretty good. The last issue Chevy and Fords by Revell are amazing.

What scale?

Very enjoyable article. Thanks for posting,

I think Casey is on the right track. While I can't find a match for the tree where there's four in a row, the other tree seems to be shown in this Goodwill auction: https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/85847105

Too thumbs up! It looks the part. I think its interesting you used the Revell bodies. Someone found a use for them.

Mark my words.....in twenty years a mint, stock Honda CRX will bring the money that a 1971 mint, stock Mustang will bring today.

I'm curious as to which will be better the Meng or the Trumpeter.

I think the difference in 1/24 or 1/25 is relative. It has been well pointed out the differences in measuring. Did they measure the actual car or eyeball it. For example, an actual car can now be scanned. I'm sure other cars have been measured from photographs that hopefully are correct although a lot of distortion can be created with different camera lenses. Most of the more recent kits are more accurate than kits molded in the 60's and the 70's although there are glaring examples of both accuracy and inaccuracy in each generation. For truly inaccurate kits go back to BOX SCALE. The kit's size was adapted to whatever fit into the standard box. Unique relics.....

I'm going to go back on topic....I'd love for the old Merit molds to be repopped. While their Grand Prix series isn't the most accurate, they also had the largest series of 1950's racers of any manufacturer.

I often think it's less a matter of scale and more of accuracy of the scaling. For example, the Monogram 1/24 Challenger is huge when compared to either the AMT or MPC Challenger. The differences between the Monogram and the AMT Thunderbird wasn't that great. Some parts could be swapped.

This back from the dead post apparently was hijacked....

Until midway through the pictures I was wondering why you were showing pictures of a real junkyard. Looks very real.