Amt - Mpc - Polar Lights: The Official Press Release

[Aaronw]

I emailed the AutoWorld people about this very idea and got an email back saying they would consider it. My exact request was to redo chassis plates to reflect a more accurate rendition of one without molded on exhausts, suspensions, etcetera. A kind of modular chassis that would say fit a GTO as well as a Chevelle, Olds, Buick, and a series for a lot of the Ford Mustang and Falcon based platforms. This would work for various Mopars as well.

That would be a great idea, I've never understood why the "parts pack" idea never really took off. There are certain kits that are well known to be popular kit bash kits. A chassis and running gear kit at 1/2 - 2/3 the cost of a full kit would probably do fairy well. Probably not going to be a huge seller just because kit bashers are not as large a group as OOB modelers, but te profit margin would be higher since they could sell it at a higher margin and most people would be happy they didn't have to pay full price when they only wanted part of the kit. I'd love to be able to buy a partial Ford Loiusville kit for resin trucks, I'd grab several at $15-20 instead of $30+ for the whole thing.

[kitbash1]

Great news! I could use a few more PL Torino's and Cyclones.

[Darin Bastedo]

I guess you can interpret however you want but I'll take just take their word at face value which says it's a licensing agreement in the sentence betore the one you boldfaced.

David

It's not an interpretation, it's what the press release says in plain english. It spells it out clearly. But I'm not going to continuously argue this with you. If I'm wrong in my reading of the press release I'm sure someone connected with Auto World will correct me.

[CAL]

quite frankly who cares?

I am sure there are thousands of words that spell it out exactly - anything else is pure speculation and the attempt to purport that someone knows something more than someone else - or implied superior knowledge. I am sure there is specific language in the contract that is more complex than "simply renting the company." That's just ignorance - there is an M word for people like that

I am sure we all been around long enough to know how these things go down. I am also sure it will be some time before we see anything on the shelves from this endeavor. I am further sure that it will be even longer before anyone sees a new tooled kit. It took years for AM to get back kind of on their feet and are still putt-putting-along - and there has been two failed attempts at resurecting Johan - because HELLO there is nothing left to the point of one lawsuit won already - and who knows where the ICM tools are.

What ever will be will be and all the speculation in the world isn't going to change that simple fact. Nothing written here is going to have a huge influence one way or another - including any wish lists. It's just not - I, too, have a significant wish list that includes some potential blockbusters; however, I don't expect any of them to see the light of day from this endeavor - some I don't expect ever.

In the mean time, build a model and let the boys figure it out for themselves. I am sure they will ask and probe when the feel like they needed to be pointed in the right direction. They probably don't even know what they have exactly yet, what works and what doesn't as far as tooling. Last time I saw the AMT tool bank a lot of it was damaged or broken.

But I am like anyone else. . . always interested to see a new kit or something I haven't see for awhile ... from what I know of Tom I am sure it's all in good hands.

and for all that it is; that's my two cent worth.

Carry on

Cheers

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm glad someone is interested in keeping the AMT brand name alive. I'm a bit dismayed that AMT is seen by many builders as nothing more than a tool bank of old stuff that all needs to get reissued as if it's all a gold mine of oldies under the Christmas tree. Nostalgia is one thing, but I've already got a basement full of nostalgia. The Model King reissues definitely are fun, but they don't trip my trigger nearly as much as an all-new subject that's been engineered from the ground up to be a state-of-the-art kit for serious builders. Unless AMT/Polar Lights/MPC start making some popular all-new kits at least to the level that AMT was doing before they were unceremoniously gutted, my personal opinion of all of this is a great big "meh". Onward and upward, looking forward...no staring in the rearview mirror dreaming as if it was still 1963 (or even 1995, for that matter). Reissues get boring, RC2 reissued way too many models way too often. Modified reissues are a lot cooler (Revell does it well). All-new kits are the best. I wish the new stewards of AMT/Polar Lights/MPC all the best.

[Darin Bastedo]

quite frankly who cares?

I am sure there are thousands of words that spell it out exactly - anything else is pure speculation and the attempt to purport that someone knows something more than someone else - or implied superior knowledge. I am sure there is specific language in the contract that is more complex than "simply renting the company." That's just ignorance - there is an M word for people like that

Cal, Let get a few things straight here;

1. If you don't care don't post. you seem to like to peek your head into posts and start stirring the pot. this is the same thing that got you banned from the Hobby Heaven / Spotlight Hobbies board. If you don't have something constructive to say, or actual information to offer, please show some restraint.

2. Dave asked a question, I answered it. that is what we do on a message board. I explained what was said in the OP the most simple way possible. He chose not to believe my explaination, and that is ok.

3. There are people who DO know more than others on certain topics. Sharing that knowledge woth others is not an "attempt to purport that someone knows something more than someone else - or implied superior knowledge" It sharing information. again It's the main reason we come here.

4. Yes the Deal Auto World struck with RC2 is more complex than "simply renting the company." But there was no need to make the explaination that complex. I chose those words because Renting instead of buying is an analogy that most americans are familiar with. Regardless of what semantics you want to toss around the OP spells it out just fine. They didn't buy AMT, it is still owned by RC2, For a fee RC2 is allowing Auto World to Use the tools, and Trademarks of AMT/MPC/Polar Lights, to Market model kits. In legal tems it's called a licenceing agreement, in effect it's renting the tools and trademarks. Seeing how that is all that is left of what we used to call AMT, that is "Renting the company"

5. I've always noticed that the truly ignorant resort to name calling when they lack the knowledge of the topic at hand.

Cheers,

Darin

[CAL]

Darin I wasn't addressing you.

As far as I am concerned you are nothing more than a Cyberspace School Yard Bully.

As far as what happened at HH, Tom broke the law. All I did was point it out. Childish behavior is why, and you were as much a part of the behavior as any one else, when frankly you had no business. It's clear that you intiate attacks when ever you get the chance, even neutral topics you have turned into to attacks, particularly twords me. I never done a goddamn thing to you - ever.

You might take some of your own advise because quite frankly Darin I haven't read a whole lot from yourself that contributed much to this message board or the hobby in general.

So piss off.

[Darin Bastedo]

Darin I wasn't addressing you.

As far as I am concerned you are nothing more than a Cyberspace School Yard Bully.

As far as what happened at HH, Tom broke the law. All I did was point it out. Childish behavior is why, and you were as much a part of the behavior as any one else, when frankly you had no business. It's clear that you intiate attacks when ever you get the chance, even neutral topics you have turned into to attacks, particularly twords me. I never done a ******* thing to you - ever.

You might take some of your own advise because quite frankly Darin I haven't read a whole lot from yourself that contributed much to this message board or the hobby in general.

So **** off.

Cal,

When you quote me word for word and call it ignorant, that is addressing me. As for what I contribute to the board and the hobby, that is where I'll let my record stand for itself, and let my peers judge me. You on the other hand show your true colors in the above post,from which I deleted the expletives out of respect for the board rules. As far as your accusations against Tom at Hobby Heaven goes, I think you will that most people take those with a grain of salt. Tom has an unblemished reputation in the hobby.

Cheers,

Darin

[CAL]

referring (presumably) to the old IMC model company as "ICM."

Nope, I meant ICM.

And, I am sure you don't really want to start on the grammar school.

Edited March 12, 2008 by CAL

[bigphoto]

C'mon gang lets let the Pi$$#^g contest go away and let the folks that want to do something to keep a

model moniker alive go for the gusto and support them by purchasing their products and give them ideas

as to what we want to see.

If the folks that are so skeptical about this venture, maybe they should pony up the funds to do it as they feel

is best!!!! If not then let it ride and see where it goes!!!!

Kudos to AutoWorld for taking the chance

Now my wish list:

All of the 1/43 AMT plastic kits reissued I do mean ALL please

[CAL]

OK, well, I stand corrected.

Did that company ever actually produce any kits of automotive subjects, though? If not, I'm sort of wondering what it is they have to do with the discussion at hand.

There is more to the hobby industry than strictly car kits. I know, shocker! Huh? It was another example of long lost tooling and a defunct manufacturer, but what difference does it make? Other than, it makes some of your accusations inaccurate.

Actually, I write for a living, so I'd happily put my skills in that particular area up against yours any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

No, I am sure you really don't want to do that. First of all, it is just an argument started when there is nothing left to argue about. Secondly, I am sure you heard of throwing stones in glass houses. Nobody is perfect, and don't feel the need to point out your writing mistakes to everyone - do I. You know how that argument always goes, and for what it is worth, I have two English writing degrees. Who cares?

And, I'll also go on record as stating that you accusing anyone of bullying or "childish behavior" is a bit like Hitler calling Mussolini "a little iffy."

You're right, and I went a little over the top. And, don't get me wrong, I have already gone in great detail how I behaved childishly as well but not inclusively alone - so I was including myself in that remark, too. However, when is enough a enough? I had enough of the drivel.

But, I am not here to pick a fight with you, so unless you are here to pick fight with me.... Peace brother.

Cheers

Edited March 12, 2008 by CAL

[CAL]

Cal,

When you quote me word for word and call it ignorant, that is addressing me. As for what I contribute to the board and the hobby, that is where I'll let my record stand for itself, and let my peers judge me. You on the other hand show your true colors in the above post,from which I deleted the expletives out of respect for the board rules. As far as your accusations against Tom at Hobby Heaven goes, I think you will that most people take those with a grain of salt. Tom has an unblemished reputation in the hobby.

Cheers,

Darin

Darin, big snow come.

[Darin Bastedo]

There is more to the hobby industry than strictly car kits. I know, shocker! Huh? It was another example of long lost tooling and a defunct manufacturer, but what difference does it make? Other than, it makes some of your accusations inaccurate.

The people running ICM models would be shocked to hear that they are defunct, and their tooling is long lost. They are still in business, and have new releases coming in 2008.

[Darin Bastedo]

Darin, big snow come.

Cal, Don't sniff glue.

[lordairgtar]

I really don't know what a Russian kit maker (ICM) has to do with anything here.

[Gregg]

Leave my mother out of this!!!!!!

Oh shoot, wrong thread.....

Sorry.....

ENOUGH!!!!!!!

TO YOUR ROOMS!!!!!!!

[george 53]

AAAWWWWW,Gregg, it was just gettin good! name callin, rock throwin, then the ol' recess teacher gotta come out an breakit up! OH fart!

[Darin Bastedo]

It's just utterly amazing to me that a thread that began with an announcement of what could be incredibly good news for the hobby we all presumably love has degenerated into a massive b***h fest that makes the Hobby Heav ... er, Spotlight Hobbies message board look utterly civilized by comparison. We have some people quibbling over semantics, others trying to find hidden meanings where none exist and still others complaining seemingly just for the sake of it.

Simply unbelievable!

That's what I'm saying, The Press release makes it very clear what they intend to do, and it is very good news indeed. Comparing Auto World/Retro Hobby's efforts here to Johan, accurate miniatures, and ICM (huh?) is apples and oranges. The vast majority of AMT tooling is in great shape and ready to run, they have a number of kits that could be released that would be a big hit; 1953 Ford Pick-up, 1971 Duster, 1970 Baldwin Motion Camaro, and 1957 Chevy, just to name a few.

These guys are (from what I understand) well funded, knowledgable about the product, and very experienced in the industry. While nothing is ever 100% certain, I see no reason to believe they won't be successful.

[Harry P.]

I've just read through this whole thread (pretty entertaining, in a "train wreck" sort of way!).

Semantics aside, it does seem pretty clear, as Darin points out, that nobody "bought" the company. The "new guys" will be operating under a licensing agreement, which does in fact equate to "renting" the company vs. "owning" the company, which is the point that Darin was (correctly) making.

As far as any actual NEW tooling, nothing is mentioned in the press release, so at this point what we apparently have coming is yet another round of re-issues (sigh...)

We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

[Zoom Zoom]

Actually Harry the press release does mention doing new tooling as well as reissues (I double-checked it to make sure I hadn't committed any mortal sin with my previous post). However I'm siding with caution; too many times we've been left hanging when good intentions, good people and good leadership still didn't result in something that I could actually buy

Here's an excerpt:

"We will not rely solely on old tooling, but will develop new tools as well.â€

It may be quite awhile before we see much fruit harvested from this new venture. I hope the reissues are a lot more unique than what was being spit out in mass quantity for the big box stores. And I certainly want to see some fresh new stuff! They could do worse than issue a couple of the AMT items that never hit ('50 Olds, Bulletnose Stude, Foose-style modern stuff) and perhaps take a bit of a gamble on subject matter that's been sorely ignored. In the meantime I've got plenty to work on, and between Revell, Revell of Germany, the Japanese, and the resin companies I'm already still able to purchase far more than I can possibly keep up with.

[Harry P.]

Right you are, Bob...I missed that.

But as you say, there's a big difference between promised new releases and actually making it happen (as we've seen all too often in the past).

[CAL]

The people running ICM models would be shocked to hear that they are defunct, and their tooling is long lost. They are still in business, and have new releases coming in 2008.

Really, where did you hear that.

Last I knew:

2000-01 They release a really good Spitfire; however, suffered hugely from poor quality control and cramming a delicate kit in a small flimsy box - needless to say a lot of damage and short shot kits showed up on LHS selves. Only 1 in 6 or so where buildable.

Then they release a copy - literally - part for part spru for spru of Tamiya's P-51 Mustang, maybe as late as 01, and were done sortly after that.

We are pretty certain Tamiya got involved as it was suspected that they planned the same for their Bf-109 series, which never materialized - but has been in their cat for at least 8 years.

And that's pretty much the last anyone has heard from them...

Virtually everything from their product line has been discontinued, back ordered or out of stock at all the retailers and distributors alike. So you can't get anything they did do once upon a time - retail, and they haven't had a release in since the P-51, about 7 years ago. Man how time flies by.

I see they have a new website, the old one was run down with a bunch of broken links - obviously it hadn't been mant. in several years, so maybe they are resurrected.

I guess it's another wait and see if ICM actually releases something - even if it's an old one because they had some good ones. I would mind some more Spits and Mig 3s, and they do a 1/72 I-16 that's the best in any scale. But it's really hard to say with them. I wouldn't hold my breath for any new 08 releases.

Same with AMT and Auto World (or whatever they have too many bloody names: retro Polar Lights Praying Mantas) endeavor.

Will wait and see what come from their camp. I am not sure when you had seen AMT's tool bank last, while I have no doubt that some of the more recent tools are ready to go - as long as some moron hadn't screwed them up somehow - lets face it, some of this stuff has been to Mexico and according to AMT, "They didn't know what the were doing or even what they were making," much less take care of it, but that is another story. Like I said before, unless someone has been working on the exiting too bank, I wouldn't exactly say that the vast majority was in excellent shape. What I remember was about half and half, but I didn't go to their off site storage facility either and that was many years ago.

Cheers

[Robert81]

I'm glad to see somebody that take hold of AMT/MPC/Polar Lights.

I don't know what the fuse is about. With the initial run being reissues, we can not expect the world over night. Corrections of RC2 accuracy mistakes will take time and MONEY, the box art mistakes will be easier to fix. And only god knows what tooling has stood the test of time.

I hope to see good things in the future.

[Darin Bastedo]

Really, where did you hear that.

Last I knew:

2000-01 They release a really good Spitfire; however, suffered hugely from poor quality control and cramming a delicate kit in a small flimsy box - needless to say a lot of damage and short shot kits showed up on LHS selves. Only 1 in 6 or so where buildable.

Then they release a copy - literally - part for part spru for spru of Tamiya's P-51 Mustang, maybe as late as 01, and were done sortly after that.

We are pretty certain Tamiya got involved as it was suspected that they planned the same for their Bf-109 series, which never materialized - but has been in their cat for at least 8 years.

And that's pretty much the last anyone has heard from them...

Virtually everything from their product line has been discontinued, back ordered or out of stock at all the retailers and distributors alike. So you can't get anything they did do once upon a time - retail, and they haven't had a release in since the P-51, about 7 years ago. Man how time flies by.

I see they have a new website, the old one was run down with a bunch of broken links - obviously it hadn't been mant. in several years, so maybe they are resurrected.

I guess it's another wait and see if ICM actually releases something - even if it's an old one because they had some good ones. I would mind some more Spits and Mig 3s, and they do a 1/72 I-16 that's the best in any scale. But it's really hard to say with them. I wouldn't hold my breath for any new 08 releases.

Same with AMT and Auto World (or whatever they have too many bloody names: retro Polar Lights Praying Mantas) endeavor.

Will wait and see what come from their camp. I am not sure when you had seen AMT's tool bank last, while I have no doubt that some of the more recent tools are ready to go - as long as some moron hadn't screwed them up somehow - lets face it, some of this stuff has been to Mexico and according to AMT, "They didn't know what the were doing or even what they were making," much less take care of it, but that is another story. Like I said before, unless someone has been working on the exiting too bank, I wouldn't exactly say that the vast majority was in excellent shape. What I remember was about half and half, but I didn't go to their off site storage facility either and that was many years ago.

Cheers

Not to dwell on this too much seeing How ICM Models has nothing to do with the topic at hand, But I don't see why you are having trouble finding ICM models in stock anywhere. Tower Hobbies has their full line in stock ready to ship. There are literally dozens of mail order companies showing them in stock. Just last week I got six 1/72 scale ICM kits.

As for AMT, you can be a gloom and doom if you want to, I don't care, but thier tools haven't been in mexico for over a decade. I'd point out everything else you gotten wrong in this thread, but I wouldn't want people to think that I'm "attempting to purport that I know something more than someone else - or implying superior knowledge"

You know, I think you are a talented model builder, I especially liked your builds of the 427 Cobra, and the Porsche 911 GT2, and heck I think if it wasn't for your habit of personal attacks and talking out of your posterior, we might even get along. You and I seem to have the same taste in models, and I like the way you build. That said If you're really jonesing for some ICM kits, PM me and I'll send you a link where you can buy them.

[CAL]

Well, I think it's safe to assume that the tools for the kits that have been released by The Model King over the past several years are in good shape, especially considering that Dave Burket paid to fix several of them out of his own pocket. And, I think people would be happy to see a lot of those kits return to the shelves at lower pricing points.

I wasn't aware of that, good to see at least someone is taking care of them.

Without a doubt. There are several AMT kits that I wouldn't mind seeing again myself.

Yeah, I think we seen the last of $10 kits. $14-$15 at Hobby Lobby, and interestingly $16-$17 at the LHS - at least for the domestic car kit makers.