AMT 1929 Ford A Roadster "Mod Rod"

[afx]

Looks like the Revell body is more accurate to me.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looks like the Revell body is more accurate to me.

The slope and curve of the tail is definitely better, much better, though the AMT body looks great on its own if you don't compare it to anything.

The Revell body also shows the fuel-tank separation line correctly, rather than hidden in parting-line flash.

The molded character and coach lines, on the other hand, are a little too heavy and thick, and the coach-line curve on the cowl is slightly wrong...too straight...on the Revell body.

[Dave Darby]

Every release of the '29 Model A roadster ever done by AMT uses the same basic tooling. The roadster bodies are all identical except for color and exact styrene composition.

The history of the kit is all referenced in the above posts, but to recap, the FIRST appearance of the AMT '29 roadster was in the ORIGINAL Ala Kart double-kit.

Subsequent releases of that double kit were boxed as "Mod Rod", and included ALL the original Ala-Kart parts, plus a '32 grille shell that's not in the original release...at least, it's not in any of them that I have.

Later releases of the AMT '29 roadster had SOME pieces of the Ala Kart still in the box; some issues had the fender unit (with the louvers removed), the hood, the top, the bed cover, a modified firewall, the grille INSERT, the body tub, the seat insert, most of the Red Ram engine (the Ala Kart fuel-injection was replaced by a blower on a separate sprue), the frame and most of the suspension. Some issues, far as I can tell, lacked the Ala Kart fenders, frame and body parts. The Ala Kart chrome-reversed rims with bullet centers were replaced by chrome steel rims with baby moons. You COULD get damm close to 2 cars from some kits...like this one...#38073

 

EVERYTHING to build a stock '29 was in EVERY release, with some extra Ala Kart-derived parts as well.

The coming release will have many of the previously-deleted original Ala Kart parts returned, and you should be able to get two cars from it.

The 32 Grille shell was in every release from the original, up through the Street Rods issue. The Street Rods issue lost the Ala Kart nose,deck and chrome reversed wheels, along with modifications I'll mention later. The bulk of the remaining Ala Kart stuff (cab, fenders, frame, interior tub, etc) was removed from the 1976-77 A-Venger issue, except for the Red Ram Hemi, and some rear suspension parts. When AMT/Ertl was toying with re-issuing the Ala Kart back around 1999-2000 or so) they opened up many of the gates on the tool, only to discover that the fender and cab units had been much modified. Instead of restoring the tool, (which I would love to see Round2 do), they elected to create the new tool Ala Kart, which is good for two things. Under carriage parts, and for driving the prices of the originals down (they were going for 2 Benjamins prior to this release.)

Look a little left of dead center, underneath the Ala Kart frame, and left of the windshield frame, and you will see that 32 grille shell. Up to this point, in 1970, there had been zero modifications to the tool. You could have built that yellow car on the box art even way back in 1962. I've owned every issue of 1929 Model A kit, and wrote an Ala Kart (real car and model) history that appeared on the now defunct Bonediggers Styrene page, and in Model Cars Magazine when the new tool Kart came out.
 

http://public.fotki.com/DWDarby/ala_kart/?show=all

http://public.fotki.com/DWDarby/model_cars/vintage_model_kits/amt_ala_kart_instru/

 

Edited February 2, 2016 by Dave Darby

[Ace-Garageguy]

The 32 Grille shell was in every release from the original, up through the Street Rods issue.

 I see it in your photo, and I see it on the instructions, and I believe you. Good to know, anyway.  

 I made my statement based on the fact that it isn't in either of the two original-issue Ala Karts I have, which I bought supposedly as "complete and inventoried" and paid a pretty fair pile of money for. Of course, neither of mine were sealed, so I guess those grille shells went missing somewhere along the line (and who knows what else at this point, because I haven't inventoried them myself, other than a quick glance to make sure all the wheels, tires, and major components were there). I see the '32 grille insert on the chrome tree too, in your photo, and it's been removed (now that I look carefully) from one of mine too....and I honestly never noticed it on the other one, but it's there.

I appreciate your correcting my misinformation. This has always been one of my all-time favorite kits, and I'd also love to see Round 2 restore it in its entirety.

Maybe one reason I never noticed the '32 grille parts is because the yellow box-art car on both of my original Kart kits has the '29 grille.

Building one close-to-really-accurate Ala Kart from parts of the early and late kits has been on my list since I got my first copy of the latest version.

[Allen Wrench]

I'm looking forward to this one. Very pleased that Round 2 has restored it to true 2-in-1 status. My hope would still be, though, that one day the company would see fit to retool the missing Ala Kart parts.

[keyser]

Dave, always liked Thomas V's site. Great articles.

Here's link to original article  http://www.bonediggers.com/2-3/alakart/alakart.html

Deora article amongst others really detailed reference.

If it's any consolation, Bill, I've got a few originals and never noticed the Deuce shell either, now I have to go look. Same build-up fetish as you. Sidepipes somewhat hard to come by though. 

I'm glad to get it back. Ala Tub and Ala Tudor projects need bits.Here's Ira Dahm's pickup cab version, and a Brad Leisure sketch of a tub. Pretty fun stuff. Speedwagon or woody bash could be neat too. AMT body pretty decent for 50+ years ago. 

 

[stavanzer]

I remember seeing an Ala-Tub build up, in SAE many years ago. I do not remember who built it, but it was a neat build. 

[horsepower]

I remember seeing an Ala-Tub build up, in SAE many years ago. I do not remember who built it, but it was a neat build. 

It used to sit in a display case at Pegasus Hobbies in Montclair CA. I read a description of it in I think that other magazines contest issue, and if my fading memory is correct it used the front of the extra body (the Ala Kart) from the later release kit, and the rear of the '27 tub from the touring T release, and a composite of the touring top and the Ala Kart top.

[keyser]

That's the one that inspired me to put parts together and put in project pile. I'm running a bit behind but it was cool. Couldn't find pic of actual model, wish I could. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Here's a real one...           http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/0705rc-la-tub/

            

[unclescott58]

Here's a real one...           http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/0705rc-la-tub/

            

That front end does not have the grace of the Ala Kart. Nor do the fenders. It's just off by a little bit, to not look right to me. As noted, I'm not a big fan of the Ala Kart. But, I can see comparing this to the real Ala Kart, why Barris is considered a respected designer. The Ala Kart looks better in subtle ways.

Edited February 3, 2016 by unclescott58

[Ace-Garageguy]

Here's an idea for combining Round 2's recent '32 Vicky re-release and this coming release...built by Ira Dahm back in 2008.   

http://sonic.net/~joymkrs/Dahm/AVIC.html

[stavanzer]

Good Work from Ira. But then ALL work from Ira is good. He does beautiful and Clever work.

[Richard Bartrop]

I have the last reissue of AMT's Model A, and it has the '32 grille, unplated, but not the grille shell.   I ended up using parts of the custom hood and body to make a belly pan for the Niekamp roadster project, and the custom fenders were mated to a Revell '31 Sedan for an early 60s style radical custom project.

 

 

[pack rat]

A little backstory from John Greczula:

http://www.collectormodel.com/#sthash.qwPmM8YM.dpbs

[unclescott58]

A little backstory from John Greczula:

http://www.collectormodel.com/#sthash.qwPmM8YM.dpbs

Thanks for the link. The more I learn about this kit, the excited I get. Only one bit of confusion on this up coming release. Will I be able to build the Mod Rod version with full fenders. Or only the fenderless version shown in the box art?

[pack rat]

Thanks for the link. The more I learn about this kit, the excited I get. Only one bit of confusion on this up coming release. Will I be able to build the Mod Rod version with full fenders. Or only the fenderless version shown in the box art?

Your answer....direct from John;

You can indeed build it full fendered..

[unclescott58]

Your answer....direct from John;

You can indeed build it full fendered..

But, can you built both the stock version and the Mod Rod with fenders? In other words, will it still come with the stock fenders and the modified Ala-Kart fenders? I'm guessing it will. But, does anybody know for sure?

[pack rat]

But, can you built both the stock version and the Mod Rod with fenders? In other words, will it still come with the stock fenders and the modified Ala-Kart fenders? I'm guessing it will. But, does anybody know for sure?

A stock version is listed on the box, along with a pic of a full-fendered Mod Rod.

[unclescott58]

A stock version is listed on the box, along with a pic of a full-fendered Mod Rod.

Okay. That makes me happy. ?

And the art your showing above is from the up coming reissue? And so, where did you find it?

Edited February 23, 2016 by unclescott58

[pack rat]

Okay. That make me happy. ?

And the art your showing above is from the up coming reissue? And so, where did you find it?

I got the image from a friend....the above posts should answer your questions.   

[Mark]

A stock version is listed on the box, along with a pic of a full-fendered Mod Rod.

The Mod Rod illustration is tweaked just a bit, to reflect the alterations made to the ex-Ala Kart fender unit (removal of louvers on aprons, removal of running board notch and side exhaust).  There were two Mod Rod issues back in the day.  The first one had the illustration of the red car as the main one on its box.  The illustration Round 2 is using wasn't on that first Mod Rod box.

[unclescott58]

It's all good news. I'm excited.

[russosborne]

Well, I was really excited reading about this kit until pack rat linked to the article from John Greczula

A little backstory from John Greczula:

http://www.collectormodel.com/#sthash.qwPmM8YM.dpbs

The important part to me is this quote from that article

"This argument is the reason why the Mod Rod reissue will not contain ALL the parts to build the original Ala Kart kit."

As a result I won't be buying this kit after all. At least I found out in time.

Thanks,

Russ

[horsepower]

So, correct me if I misunderstood this, but the new release won't come with a set of stock fenders for the roadster body?