AMT '66 Mustang New Release

[MrBuick]

I haven't started building this yet, and frankly I'm not sure I will, but I wanted to share my opinion of this kit for those of you who may not have seen one and are thinking of getting one. I'm extremely disappointed in the quality of this kit. The detail is pretty bad...the exhaust and suspension are all molded into the chassis, the engine doesn't seem accurate to me, and the transmission is shorter than it should be because it buts up to the molded in drive train on the chassis, so without more skill and experience than I have, you're not going to be able to build a very detailed model. Oh, I almost forgot...the front axle runs through the oil pan on the engine. I'd planned on making a road-race Mustang out of this, but I honestly don't know if I will, because although I am not nearly as skilled as many of you, this is closer to a toy than it is a model and I think it'll nag at me every time I look at it. The hood also made me mad...it comes with a flat, stock hood with the option of putting a scoop on it. The problem is, although they recommend cutting an opening for the scoop, there's no stencil or anything for it, and I mis-judged the size of the opening a bit so will have to do a bit of body filling. It's not a big deal, and it was at least partially my fault, but on top of everything else it's extra frustrating. I will mention, there are some very nice pieces...the tires are very nice and you get 3 options, and the chrome is nice. Any suggestions on how to make built this as good as possible (in case I actually decide to build it) would be appreciated, but keep in mind, I'm fairly new to the hobby, so cutting the molded in detail out of the chassis and kit-bashing stuff is probably beyond my capabilities at this point.

Edited February 21, 2016 by MrBuick

[MrBuick]

Top of hood...you can clearly see where I'll need to fill. I also need to do a tiny bit of sanding on some glue that I got overzealous with.

Bottom of hood...the back of the scoop (flat part) is where I'll be puttying. I'll probably fill the holes as well.

 

[Snake45]

If you don't have that much experience yet, this kit should be PERFECT for you. You can practice your bodywork and painting skills, and not get bogged down in a bunch of chassis and engine detail, and end up with a nice looking model for your shelf.

The kit is typical of most of what we had to work with in the '60s. Think of it as your own personal little time machine, and have FUN with it!

[Maindrian Pace]

This kit is a reissue of an original "annual" model kit that AMT put out when the cars were new. It is a revision of their '65 Mustang, so it is a 50 year old tooling with 50 year old kit technology. Almost all '60s era kits are like this, with a one piece promotional model style chassis plate and sparse drive train details. Modern kits are super detailed by comparison, with several times as many parts, but are also much more complicated and frustrating for a beginning modeler. The main attraction of this particular kit is how nice the body is. AMT had a special gift back in the day with proportions and dimensions, so almost all of their bodies looked exactly like the real cars. Many modern tooling kits don't have perfect proportions like old AMT kits had, which is peculiar given modern CAD and modeling technology. I would build this one as you like, enjoy the nostalgia of it, and then go for a more complicated kit afterward.

[unclescott58]

As Mike above notes, this is a 50(+) year old tooling. And the way most kits were back in 1960's. I still like these kits. They look great when they're done. I don't flip my models over much to admire the chassis detail. Does the model look good sitting on the shelve? This one can. I do like seeing a motor under the hood. The under hood detail maybe not be much, but it's what we expected back then, for the most part.

There were kits with more detail back when this kit first came out. But, they were much harder to build. And rarely turned out as well as the old AMT's. In the late 60's and early 70's I rarely bought any other kits other than AMTs or MPCs, because they offered the cars I liked, and could be built well with the skills I had at the time. I particularly remember having lots of troubles with Revell car kits from that time period. Revell kits had more detail, but they didn't go together as well, or offer me as many options for building as the AMTs or MPCs. Now, with the skills I have, I can make those old Revells look pretty good. And Revell's new stuff is great. But, I still sometimes like the simplicity of the old AMT and MPc annuals.

Enjoy the kit. Do the best you can. It's really not a bad kit if you look at it for what it is.

[Junkman]

Och the nostagia. The NOSTALGIA, peoples!

[unclescott58]

Och the nostagia. The NOSTALGIA, peoples!

In the right doses nostalgia can be fun. Living in the past may not be a good thing. But, visiting it once in a while is okay. 

[oldcarfan]

It would be nice to see a new tool developed with fastback and coupe bodies. But this is what we have. It's a 50 year old tool. It is what it is and that's all that it is. If you want better detail, I understand the later AMT 67 Mustang chassis will work under this body, though I've never tried it. If nothing else, it still builds up as a good looking shelf model!

[MrBuick]

I guess I realize that now (buyer beware), but I didn't when I purchased it, because I have a few other "retro kits" from AMT that don't share this same problem. As for just enjoying a trip down memory lane...I'm 29 and have been modeling for about a year or so, so there's no nostalgia in it for me. I may be new to the hobby, but I'm patient and I've built enough kits to not be intimidated by more complicated builds. I struggle more with achieving high-quality paint jobs than I do with detail building (using included parts, I've not dove into wiring engines quite yet). I guess the real reason it bugs me is because I paid the same price for it that I've paid for much higher quality models...if it were significantly less expensive, I wouldn't be as annoyed. Oh well, lesson learned...I'll probably just keep it around and use a few of the nicer parts for other builds (roll cage, tires, chrome pieces), and at least I can use the body as practice for my new airbrush that's in the mail or maybe even use it to practice weathering. I'll definitely pay more attention to these "retro kits" before I buy another one, as I was under an assumption that this level of detail was only found in snap kits, and I'm simply not eager to pay the same price for this level of quality as I do for superior products. 

[Mark]

The Round 2 kits have a parts breakdown on the box bottom.  If you don't see separate suspension parts (and do see wire axles), then the kit in question will be a reissue of a vintage kit designed with old technology (molded-in exhaust and suspension detail, interior with fewer separate parts).  A lot of optional parts in a kit is usually another tipoff; newer kits with a higher parts count often have minimal (or no) optional parts.  With those, custom or racing versions are issued as separate kits with some of the stock parts being replaced by alternate parts.

[Bob Ellis]

 

Suddenly it's 1966.

This kit is a product of it's time. I imagine not too many people would accept using a television or phone from that period either. Let's write a letter because email is 40 years away.

So why does Round2 submit itself to this criticism? It's a nostalgic thing because the detail isn't the same as 2016. I built this kit in 1966, and wouldn't it be fun to do it another time? Also, people like the collect boxes since the 1966 Mustang is a Retro box.

For me, I like to buy these kits to restore old built ups. The glass, bumpers, tail lights, engine and other parts would cost by eBay or Modelhaus at least the price of this kit.

Another reason to buy this kit is that it is 1/25. It is the only one.

I am sure that if you detail this kit, it will look great. have fun with it.

[Junkman]

In the right doses nostalgia can be fun. Living in the past may not be a good thing. But, visiting it once in a while is okay. 

If it comes in the form of an AMT '66 Mustang, I'm suddenly - errr - two years of age again...
In all seriousness though, when my godparents visited from that America, I must have been aged ten or so, they brought me a Cruising USA issue of that '66 'stang as a gift.
Moulded in green. I still have it and you can imagine, that it holds a special place in my heart.
I've built a few reissues in the meantime, most of them from the Countdown Series, then the blue Ertl ones. As with pretty much all of my builds, they ended up in friends' collections.
Based on what I see in this thread, the kit has lost nothing of its old-timey charm, hence I'll do another one, while listening to some old Yussuf Islam records.
How about box stock in Antique Bronze with a tan interior?

Nostalgia, innitt?
 

Edited February 22, 2016 by Junkman

[PowerPlant]

Yeah, this kit is a bit of a dog, unfortunately... I've also been building a track-day sort of car for the past six-seven years now, but I get put off every so often and set the kit aside for a year or so at a time while I focus on something less exhausting :/

I don't feel like posting all of the pics here, so you can check them out in the two topics on a Croatian forum I am a member of... It's in Croatian, but the pics are quite self explanatory and might give you some ideas, even if my project is still quite rough and nowhere near complete

 

http://www.maketarstvo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11792&highlight=mustang+coupe

http://www.maketarstvo.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14905&highlight=mustang+coupe

 

 

[louie]

I have read this thread with great interest and I am by far Not the best modeler out there but I have built this kit a couple of times and yes it's not the greatest kit but ( isn't there always a 'but ')  it's not to bad either. I absolutely stink at building but the last time I built this kit it came out pretty good if I do say so. Some patience a little finesse and you've got yourself a really nice model of a 66 mustang. Actually, now that I think about it, I absolutely love this model and I think I will get myself a couple more.     Thanks.      Jeff 

[wayne swayze]

I kid you not! I was thinking about wanting a '65 or '66 Mustang coupe just this past week. I've NEVER had one in all my years of modeling!  Then this thread shows up, and it's just what I would like to have. I'll be picking one up sometime soon! Thanks for the reviews!

[Sixties Sam]

I see a convertible boot in the third photo. That must have come from the 1965 AMT Mustang kit. It had a separate top, and could be built as a hardtop or a convertible. For something different, you could cut off the top and make a convertible!

Sam

[Art Anderson]

I have read this thread with great interest and I am by far Not the best modeler out there but I have built this kit a couple of times and yes it's not the greatest kit but ( isn't there always a 'but ')  it's not to bad either. I absolutely stink at building but the last time I built this kit it came out pretty good if I do say so. Some patience a little finesse and you've got yourself a really nice model of a 66 mustang. Actually, now that I think about it, I absolutely love this model and I think I will get myself a couple more.     Thanks.      Jeff 

It might be wise to keep in mind that not only is this the latest in a fairly long line of reissues of this particular kit, but the original design of this Mustang Coupe kit goes all the way back to mid-1964, and in 1964, the expected market was primarily the 12-about 16yr old crowd--who all of course, have grown up since.  If you are a modeler between the ages of say, 55-70, chances are that more than likely, you once had a much younger, less-experienced hands making such a model car kit far more suitable for you back then.

Art

[AC Norton]

......funny we are talking about this kit....I almost bought the newest issue just last Saturday at a LHS, but opted for 7 other cars at that time, however its on my list of one to grab.  not a great kit, but a neat little piece, that, built with a bit of thought and effort can still look great on the shelf. I think I would make a mild custom, late 60s street machine with one....hot metallic color, wide boots, vintage style Cragars or American torque thrusts......could be a winner............the Ace............

[Jantrix]

As a single kit, yeah it's pretty poor. But with the wealth of Mustang kits available to use, the only thing that matters is the body. Which is pretty decent.

[Greg Myers]

What i find sad is the '65-'66 Mustang coupe / notch back being the most ubiquitous and this the only kit available to us. 

[unclescott58]

What i find sad is the '65-'66 Mustang coupe / notch back being the most ubiquitous and this the only kit available to us. 

Yea, it's a shame that Revell has not offered us a notchback of their nice '65 (Monogram) Mustang kit.

[Snake45]

I see a convertible boot in the third photo. That must have come from the 1965 AMT Mustang kit. It had a separate top, and could be built as a hardtop or a convertible. For something different, you could cut off the top and make a convertible!

Sam

The '66 annual was the same way, but also included a cool-looking custom "half-top" which was in a certain amount of vogue in 1966.

[Motor City]

Hopefully the convertible will be re-issued so the '64 Indy Pace Car can be built.  Also, the fastback kit could be built as a Shelby (in '66 only?).  I would have preferred either over the hardtop, but I'm sure it will sell very well. 

[Mr Stock]

I quite like this kit, it shows its age in places but makes a nice shelf piece.

I built this one last year, I did swap those wide whites for narrow whitelines after I took the photos

[Junkman]

Sweet!