Revell 30 Model A Ford Production Halted?

[dodgefever]

Did this not happen with Danbury Mint?  If you offshore to China in the name of saving money - you made your bed, you have to lie in it. 

[1930fordpickup]

On Tuesday, I tried to use a coupon from Michaels that I received when I purchased something the previous Saturday. The kid on cash handed it back to me saying "This doesn't start until Friday but you can get one off your phone for today." I said "I just have a flip phone." He looked at me like I was some kind of neanderthal they found frozen in the arctic. Needless to say I had to pay full price.

Peter When I tell people that I have a flip phone they laugh at me. It is not even a year old. The best part is when they try and tell me how great a smart phone is. Then I ask how much more is the bill. LOL 

So is it just the 30 A mold that had the problem or is the 29 mold included also? How much shared tooling is there in the two kit other than the tires? 

Did they drop one on the other? 

 

[Casey]

That would certainly be good news if its the '62 Fury. I'd be more inclined to think its H1231, the 32nd scale Chrysler New Yorker. 

It's hard to tell exactly what that third number is. I'm sure some would be happy to see either one reissued. 

[Robberbaron]

....maybe H 1251, which would be the Revell '62 Plymouth Fury?

That would certainly be good news if its the '62 Fury. I'd be more inclined to think its H1231, the 32nd scale Chrysler New Yorker. 

Just remember that the body for the '62 Fury got hacked up to use in the Revellion funny car (although it's actually not butchered as badly as some other classic tools were).  Badges and trim remained intact on the body.  Even if the remainder of the annual version does still exist (interior, glass, chassis, etc.), you've got to wonder if Revell would ever be willing to restore the body.

After all, it is a 4-door.  I do believe the roofline was shared with the 2-doors, so theoretically they could convert it to a 2 door hardtop, or even a post car, but now your getting into the realm of "is it any cheaper than just creating a new tool from scratch?"

[lordairgtar]

 

  The original kit had an engine insert but not a very good one, so REVELL will be helping with engine/chassis/interior detail. 

 

 

   

Having built one and having three of these on hand, I can say that it does indeed have a full engine, not an engine plate.

 

[lordairgtar]

On Tuesday, I tried to use a coupon from Michaels that I received when I purchased something the previous Saturday. The kid on cash handed it back to me saying "This doesn't start until Friday but you can get one off your phone for today." I said "I just have a flip phone." He looked at me like I was some kind of neanderthal they found frozen in the arctic. Needless to say I had to pay full price.

If the app has it available today, couldn't the trained chimp behind the register let you have it today. He coulda pulled it off his own phone for you for crying out loud. I have had cashiers do that for me.

 

[peter31a]

If the app has it available today, couldn't the trained chimp behind the register let you have it today. He coulda pulled it off his own phone for you for crying out loud. I have had cashiers do that for me.

 

Nope, it was too bad so sad, old timer. (The poor kid didn't say that but that was basically the message. No smart phone, no coupon.)

[Phirewriter]

If that was the response I would have ask to see  management, I use Hobby Lobby mostly for art supplies and even if I don't know the cashier often they will give the discount before I pull my phone out or at the very least ask. I forgot my phone and she still gave it to me on one visit. There are often older customers who clearly don't have smartphones and often just ask. In my experience most of the cashiers know the 4 digit discount number. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

If the app has it available today, couldn't the trained chimp behind the register let you have it today. He coulda pulled it off his own phone for you for crying out loud. I have had cashiers do that for me.

An open letter from J. Frank Simian, Chairman of United Chimpanzees for Progress, Inc.   

On behalf of trained chimps everywhere, please...we're having entirely too much negative comparison between our caring and competent workforce and the human generation-snowflake hires that staff many service and retail establishments worldwide.

Chimpanzees are intelligent, cooperative and capable of understanding human language and problem-solving on their own. Clearly, these are characteristics not always in evidence when many human workers are encountered.

UCfP sees the comparisons between chimps and humans that place the chimp in an inferior and unflattering light as being very unfair.

Please stop.

J.F. Simian

Chairman, UCfP, Inc.

                                                   

 

[Mark]

 

Just remember that the body for the '62 Fury got hacked up to use in the Revellion funny car (although it's actually not butchered as badly as some other classic tools were).  Badges and trim remained intact on the body.  Even if the remainder of the annual version does still exist (interior, glass, chassis, etc.), you've got to wonder if Revell would ever be willing to restore the body.

After all, it is a 4-door.  I do believe the roofline was shared with the 2-doors, so theoretically they could convert it to a 2 door hardtop, or even a post car, but now your getting into the realm of "is it any cheaper than just creating a new tool from scratch?"

The Revellion funny car is based on their Dodge Dart, not the Plymouth.  The Revell Plymouth Fury was a two-door hardtop, pretty sure it was the exact same body style as Jo-Han's Fury.

[Robberbaron]

The Revellion funny car is based on their Dodge Dart, not the Plymouth.  The Revell Plymouth Fury was a two-door hardtop, pretty sure it was the exact same body style as Jo-Han's Fury.

Doh!  100% correct, for whatever reason I was reading Fury but picturing the Dart.

 

[tim boyd]

 

So is it just the 30 A mold that had the problem or is the 29 mold included also? How much shared tooling is there in the two kit other than the tires? 

 

 

There is a single tool that produces both versions of the kit (various gates are blocked off for one version or the other).

 Wheels/tires/chassis/suspension/frame/headlamps/tailamps and certain interior components are shared across both kits; the body, most of the interior, and engine are unique to each version.  

Both kit #'s ('29A Roadster and '30A Coupe) have been discontinued by Revell.  

TIM  

 

[1930fordpickup]

Thank You Tim. I had no idea that the two kits shared this many parts. I have not had mine out of the box for more than 2 minutes yet.

[Jantrix]

Both kit #'s ('29A Roadster and '30A Coupe) have been discontinued by Revell.  

TIM  

 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Tim do you mean discontinued till the tool can be repaired or permanently? 

[Snake45]

Tim do you mean discontinued till the tool can be repaired or permanently?

I can't imagine that they wouldn't either repair or replace the tool eventually. They've already laid out all the R&D costs on what were going to be perennially good-selling kits, and I can't believe that either the masters or the mold-cutting programs don't still exist. If I were making the decision, it would be a no-brainer. (SHADDUP!)

[tim boyd]

Tim do you mean discontinued till the tool can be repaired or permanently? 

Guys.....I have the same questions as you.  Sorry I don't have any clear answers to offer......TIM 

 

[Rotorbolt73]

Interesting read..its hard to believe they invested all that time and money to R&D / tool up those kits only to discontinue them cause of one damaged tooling..I guess thats what they get for doing business in communist nations putting all their eggs in one basket. How much did they stand to lose by giving up now?  What I don't understand is why a new tool isn't cut? What makes the process soo difficult that they can't or won't do that? They did it once, why not do it again? If those kits were indeed good sellers and popular, then what would stop them from cutting another tool here in the states and start production back up here in the states starting with these two kits? Bring jobs back to the U.S. in the process..I admit, I don't know a whole lot about the manufacturing side of this industry.  For some reason it always seems a big secret. Would be great if we had a real informative article in any of the model magazine publications that would shed some much needed light on this kind of stuff so we the customers/ builders can better understand what goes on and why things are done and not done such as in this situation over damaged tooling of a new kit that was apparently a good seller..

[garagepunk66]

 

Just remember that the body for the '62 Fury got hacked up to use in the Revellion funny car (although it's actually not butchered as badly as some other classic tools were).  Badges and trim remained intact on the body.  Even if the remainder of the annual version does still exist (interior, glass, chassis, etc.), you've got to wonder if Revell would ever be willing to restore the body.

After all, it is a 4-door.  I do believe the roofline was shared with the 2-doors, so theoretically they could convert it to a 2 door hardtop, or even a post car, but now your getting into the realm of "is it any cheaper than just creating a new tool from scratch?"

wasn't the Revellion based on the 62 Dodge Dart body? sure would like to see any of the '62 Mopar annuals reissued

 

[Greg Myers]

From another board :I have the latest on that Revell Model A tooling issue. The information that was posted on Stevens site is FALSE! There is a concern that they’ve been working on with the company that does the tooling (NOT China itself!) but… …they’re simply continuing to work on solving the issue. Nothing has changed since the concern arose 3 months ago. 

Edited December 16, 2016 by Greg Myers

[1930fordpickup]

From another board :I have the latest on that Revell Model A tooling issue. The information that was posted on Stevens site is FALSE! There is a concern that they’ve been working on with the company that does the tooling (NOT China itself!) but… …they’re simply continuing to work on solving the issue. Nothing has changed since the concern arose 3 months ago. 

I think this is also very misleading. An issue is fixed very quickly, but something to hold off these kits during the biggest selling time for Revell is bigger than an issue. Normally if the problem or issue was caused by the company that created the tooling they would be getting it taken care of. Well that is how it works here in the US.  

[Brett Barrow]

Knowing Stevens as well as I do (I worked there for 12 years) I suspect they marked it discontinued to hide it so they'd stop fielding questions about it.  I'll try to find out more when I'm back to work Monday. 

 What I don't understand is why a new tool isn't cut? What makes the process soo difficult that they can't or won't do that? They did it once, why not do it again? If those kits were indeed good sellers and popular, then what would stop them from cutting another tool here in the states and start production back up here in the states starting with these two kits? Bring jobs back to the U.S. in the process..I admit, I don't know a whole lot about the manufacturing side of this industry.  For some reason it always seems a big secret.

Well, a new tool could have been cut or is being cut.  It takes months to cut a tool and bring it to production, the place that makes the tooling and the place that actually molds the kits are rarely in the same place.  So you have to cut the tool and check and test it several times, then move the tool to the production facility and that means you're back at the end of the line and have to wait for all the jobs in front of you to get done.  They could move the tool to the US (and it's possible they are), they have the machinery here to mold.  The tooling is cut in China because, believe it or not, they're pretty good at it.  It's been gone from the US for a generation, there's not very many people here that know how to do it properly.

[VRM]

Looks like everyone wants these kits back out ASAP, but there seems to be something that nobody seems to have realised...insurance.

I would expect that Revell has all of their tools insured, and if damage happened (either by accident or intent), then it is likely going to be a while before an insurance company is going to ante up $300K to cut a new tool.  And there may be all sorts of stipulations about the conditions under which any damage occurred.  There could also be lawyers involved, which would probably mean that Revell should not legally talk about anything even if they wanted to.

Cut Revell some slack - we will find out when we find out.  Until then, worrying about it will likely be a big waste of time.

Steve D

[doggie427]

They could move the tool to the US (and it's possible they are), they have the machinery here to mold.  The tooling is cut in China because, believe it or not, they're pretty good at it.  It's been gone from the US for a generation, there's not very many people here that know how to do it properly.

The Czech Republic has several companies that could do the die-making and molding. Aircraft builders are well aware of the fine work Special Hobby and Eduard et al are doing. 

Plus an unintended positive might be the ability to tweek the roof of the coupe while cutting a new tool.

Edited December 18, 2016 by doggie427

[Robberbaron]

My Hobby Lobby still has the '29 roadsters (they never got the coupes). Being a genetic hoarder/panic buyer, I had to use my coupon to get another one.

My HL also still has the roadsters, so I picked up a second.  My original plan was to buy multiples of the '30 coupe since that had the extra set of Halibrands in it, so in my book it would have been better for the parts trove.  But at this point, I'm thinking grab the roadsters while they're still available.

My HL also never got the '30 in stock, though they had an open space reserved on the shelf for a few months for it until recently.

No way for us to know exactly what parts of the tooling are damaged, but I agree that it would be nice to see them correct some of the shortcomings if they're cutting new tooling for the nailhead (port spacing/headers) and the coupe interior (skeleton interior panels).  And if they need to redo the coupe body, PLEASE get rid of that Deuce-style roof insert!  I realize that it was a deliberate decision by Revell's design team, but in my book it just makes sense to have a stock style roof.

I also realize that this is all probably wishful thinking.  Quickest and dirtiest way to get these kits back in production would be to duplicate the existing tooling exactly, which is what I expect will happen...