AMT 1966 Pro Street Nova

[Steve "Stangfreak? Mason]

Has anyone else here had any experience with this kit?

I had quite a nerve racking time with it. First it was molded in blue and out of some kind of a soft plastic that was pretty difficult to sand or file. Many pieces did not fit well and had to be modified to fit properly. Other small pieces were molded in the trees too close that portions of the tree was into the pieces. All~in~all, the build came out quite nice, but was one that came close several times to hitting the wall at 110 mph...LOL

[Steve "Stangfreak? Mason]

Another thing I forgot to mention, the spindles to mount the front wheels on are slightly off~set, and instructions don't clarify at all which way to assemble them, or which part number goes on which side. It's a 50/50 chance if you get them right, which I did not on the first try. If you notice in the first pic of the car, the front wheels are set back too far towards the door. I had to tear the front end apart to switch the spindles. Notice the last pic of the car with the front wheels where they should be...

[crazyjim]

My problem with that kit is that it's "pro street" but has slicks for rear tires.

[KWT]

Oh absolutely... I LOVE this kit... oddly enough, I HATE this kit also. I have built the one with the yellow car on the box and the one that you have pictured. Same PITA both times... the yellow was many years ago, before I had a clue about what to do. The last time still gave me fits... but I did better.

You're build looks a lot like the one I did a lil bit ago...    66 Nova PS

 

[socal76]

The kit indeed does have part numbers to tell which is for what side, but like many modelers we just trim them off the tree so fast we do not pay attention. If you look at your sheet you have posted, the left is part #34 and the right is part #35. I kind of know this because I did exactly as I described when I built my first one!

[mikemodeler]

I'd say that you did a great job making lemonade out of lemons there! I agree that it can be a bit tricky but dry fitting with white glue can sometimes save a ton of frustration.

[espo]

Even with the assembly problems it looks great in the end.

[Snake45]

Haven't built the PS but I built the stocker years ago and the ONLY problem I had with it was trying to figure out which way was up on the hood trim. Oh, and the hood won't close with the air cleaner on without modification.

Edited May 15, 2017 by Snake45

[iBorg]

What is interesting about this thread is when the stock kit was first released the other magazine named it one of the top kits of the year. Which indicates several possible things. Are we more picky? Did they try to make AMT happy? Or has the overall quality of kits improved?

 

[Carmak]

I built the stock version of this kit when it came out. I think it was one of the best kits of it's era.

 

[THarrison351]

I built the stock kit too. It's in a box and I haven't seen it in 10 years. It had some build areas that really made me frustrated (AMT does that), but in the end I was happy with the result.

[1972coronet]

The original , factory-stock version was released in 1988 after a year delay (was slated for 1987 release) .

It definitely set the hobby on its ear ; a very advanced kit for its time , full of separate parts and options . It seems so simplistic by today's standards . It's like this kit is to the hobby , what The Stooges were to Rock music . 

The downside of the original issue ? That stupid moulded-on interior rear view mirror ! It was moulded to the windscreen ! Now THAT was a glaring goof ---- a 'Prom Night Zit' .

I've never touched the Pro Street version , as that style never did settle with me ( excepting the Gapp & Rousch 1976 Mustang II that's heralded as the 'first pro street car' ) .

[Mr. Metallic]

What is interesting about this thread is when the stock kit was first released the other magazine named it one of the top kits of the year. Which indicates several possible things. Are we more picky? Did they try to make AMT happy? Or has the overall quality of kits improved?

 

It the time this kit came out (1988) it was lauded as one of the first true domestic kits to go after the "enthusiast" market. Designed and made for the "serious" modeler because of the parts breakdown and subject matter. I remember it quite handily one a lot of awards that year in our hobby. With the exception of the rearview mirror/windshield issue (which was addressed by AMT after it's initial release with a mold revision) the stock version of this kit is still highly regarded. And because it sold well it is credited for opening the door to other serious subjects in the early 90's

[KWT]

Don't get me wrong... It gives me fits, pisses me off, and makes me wanna throw it against the wall... but I never tire of seeing it. Much like the R/M 70 Chevelle, I'd build 10 more, and probably will. It's a love/hate thing for sure. And using it for donor parts makes the kit a great buy, too.

[DaveM]

I remember when this one came out too.  Most of the kits before this one had tub style interiors, leaf springs molded into the rear axle and a lot less detail under the hood than this one.  AMT really did stand the modeling world on its ear with this kit.  Being the first mainstream U.S. kit with that much detail, it was also a bit fiddly.  Later kits (  '71 Duster, '70 Monte Carlo, '70 Camaro, '67 Mustang and many Revell kits.)  have managed to pack in the same detail and features, but they have improved the fit and made the kits easier to build.  (Except the '66 Fairlane which takes a sledgehammer and plunger to make all of the parts fit fully under the body!)   I love this kit too.  I have built a couple of stock '66 Novas and I hope to build a couple more before I shuffle off. I have also used the Pro Street kit under a couple of other kits.   At the time, that engine was considered one of the best little gems ever built in 1/25 scale!  

[Steve "Stangfreak? Mason]

The kit indeed does have part numbers to tell which is for what side, but like many modelers we just trim them off the tree so fast we do not pay attention. If you look at your sheet you have posted, the left is part #34 and the right is part #35. I kind of know this because I did exactly as I described when I built my first one!

I'll be dang... You are sooo right here... I did over look those part numbers and did exactly what you said... LOL... Can't believe how they stand out now that they have been pointed out to my blind a$$...LOL
Thank you!!!