AMT Parts Packs Suggestions

[regular guy]

Now AMT is starting to bring out the good stuff!

https://www.autoworldstore.com/product_p/amtpp018.htm

They need to make these:

Dragster and custom car frames. Chromed and unchromed.They brought out the Model T racing pack so they are getting close

Custom grills and body parts. Sort of Styline parts without the rest of the car.

Custom upholstery kits.

Clear parts pack. Custom bubble tops and hoods.

Before we trot out the 'Woe is me, we can''t do it' flurry of negative excuses.

If Jimmy Flintstone can do it so can AMT. Won't kill them at AMT to make some new parts.

Edited March 9, 2018 by regular guy

[Erik Smith]

This very discussion is already happening on multiple threads. 

[Psychographic]

Does Jimmy Flintstone actually make masters himself, or does he just make the molds and cast from other people's masters?

 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

16 minutes ago, regular guy said:

...Dragster and custom car frames. Chromed and unchromed.They brought out the Model T racing pack so they are getting close

Custom grills and body parts. Sort of Styline parts without the rest of the car.

Custom upholstery kits.

Clear parts pack. Custom bubble tops and hoods.

A lot of this stuff was done long ago by Revell and AMT, and the packs are fairly readily available still. Just a few examples below.

And tooling for injection molded parts is VASTLY more expensive than silicone molds for resin...which anyone can do in his bedroom.

            

   

 

[regular guy]

Ace

The Hot Rod Frame and Grills and Bumpers are what AMT needs to reproduce.

They have the Styline parts for custom body parts.

AMT is doing a good job bringing out the classic kits and parts packs.

Would be nice to see upholstery and carpet packs.

Have not heard from them that I know of what Parts Packs they have.

If they can get a hold of original Parts Packs they can take molds off of them.

So that shoots holes in the 'do nothing' argument

Also the current regime Round 2 should have picked up enough experience by now to make new parts.

i believe they have said they have.

Edited March 9, 2018 by regular guy

[Ace-Garageguy]

48 minutes ago, regular guy said:

...The Hot Rod Frame and Grills and Bumpers are what AMT needs to reproduce...

Well sir...some of us have been watching this market for quite some time, and have amassed a fair bit of knowledge you may not be party to.

For example, the vintage AMT Bumpers and grilles pack is PLENTIFUL on eBay, sells usually in the $10 range, and they are SLOW movers.

In that instance, where's the motivation for R2 to invest bucks to make a new run, or massive bucks to re-tool (if the tooling is gone), only to have the packs sit on the shelves?

They surely don't "need to" follow that particular road.

And you may have a simplistic view of what it takes to make tooling for injection molding, based on your statement that "If they can get a hold of original Parts Packs they can take molds off of them".

Frankly, that's ridiculous. To tool from existing parts would take entirely reverse-engineering from whats there, preparing new CAD files using dimensions taken from the existing sprue, translating those files into CNC-machine-readable format, and cutting NEW STEEL DIES, for many tens of THOUSANDS of dollars.

Yes, you can "take molds" off of existing parts to produce RESIN copies...and if YOU wanted to, YOU could do it...maybe.

But it's not the same thing, not even close, as making steel dies for styrene injection molding.

[regular guy]

 

'It can't be done.it's too hard'.'That is why you fail!'.-Star Wars.

Positive thinking and can do attitude is a better way to approach situations.

Would like to see custom clear canopies and clear hoods.Double canopies and single.

Plus lots of custom grills and bumpers. Plus more custom and racing rims. Some Halibrand and other knockoff types.

Custom body parts would be good. Custom front caps and tail sections.

They could even include a little tube of putty and a spatula like the Styline kits.

Here's some motor ideas. Cadillac 354 50's engine chromed.Pontiac nailhead. Lincoln flathead V12.Ford Thunderbird 312 50's engine

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Well then, put up the money to make it happen.

Surely with an attitude like "Positive thinking and can do attitude is a better way to approach situations" you should be able to do that.

Or if not:  "It can't be done.it's too hard'.'That is why you fail!'.-Star Wars."

By the by...there's a ton of chromed "354" Caddy engines in the old Revell parts-pack series available on eBay too (and there was never a 354 factory displacement). The Lincoln V12 is available from R&M, and an Australian company. The 312 can be had from several currently available kits.

Reinventing the wheel is not usually sound business practice...especially when there's plenty of perfectly good wheels rolling around. 

Edited March 9, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[landman]

27 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Well then, put up the money to make it happen.

Surely with an attitude like "Positive thinking and can do attitude is a better way to approach situations" you should be able to do that.

Or if not:  "It can't be done.it's too hard'.'That is why you fail!'.-Star Wars."

By the by...there's a ton of chromed "354" Caddy engines in the old Revell parts-pack series available on eBay too (and there was never a 354 factory displacement). The Lincoln V12 is available from R&M, and an Australian company. The 312 can be had from several currently available kits.

Reinventing the wheel is not usually sound business practice.

Bill, you’ve undobtedly examined it. Is it more like the 331 or the later 390?

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, landman said:

Bill, you’ve undobtedly examined it. Is it more like the 331 or the later 390?

I've got maybe 30 of 'em. 

It can represent a '49 and later 331, a 365, or the first-gen 390 (through 1962).

The gen II 390 / 429 (1963) is a substantially different engine (with a die-cast timing cover) though they share the same basic architecture as the gen I engines.

Edited March 9, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[Classicgas]

I would like to see more tires, factory stock 40s to 70s.

Edited March 9, 2018 by Classicgas

[Ace-Garageguy]

23 minutes ago, Classicgas said:

I would like to see more tires, factory stock 40s to 70s.

No argument there. Modelhaus had that pretty well covered, but no more...

These ancient Revell parts-packs always bring good bucks, always sell...

   

 

Edited March 9, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[Ace-Garageguy]

Hey...anybody who wants to start to learn the skills needed to develop injection molding tooling, well here you go. THEN you can tell R2 and Revell and Moebius what they "need" to do. I just got my invite.

Dear WILLIAM,

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This presentation looks in-depth at designing complex geometries for rapid injection molding, applying a non-traditional, rapid manufacturing approach to a traditional procedure to accomplish intricacy.

Join this Webinar to learn more.

https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1179464&tp_key=cb64ef5ed2&sti=TBMGemail

[regular guy]

 

More 'sandbagging'.Everything is A-OK and let's do nothing.

Some custom roofs would be cool. Add fendershirts to the list. Advanced cutomizing one in addition to the stock type.

Some Continental Kits.Regular and custom.

More custom bucket seats.Maybe pre covered in custom upholstery.

This modeler is definitely not interested in paying any kind of premium for old Parts Packs.

'Millions for defense but not a penny in tribute!'.

Round 2 could do a whole lot better in the Made in USA arena.

MPC Titan rocket, Lindberg Little red wagon and Lindberg '54 Ford shows they can do it.

So what is the hold up making more kits in the US?

No excuses accepted here.Thank you.

[Toner283]

The parts pack that I would like to see issued would only cost the plastic, chroming and packaging costs. The chrome reverse wheels included in the newest issue of the AMT 36 ford roadster/coupe kit (already tooled and on their own small sprue!) and a set of the new tool wide whitewall firestone tires.

Release those as a parts pack and I believe they would sell as well or better that the gasser wheel and tire set. I know that I would buy a bunch of them.

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 minutes ago, Toner283 said:

The parts pack that I would like to see issued would only cost the plastic, chroming and packaging costs. The chrome reverse wheels included in the newest issue of the AMT 36 ford roadster/coupe kit (already tooled and on their own small sprue!) and a set of the new tool wide whitewall firestone tires.

Release those as a parts pack and I believe they would sell as well or better that the gasser wheel and tire set. I know that I would buy a bunch of them.

Agreed. Somebody recently suggested the wheels / tires from the new-tool Ala Kart as well. Those wheels and whitewall inserts also are on separate sprues (as are the red bullet taillights in the kit).

I'd buy a bunch of alla that.  

[LDO]

An idea I would like to see: engines. Two different parts packs; one for vintage engines like flathead Ford, Cadillac 331/365/390, Buick Nailhead, Early Hemi, etc. Another for modern EFI engines; Ford 4.6 DOHC, Chevy LS, Chrysler new hemi.

I'm not holding my breath. I don't want to see any of the model companies invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a dud. It's bad news all around. Lost revenue that means we don't get that '27 Ford roadster street rod kit next year...or whatever cool kit that gets torpedoed.

[Ace-Garageguy]

11 minutes ago, LDO said:

An idea I would like to see: engines. Two different parts packs; one for vintage engines like flathead Ford, Cadillac 331/365/390, Buick Nailhead, Early Hemi, etc. Another for modern EFI engines; Ford 4.6 DOHC, Chevy LS, Chrysler new hemi.

There was a time I would have liked to see all those too. But...over the years, I found cheap kit sources for most of them, and getting all the leftover bonus kit parts as stash material for about the same price as I'd have to pay for one stand-alone engine kit has worked out well for me.

Revell did the Caddy, Buick nailhead, and early Hemi eons ago as parts-packs, and the Caddy is still plentiful and relatively cheap. You can get four nailheads in the Tommy Ivo Showboat, and the early hemi is in the Miss Deal kit. LS engines can be found in slow-moving and often cheap kits, the 4.6 Ford is in several as well, and the same goes for the new Hemi.

[Richard Bartrop]

Lindberg's '53 Ford has a nicely detailed flathead, and they always seem to be on sale.

[regular guy]

 

AMT needs to bring out more Parts Packs like the '57 Fantasy one above.

Customizing is a major feature of model car building.

That means Advanced Customizing body parts and bubble canopies.

BTW A online hobby store is dumping the Silhouette for $14.

The car show parts pack is a good one. Chrome stands and rope to put around your car at the car show. Can't forget the little trophy!

More customizing Parts Packs please!

Upholstery and carpet kits. Body parts and bubble tops. Custom hoods, roof's and trunk lids.

[1930fordpickup]

Bob the chrome grills you have mentioned were repooped by AMT about 15 years ago, and that is why they are not fast sellers on ebay. Plenty around to be had. 

[regular guy]

 

Andy

It would be nice to have 'one stop shopping'.Buy the kit from your favorite online or your local hobby store.

BTW The AMT 62 Buick Electra 225 kit out now is a Styline kit.

Takes a while to figure that out.Maybe have been sold as such originally.

Guess you save excess parts as your own little parts pack.

Also Buick Electra is a full size model of Buick. The same old out of proportion 'too big' roof makes it look like a mid size.

[Kmb0319]

I’ve got a simple one for them, because they have already been produced...

These BFG Radial TAs were pretty awesome muscle car tires. I think it was MPC who made them originally, so they have them... just paid print them and release as a separate parts pack.

[Force]

One thing comes to mind about several of your later posts Mr Grainger.
Why don't you go directly to AMT/Round2 with your suggestions?
Because we can't do anything about it so it's quite useless to bring them up here...We are just consumers/builders like you and not many from the industy takes the time to visit the different forums and message boards regarding this hobby frequently.

Edited March 10, 2018 by Force

[LDO]

I think this is all just daydreaming. It's cool that there are a few modern parts packs available, but the market is not like it was when we were kids. I think I have only seen one or two of the recent parts packs at the LHS. Again, I won't hold my breath waiting for the engine parts pack. I do have several of the engines I mentioned; a couple of early Hemis from Moebius 1955 Chrysler,  Ford 4.6 DOHC from AMT's Phantom Vicky, and a Cadillac 331 from Revell's '49 Mercury. These are better than parts packs. They came with other cool stuff, like a Deuce chassis with independent front suspension and a couple of curbside '50s cars. They could also be built as slammers and their interior parts used for some other project. Like Bill said; get the whole kit and have extras for the parts box.