If you could only build one kit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

[OldNYJim]

I’ve been thinking about a quote I read from a motorcycle builder recently who reflected that he had been “building the same bike for 30 years but finding more and more complex ways to build it” for his own satisfaction.  Having a basic formula for what you like in a project, but constantly pushing yourself to make it a little bit harder to build each time.

This got me thinking to what I’d pick, if I had to, as the one kit I’d pick to keep building over and over if that’s all that was available.

A few years ago I probably would have picked the Revell Deuce kit - maybe the 3 window, although now I might pick the 5 window version.

Now, having built a couple and starting to come up with ideas for a third and fourth that I’d like to try, I think I’d have to pick the Revell 29 kit.  Like the Deuce, i’ll likely never run out of ways to put one of those together - channel it, don’t channel it, Z the frame, swap the engine, built it traditionally, make a modern street rod out of it...I can see myself enjoying multiple builds of this kit for years to come.

Now, luckily, we don’t HAVE to make this choice - there’s probably a dozen or more variations of a Model A kit I can choose from without having to circle back around to the same one again, but I’d be interested to hear what you all might choose as your all time favorite

[Tom Geiger]

AMT 53 Ford pickup!  There’s a bunch of ways to build it, and I can dream up a bunch more!

[JollySipper]

Revell-o-gram '37 Ford coupe.... I've built it a few times, each one a little better than the last!

This is the first one, Cadillac engine and artillery wheels.

Then I built another with Corvette wheels.

and the latest one is my favorite out of the bunch!

 

[JJ Deuce]

Revell's '69 Corvette kit.  Aside from the odd treatment of the rear window, it's my favorite kit.  

Close runner up is the AMT '53 Ford pickup mentioned by Tom Geiger above.

[gtx6970]

Hard for.me to say. I like quite a few.

 

But...to play along i would say the Revell Thunderbolt. 

[Snake45]

If you'd said one family of kits, I'd have said the AMT '63-'67 annual Corvettes. All the same basic kit with the same basic bodies, but five distinct model years and two body styles (plus several different tops for the roadster)--build 'em stock, custom, road racers, drag racers, street freaks! That would keep me busy. 

But limited to ONE KIT, I'll take the AMT '68 Camaro Z/28. I assume I'm allowed to use aftermarket stuff (and/or kitbashed parts), which means I can build it as an RS, or convert it to a '67. I can do big-blocks, Trans Am racers, stock, SS, MP and Pro Stock drag racers, and an almost infinite variety of street cruisers/street freaks. Yah, I could make it work, if I absolutely HAD to. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

Honestly? I would quit building.

There's no way that I could maintain interest in building the same kit over and over again.

 

As it is, I almost never build the same kit more than once.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited September 28, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[Rodent]

Original Revell '57 Nomad!

(just kidding)

[alan barton]

There's heaps of kits that I have built multiples of - I currently have eight versions of the Monogram deuce on my shelf and another four in the build - just love them! 

Which means the obvious choice for a kit for a lifetime would be the most recent version of the Big Deuce - the Revellogram one with two engines and two sets of wheels. The variations available are endless, you could keep going as your eyesight faded and if you bought a small lathe you could super detail every millimetre of that puppy. Every new build would give you opportunities to stretch the envelope a little further.

Cheers

Alan

[Deuces ll]

39 minutes ago, Rodent said:

Original Revell '57 Nomad!

(just kidding)

You mean this one????..... ?

[Deuces ll]

For me I think it would have to be the Monogram Big Drag kit.... I have 2 unbuilt ones in my stash......

[SCRWDRVR]

47 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Honestly? I would quit building.

There's no way that I could maintain interest in building the same kit over and over again.

 

I think I'm with Steve, I might get 2 maybe 3 different ways and then I would be done. The only thing I think is close to having a shot is Nascar kits but they all have different decals in basically the same kit....

[Richard Bartrop]

Forever is a long time, but I think Revell's Model A kits would keep me going for a long time.

Same with Jo-han's Cadillac V-16.  There are so many variations you could make even if you stuck with the factory versions.

[Bucky]

You guys sure do come up with some hard questions! I'll hafta think about this a while!

[iBorg]

Something from Model Factory Hiro......it may take my lifetime to build it and another to afford it.

 

[THarrison351]

The old Monogram Ford Thunderbird NASCAR models. The chassis is the same on all of them. The bodies were the only difference and I've built a bunch of them over the years. Not sure if Salvinos JR Models has made plans to release any yet.

[peteski]

8 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Honestly? I would quit building.

There's no way that I could maintain interest in building the same kit over and over again.

As it is, I almost never build the same kit more than once.

Steve

Same here - I couldn't do that.

I'm also surprised that nobody has mentioned any of the 1:8 Pocher '30s cars.  over 1,000 parts and plenty of room for improvement. Plus, it would take quite a bit of time even to build it without any modifications.

[Pete J.]

14 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Honestly? I would quit building.

There's no way that I could maintain interest in building the same kit over and over again.

 

As it is, I almost never build the same kit more than once.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

 

13 hours ago, SCRWDRVR said:

I think I'm with Steve, I might get 2 maybe 3 different ways and then I would be done. The only thing I think is close to having a shot is Nascar kits but they all have different decals in basically the same kit....

 

6 hours ago, peteski said:

Same here - I couldn't do that.

I'm also surprised that nobody has mentioned any of the 1:8 Pocher '30s cars.  over 1,000 parts and plenty of room for improvement. Plus, it would take quite a bit of time even to build it without any modifications.

Yup, I would go back to one of my other hobbies.  I took 6 years to build one model(Tamiya 935) twice and I can't count the number of times I lost interest and had to force myself to go back to the bench.  It was a commission both times.  That was not a lot of fun!  Swore I would never do it again!  Besides it is great fun to also build aircraft, ships, armor, motorcycles and caricatures. That is a little like saying you can only have hamburgers for the rest of your life. Great once in awhile for a treat, but that is about all. 

[OldNYJim]

29 minutes ago, Pete J. said:

That is a little like saying you can only have hamburgers for the rest of your life. Great once in awhile for a treat, but that is about all. 

My wife and I were playing a game when we were road-tripping cross-country trying to decide which state we would choose if we could only eat the food that that state is famous for producing.

Im not a corn fan, so Indiana was out (although here I am in Indiana anyway ?) - we couldn’t decide between Idaho or Wisconsin in the end...

I guess Idaho would be the sensible choice, but cheese IS delicious ?

[catpack68]

My pick would be the Revell 67 Chevelle SS-396 kit.I’ve built at least 7 of them for family and friends.I’ve only built one for myself!

[Matt Bacon]

I think it would be the Revell/Monogram 1/8 E-Type. Superdetail and accurise it, and then do a Series 1 and Series 2  coupe and roadster, a “lightweight” racer and a Low Drag coupe, Eagle Coupe and Speedster, and then spend the last decade of my life converting it into a V12 Series 3...

You really can never have too many E Types...

Alternatively, the Eduard P-51D. The kit’s beautiful and builds up very straightforwardly with plenty of detail OOB. And there are hundreds of notable aircraft and marking schemes from dozens of users... enough to keep a chap busy for a couple of decades at least!

best,

M.

[afx]

Fujimi Porsche 911 or AMT Cobra 289.  Already have built a few of each and have more projects in mind.

[Jantrix]

16 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Honestly? I would quit building. There's no way that I could maintain interest in building the same kit over and over again. As it is, I almost never build the same kit more than once.

I think I would agree with Steve in the long run, but if I had to choose a kit..................

I think I'd lean to the AMT 1949 Ford Coupe. It's a good kit, has lots of options and its one of the most popular post war cars for hot rodding of all sorts. It's a real good looking body style. As long as I have a never ending variety of parts to use, I could do with just that one. There's hundreds of ways to build it. 

[Theo]

Monogram 53 Chevy Bel Air.

Have built this one 3 times already and every time I think of a new variation part way through the build.

[JollySipper]

2 hours ago, Jantrix said:

I think I'd lean to the AMT 1949 Ford Coupe.

You know, I used to not really like the shoebox ford..... always thought they were kinda plain! It's been just recently that I've began to realize that their "plainness" is just an empty canvas for whatever direction you want the build to go....... This kit will be my next project, plan is a mild custom.....