amt 1202 1/25 AMT 1963 Chevy II Nova Station Wagon - Craftsman Plus

[stitchdup]

I can see me getting one of these at some point, shouldn't be too hard to stick a 66 nova chassis under it if i really feel the need for and engine but I'm more likely to just do a panel paint job, lower it and call it done

[GMP440]

Anyone know when the 63 Chevy ll wagon is coming out?

[SfanGoch]

Supposedly in December.

[Carmak]

8 hours ago, Snake45 said:

To quote The Goddess Shania: "That don't impress me much." 

If you were buying for a hobby distributor or even a LHS, how many of these Has kits would you stock versus your normal order for a new AMT/MPC/Moebius/Revell kit (or even a good reissue)? Not NEARLY as many, I'll bet. No surprise that they're sold out. 

As I see it, there should be zero market for the Buick, the T-Bird, and the Impala, as these are all still readily available at common prices from Round 2 or Revell (or at least common in the used market), and they're much better kits, too. I can't speak to the sales potential of the Caddy; I don't want or need one but I believe there's a certain market for that one. The Bonneville is a special case: Nothing else like it is available at an affordable price. It's decidedly inferior to the MPC original, but unless you want to lay out big bucks, it's the only game in town for this subject. 

I remember when these kits were out in the '80s. There were still three or four local hobby shops and all carried them, in ones and two. I never saw the Impala (then incorrectly marked as a '66) and to this day have never seen an original boxing of it (remember, this was long before the Revell '65 Impala was introduced). It took me a LONG time to find and buy a Bonneville (which is how I know it's inferior to the original MPC). The Caddies and Buicks and T-Bird kits sat on the shop shelves for years. 

Notice that Hasegawa had to pimp these kits out (pun intended) with attractive female figures to give them some appeal this time around. 

Me, I recently bought the Impala at a reasonable price (not much more than a typical Revell/Round 2 kit) for two reasons: the figure, and I wanted to compare the body to the AMT original and the Revell. (Spoiler alert: None of the three is perfect, but the bodies of all three are "close enough" to accurate to be considered buildable.) 

I imagine the Bonneville is selling well in its current issue. The rest, I doubt they're setting any sales records. 

 

Snake,

   One of the early comments in this topic was comparing Hasegawa kits to the Nova Wagon. My point was that Hasegawa had sold similar curbsides with low interior and chassis detail very recently.

   I probably put to much emphasis on the Hasegawa kits selling well because I attempted to get the Caddy and Bonneville kits this summer as gifts for a friend and I ended up buying them directly from a hobby shop in Japan (along with some JDM kits for myself).

   I remember buying the 65 Impala, 66 Caddy and a couple 66 Bonnevilles in the 80's entirely because of the subject matter. I may still have the 65 (66?) Impala box somewhere in my stash.

[ChrisBcritter]

2 hours ago, SfanGoch said:

Supposedly in December.

"Santa Baby

A Nova station wagon beneath

My tree..."   

 

[Deuces ll]

? I love that song.. can't wait for a local radio station to start playing vintage Holiday tunes....??

[tim boyd]

On 10/1/2020 at 8:42 PM, SteveG said:

This is a re-tooled copy of the original Craftsman kit with some modest improvements. Round 2 is calling it Craftsman Plus. Updates include clear headlamps and clear red tail lamp lens that have been added along with a side view mirror.  Kit style wheel covers, wheel backs and tires instead of the original promo style pieces.  Glass is now two separate front and rear pieces.  The front metal axle is replaced by pins.  There's also a couple of optional interior accessories included and all new decal sheet with some "fun" commercial graphics and along with the instrument face and body scripts for those who prefer them over paint or foil.   The box is a tribute to the original packaging.  The rest will be identical to the original Craftsman kit. 

There will be another version Nova Wagon kit that will include an engine and other items like the original 3n1 release that's about a year out.   I do not have the full details of that version yet but it's being based on the original release.  Both of these are are being packaged as nostalgic items, not modern tooling. 

Round 2 is considering more of these recreations of other long lost classic kits,  all depending on how well this and another similar item coming out does sales wise.   Personally I can't wait to get my hand on one,  my very first model was an AMT Craftsman kit.  I hope they bring back more... 

-Steve

 

 

   

What Steve said above. 

To further clarify, the new Nova wagon body is NOT modification of the original c. 1963 tooling, it is an entirely newly tooled part.  I was not specifically aware that there would be a full detail kit down the road, but there are additional kits planned that will use the same body, so that seems a logical next step.    

The 1964 Cutlass convertible kit to come is based on the same development approach. 

And re-read the second to last sentence in Steve's post....

TIM 

  

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, tim boyd said:

To further clarify, the new Nova wagon body is NOT modification of the original c. 1963 tooling, it is an entirely newly tooled part.  I was not specifically aware that there would be a full detail kit down the road, but there are additional kits planned that will use the same body, so that seems a logical next step. 

Do you have specific information on this?

I kind of find it hard to believe that Round 2 would waste the time doing a newly tooled promo body for a '63 Nova wagon unless it was just a restoration of the original mold.

It seems counter productive to me to put a entirely new body on a basically 3 piece interior and slab chassis.

If they have no misgivings with going as far as to create an entirely new body, why wouldn't they go a little further and retool the interior and then use existing tooling from another kit to offer an engine and chassis for a full detail model right off of the bat?

Just seems a little odd to me.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited October 4, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[tim boyd]

24 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Do you have specific information on this?

I kind of find it hard to believe that Round 2 would waste the time doing a newly tooled promo body for a '63 Nova wagon unless it was just a restoration of the original mold.

It seems counter productive to me to put a entirely new body on a basically 3 piece interior and slab chassis.

If they have no misgivings with going as far as to create an entirely new body, why wouldn't they go a little further and retool the interior and then use existing tooling from another kit to offer an engine and chassis for a full detail model right off of the bat?

Just seems a little odd to me.

Steve

Steve,,,my solid understanding is that the newly tooled body is based on the original annual kit body, but it is an entirely newly tooled part. 

The original annual kit tool was redone for the "Boss Nova" mid-engine drag kit in the late 1960's funny car kit series, and apparently  the body changes were so extensive it was not feasible to return the tool to the original factory stock configuration. 

BTW, really enjoy and respect your replica stock vehicles builds!   TIM   

[StevenGuthmiller]

2 hours ago, tim boyd said:

Steve,,,my solid understanding is that the newly tooled body is based on the original annual kit body, but it is an entirely newly tooled part. 

The original annual kit tool was redone for the "Boss Nova" mid-engine drag kit in the late 1960's funny car kit series, and apparently  the body changes were so extensive it was not feasible to return the tool to the original factory stock configuration. 

BTW, really enjoy and respect your replica stock vehicles builds!   TIM   

Thanks Tim.

I have no reason to disbelieve what you're saying, it just seems a little weird to me that they would go to the extent of creating a completely new mold for a '63 Nova wagon body, and a promo style one at that.

My guess is that there are dozens of kits that they have in their possession that would be much more attractive to their constituents to do this with.

I can think of a lot of AMT and MPC kits that have had the bodies destroyed to make different versions of the kit, so I'm not sure why they would start with this one.

 

But I digress.

If this is the case that they have taken it upon themselves to resurrect some of these long lost kits by creating new stock bodies for them, all that I can say is "hooray"!

We should be able to expect some very cool old stuff from them in the coming years.

 

Where's my '66 Buick Grand Sport?!!!!!

 

 

 

 

Steve 

Edited October 5, 2020 by StevenGuthmiller

[Snake45]

42 minutes ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Where's my '66 Buick Grand Sport?!!!!!

 

I probably bought it off eBay. 

[1972coronet]

Out on a limb here ---- perhaps Round2 recognises that the Chevy II / Nova is a largely sought after piece ; and , that since there's a delay in Moebius' similar kits of the same subject , why not strike while the irons are hot ? The rest of the kit already exists (regardless of their age and simplicity) , so why not get that lead ? Maybe the AWB Chevy II hardtop  kit will be bashed with this promo-style wagon by builders and bashers ? I see that as a viable reality .

How much -- if any-- of the 1966 L-79 Nova would work with this '63 ? I know that the "1:1" X-body was redesigned for 1966 ; I don't recall just how different the two generations are .  

[Muncie]

The original 1963 Nova Station Wagon Customizing kit contained a lot of parts along with a stock engine that wasn't in the Craftsman series, There is so much in the customizing kit that it only takes about 20% of what's in the box to build the Craftsman series station wagon. The rest is other fun stuff that may still exist in Round 2's tooling library.  Maybe that's future reissue material?. 

The extra parts included a utility (U-Haul) trailer, an extra drag engine to put in the trailer, customizing parts and a few accessories. https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/automotive-cars--pi/chevrolet/1961-1970/amt-63-chevy-ii-sta/?view=roll#1.  The body was modified extensively for the Boss Nova - removing trim, filling door gaps, a hole in the roof for the mid-engine air intake... Rivets around the windows were added to the window insert.  https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/amt-instructions/straightline-competition/amt-boss-nova-model/?view=roll#1  The drag engine also showed up in the Boss Nova.  New tooling  for the body is probably the only reasonable way to produce new kits.  I'm surprised they did it, but I'm looking forward to any 1963 Nova wagon that Round 2 gives us.  

[Bucky]

With this being a newly tooled body, maybe a future release will be a race team set, with either the Boss Nova, or Ratpacker Nova.

[Oldcarfan27]

2 hours ago, Bucky said:

With this being a newly tooled body, maybe a future release will be a race team set, with either the Boss Nova, or Ratpacker Nova.

Oh yeah, I'm sure there is...

Everything else already exists!!!!

Edited October 5, 2020 by Oldcarfan27

[MrObsessive]

I have a very nice and clean (unpainted) built up of one of these. Original box and all. I'll GLADLY get another one because one can easily tweak the AMT '66 Nova chassis, find an inline six and go to town.

At least this one won't cost NEARLY as much as I paid for the original. The original box art is a nice plus too.

[ChrisBcritter]

8 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Oh yeah, I'm sure there is...

Everything else already exists!!!!

And here's hoping:

[GMP440]

9 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Oh yeah, I'm sure there is...

Everything else already exists!!!!

      In all likelyhood,  this probably will come out in the future.  Round 2 already has the AWB Nova, the trailer and soon to be released 63 Chevy II wagon is on the way.  

[Tom Geiger]

And a companion pair of a 57 Chevy pickup with the Willys on a trailer!

[Jon Cole]

And let's not forget the ever probable '63 Chevy II wagon "Coco-Cola" version.
Cause, you just know it's bound to happen.
And that will be fine by me.

 

[Luc Janssens]

1 hour ago, Jon Cole said:

And let's not forget the ever probable '63 Chevy II wagon "Coco-Cola" version.
Cause, you just know it's bound to happen.
And that will be fine by me.

 

with promotional items in the back, who knows

Other versions they can do in the series of construction vehicles, the supervisor, building or land surveyor, municipal vehicle......etc etc..

[Bucky]

44 minutes ago, Luc Janssens said:

with promotional items in the back, who knows

Other versions they can do in the series of construction vehicles, the supervisor, building or land surveyor, municipal vehicle......etc etc..

I'd like to see a double dashboard version, like the Driver's Education classes used. My class in High School had a 1973 FORD LTD with two steering wheels, and an extra set of pedals!

[SteveG]

On 10/4/2020 at 7:56 PM, StevenGuthmiller said:

Do you have specific information on this?

I kind of find it hard to believe that Round 2 would waste the time doing a newly tooled promo body for a '63 Nova wagon unless it was just a restoration of the original mold.

It seems counter productive to me to put a entirely new body on a basically 3 piece interior and slab chassis.

If they have no misgivings with going as far as to create an entirely new body, why wouldn't they go a little further and retool the interior and then use existing tooling from another kit to offer an engine and chassis for a full detail model right off of the bat?

Just seems a little odd to me.

Steve

First off,  they didn't just retool the body.  They basically retooled the whole kit.  Now before you consider it a waste of resources,  look at some of what's required to create an all new modern tooled classic car kit.  From the drawing board to the store shelves can take up to two years, more is not unusual.  The price tag is typically well north of 100K and then you have to find a clean original 1:1 example to measure and/or scan to create all the needed 3D drawings part by part. Then there's 3D printed samples to check and it goes on from there. 

To reverse engineer a rare, long lost kit biggest hurdle is finding a pristine sample to copy. The rest of the work can be done in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost.  As for creating a hybrid of the 63 Nova Wagon body with say the current 66 Nova kit sounds intriguing at first, they just don't share enough parts to make it work cost wise.  Which brings us right back to making an all new tool.   

Now there are a lot of modern tools with by creating some new parts could be nicely expanded on.   Round 2 could give us a 68 Impala SS for about the same amount of work and cost as did to do the Supernatural 67 Impala 4Dr hardtop.  There are so many more examples that it would deserve it's own thread but let's get back to this kit.  Bottom lines is that Round 2 wanted to bring back this particular kit, warts and all. I'm really glad they did, and I'm thankful they made the effort to make some modest improvements.   Think about that first discussion that must of started off with "wouldn't it be cool if we could bring back the 63 Nova Wagon kit"  then consider the all the possibilities that could come after that ...

-Steve

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2020 by SteveG

[StevenGuthmiller]

39 minutes ago, SteveG said:

First off,  they didn't just retool the body.  They basically retooled the whole kit.  Now before you consider it a waste of resources,  look at some of what's required to create an all new modern tooled classic car kit.  From the drawing board to the store shelves can take up to two years, more is not unusual.  The price tag is typically well north of 100K and then you have to find a clean original 1:1 example to measure and/or scan to create all the needed 3D drawings part by part. Then there's 3D printed samples to check and it goes on from there. 

To reverse engineer a rare, long lost kit biggest hurdle is finding a pristine sample to copy. The rest of the work can be done in a fraction of the time and for a fraction of the cost.  As for creating a hybrid of the 63 Nova Wagon body with say the current 66 Nova kit sounds intriguing at first, they just don't share enough parts to make it work cost wise.  Which brings us right back to making an all new tool.   

Now there are a lot of modern tools with by creating some new parts could be nicely expanded on.   Round 2 could give us a 68 Impala SS for about the same amount of work and cost as did to do the Supernatural 67 Impala 4Dr hardtop.  There are so many more examples that it would deserve it's own thread but let's get back to this kit.  Bottom lines is that Round 2 wanted to bring back this particular kit, warts and all. I'm really glad they did, and I'm thankful they made the effort to make some modest improvements.   Think about that first discussion that must of started off with "wouldn't it be cool if we could bring back the 63 Nova Wagon kit"  then consider the all the possibilities that could come after that ...

-Steve

 

 

 

I agree, I have no problem at all with Round 2 resurrecting this kit.

I'm not one of the naysayers that think that it's a waste of time and resources.

I just am doing my best to understand why, if a considerable amount of work was involved to bring this kit back, and completely new tooling was necessary, why they would go with a kit that is quite likely to not sell all that well, and a curbside kit to boot.

I might very well be wrong, but I don't really see a lot of outcry for more wagon kits, and absolutely not for more promo style kits.

Yes there is a segment of the hobby that wants more wagons and 4 doors, but I don't think that necessarily translates into an all around successful kit.

 

You could say that I'm all for it, but I'm just curious as to why they are thinking that this one is going to be a winner.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve 

[Bucky]

I'd be interested in seeing some production figures on the kits that have been released in the last five years.