Model Kits You Touched, But Put Back On The LHS Shelf. For Years. For Decades.

[Rodent]

Every time I see an AMT '66 Mercury, I think about how many times I have had a version of that kit in my hand, read the box, then put it back on the shelf. Still have never purchased one to this day.

What reissued kits have you done the same thing with for every reissue? It intrigued you enough to pick it up, but not enough to ever take it home. I can think of a few others on my list, but I wonder if I am the only one who does this.

[64Comet404]

For me, it would be the MPC/AMT '74 Roadrunner. Second would be the '72 GTO. Both kits have been cobbled together from too many different years of parts. 

[Rodent]

16 minutes ago, 64Comet404 said:

For me, it would be the MPC/AMT '74 Roadrunner. Second would be the '72 GTO. Both kits have been cobbled together from too many different years of parts. 

Agreed, but I had the original editions of both the 73 and 74 Roadrunner and the 72 GTO. I certainly wouldn't buy them again. I still have the original 74 RR and have been thinking of doing a Rodent-Fu on it. Bought a decal sheet from the current release on the Bay recently just to do that.

[Tabbysdaddy]

I have three of those GTOs, but I only bought two.

[Rusty92]

I always put back the Revell square body kits.  I also usually put back the 67 Chevelle by AMT.

[vamach1]

Not sure why I even look anymore knowing I will see the AMT 68 Shelby GT500 kit in every Hobby Lobby I go to to buy paint and other supplies.  I have built several of them but it’s one kit I swear has been on the store shelves for the last 15 years.  Someone must be still buying them.  I have used the parts to do a California’s Special and convertible and a GT350 and GT500.  I guess enough of them are sold to justify reissuing the kit over and over versus the cost of an all new tooling that would certainly be welcomed but unless it was a convertible version that is unlikely to happen.  Of course I never thought I would see an all new 71 Mustang Mach1 and Boss 351 so never say never.

[jaymcminn]

Two or three times I've done it with the Nichimo Lotus Esprit Series 1. Recently, my LHS got one in with a consignment of vintage kits. Picked it up, put it down, realized I was being an idiot the next day and went back for it. Of course it was gone.

[BlackSheep214]

Too many to count through my youth and teen years... auto, aircraft, armor, ship kits. You name it, I’ve pass by them.

Although, I did manage to acquire a few kits I’ve done back then for another go at it. Plus a few I’ve always wanted to do but never did in my younger years.

[89AKurt]

3 hours ago, Rusty92 said:

I always put back the Revell square body kits.  I also usually put back the 67 Chevelle by AMT.

You have more discipline then me!  I got that and the MPC Deserter from Hobby Lobby at 40% off, just to look at the tires. ?  Might put the chassis under the '57 Cameo.

I can't think of one kit at the moment, have lost track of how many times for several, will think about it.

[Mike C.]

Mines not decades but its gotta be the Motion '70 Camaro. Mainly because I have multiple versions of the exact car in 1/18 diecast. Wouldn't mind an orange one though.

[Jim B]

Definitely not decades, but the Revell 1/24 Ford GT has been in my hands more than once.

[Snake45]

Revell 1/48 B-17F. Never got around to getting one, now they're gone and a bit spendy. 

[THarrison351]

23 hours ago, Rodent said:

Every time I see an AMT '66 Mercury, I think about how many times I have had a version of that kit in my hand, read the box, then put it back on the shelf. Still have never purchased one to this day.

What reissued kits have you done the same thing with for every reissue? It intrigued you enough to pick it up, but not enough to ever take it home. I can think of a few others on my list, but I wonder if I am the only one who does this.

Hah! I have two unfinished 66 Mercury kits. One ruined by too hot paint and the other to replace it. The one kit I've looked at and put back through multiple reissues is the 70 Galaxie.

[ChrisBcritter]

10 hours ago, Snake45 said:

Revell 1/48 B-17F. Never got around to getting one, now they're gone and a bit spendy. 

Got one forty years ago that I backdated to a B-17E for my Pearl Harbor home movie (which never got filmed); builds up just like the Monogram G does. With all the interest in the Memphis Belle, I can't understand why it hasn't been reissued.

But back to cars. Oddly for me it's been Jo-Han kits I could have gotten many times but never did: the Chrysler Turbine, the Mercedes and Cadillac classics, but most particularly the Plymouth police car. That kit used to be everywhere for years, and I've seen it built many times; just never did warm up to it (although I did build the AMT '70 Ford police car once).

After that, it would be the Monogram Lil' Coffin - very cool show car, and again a popular kit reissued many times; didn't ever pull the trigger on it for some reason - although I'd like to get four of its front wheels/tires for my Hubley '61 Ford wagon project.

[64Comet404]

10 hours ago, ChrisBcritter said:

Got one forty years ago that I backdated to a B-17E for my Pearl Harbor home movie (which never got filmed); builds up just like the Monogram G does. With all the interest in the Memphis Belle, I can't understand why it hasn't been reissued.

The Revell B-17F was pretty much a direct copy of the Monogram G kit, right down to the amount of shrinkage present when a kit part is pantographed to make a new part. Apparently, the president of Monogram called Revell and asked them not to do this again (Bob Johnson may have additional memories, if he happens to read this post). 

I agree with Rodent about the original '73-4 RR and '72 GTO kits, that they were good representations of the original cars. The reissues, on the other hand, are looking really tough. Although I didn't mention it in the original post, I would throw the ex-MPC '67 GTO into the same category.

[unclescott58]

You can put model kits back on the shelves at stores after you’ve looked at them? I didn’t know that!

[1972coronet]

22 hours ago, THarrison351 said:

The one kit I've looked at and put back through multiple reissues is the 70 Galaxie.

Me, too. Not that the subject doesn't interest me --I love police & taxi vehicles; fleet models-- it's the incorrect engine and the too-wide wheels & tyres that have turned me off in the past. 
I can get past the BOSS 429 now that I know that the kit has an engine plate (promo-style), and steel wheels of a proper-depth are easily gotten along with proper-sized tyres.

I just haven't pulled the trigger yet... that taxi edition with those luggage bags has my eye.

[OldNYJim]

I nearly picked up one of those AMT 40 Ford ‘Woody’ (actually not a woody) kits at my second-most-local Hobby Lobby probably a year ago and decided I didn’t need it that day.

I’ve been having ideas on how to build that kit ever since, and still didn’t get one.  I need to get back there I think if I still think about it a year later…and I know it’s not even THAT good of a kit ?

[Rodent]

I guess I will have to add the AMT '65 Galaxie to my list of kits that I have picked up almost every release of but never purchased one. Agree with Chris' thought about the JoHans. When the USA Oldies were around I probably looked at all of them without buying any of them.

[slusher]

Dodge Deora for one.  55 Chevy Cameo is another one. I just can’t like the bed on the cameo. I look at the kit from time to time. The Deora is cool but it just doesn’t interest me enough…

Edited February 22, 2022 by slusher

[stavanzer]

The AMT '40 Ford Coupe. Iconic? Sure! But, I can never seem to actually Pay for One, as I always see something else I'd like better. If I ever get to a Model Car swapmeet again, I might just pull the trigger then, (but maybe not... Small Budget, Huge Inventory.)

[Rodent]

6 hours ago, alexis said:

The AMT '40 Ford Coupe. Iconic? Sure! But, I can never seem to actually Pay for One, as I always see something else I'd like better. If I ever get to a Model Car swapmeet again, I might just pull the trigger then, (but maybe not... Small Budget, Huge Inventory.)

The AMT '40 Coupe was one of the first 1/25th scale kits I built as a kid. Local drug store had a pretty good selection of kits. I remember snagging this one (and the '53 pickup) for 44 cents each at their sidewalk sale in 1968 or so. I will build another one sometime for nostalgia's sake. I know the Revell kit is much better. 

[keyser]

70’s Dodge pickups, 73-80’s Nascars, all the Moebius stuff, street C5/6 vettes, AM Grand Sport Vettes, and stuff I’ve forgotten. 
That’s not addressing the why did I buy that kits. 

[JJ Deuce]

Chrysler Turbine.  I always thought it was a good looking car, and it's a neat piece of history, but for some reason I've never bought/built one.

 

[sfhess]

For a long time I would pick up the 69 Cougar XR 7 Street Machine kit at the LHS and look at it, then put it back.  Then I got a full-sized 69 Cougar XR 7.  Guess what was gone the next time i visited the LHS?