Objective (non passionate) question on AMT quality

[Tcoat]

22 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Interesting. I still have both these releases of the AMT '69 Corvair here in ATL, and if anything, the Round2 version is better. It's molded of a harder, white styrene, and is very crisp...while the earlier (AMT/ERTL) issue is a softer gray styrene that was pulled from the mold a little hot and exhibits some minor warping of the sides.

Wish I had had the presence of mind to take some pictures but I was just so taken by surprise I just started carving. The rear fenders had thick flash sticking up so far it looked like it was a '59 Cadillac, the mold lines were all huge, the wheel wells almost completely flashed over and the inside of the body had excess material so thick I had to break out the Dremel or I would never have got the interior or the chassis in. Took a couple of hours of clean up just to get the basic shape right. One parts sprue was fine but the others looked like somebody's first attempt at casting resin. 

[Repstock]

On 4/10/2023 at 9:55 AM, StevenGuthmiller said:

This subject comes up constantly, and I'll just offer the same opinion that I always do.

I could care less who the manufacturer of the kit is, and the initial quality is of no consequence to me whatsoever.

For me, subject matter is the ONLY consideration.

If the kit has issues that bother me, or need attention, I'll fix them.

The best engineered kit in the world means nothing to me if it's a subject that I have no interest in.

I would rather use my skills to re-work a subpar 60 year old kit that interests me, than build a immaculate new kit that doesn't.

It's that simple.

 

 

Steve

Agree completely. It's all about subject matter.

[Ace-Garageguy]

32 minutes ago, Tcoat said:

Wish I had had the presence of mind to take some pictures but I was just so taken by surprise I just started carving. The rear fenders had thick flash sticking up so far it looked like it was a '59 Cadillac, the mold lines were all huge, the wheel wells almost completely flashed over and the inside of the body had excess material so thick I had to break out the Dremel or I would never have got the interior or the chassis in. Took a couple of hours of clean up just to get the basic shape right. One parts sprue was fine but the others looked like somebody's first attempt at casting resin. 

That certainly bites a big one.

Sounds like the mold halves for the body were out of register, and who knows what happened to the sprues...maybe short-shotted and pulled from the tool while still too hot.

Makes me wonder if there are multiple tooling sets for this kit, because neither of mine have anything like that level ot fubarredness.

Guess I got lucky.

[Mopar maniac 74]

I think I am getting way off the subject but as long as the kits are molded in white I can usually turn out a good product.  Used to hate the kits molded in red or blue where no amount of primer would stop the bleed thru.

[Dpate]

AMT has some good quality kits under there belts, but there also not consistent at all.  Certainly better quality wise than MPC and Atlantis, but they will never touch Tamiya or other's quality.  I'm not stuck on one subject matter so that doesn't affect me at all as I've never been that type of person with anything even with music.  The one problem with this hobby is there is to much of " It's part of the hobby' or " You're not a modeler if you can't do a hard kit". Folks have accepted the quality of a company for so long, and not complain why would a company/s change? But each company has there strengths, and weaknesses, and have a little bit of everything to offer folks no matter what there subject matter is.  But when it comes to plastic motorcycles, and exotic cars, boats, and planes, and armor leave that to the Japanese kings of the hobby. Everything else just leave to to the re-issue kings.

[Can-Con]

Ok, how about this decision?? Which one would you choose and why?

Now, full disclosure, I have seen all of these kits built and unbuilt.

Edited April 11, 2023 by Can-Con

[stitchdup]

I built the tamiya mustang back in the mid 90s during my first time building models. I liked the kit then but since then i've learned somethng from members here on its defficencies but having never seen one for real those dont matter to me. I wouldn't mind getting another for the nostalgia factor but i think my build choice would be the monogram as it has more versions available for kit bashing (my last one is under a 48 woody). I've never had the amt kit so i cant really comment on it fairly

[Tabbysdaddy]

If I was looking for a 95 Mustang, I would want all three. 

[ctruss53]

51 minutes ago, Can-Con said:

Ok, how about this decision?? Which one would you choose and why?

Now, full disclosure, I have seen all of these kits built and unbuilt.

I would choose the Tamiya kit first, always, if Tamiya makes a kit of the car I want to build.  Because when I buy a Tamiya kit I know the parts will always be molded well, and fit properly.

Having said that, I know many Tamiya kits are curbside. So if my build had to have an engine, I would pick the AMT. I can't explain why. haha

[ismaelg]

I'd go for a Camaro. Just saying... ?

[ctruss53]

1 minute ago, ismaelg said:

I'd go for a Camaro. Just saying... ?

I'd rather build a 911. If you are going there.  hehe

[Can-Con]

2 hours ago, ctruss53 said:

I would choose the Tamiya kit first, always, if Tamiya makes a kit of the car I want to build.  Because when I buy a Tamiya kit I know the parts will always be molded well, and fit properly.

Having said that, I know many Tamiya kits are curbside. So if my build had to have an engine, I would pick the AMT. I can't explain why. haha

Not only is the Tamiya curbside but the interior door panels have almost no detail and I've been told by a couple Mustang guys that the body proportions are off, but I can't really say about that. 

Both American kits have loads more detail and both were reviewed very favorably in the magazines when they came out.

But, of course, this is an exception to the rule. ?

[Dpate]

4 hours ago, Can-Con said:

Ok, how about this decision?? Which one would you choose and why?

Now, full disclosure, I have seen all of these kits built and unbuilt.

Tamiya, ERTL, and than Monogram.  Don't care if the tamiya kit isn't 100% accurate or not. Box art I'd def take monogram first though if i wanted just the box.

Edited April 12, 2023 by Dpate

[StevenGuthmiller]

I think Steve’s point is that foreign  does not always equate to a better kit. 
It’s certainly not true when comparing the Trumpeter ‘60 Bonneville to that lowly old AMT article, and there are other examples.

You really need to consider yourself extremely lucky that Tamiya even made a 90s Mustang.......If you’re a Tamiya loyalist anyway.

Otherwise, who cares. 

 

 

 

Steve

Edited April 12, 2023 by StevenGuthmiller

[Straightliner59]

13 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

while the earlier (AMT/ERTL) issue is a softer gray styrene that was pulled from the mold a little hot and exhibits some minor warping of the sides.

AMT Ertl's plastic, during that period was horrible! I was working in the wholesale segment of the industry, then. Defective kits were plentiful (which was great, if the kits had other decent parts, because I could purchase defects for .$20 on the dollar!) with warped bodies, especially. Lots of short-shots, too. Production-wise, it was not a good time, for them.