Best 50’s and 60’s OOB builders?

[NOBLNG]

There is no shortage of kits that need a little massaging to become somewhat presentable. Some even need total reconstruction or are even beyond hope. But what are the all time best kits for straight OOB builds? Thoughts anyone?

Edited June 23, 2024 by NOBLNG
Spelling?

[Greg Myers]

Interesting question.  I'm usually more interested in the kit subject. However,  my experience is the newer kits are great in detail,  fit and ease of build. Alought you will need to read and follow the instructions. I am referring to "new" kits, not reissued kits that so many are complaining about not realizing how old these kits actually are.

[Paul Payne]

Old Monogram kits like the Green Hornet, T35 Bugatti, and Duesenberg were and are great kits to build.

[Richard Bartrop]

The Jo-Han Cadillac V-16 kits go together very well, espically the Sport Phaeton and the Cabriolet.

Edited June 21, 2024 by Richard Bartrop

[Aaronw]

Original date of kit issue or subject matter? I was assuming subject, but the replies are old kits some of subjects older than the 1950s.

[NOBLNG]

5 minutes ago, Aaronw said:

Original date of kit issue or subject matter? I was assuming subject, but the replies are old kits some of subjects older than the 1950s.

Yeah, I should have been more clear. I was actually thinking subject matter rather than date of issue. Newer tooled kits should be better than older kits…but that is certainly not always the case.

Edited June 22, 2024 by NOBLNG

[Ace-Garageguy]

Is OBO the same as OOB?

[Mark]

With Sixties tooled kits, the Classic cars will be better.  They've got more detail, as they sold at a higher price.  The guys who worked on the original kits put more effort into them, as opposed to the annual kits which were always done under a deadline.  And the Classics didn't sell as well, so the tooling didn't get worn out.  And they seldom got reworked into other things to wring more uses out of the tooling.

[espo]

Based on just the subject and not when the kit was issued, I find most of the newer Revelle kits are great and the Moebius may even be better if they have the body openings outlined correctly. The last few kits issued by the old AMT company when they started doing separate frames and suspension were also good. 

[Aaronw]

By subject, I've found the AMT 1950 and 1960 Chevy pickup quite pleasant and trouble free. The Revell 1937 Ford, 1941 Chevy and 1950 Ford pickups are also quite nice with minimal issues.

I have not built either, but the AMT 1953 Ford pickup and the new AMT 1960 Ford pickups look quite nice in the box. 

 

I haven't run across many issues with the AMT 1953 Corvette, but the headlights are tricky due to the metal grills they had protecting the headlights.

Edited June 23, 2024 by Aaronw

[Richard Bartrop]

2 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Yeah, I should have been more clear. I was actually thinking subject matter rather than date of issue. Newer tooled kits should be better than older kits…but that is certainly not always the case.

Okay, if you're going by subject matter, then AMT's '57 Chrysler 300C and '66 Buick Riviera

[NOBLNG]

8 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Is OBO the same as OOB?

Yep…same thing.?

[NOBLNG]

6 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said:

Okay, if you're going by subject matter, then AMT's '57 Chrysler 300C and '66 Buick Riviera

Great…I have a ‘66 Riviera and it just moved up in the queue.?

[JollySipper]

I really enjoyed building the two '61 Impalas that I worked with.......... Here's a link to one, the other one's topic was ruined by PB..........

 

[1972coronet]

21 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Is OBO the same as OOB?

Only if one is experiencing an OOBE 

[gtx6970]

Old annuals are my favorite. 

 

But for a modern kit.

 

I like the Revell 1964 thunderbolt kit

[bobss396]

On 6/23/2024 at 10:54 AM, 1972coronet said:

Only if one is experiencing an OOBE 

Been there, done that....

[bobss396]

The AMT kits with the steerable wheels always were good builds. The '56, '57 Fords, the '58 Chevy.

[gtx6970]

On 6/23/2024 at 9:40 AM, gtx6970 said:

Old annuals are my favorite. 

 

But for a modern kit.

 

I like the Revell 1964 thunderbolt kit. I have six of them done, and enough kits - decals to do maybe another 6 I think

 

[oldcarfan]

For the best OOB kits I'd nominate most of Johan's releases and a lot of AMT's late 50s-early 60s products. For an individual kit, I really like Monogram's 1930 Ford Coupe kit. I built one a few years ago and it's still a nice build.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

The AMT Don Garlits Wynnsjammer built up quite nicely OOB, IMHO...-RRR

[TECHMAN]

I have always liked the old AMT Double Dragster kit

DJ