New Tool Altered Wheelbase Kits

[Chuck Most]

Okay... so Revell just brought out two all new 'glass bodied flopper kits (The Mongoose and Hawaiian cars), and they've been treating us to various reissues of other '60's/'70's funny cars as well. Nostalgic drag racing subjects from early Willys gas coupes to modern flip top rocketships in scale kit form are hot. So I'm wondering... am I the only guy who'd love to see an altered wheelbase door slammer kit, done in new, modern tooling? About the only choices (besides rolling your own, of course), are the ancient, crude old AMT kits, the Falcons, Mustangs, Comets, and Chevy IIs most recently reissued by Model King. Well, the Mustangs, Falcons, and the King's Comet, anyway! There are so many choices with the flip top cars and earlier 'gasser' candidates, but even then, much of the subject matter is from the '60's! In the case of AWB cars, I don't think there's been any activity in that segment of the hobby in almost 50 years!

Think about it- the new(er) tool Revell SWC/Big John '41 Willys can be built into all manner of late '50's/early '60's drag coupes, or donate parts to other vehicles for the same purposes. The new Revell Mopar floppers can be built, modified, or parted likewise. What about the era in the middle? Imagine... an all new tool kit of the Daddy Warbucks Falcon, or Chevy II Much, or the downright frightening "Honker" '65 Dodge? I'd love to see them!

Please tell me I'm not the only guy dreaming of such things!

[Mike Kucaba]

It would be risky,but oh so cool. I can think of the 12'65 Plymouth & Dodge factory cars,then there is all the Ford & Mercury stuff. Then all the privateer stuff. If the model companies did there homework and sweated the details it would be good

[Junkman]

What I would like to see is a properly tooled kit of one of the most overlooked milestone factory super stocks, albeit with a normal wheelbase.

The 1962 Dodge 330 with the 413 Max Wedge.

It was the first of the light bodied 'intermediate' (<-if you want to call it that, since there wasn't a full size Dodge at the beginning of the model year) based factory drag cars offered to the public. It was this car that brought Mopar into the muscle car big league, and none other. Historically, it is more significant than any other Mopar muscle car, yet it is totally ignored by the kit industry, the diecast industry, and most modellers. It is, however, recognized as a milestone car by the Milestone Car Association of America. And by me, if that counts for anything.

And no, I don't want to craft it from a Jo-Jo or Revell Dart. I want a proper kit to modern standards.

[Guest]

Personally,I would like to see some new/newer Pro Stock or Pro Mod models. Or heck, even some good Pro Stocks from the '70s. Monogram and Revell gave us some good kits back in the '80s-'90s, but nothing since. And no,I'm not counting the reissued '55 and '57 Chevies with the "lamest of lame" decals.

[Chuck Most]

Roger... you didn't like those Revell tire decals? (Though I will confess to buying a '55 'Street Burners' (?) reissue just for the Dzus fastener decals!)I'd like to see a few of the modern drag vehicles kitted too, though, now that you bring it up.

And yes, I realize it would be fairly difficult to kit an AWB car, just because no two were modified in exactly the same manner. It's not like a rail or a flip top funny car, where one chassis/engine combo can support two or three different bodies in a kit. But I'd be willing for a 'general' AWB here. Think about it- the recent Chevy 210 was heavily hyped as the "Black Widow" version, even though you could not build a totally accurate Sedco Black Widow out of box from the kit. But, few complained. At least, few complained loudly and veheminently enough for me to remember it! I think if they got the basic details right on a new tool AWB, most modelers interested in such material would be satisfied.

Edited June 11, 2011 by Chuck Most

[Chuck Most]

not really sure how well a new tool AWB kit would do. you'd have to find a car that could be done as multiple different cars with different decals and maybe slight parts variations.

I think that's the main hurdle such a kit would have to overcome.

And Dave, I agree with your first statement, and please add the Lincoln MKVii to that list as well!

[Guest]

I have all of the old Pro Stock and Pro Sportsman kits (with the exception of the Reher-Morrison and Toni Fotti Camaros) in my collection. Some of those I have multiples of. Since Ford has finally decided to get back into Pro Stock (albeit limited support) I would like to see a Pro Stock Mustang along with the P/S Stratus kitted. I don't know the future for the Pontiac bodied cars,but the NHRA is still letting them run for some reason. When they get that worked out,I would like to see a GM P/S also. Pro Stocks and Pro Mods are about the most popular builds at any show you go to. They may not have the most on the tables,but they always have the biggest crowds around them.

One thing I think would work would be to add "gasser" style parts to existing kits. With the '55,'56 and '57 having the same chassis,parts could work on all three of those. Add a blower setup or F.I.,valve covers,headers,Moon tank,straight axle front end,racing seat,roll bar and appropriate tires and wheels and you would have a pretty nice gasser kit.

I would also like to see Revell give us a different year Willys body on the SWC and the Pro Street chassis'. Something like the '37-'39 Willys would be really cool. It's like the old saying though,"wish in one hand and spit in the other,see which one fills up faster".