Lunatics running the asylum? Looks like it's been going on for a long time.

[Chuck Most]

Just a little post about nothing here.

I was digging through an old issue of the other mag not too long ago, from 1992. It was the annual best-of issue, wherein the readers of this magazine voted on their favorite new releases and reissues of the year, among other categories. And of course, there was a list of the kits car modelers circa 1991 wanted to see in newly tooled kit form. I know a lot of people are still of the opinion that listening to 'hardcore modelers' isn't a good idea. And only a handful of people (compared to SAE's rather large readership at the time) took the time to vote on the matter, but quite a few of the kits on that wanted list DID make it into production-

Those kits which did make it into production styrene plastic kits are highlighted in red

1967 Plymouth GTX- Revell introduced one about 1994-ish.

1968-70 Dodge Dart GTS/Swinger 340- Again, Revell to the rescue with the ’68 GTS kit and spinoffs.

1949-54 Chevy Pickup- AMT/Ertl released two ’50 models, in snap and full-detail guises.

Resin’s still your only shot for a ‘54/’55 First Series, though.

1953 Ford- Take your pick from Lindberg- hardtop or droptop!

1958 Plymouth Fury- AMT/Ertl- in iffy full detail and cool Snap Fast Slammer.

1958 Edsel- AMT/Ertl answered the call.

1992-93 Ford Crown Victoria- Lindberg did a ’97 as a snapper, same body style.

1965 Chevelle SS 396 Z/16- Revell released one in the mid 1990’s.

1965 Chevy Impala SS- Once again, along came Revell…

1961 Impala SS- Lindberg did one in the ‘90’s, and the c-pillar had the correct dogleg!

1993 Dodge Intrepid- No, but its LH sister the Chrysler Concorde was done as a snap kit.

1941 Chevy- Car or truck? Revell released the ’41 Chevy pickup kit in 1999.

1950 Oldsmobile 88 Coupe- Revell has one on the way.

Scott Geoffrion Dodge Pro Stock- Not sure about this one, but there were a few new pro stock kits tooled in the mid ‘90’s.

1946-48 Chevy- Gary Schmidt’s Galaxie Limited has an Aerosedan and sedan delivery which cover all three model years.

1993 Lincoln Mark VIII- Nope, not even in promo form. Boy, I wish…

1949-52 Ford Pickup- Monogram’s terrific ’50 F-1 from 1996 fills the bill. Ken Kitchen can sell you a grille and dash to make it a ‘51/2.

1948 Tucker- None in styrene, but Modelhaus offers one in curbside resin form.

1964 Chevy Malibu SS- Not my thing, but the lack of this kit does surprise me a little.

1957 Chrysler 300C- AMT/Ertl released one in the late ‘90’s, in stock AND custom trim.

Cobra Daytona Coupe- I heard Revell might be finishing the stillborn Accurate Miniatures version, but none now.

1950 Bullet Nose Stude- None in styrene, and I must ask… WHY????

1970-72 Plymouth Duster 340-Look no further than AMT/Ertl’s ’71.

1957-61 Ferrari Testa Rossa- Done in fabulous form by Hasegawa recently.

1987-93 Dodge Dakota- No first gen, but there is a Lindberg snap kit of a ’97-’03 model.

Warren Johnson Oldsmobile Pro Stock- Revell did one, Model King reissued it not too long ago.

1970-72 Chevy Monte Carlo- AMT/Ertl, your choice of stock, lowrider, or F&F ripoff issue…

1977-90 Chevy Caprice Police Car- No, and again, the lack of such a kit befuddles me, mostly because I know the cop car guys would LOVE it… (Modelhaus DOES cast an ’85 model, though, one version of which is set up to be built as a demolition derby car!)

1992-93 Chevy Caprice- Revell released police and taxi versions, later retooled to Impala SS.

1965-66 Plymouth Barracuda- Resin is your only choice other than digging up an original annual.

1965 Dodge Coronet- Nothing current. Wonder if Revell could spin one off the ’67 Charger tooling? EDIT- PL did one as a full detail snapper- thanks Craig Irwin!

1962 Chevy Impala SS 409- AMT/Ertl’s rendition is a fine effort, as is the recent Revell kit, just pick bubble top or formal roof.

1973-77 Chevy Monte Carlo- Revell snap kit represents a ’77.

1946-48 Chevy Pickup- A bit cloudy- a ’46 is the prewar style, ’47 to ‘8 would cover the first two years of the postwar model. The Revell ’41 could stand in as a ’46 with detail changes, the AMT ’50 could represent the ’47 and ‘8.

1968-69 Buick GS400- Aside from Monogram’s excellent ’70, why is there a shortage of these Buicks?

1991-93 Dodge Caravan- Lindberg did a second gen (1996) Grand in snap kit form.

1956 Chevy Nomad- Revell’s mid ‘90’s era tool is a very nice kit.

Oddly, this was one of the few years where a Hudson Hornet kit was not listed. I also dug out the 1995 issue, and a Hornet was near the top of that list, along with a few duplicates (or slight variants) of what was seen in the 1992 list. Many of the subjects on the 1995 list have been kitted as well, even discounting the duplicates from the earlier list. These are the only two issues I have with Most Wanted All New Kit listings in them, but I found the subjects being asked for and the high occurrence of them being kitted was very interesting indeed. And even without plastic kits, the resin guys have picked up the slack for many of the others, leaving a surprisingly small number of the requested subjects absent in kit form.

Edited November 1, 2011 by Chuck Most

[Dr. Cranky]

Wow, Chuck, you are doing some interesting research, and it goes to show how far kits have come.

[Harry P.]

So Chuck... you wanna be the forum's official historian?

[Dr. Cranky]

Chuck's styrene addiction is such that it would not surprised me if he did not have every single issue of every magazine.

[Harry P.]

Yeah, when it comes to styrene, Chuck's pretty hard-core! But that's good...

[Craig Irwin]

Actually the 65 Coronet was done by polar Lights as a pre dec snaper.

[Chuck Most]

Actually the 65 Coronet was done by polar Lights as a pre dec snaper.

Thanks, Craig!

We can officially scratch that one off the list as well.

That reminds me- if I missed any on that list that did make it to plastic kit form, don't be shy- let me know!

[Chuck Most]

I would love to know what this is about. Unfortunately my eyes must be getting too old because I can't read the tiny font.

Sorry- copied this off Word and the print came out pretty small- just blew up the font for easier reading.

[Casey]

1993 Dodge Intrepid- No, but its LH sister the Chrysler Concorde was done as a snap kit.

Brookfield Collectors Guild produced a 1GN Dodge Intrepid ES, and I think it was a '93

1941 Chevy- Car or truck? Revell released the ’41 Chevy pickup kit in 1999.

Testors does have the unassembled '41 Chevy Sedan available in kit form, but it has a die-cast body

1948 Tucker- None in styrene, but Modelhaus offers one in curbside resin form.

Moebius to the rescue.

1964 Chevy Malibu SS- Not my thing, but the lack of this kit does surprise me a little.

I think Revell could easily make this from the '65, but I hope they don't . The '65 is so much better looking, and the kit itself is very, very nice, but for whatever reason, very overlooked.

[Aaronw]

Interesting how well the survey translated into kits.

1946-48 Chevy Pickup- A bit cloudy- a ’46 is the prewar style, ’47 to ‘8 would cover the first two years of the postwar model. The Revell ’41 could stand in as a ’46 with detail changes, the AMT ’50 could represent the ’47 and ‘8.

47 was a transitional year between the Art Deco and Advance Design trucks (early 41-46, late 48-53). You are right that the existing kits cover these trucks well. Because of the war I don't think there is any real difference between 41-47, 47-53 have some detail differences year to year, but most are minor. Of course '54-55 are very different.

This site covers a lot of the year to year changes 47-55

http://1954advance-design.com/A-D_LCVA/LCVA-1-47.html

[Chuck Most]

47 was a transitional year between the Art Deco and Advance Design trucks (early 41-46, late 48-53). You are right that the existing kits cover these trucks well. Because of the war I don't think there is any real difference between 41-47, 47-53 have some detail differences year to year, but most are minor. Of course '54-55 are very different.

Good point on the war years- hadn't considered that. I know there are a couple of 1:35 scale Military kits that could cover GM trucks during the WWII duration now that you mention it, so that opens up a few more doors.

Casey- absolutely right on the diecasts, but I did exclude those because (for some reason) there seems to be a lot of apathy and outright animosity towards diecast kits. Most diecast kits are crude, but some are pretty good, and are sadly overlooked simply because the body is made of 'the wrong material', or sometimes because they're in an odd scale, like many of Maisto's kits.

[Eshaver]

Chuck, you build Rat- rods as often as I have to go to the coffee pot , often. Now you seem to have time to research historical model research . How and when do you find time for sleep, and perhaps going to Salvage yards ? Ed Shaver

[Dr. Cranky]

Ed, I sent Chuck my scrapple sandwich recipe which is chockful of vitamins, CRANKY VITAMINS.

I think that's how he is staying up through the night. That and a dose of insomnia.

LOL!

[Casey]

Casey- absolutely right on the diecasts, but I did exclude those because (for some reason) there seems to be a lot of apathy and outright animosity towards diecast kits.

Guilty as charged. The Testors '41 Chevy seemed to have more plastic than metal parts, but the body is definitely not as nice as what a properly done injection molded plastic body would/could/should be.

When was the last time a "Most Wanted" survey was done in either Model Cars or SA?

[Chuck Most]

Not sure- I subscribed to Scale Auto from 2006 until just recently, and in that time, they never had a Kit of the Year or Most Wanted New Release article.

[Tony T]

Great stuff!