Building Original Issue Kits vs. Reissued Kits?

[Casey]

Which do you prefer? Original issues, early reissues, or current/recent reissues?

[Eshaver]

Generally, as long as a re- issue has all of it's parts from the original, I'm fine with it . Let the original kits remain with in someones kit vault ........... Ed Shaver

[bill_rules]

Prefer original issue, but will take em' as I can get em'. I have the Johan Haulin Hearse on my bench now. Bill

[Jantrix]

Hmm...........there is a fourth choice you should add.

O I build whatever version/issue happens to fall into my hot little hands.

That's where I would put my check mark.

[Rob Hall]

All of the above.

[High octane]

I can take a $140 original issue model and a $18 re-issue of the same kit and build them alike. And when I put them on the table NO one can or would be able to tell the differece.

[a/gass]

im with Jantrix and High octane and i never hardly build out of box so sometimes it better to garbag pick get a few wrecks for a kit or parts you need ta da build what you want with out the expence of buying 6 or 7 different kits.

[Bartster]

I can take a $140 original issue model and a $18 re-issue of the same kit and build them alike. And when I put them on the table NO one can or would be able to tell the differece.

......That makes perfectly good sense!

[wraith]

Hmm...........there is a fourth choice you should add.

O I build whatever version/issue happens to fall into my hot little hands.

That's where I would put my check mark.

ME TOO!

I checked current because that is usually the cheapest way to get one. But however it takes me to get a model I want to build. 1st issue, latested re-issue , gluebomb, or whatever!

[Greg Myers]

Take what you get. It's all about price and availability. Sometimes new vs old may make a difference depending on what's inside the box. With reissues having more or fewer parts.

Edited March 16, 2012 by Greg Myers

[Scale-Master]

In some cases the original and / or early issues are a better choice due to less wear on the molds, therefore cleaner parts.

[Chuck Most]

I usually go with a recent reissue if possible... not gonna spend two bills on, say, an original issue AMT '66 Mustang when I can get a reissue for ten bucks. Now, if the subject is a kit that was only reissued once, or never at all, obviously I'll go the other route. They're kits- they're meant to be built no matter what 'vintage' they are.

[85gt4bbl302]

all of the above plus more I cannot leave a model in the plastic wrapped box! it must come out and run my imagination!

i don't care if its old issu or new issue or reissues, (although theres something about the nostolgia of the old kits and the old box art) very cool ! i will build it wherever it comes

[sjordan2]

I think you've got to take it on a case-by-case basis. Some reissues are using older tooling that may not be as crisp as before, OR they may have improved the tooling for the reissue.

My own experience: I recently got a Jo-Han Mercedes 500K in its original Gold Cup version from the late 60s, which is a fine kit. Then I got a later re-issue in slightly different packaging, not Gold Cup, which was now molded in red, had tons of flash, and the chrome sprue did not have complete coverage.

I had the same problems with the difference between Aurora's original Maserati 3500 GT and the later Monogram reissue.

Edited March 16, 2012 by sjordan2

[mikemodeler]

Build????? Heck, I thought I was supposed to buy kits, now you want me to build them?????

Seriously, I buy kits to build, although I have some kits that are original and re-issue because I am that far behind in my building!!!!!

[Erik Smith]

I think I'm with the consensus here: I build what is available for ghe best price. If I could get first or early issue of a kit, I will within reason. For instance, AMT's 1962 Buick - I don't see a reason to spend more on an original issue versus the most current issue, which is cheap and easy to find. Also, just looking over Monogram's 1958 T-Bird I noticed that tooling has held up very well, so, again, no reason for an older issue (plus older issues were molded in color, not good). I do have some kits that have limited or no reissues, so no choice on those. I will get old build ups as well on hard to find kits.

[doggie427]

In some cases the original and / or early issues are a better choice due to less wear on the molds, therefore cleaner parts.

Exactly ! Plus,until recently, the kit would be re-issued in grey or some other ugly off-color and sometimes inferior plastic !

[Fabrux]

For me sometimes it comes down to price. I prefer original issues usually because they have better box art and the pieces are of better quality due to being the first run with a particular tooling. And then there's always toolings that get modified to represent different years so you have to go with the original.

For instance, I have an MPC '71 Road Runner as well as an AMT '74 GTX; they're the same kit but extensively modified.

[Modelmartin]

Skip Jordan mentioned the re-issued Jo-han Mercedes 500K which is an excellent example of why an original issue is better. An even better example is the Jo-han Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton. They put the wrong fenders in that kit! The Town car and the Convert. Coupe used the same fenders. The Sport Phaeton used a different set but they put the other fenders in the re-issue. They don't fit. The bottom of the body on the Sport phaeton goes over the frame more and curves upward toward the cowl. It is a straight line on the other 2. You would have to carve away at the frame covers to get the body down to fit. I have several of the original "Gold Cup" kits and they are correct and the molding is crisp. The re-issues are parts kits for me. By the way - it is a great mill to put in a street rod!!!

[timc]

My vote is for all the above.As far as Johan kits, I geuss you take what you can get and be glad you got it. Now if they would re-issue the monogram high-roller luv truck....Tim

[BKcustoms]

When I can, I try to get first issues since the molds were fresh when the kits were produced, but I build everything I can get.

[HotRodaSaurus]

I used to be a box collector for display, so getting an original kit inside was a bit of a bonus. I now would only build re-issues as there may be someone out there willing to donate to my Hayabusa riding fund(I want a Yoshimura exhaust set up and they cost £££££££)

Then again, I had an original Chrysler Turbine from Jo-Han that I built, the re-issue from the 1980s had terrible flash on the chrome to make the parts almost unusable without replating.

[Guest]

You should add no preference, that's how I would vote.

[Rob McKee]

You should add no preference, that's how I would vote.

I would agree.

I build the kits I can get a hold of. When I have the desire to add a kit to my collection I look for the least expensive issue I can find. So, if the recent issue is cheaper I buy that, if the older issue is cheaper I buy that instead. The only exception to this is when I really want to build a kit that had a specific decal set with it. Then I will look for the issue that included the decals I want.

[deja-view]

I have a lot of 30-40 year old kits in the que or in WIP because there are no re-issues, but I have had some I just could not build because of their value or significance.

I had an original issue (circa 1958) Renwal Atomic Cannon that I had wanted since I was about 10 years old. It was in great shape (except the decals) with all the parts still bagged. But when it came to building it I just couldn't. I picked up the Revell 1980's re-issue and started on that (paint and wheel assembly). It's been sitting awhile, but I couldn't build that original. I did, however, sell it for a fair piece.

I had two others I let go of, even though I had great plans for one of them. First was a 1/8 McLaren F1 with two sets of Marlboro decals. Great kit, but it was worth too much for me to have sitting for more years. Got around $950 for it. The second was a 1/12 Bandai STP Turbine Indy car. LIke the McLaren, it was MIB. I gathered lots of data on it and wanted to make one for shows as it is something I have never seen in a contest or show in 45 years of going to them. When the prices went up to $1000 I figured it was better to let it go.

There is an advantage to re-issues, though...as I am finding out the hard way. Decals! The decals from my 1/8 Porsche RSR and 1/8 John Player Lotus 72D's (I have 4) are all too old. A re-issue would kill the value of them, but I'd love to have all new decals without paying $100 each set. I assume that most of my 40 year old kits also have troubled decals.