Bought my first MPC kit today...

[Longbox55]

Here's another exellent MPC kit, the '33 Chevrolet Panel,

[Nick Winter]

Dave the 280ZX Turbo was an AMT Matchbox kit originally

[Monty]

maybe the 280ZX wasn't originally MPC tooling?

I'm pretty sure that was never an MPC kit. The only Datsuns they ever did were the mini-pickups from the mid-70s.

[Eshaver]

Perhaps one thing we need to address in this fount of misinformation regarding the "low quality" of MPC kits, (from what people have been told), is that besides that 67 GTO kit coming from tooling cut for the 66/67 annual kits, the fact is that MPC, AMT & Jo-Han's annual kits all tended to be simplistic, based as they were on promo tooling in many cases. In addition, most annual kits, while featuring multiple building options, had to be compromised for that very reason, in order for the parts to fit the standard box, as well as keeping the general cost down.

For a look at first rate, high quality MPC kits, unencumbered by said compromises, simply check out these links.

1968 Lotus Indy Turbine:

http://public.fotki....otus-stp-indy-/

Dan Gurney/Denny Hulme 1968 Olsonite Eagle Indy car:

http://public.fotki....an-gurneys-ols/

"Winged Express" Fuel Altered:

http://public.fotki....ild-willie-bor/

Young American AA/Fuel Dragster:

http://public.fotki....oung-american-/

And finally, the soon to be reissued 1/16 scale Richard Petty STP Dodge Charger:

http://public.fotki....etty-nascar-ch/

That last one is 300+ parts, precisely engineered, & the instruction booklet is as close to a set of blueprints for building a 1/1 Nascar racer of that era as you're likely to find.

Look through those & tell me that all MPC kits were poorly detailed &/or of low quality. A few people in this thread knew what they were talking about, the rest just parrotted half remembered & inaccurate information.

Bob, this YOUNGSTER simply is clueless. WE both know Model Products had an edge over A M T and especially Jo- han in several areas. I'm glad you addressed these kits as they were all High water marks in Model history! Ed Shaver

[Rob Hall]

Perhaps one thing we need to address in this fount of misinformation regarding the "low quality" of MPC kits, (from what people have been told), is that besides that 67 GTO kit coming from tooling cut for the 66/67 annual kits, the fact is that MPC, AMT & Jo-Han's annual kits all tended to be simplistic, based as they were on promo tooling in many cases. In addition, most annual kits, while featuring multiple building options, had to be compromised for that very reason, in order for the parts to fit the standard box, as well as keeping the general cost down.

Look through those & tell me that all MPC kits were poorly detailed &/or of low quality. A few people in this thread knew what they were talking about, the rest just parrotted half remembered & inaccurate information.

Yes, I have a couple of those--the Indy cars...another great high-detail MPC kit is the Ford GT40 MKIV...I have a couple of those.

[Monty]

another great high-detail MPC kit is the Ford GT40 MKIV...I have a couple of those.

Got one back in '82 and was surprised how well it compared to its counterpart in the Testors Those Famous Fords kits. IIRC, the decals were the only letdown.

Also, even though it was released in 1/20 scale, the McLaren Mk 8d was a nicely done Can-Am car for the time.

[Erik Smith]

Some of the pretty decent MPC kits I have come across:

All of the Pinto kits were pretty decent - they were nicer than the AMT counterpart

And one kit I hated so much I tore the parts to pieces - I did keep the chopper, though:

As with most kit makers, there are good and bad. They are definitely not ALL junk.

[Eshaver]

How come no one here has mentioned the cars that got Model products off the ground like the 1928 Ford Model A sedan that was released under the guise of A M T , or the 1964 Corvette with a working suspension , or for that matter , The Mako Shark ! Ed Shaver

[bbowser]

From what I've heard ( ) some of those old MPC kits are pretty nice.

Really, a mid-engined Bonneville funny car? Really? What were they smoking back then?