Old MPC Knight Rider kit

[Faust]

I could see that, LDO, but for two things:

1.) It's a bilingual box, so it's already a bit weird. It wouldn't surprised me that they just used whatever annual was around at the time.

2.) The guy I bought it off was the original owner, and he said he'd never opened it. Now, of course, he could be misleading me, but he had no reason to.

Also, the black plastic matches the hood and other pieces in colour exactly.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever seen anything like this before.

[gwangi-boy]

I still have my KITT from the original release, and it doesn't have the badges on the side or the pillar. So either MPC (or Ertl) did a mix & match for a later issue, or someone else did and resealed the kit (does happen ... such as me picking up a Revell dragster kit and finding a sheet of Tamiya BMW decals inside it).

[Rob Hall]

The KITT kit was an '82 or '83 Firebird originally. MPC kept releasing the Firebird as an annual through '88 then from '89-92 as an AMT. So the body tooling was updated and this reissue is probably a mix of the later body tooling (the Turbo GTA IPC from '89) with older parts. The rear bumper should be different also--the '82 had more of a squared off bumper than the '89. IIRC, the original KITT kit has a stock interior except for the dash and steering wheel. I built it as a kid back in the day and later acquired the regular Firebird annuals of that era.

Edited January 20, 2014 by Rob Hall

[1972coronet]

From what I remember about this "kit" ( ) from thirty years ago (!!) :

- Moulded in black ;

- Ridiculously-dark-tinted glass (as 99% of MPC's kit were plagued with in the 80's !!!) ;

- Box Art car had gold-painted interior .

While I never purchased this kit (its subject matter was of little interest to me , even though I enjoyed the show) one of my friends did . I remember him saying , " [explative] . How am I supposed to paint that interior tan over that stupid black plastic !"

He , too , decided on a liberal-application of Testors (horrid) Gold Metallic Spray for the interior . That car was gross when he finished building it ( ).

[Brett Barrow]

They're saying February, and it'll be in black plastic again with both clear and tinted windows. I doubt it'll be back-dated/corrected, but it wouldn't totally surprise me if they did, seeing how this K.I.T.T. (pun intended) will probably never see the light of day again as a stock Firebird.

[Faust]

Yeah, John, you're right about those windows! Those things are DARK. Waaaay too dark to be of much use, but I think I'll likely leave the T-Tops off, just to get a look at the interior. Maybe, if I do it as a concept, I can do the interior white or light grey or something.

Tan over black only works with primer! I've tried it too!

I guess I will do my idea of making a Turbo T/A out of this, and abandon KITT to better offerings.

Thanks for all the info and feedback on this one! I'd forgotten I'd even started a topic on this!

The mind wobbles...

[Casey]

Will Round 2’s kit be a reissue of this, or will it be correct? I guess time will shortly tell, eh?

Looks like we're about to find out, as the reissue is due to arrive very soon:

[Faust]

Excellent!

I'm looking forward to seeing what is up with this kit!

I hope someone will post here when they get their hands on one.

[crowe-t]

Looks like we're about to find out, as the reissue is due to arrive very soon:

Is this new box art that will be on the Round 2 re-issue?

BTW, where did you find this picture?

[Casey]

Is this new box art that will be on the Round 2 re-issue?

BTW, where did you find this picture?

I believe so, as it has the "Silver Screen Machines" label on it. It was found on eBay.

[martinfan5]

Like the new box art, might have to get this kitt again

[crowe-t]

Does anyone have one of the MPC 1/25 Knight Rider KITT Round 2 Re-issue kits yet? I am wondering if Round 2 corrected the parts back to it's original release.

Edited April 5, 2014 by crowe-t

[Brett Barrow]

Checked a new one out today, it's still like this:

(Photo from Faust (Adam)'s website.) New Decals are pretty cool, there's some dash details and a cool scanner decal. Has clear and tinted parts for the windows and T-tops.

[crowe-t]

Checked a new one out today, it's still like this:

(Photo from Faust (Adam)'s website.) New Decals are pretty cool, there's some dash details and a cool scanner decal. Has clear and tinted parts for the windows and T-tops.

It's a shame Round 2 didn't fix the tooling for this release. If I ever build another KITT I'll try and get the original release or get the Round 2 kit and use an old MPC Firebird kit I have for the body.

[Faust]

Wow, so they didn't fix it, eh?

That's pretty lame. Actually, that's terribly lame. I'm not impressed at all. I was thinking they'd be able to get things back to the proper setup, especially since I've seen the kit on the shelves and it shows the proper extractors on the side. I do like the clear windows/tops, though; that would be nice to have.

Well, I guess I don't have to bother buying the reissue, then. I effectively HAVE it save for those windows.

[mikemopar70]

I bought this kit a last NNL east, and it's not bad at all, only minor work is necessary to replicate those vent on the fenders, all the rest is pretty nice!!

I also bought the Aoshima version of K.I.T.T. and i'm very impressed, it's a curbside, but it has a pretty cool working LED red scanner, but this version is pretty pricey (77$), but you can also have it without the scanner for about 45$..

And not to forget it is a 1/24 scale. i bought this last one to go along my Monogram Trans-Ams..

But the Round 2 issue, is the way to go if you don't want the LED scanner, because it's a lot cheaper than the Aoshima and it's 1/25 scale..

If you have a few body skills, it will be an easy task to repicate those vents or you can buy a older version of the 1982 MPC Trans-am and keep the body part to build a more accurate K.I.T.T without bodywork!!

What is cool for me, is the decal sheet of course, but the all the clear parts, molded in clear and smoke, so you can combine the clear windshield with smoked back glass and t-tops, a lot easier than tinting them with smoke clear!!

[crowe-t]

I bought this kit a last NNL east, and it's not bad at all, only minor work is necessary to replicate those vent on the fenders, all the rest is pretty nice!!

I also bought the Aoshima version of K.I.T.T. and i'm very impressed, it's a curbside, but it has a pretty cool working LED red scanner, but this version is pretty pricey (77$), but you can also have it without the scanner for about 45$..

And not to forget it is a 1/24 scale. i bought this last one to go along my Monogram Trans-Ams..

But the Round 2 issue, is the way to go if you don't want the LED scanner, because it's a lot cheaper than the Aoshima and it's 1/25 scale..

If you have a few body skills, it will be an easy task to repicate those vents or you can buy a older version of the 1982 MPC Trans-am and keep the body part to build a more accurate K.I.T.T without bodywork!!

What is cool for me, is the decal sheet of course, but the all the clear parts, molded in clear and smoke, so you can combine the clear windshield with smoked back glass and t-tops, a lot easier than tinting them with smoke clear!!

Would you mind posting some pictures of the Round 2 MPC K.I.T.T. parts and decals?

[mikemopar70]

So here it is..

The decal sheet:

The body...

Interior tub and chassis..

The clear and smoke parts..

The chrome tree..

Knight Rider parts..

A closer view of the dashboard..

Reamaining parts for the Knight Rider edition..

All the remaining parts are the same as all the AMT/MPC Trans-Ams and GTA..

Hope these will help!!

Mike...

[martinfan5]

I also bought the Aoshima version of K.I.T.T. and i'm very impressed, it's a curbside, but it has a pretty cool working LED red scanner, but this version is pretty pricey (77$), but you can also have it without the scanner for about 45$..

And not to forget it is a 1/24 scale. i bought this last one to go along my Monogram Trans-Ams..

But the Round 2 issue, is the way to go if you don't want the LED scanner, because it's a lot cheaper than the Aoshima and it's 1/25 scale..

If you want a more accurate K.I.T.T, then get Aoshima's version, hands down a much better repersation of K.I.T.T then the Round2 verison can only dream of being

You are a little bit off on your prices, just checking one direct from Japan retailer, you can get the with/ LED scanner kit for right now, US $42, and without for US $28 .

Now, the Aoshima kits are from the different years of the show.

With LED scanner kit is supposed to reperesnt season four

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10215630

Without scanner , season three

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10206418

With scanner , season one

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10183067

K.A.R.R

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10192578

SPM mode

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10094804

Without scanner , season four

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10084954

Without scanner , season one

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10077591

Another K.A.R.R

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10070313

Edited May 12, 2014 by martinfan5

[crowe-t]

So here it is..

The decal sheet:

The body...

Interior tub and chassis..

The clear and smoke parts..

The chrome tree..

Knight Rider parts..

A closer view of the dashboard..

Reamaining parts for the Knight Rider edition..

All the remaining parts are the same as all the AMT/MPC Trans-Ams and GTA..

Hope these will help!!

Mike...

Mike, Thanks for posting the pictures! It seems that the only issue is having to make the fender vents. I like the new decal sheet with the K.I.T.T. computer images. The original issue never had those.

BTW, does this issue have the correct '82 Trans AM interior tub and front seats? I can't tell from the pictures.

Mike.

Edited May 12, 2014 by crowe-t

[mikemopar70]

Mike, Thanks for posting the pictures! It seems that the only issue is having to make the fender vents. I like the new decal sheet with the K.I.T.T. computer images. The original issue never had those.

BTW, does this issue have the correct '82 Trans AM interior tub and front seats? I can't tell from the pictures.

Mike.

Yes it does have the same interior as the stock 1982 Trans-Am...

[mikemopar70]

If you want a more accurate K.I.T.T, then get Aoshima's version, hands down a much better repersation of K.I.T.T then the Round2 verison can only dream of being

You are a little bit off on your prices, just checking one direct from Japan retailer, you can get the with/ LED scanner kit for right now, US $42, and without for US $28 .

Now, the Aoshima kits are from the different years of the show.

With LED scanner kit is supposed to reperesnt season four

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10215630

Without scanner , season three

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10206418

With scanner , season one

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10183067

K.A.R.R

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10192578

SPM mode

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10094804

Without scanner , season four

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10084954

Without scanner , season one

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10077591

Another K.A.R.R

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10070313

I like my Aoshima K.I.T.T. a lot, a it's more accurate of course, but lots of modeler's don't want to pay that much for such a model, we must not forget that the price i mentioned is complete with shipping included, i bought mine in a hobby-shop in NJ and it cost me 70$ + txs..

And i foud one here in Montreal at 53$ but without the LED scanner.

I think this scanner is the detail that will made Aoshima sell their K.I.T.T.'S here in america most..

Since i'm a fan of the TV show, I think it's worth the money.

And i say yes the Aoshima version is far more accurate in desing..

[crowe-t]

Yes it does have the same interior as the stock 1982 Trans-Am...

I read that some of the other re-issues of this kit had a later version of the interior. I'm glad Round 2 put the correct '84 interior in this latest release.

Which versions(Seasons) of the Aoshima K.I.T.T did you buy?

Will you be building these soon?

Mike.

[mikemopar70]

I read that some of the other re-issues of this kit had a later version of the interior. I'm glad Round 2 put the correct '84 interior in this latest release.

Which versions(Seasons) of the Aoshima K.I.T.T did you buy?

Will you be building these soon?

Mike.

I bought the fourth season KITT with the red scanner, i'm stunned with this detail, it looks so real....

And i plan on building it later this year, i've begun a GTA from Monogram last year, but stopped it when i saw the Aoshima KITT...

[crowe-t]

I bought the fourth season KITT with the red scanner, i'm stunned with this detail, it looks so real....

And i plan on building it later this year, i've begun a GTA from Monogram last year, but stopped it when i saw the Aoshima KITT...

I'll have to pick up one of the Aoshima kit's. The only issue I have with them is that they are curbsides. I really wish they had an engine, but I guess that could be added using a Revell/Monogram 1/24 Firebird kit for parts. However for a Knight Rider build an engine really isn't that important anyway.

Edited May 12, 2014 by crowe-t