Testors Hobby Shop Only kits

[Casey]

Anyone know when these were released?

It was definitely in the '90s, as this magazine ad is from '97:

[Rob Hall]

I've wondered that myself, and the Mercury Comet Pro Stock kit, too, which Testors also released.

And there was another Testors release of the Cuda in a normal kit box, shown in green on the box art without the HSO parts.

[Rob Hall]

It was definitely in the '90s, as this magazine ad is from '97:

So when did Seville or whatever was left of Johan go under? I wonder who was actually manufacturing them by then..

[Casey]

So when did Seville or whatever was left of Johan go under? I wonder who was actually manufacturing them by then..

It's complicated. The best starting point might be here...but there is no ending point: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20855&p=185823

I would love to know how Testors got ahold of the tooling, and where the kits were actually molded, but who to ask? Steve Goldman: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20855&p=186177

[Casey]

And there was another Testors release of the Cuda in a normal kit box, shown in green on the box art without the HSO parts.

Good memory:

Looks like the Mercury Comet, too:

[mnwildpunk]

Wow I never even knew these kit existed. I want that rambler big time and the comet

Edited February 17, 2014 by mnwildpunk

[Rob Hall]

Good memory:

Looks like the Mercury Comet, too:

Yeah, I have a couple of the Cudas, got one last year. I don't remember the Comet...the Comet I have is one of the last Johan-branded issues (the ones labeled as 'Pro Street')....

Edited February 17, 2014 by Rob Hall

[Casey]

However, what I have heard from people whom I consider to be very knowledgeable hobby insiders is that none of the Jo-Han HSO kits were actually molded under Testors' auspices. Rather, they were repackaged leftover stock that Testors purchased when Seville went bankrupt, sort of like Revell did recently with the Accurate Miniatures Corvette Grand Sport. This would explain some things ... like why the kits had the crummy pewter wheels and rubber band-tires instead of the stock offerings.

Comparing chrome sprues from both a JO-HAN branded issue and the above Testors issue, there's a difference in the "tag" (not sure if this is feed area or something else?) on each sprue's runners. The JO-HAN tag is vertical and slightly tapered, while the Testors tag is horizontal, and looks much like what we see in Revell and Monogram kits. Maybe this was done to allow for the tooling to be run in more modern injection molding machines? I think the Testors kits are not leftovers, but new moldings, and maybe they were able to

Testors chrome sprue:

JO-HAN chrome sprue:

The Testors non-HSO issue of the Comet also had this new "tag" present:

The HSO branded kits appear to have included both stock and lo-pro tires (which fit the pewter wheels), so maybe their inclusion was something Testors and JF worked out.

[SteveG]

It's complicated. The best starting point might be here...but there is no ending point: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20855&p=185823

I would love to know how Testors got ahold of the tooling, and where the kits were actually molded, but who to ask? Steve Goldman: http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20855&p=186177

Along with Jimmy Flintstone, Ernie Petit was the other name behind the HSO kits. I believe Ernie was Vice President of Testors Corp. at the time. I don't recall the story on how Testors got those Johan tools but the did have them. The molds were probably modified slightly to run in the equipment that was available and I believe they were shipped overseas to save on the repair cost. They were definitely not made from leftover kits from the Seville days.

The real question is where are they now ? Lindberg took possession when the bought the plastic kit line up from Testors around seven years ago but I don't think the molds ever moved.

Technically Round 2 owns them now when the bought Lindberg from Jody Keener but I doubt they have a single clue where they are. I know who I would ask if I were to start looking for them but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for something to happen. Round 2 already has there hands full with the old AMT and MPC line up.

-Steve

Edited February 17, 2014 by SteveG

[Casey]

Read the fine print on the right-hand side, second paragraph. I think that pretty much settles the matter of who molded those kits ... pretty obvious, I'd say.

So Testors buys up previously molded (essentially very recent N.O.S. parts) which SeVille actually molded at the Moran St. location(?), then distributes them in new boxes-- as you said earlier, very similar to what Revell did with the AM Grand Sport Vette kits.

A more meaningful comparison would be of the chrome shots in the Testors kits and those released by Seville as generic "pro street" cars.

The HSO series kits' chrome sprues look the same as those in previous JO-HAN kits, so they only appear to have changed in the Testors non-HSO packaging kits. If SeVille molded all the kits Testors ever released, why the need for the change in the "tag" on the runners? I'm not doubting you Carl, I'm just wondering aloud why that change was made, and if it was made to the non-chrome parts, too? It'd be great of someone had one of the non-HSO Testors kits and would be willing to post some pics.

[SteveG]

My theory (and a theory is all it is) is that the kits that got repackaged in the HSO flip-top boxes with Jimmy Flintstone pewter wheels were molded by Jo-Han and that the ones released in Testors non-HSO packaging were molded by SeVille. If you'll recall, SeVille released the 'Cuda, Comet and S/CRambler as "pro street" kits with new decals and box art. The 'Cuda and Comet both were later re-released by Testors in boxes that said "Manufactured by SeVille" on them. Seems fairly easy to draw a straight line there.

Here's the story straight from Ernie Petit, I just got off the phone with him. Seville did do the first run of those Testors kits and they were not leftovers. After that Testors bought the tooling from Seville and did the HSO versions. Those were molded by an outside vendor overseas as they needed some repair as I said before. After Ernie took over Lindberg he contacted the vendor but they could not locate the tooling. Ernie isn't hopeful of them ever being found and that's were things stand as of today.

-Steve

[lordairgtar]

Pretty much true, Carl, but what can one do. We don't know who the outside vendor was, and I'm sure according the owners of said tooling would think it was none of our business. Only thing we can hope for is for a big storage trailer be found with a whole selection of these by-gone kits. Now wouldn't that be something......"on our next episode of Storage Wars, one of the bidders gets a trailer full of JoHan kits still sealed".

[Tom Geiger]

Well, forgive me for saying so, then, but letting those assets slip away like that was a major act of corporate neglect and stupidity on Testors' part ...

Sounds like the tooling was forgotten during changes in management or ownership. It wouldn't be the first time!

And part of a long legacy of American kit tooling lost in the orient!

[MsDano85gt]

Something is fishy. The original thread title never had the word Testors in it, not until skip posted. Not taking sides but pointing out shady coincidences.

i do have to side with casey on this statement altho I Did Not specifically mention testors in the title it is the kits i was asking/ implying about

[Casey]

So we now know for certain that those tools, which were likely the last of the surviving Jo-Han molds, are gone forever and the obits for the S/C Rambler, AMX, '70 Olds and 'Cuda and Comet pro stocks can finally be written

Hey, at least we have closure, right?

No offense to Ernie and Steve, but I didn't read Steve's post regarding Ernie's comments as 100% certainty:

Ernie isn't hopeful of them ever being found and that's were things stand as of today.

If the molds are overseas (assuming that means China), I wouldn't consider them 100% gone forever, just missing. Yes, odds are good they will never be used to molds kits again, but considering the strange history of the AMT '34 Ford pickup molds, I'm not going to rule out the ex-JO-HAN kits yet.

[Casey]

So we now know for certain that those tools, which were likely the last of the surviving Jo-Han molds

'59 Rambler wagon, '73 Olds Cutlass, and Chrysler Turbine Car? Don't want to put Steve on the spot again, though.

[SteveG]

No offense to Ernie and Steve, but I didn't read Steve's post regarding Ernie's comments as 100% certainty:

If the molds are overseas (assuming that means China), I wouldn't consider them 100% gone forever, just missing. Yes, odds are good they will never be used to molds kits again, but considering the strange history of the AMT '34 Ford pickup molds, I'm not going to rule out the ex-JO-HAN kits yet.

'59 Rambler wagon, '73 Olds Cutlass, and Chrysler Turbine Car? Don't want to put Steve on the spot again, though.

No offense taken Casey ...... your right on both points. Without going into a long explanation I don't see either group of kits seeing the light of day any time soon. However the later "IMC" group of tooling is still in the U.S. Not likely doesn't mean never, I'm just not very optimistic about either situation as things stand right now.

-Steve