Hi Ya'll !
Hey, do these initials fire up memories. IMC, AMT ,SMP, and the names Hubley and Monogram as well as good old Revell. Now we're talking about cars here. Let's take a walking tour back in time to examine what was offered and what we did with them! There are numerous un-named companies I would add too, for their very accurate looking, no interior or window Glass Four door friction models.
Let's first visit Revell in the 50's. 1/32 Scale( what was that about anyway ?) Some unusual cars for sure, and Boy! did those cars look great in the Ads. Ever build one? Best that you didn't do so. With tube glue and glue strings, most became glue Bombs for sure and many never got done because of the gaps in body parts. Then came the two prettiest cars of the Luxo era, A Cadillac and a Lincoln Continental, oh what's this? in what passed for 1/25 scale, a Ford Country Squire Wagon fully loaded. Same treatment sadly, Multipiece Bodies, Poor fit and Gluing joints right up there for everyone to see! No Window glass and Hard plastic tires with no tread pattern!
Even the friction cars had tread! But they didn't have Interior compartments or Window glass at all! Bodies weren't bad for sub 1/24 scale. But the plastic wasn't Styrene, just like Monogram's early large1/20, or 1/16 scale ? Who knows I don't! The four door friction cars had Silver painted front and rear bumpers, grilles and tailights though the bodies usually had "Police or "Fire Department", Not painted or Decalled on but slightly pressed into the sides like Brand,s and painted either White or Yellow! remember that? So that also set the colors, Red or Black with the rare White one that had "Sanitation Dept.' On it's side. Very rare those.
Now back to the Majors. AMT, Johan and MPC and IMC brought out customizing kits based on the great little promos seen and given away by dealers. Johans were usually Chrysler or American Motors subjects with window glass and interiors that were at what would be half the depth of the Customizing kits interior depth from the others . Why? Friction drive folks! Yup! Oh, and some that were wire controlled With a ballon type thing to turn the front wheels while you backed up!
Then AMT and Revell decided to compete on the true scale details. Engine compartments. AMT had a 58 Impala that had opening doors, hood, and trunk! Real rubber tires too! and lets not forget steering! Revell topped that with the same but with parts that AMT didn't offer like the super big Competition engines. Some undersized by a fraction, but they still looked great to our young eyes. Especially when painted with those Amazing revell and AMT Custom Lacquer and Enamel paint jobs. Chrome literally flowing off those custom engines!
Revell and AMT topped that with add on custom Parts from ("Custom Parts Packs") that ran the gamut from Wheels and Tires all the way to Custom Interiors ( Revell). Oh! and did you know? if you looked carefully the early Revell cars had a recognizeable tire! The General "Dual 90" type. It had the centerline groove of the real one, but, the tread pattern on either side was not there! And it was of course quite thin when seen from the front or back. Differences in mounting tires and wheels to the Chassis too.
Revell had you snap the wheel on a wee nub that if you weren't careful would break off ( never could get them glued back on right,"Used plenty of glue too"). AMT, NAH! Take the wheel, Press in the almost rock hard tire, then place on a block of wood,"We don't want to scratch the chrome on the Wheel cover on some" And take a light hammer and Tap the wheels on a shaft the size of the lead core of a number 2 pencil. Oh Yeah! Axle came right through the center of the wheel most times,"A little to much force, eh wot"? Remember that?
I will come back with more on the memory trail of early model car building the next time so Keep your foot on the Brake, I'll be returning soon! Thanks for joining in. T.B.