Hey Gang,
Seeing as how I have scoured the available resources searching for a customer service email address for AMT/ERTL and come up empty handed, I figured no one would mind if I blew off some steam here.
Since I was a little boy, about 10 or so, I have wanted to own a 67 GTO. I figured I would build a model of the classic muscle car as my own keepsake and began searching for a kit. Of course 20 years ago, and right up until last month, nobody made the kit for a 67. I have built the 64,66,69 from Revell and the 65 from AMT. While wondering around the Hobby Lobby I was over joyed to discover that AMT released the 67 in both stock and Triple X (from the movie) versions of the car. Without hesitation I swiped up the stock version and ran home like a little school boy and shared my excitment with my wife.
That excitment soon turned to frustration. Having built a couple AMT kits in the past and suffering problems with the build sheet clarity, parts missing, wrong parts, poor moldings, etc., I was prepared for whatever was inside my now coveted box of parts.
I am 5% into the build and have come across more problems than I have with any AMT kit I have ever built. First, there are parts in the box that are clearly not Pontiac GTO. On the sprue containing the inner wheel assy and dash board, There is a front clip of a mid 60's Chevy. There are about 20 parts on the sprue trees that have no referance in the build sheet. Included are two hoods for either building the stock engine or the blown/injected engine. I built the blown/injected engine and test fit the body, chassis, engine and the respectful hood. Doesn't fit. The hood supposed to be used with the bigger engine sits almost 1/4" off the body because of the blower. I had to use the stock hood and carve out the RAM Air intake scoop to accomodate the blower hieght.
Every single part has to be trimmed because of the poor mold and some parts are horribly disfigured. Sprue trees are bent out of shape and the part numbers are hard to read. The transmission assy does not line up right with the engine block forcing a lot of sanding and shaping.
The bigger engine option does not fit in the chassis right either. The drive belts for the blower do not have clearance to fit the chassis without trimming 1/8" off the chassis so the belt fits right. I have not even got to the radiator assy and will no doubt be in trouble with clearances there too.
I respect those of you out there who build AMT kits, but I have never had a pleasant experience. The worst thing about this is my keepsake that I have been after for 20 years.......isn't all that exciting any more.