How to find kit release dates?

Thanks again Robert, Amazon.com here I come...

If all you are looking for are classic kits, you could always pick up "Classic Plastic Model Kits: Identification & Value Guide by Rick Polizzi. While it's not intended for release dates persay, I'm sure it probably includes this info in the valuations. However, it was last published in 1996 and will set you back $45.00 or so.

There are also books compiled on things like Revell models, Aurora models, or just Hot Rod models. If you go to Amazon.com, enter Model Kits in the search field, and then be sure to search only for books, you'll see quite a few books available.

Don't know if this will help, but thought I'd chime in again...

Thanks Robert!

I wasn't sure if some modeling club or maybe manufacturers did in fact keep records of release dates.

I'm into car models and have been putting together a sort of wish list. Remembering some kits I built as a kid I thought it would be nice to get a few again. Whether re-released or original (price gulp) but trying to track down different release dates or model numbers are darn near impossible. Some kits I get answers like - "That was originally released some time around the late 50's early 60's but not sure when or if it was re-released." DUH, no kinding... I knew that!

Humm... I guess I could actually bug some manufacturers and see what they say. 

If you're looking for one, all encompassing list or website with every (or most) manufacturers that shows nearly all of kits released and when they came out, you're not going to have much luck. I'm not aware of any site or book that has a list like this. Some sites will have bits and pieces or a partial list of one genre (i.e. 1/48 scale armor), but that's about as good as it gets.

There was a book of old models released, but it was published many years ago and definitely wouldn't be up to date. 

If you do track down such a site, please, let us know. It would be invaluable for planning purposes.