Recent kits

You're certainly right, Don. I have the Olds kit and also the '48 Ford Custom Coupe which has a number of build options, looking forward to building them over the summer. I have a couple "oldies" in the stash, and there's just no comparison to the detail and overall quality of current releases. Saw your finished Olds in another post; it turned out really sharp! Anything I should know prior to building mine?

mike  

mrmike

You're certainly right, Don. I have the Olds kit and also the '48 Ford Custom Coupe which has a number of build options, looking forward to building them over the summer. I have a couple "oldies" in the stash, and there's just no comparison to the detail and overall quality of current releases. Saw your finished Olds in another post; it turned out really sharp! Anything I should know prior to building mine?

mike  

Yeah, there are flanges on the windows, windshield, etc., but they are microscopic.  I know the appearance is better that way, but they are hell to install.  The openings in the body do not match the transparent parts exactly, to the degree necessary with flanges only about 30 mils or so.  So you have to clean up the window openings very carefully to get an exact fit.  Even then the small flanges will not hold the windows in place very well while the transparencies set (I used epoxy).  I needed to tape windows in place with small pieces of tape.  For everything else the kit is great!

The increase in car parts was a nightmare when I was a kid. When I graduated to more serious car kits, the '56 Chevy Bel Air by Revell comes to mind, it included opening doors, trunk, hood, separate chrome trim for different body styles, separate chrome handles for the doors, interior door panels, etc.

Way too much for a kid who didn't know you had to scrape plating from parts before trying to glue them. Even today, 40 years later, I seriously doubt I could assemble that kit well enough to have the doors sit properly and all the chrome aligned and looking good.

The simpler '55 Chevy by Monogram built so much better.

I had a similar issue with the Reggie Jackson Studebaker Avanti kit by AMT. Too complicated and poorly designed.

Some newer kits I built that were curbside, like Monogram's PT Cruiser and Polar Lights' Herbie the Love Bug were so well engineered that they fit like a dream, had ample detail and were a joy to build.

Interesting point of view Rob.  In the day when it seems the value (worth, not price) is in the detailing provided by the kit maker.  I wonder, is a higher parts count is based on customer desire?  The apparent need to have all the details "seems" to be the desire, but again, what is this based on, market research?

Again, I think we are in a golden age.  There are simplified kits available for novices, as well as the very detailed stuff for the experienced builder.  This was not the case in the old days.

The Snap-tites and such are great for kids, and there are even some kits that are pre-painted, for novices.

In aircraft Hobby Boss has a line of basic kits that are quite inexpensive and simple to build.  I think there is fewer of such kits in the auto genre- maybe the kit mfgs should recognize this need.

Don, thanks for the heads up on the window flanges. I took the kit out of the bags to have a look and saw what you mean - not much glue surface to work with, but it does appear to yield a good looking product judging by your model.

Mike

I agree!The detail and fit is really nice compared what they used to be!Here is the chassis of the Revell '50 Olds I am doing and it is great!