The Model Car Showroom
Reviews, pictures, hints, and links 1/24, 1/25 car kits
XRAY : 1972 Chevy Chevelle MPC, 1/25 -MPC/AMT new models STILL do not have the correct molding for real life!
Those familiar with the ups and downs in the model car world will NOT be surprised by this article at all, but I wanted to show a major issue with a newer reissue.
This is the 2025 reissue of the 1972 Chevy Chevelle SS. I purchased it to fix up my older build with stripes and potentially a new grille. However, though the stripes were EXCELLENT and there are enough of them for 4 different kits, the grille was a farce.
Here is the before and after with the new stripes added. The white looks good and doesn’t let the color bleed through. There is also RED and BLACK included, as well as a third “SLASHER” multicolor look. The decal sheet is GIANT and sports side markers, 7 license plates, air cleaner decals, and much more. The glass is excellent, the body has no dimples from the posts, and the tires are gorgeously white lettered.
The model is much nicer than anything made previously, but it still has a big problem. On the left below is a real-life picture of a ’72 for sale. I’ve taken the pic from https://www.vanguardmotorsales.com‘s website for comparison (NICE place to buy excellent classic cars). As you can see from the left side pic, the headlight is
recessed inside the chrome frame. Unfortunately, the headlight setup for the older kit (see XRAY **HERE**) – [TOP] , and the 2025 reissue [BOTTOM] both have headlights and bezels that are “bulging” instead of surrounded by chrome and recessed. It seems like a minor issue, but the result from the front is a completely different look, and frankly, it seems a bit ruined to me.
Similarly, the promo vehicles from years ago for sale on the internet are also made with the same crappy look (not surprising since the promo companies were typically the modeling companies anyway). They are expensive and usually not very detailed, but they also do not help in this case. Unfortunately, I haven’t found anything on the web that helps with this situation. A new resin grille section would be just the ticket, but for now, I’ll keep my build off the shelf. I REALLY do not like inaccurate models, and this one is lousy when compared to the real thing.
Is the reissue better than the previous editions? YES. There is almost nothing that isn’t better than the older models in this case. Some new kits (looking at you 70½ Camaro with its cheap-ass disgusting orange plastic, lousy flash, and BAD dimples around the posts) have NOT gotten better, but this one is 100% a better car to build… just try not to look at the front end too much.
1962 Ford Thunderbird
This is a review of the AMT ’62 T-Bird #30081
I have wanted to do this car for some time, and it just seemed to get put aside for a multitude of reasons – primarily because of how BAD this kit is. It is a shame, since this kit has a lot of pieces, but what is there turns into a mess (except for very experienced builders). I’ll explain later…
There is one crazy-old model (bottom) that is not only very similar to the “normals”, but is also super expensive. The two red-heads are duplicates of the one I put together, and the new one, I assume, is similar to the reds aside from some better decals, tires, and such.
CAR BACKGROUND :: The Thunderbird had been through a number of iterations since the original 2-seat sports machine, and the ’62 was the biggest and heaviest yet. At 205in, this convertible was a driveway-filling hunk of metal. That said, the T-Bird for this year is, IMHO, the best-looking one of all. The lines are crisp and simple, the bumper is stylish, the hood has just enough muscle suggestion, and it looks like it would entice even the most boring person to blast down the road with the top down and the music up! The big heavy looker didn’t become a disgusting slouch either. With a 390ci and some 300 horses, the big coupe would gobble up tarmac as well as most cars on the road. No, you wouldn’t see any of these suckers at the local dragway, but it was about style and comfort more than laying rubber or time slips.
If you look on my “FORD” page, you’ll see the burgundy T-Bird this is modeled after, and I think this came out beautifully. Tamiya Burgundy is a challenging paint to get right (it can have a spot that separates, and there are trouble with glossing), but when it does, it is spectacular. Thankfully, there is also NOTHING to have to fix or add to the kit as well.
As I mentioned earlier, however, the kit is indeed trash. There is a good bit of flash; the body refuses to take the interior without a LOT of help; the front bumper is angled and tough to glue on tight; the tires aren’t the whitewalls pictured and are boring as all heck, and the glass is a treacherous folly of not ruining the whole car as you try and get them glued into place. The bottom of the car is also an issue, as there isn’t much to do, and the details are light.
This engine bay is VERY good for an AMT. There is a lot of detail; a lot of engine to build; it all fits well, and even the “blackening” you have to do to the bay is easy, given its shape. NOW, you will NOT get this look from the kit as-is. The car comes with a tri-power engine, and although it might have been available, the 390 4-barrel not only looks beautiful but is also the more realistic option for this car. I cannot think of an engine bay I’ve done recently that I am more pleased with.
The interior of this car IRL is stunning. There is chrome for days, and the buckets are incredibly comfy. Thankfully, AMT made this interior detailed enough to bring out the car’s glamour. I would have liked to do a black-and-white look, but the interior and chassis were one piece, and it was far easier to black out the whole shebang. NOTE: the steering column has both directional and gear shift stalks – not typical for many models.
Yup, the car came out fabulous. Yup, I almost threw it into the wall numerous times. With all the problems this kit can hand you, it is NOT for the novice builder. The good news, however, is this kit is amongst the cheapest on the internet (saying whatever site you are on isn’t rooking you). My advice… get a couple so you have some extra pieces in case of a goof. After the most recent re-issue, you may as well, since it won’t be a pricey kit anytime soon… if ever.
6.0 – Fair
IT’S RAINING AUTOS!
Been on a tear lately with builds, and it’s time to showcase a few. The TBird is a first in my lifetime, as it is a pain to build. The Impala is my 3rd or 4th success at two-tone models, and it’s likely the best I’ve made. The Opel is one I never imagined I’d work as it is a third-rate sports car with a lethargic 90hp engine, but I guess I just like the look of the thing. It came out great, and I recommend it as a reasonably easy model (if a bit pricey). Last but not least is the 1980 Mustang. It is a Pace Car version whose decals were garbage, so it became a regular ole GT. It also has one of the most tepid engines Ford ever put into a Stang, but it is a childhood favorite of mine.
Thanks for stopping by and please make sure to comment if ya like what you see… or even if ya don’t! LOL
X-RAY :: â–“RAREâ–“ 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle STREET MACHINES, AMT, 1/25.
This is a X-Ray of a RARE 1972 Chevelle Super Sport by AMT.
Includes: Large chrome tree, 454 engine w/ blower option, 8 rims, 4 tires (no color), non-stock decal sheet.
GOOD : Heckova Chevelle, interior detail, easy build.
BAD : *LOTS* – high flash, no slicks or other paraphernalia for blower option, no rallye rims, no racing stripes, expensive.
Price :: $120+
X-RAY :: Lamborghini Murcielago, 1/24 Fujimi
This is an X-Ray of a Lamborghini Murcielago by Fujimi
Includes: Small chrome tree, static engine, and 4 deluxe tires/rims, decent decal sheet.
GOOD : GOOD example of a modern wonder car, makes a lovely display, glass fits better than most model cars, almost no flash.
BAD : SMALL number of parts, extra-wide model doesn’t fit in most quality display units, LOTS of black detailing, expensive – and unless you find a local buyer with one not needed – an overseas purchase.
Price :: $80+
2025 – A new year of building…
Hello all. Sorry for the hiatus but 2024 was a terrible year for me and 2025 has been me gathering my emotions to function running my website. I can say that things are better and I am doing well, but I hope – even with the lousy state of the country – that the year is a positive one from here on out.
I will be doing quite a few x-rays in future, have a post about a re-build coming up, and much more. Anything that you may see that you have a question about, feel free to use the contact button. Also comment with any questions, critiques, or just an opinion…. I appreciate everyone who stops by.
ALSO, reminder to all, I am here to buy UNBUILT model collections of all kinds. Shoot me a message anytime and I will help as much as possible and I certainly try to give the most $$ as possible.
ALSO ALSO, remember I do FAN SUBMISSIONS to anyone who submits a story with pics of their builds. I have a few you can look at on the site, but I showcase builders and their imaginations, not critique and bad-talk them.
CHEERS, Kevin
1962 Chevrolet Corvette
This is a review of the AMT ’62 Corvette Stingray #6489
This is one of those cars that I loved as a child and felt ambivalent as an adult. As a car, this Vette is as good as any and looks like a gem amongst coal, but it just has no appeal to me. Still, I wanted to give this one the showing it deserved. I made it a few years ago, and the champagne color never sat well with me, and what’s more, the tan interior did even less. It was time for a revamp.
Like most of the Corvette line-up, there is no shortage of ’62 Corvette kits, and the options get pretty deep—from stock to gasser to racer. Stock is EXACTLY where I like to be, but for others, there are a ton of different ways to build this beauty. Now, that would be good if that were the whole story, but these kits are merely average. Everything from bad glass, bad flash, non-whitewall tires, fitting issues, tree problems, and more. Don’t get me wrong, these are certainly buildable and besides the windshield being tricky to not ruin, is almost foolproof.
CAR BACKGROUND :: It is extremely difficult to be the older model. The one that was one year before the greatest offering in early Corvette history (I only say that because I don’t believe the ’63 IS the greatest). I know… sacrilege, but honestly, there is more to greatness than a split-window (I look forward to your letters). Anyways, the ’62 was the last year of the original style, and that was good as a decade is long enough for any shape (though don’t tell Porsche that). The last version of the shape was fantastic, however, and it was one that I believe is the best of the C1s. The two-light front and rear look excellent, and in the rear especially, it beautifully finishes off the slope. The fun didn’t stop there as the engines were the most powerful to date, making the little car book it down the street. Not that it was the big reason to buy one, but it was a REALLY nice perk.
This was my previous attempt, and though it isn’t too bad, there is enough that is wrong that I needed to redo it. As I said above, I didn’t like the color very well, and to make matters worse, the tan interior was also bland and uninteresting. Worse than the previous “worse” the kit (and most of the ’62s by AMT) didn’t come with whitewall tires. It doesn’t sound like much, but it just made the bland, a complete snoozer.
Here is the redo. Tamiya Silver and some satin red from Krylon make this one POP. I also stole a set of whitewalls from another kit, which indeed finished the look. I think the newest release of the ’62 MAY have them or at least red line / white-letter. Better than nothing, but these look perfect. I had to add a side mirror as well as the kit doesn’t include one.
Here’s the engine bay, which is pure AMT garbage. The engine is small, the detail is weak, the radiator is a flat piece of plastic, the battery is on the floor of the engine bay, and there is no big-block option to make it better. I’ve seen others shoehorn in an LS6 or the like from a newer Vette, and even though I hate non-matching engines (WITH A PASSION), it’s still a better fit than this dud of an orange tic-tac. That said, the motor is a gem IRL. The 360 horsepower was super potent, but their more moderate offerings kept this little car moving as well as you needed.
The underside of this one is the worst thing about this kit. It is reasonably detailed, but the exhaust is molded, there are no exhaust tips, there are no shocks, springs, or anything else to work on, and there’s nothing extra to add to make it better. You have little to worry about with the exhaust manifolds matching up with the rest, and it still ends up looking very clean, but don’t look for a lot of work or entertainment with it.
The red turned out sooooo much bolder than the tan I did last time. The accents look fantastic and even though AMT kits don’t have the detail that you really want, they still are bold when covered in red paint. There should be an on-dash rear-view mirror, but I don’t have one that is shaped correctly for the dash, and it wasn’t included. I did the chrome around the interior and had to chrome the windshield surround as well. I don’t have any idea why, but I didn’t chrome it on the champagne one I most recently did. Forgot, I suppose. I felt so blaze’ after that build, I guess I just didn’t remember to do so.
Ultimately, this isn’t a kit for the “first try” builder, but it isn’t all bad, either. You almost cannot screw it up. The exhaust is molded and is right where it needs to be to meet the engine; the interior fits like a glove; there is only one glass to ruin, and it isn’t the toughest to glue in if you use tape, and the underside has metal axles so there is no suspension to work with either. Easy-peasy.
On the flip side, the tires are black and dull, there are no side or rear-view mirrors, the hood sometimes needs bending to fit correctly, the front of the car is BADLY attached to the tree (and will ruin the front if you’re not careful when detaching it), and the engine bay is the epitome of mediocrity.
It is also not an excellent investment at this point because it was just reissued, and a slew of kits were made. I think it displays very nicely, though, so I’m glad I made it… again.
7.0 – Average
Review : 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi, AMT 1/25
This is a review of the 1968 Hemi Roadrunner #849-202
Back some 35 years ago, I was given my first model – a ’69 Olds Hurst. THIS Road Runner was my second. I brush-painted it yellow with a black interior, and though I did it rather poorly, I loved it. I raced it in my mind many a time and dreamt of the burnouts I’d do in real life. See, my cousin’s H.S. buddy had a GORGEOUS blue ’69 Road Runner two streets over. Mine wasn’t to be blue, but I was happy to have it. I even used the crazy massive slicks that came with the kit, which were so broad that they rubbed the quarter panel! I have since made this one 2 or 3 other times and ruined at least one other in building it. This one, however, is the first real remake of a rather GOOD one I already built. Reason?… I wanted the yellow I built as a child.
I got it.
There are a LOT of possible builders for this car, and most carry the same build quality – which is to say so-so. There can be much flash; some are molded in awful greys and even yellow; most have ho-hum decals; hoods NEVER fit quite right, and all have taillights that are terrible to paint correctly. There is even one Pro Street that will definitely help if you want custom, since the rear axle is tiny and holds some biga$$ tires. The 3-pack is an excellent value nowadays as the RR is cheap, AND you get two other cool rides to build.
The orange one without the giant 1968 was my first. It was horrible grey mold, which made the yellow a multi-multi-coat. It was also disappointing and something of a clod when I was done with it. Repaints, rear tires that didn’t fit, and no decals for anything fun.
CAR BACKGROUND :: If you follow muscle cars, grew up with them, or knew a gearhead, you probably know the story of the Road Runner’s birth. To keep it short, the boys at Dodge/Plymouth devised a scheme of sorts to capture people’s attention everywhere. Some $50k to Warner-Bros. Later, the Road Runner was born. Something cheap and powerful to run like the outrageous bird found in Saturday morning cartoons. With all but the smallest of motors, it was pretty potent, too, carrying almost no amenities and, therefore, little weight for a mid-size vehicle. Add in the 426 Hemi like that of this model, and the 425 underrated horses made the bird faster than almost all of the muscle of the time. Low 13s at nearly 110 mph were typical in the quarter, with 12s being just a pair of decent slicks away. This was not Grandma’s grocery-getter unless she had a death wish. And, though the ’69 would have the prettier stripe setup and better rear lights, the ’68 WAS where the magic happened – selling nearly 50,000 units. No, not the Hemi Cuda everyone raves about (with $2,000,000 checks written nowadays); the Road Runner is still my favorite, and the ’68 in particular will always be.
This was my most recent build. The copper color looked really decent (if a bit too metallic) compared to the real one, and I cannot say there was one problem with the build – save for not doing the hood with the correct stripe. YET, I still yearned for the original look I had when I was 14, and I needed to try and make it a reality.
Came out fantastically. The tires are fantastic in this kit, but I used a wider set from a Revell kit for the rear, as my childhood version had massively wide tires, and I wanted a more aggressive stance than the ones in the kit. I used the front bumper and grille off the old car, but the newer rear and side mirror from the new kit.
The engine bay is most likely in the top THREE best that AMT offers. The hemi is properly big and well-shaped, the battery and radiator are decent, the firewall and wheel arches are very detailed, and the look is amazing. This engine and chassis are from the old kit because they came out nicely. I only needed to redo the firewall and arches to match the yellow to fix the issue of one build not matching the other. Small task.
AMT did the underside VERY well, too. It has shocks, a proper dual exhaust with big mufflers, ribbed detail on the base, and enough detail for any car. I did the mufflers in red for a painted turbo-muffler look and swapped out the horrible tips for a set that came with a Duster kit I parted out for my Demon build.
This interior is drab and uneventful, but trinkets are useless in a car built for speed. The Road Runner had almost nothing fancy. A bench seat, 4-speed manual, and maybe an aftermarket tach for good measure. Not much else. Hand-cranked windows, basic radio, maybe even floor-mat deletes.
I’m sure that nobody cared when doing 100ft burnouts, but the point is there… simple, light, and purposeful.
So glad to have fulfilled a long-term goal of mine, and it is as good as I had hoped. The new kit I built IS better than the original if you can make your way past the disgusting yellow molding. It has less flash, fresh chrome, excellent white-letter or red-line tires, and better decals (though still meager). The best news is that this is one of the CHEAPEST Mopar kits on the market because of the numbers. It may become collectible in the distant future, but for now, they number too many to be something to savor.
Not a problem – as it is a beautiful build!
8.25 – Average
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