When I saw this kit being introduced, I got really excited & had to get it:
The box says “NEW” in bright yellow lettering, and I thought “Awesome!” Much to my surprise (I don’t know why I was surprised), the kit isn’t new as the frame is clearly stamped “Revell, Inc. 1985”, so that makes the kit at least 39 years old. Not sure what game Revell was playing here. New decals, maybe? Newer than AMT? No idea. Oh, well. Marketing gripe session over. On to the build.
The kit went together about as well as you’d expect a nearly 40-year-old Revell kit to go together. Fit was decent, and the details were good. I did run into some issues, but nothing that wasn’t insurmountable or that would cause the kit to go airborne. (See my Revell 1970 Porsche 917KH build for that rant!) In doing a little digging into this car & Walt Hane, I discovered that this model (well, the decals anyway) was actually based on an actual car:
According to 3Dog Garage, this car, serial number 5R103, won the SCCA National B-Production Championship in 1966. (1965 Shelby Mustang R-Model | 3 Dog Garage) I tried to get the model as close to this as I could.
Exterior:
Yes, I messed up the decal around the fuel filler cap.
Engine:
Interior:
Not sure why there’s a spare tire. Maybe it’s an SCCA rule. And yes, the actual car has Goodyear 225/70R15 racing slicks while the model has the Firestone street tires that came in the kit.
Well, there it is. It’s not perfect, and it’s a nice “Three- Wheeler”, but it’s done, and I’m happy with the results.
Jim
6 Likes
That is the import part. I like it. 
I think the “new” is a marketing gimmick. The plastic is old but the scheme and decal sheet are new.
1 Like
Thanks, Ryan. You’re probably right on the “new” thing.
Jim
1 Like
From am armor guys point of view, it seems like new auto kits are few and far between. In 1/24 scale there could be some reasonable detail that could be achieved. I would pay $60 a kit if they were as good as the new armor kits.
Greg,
You’re not wrong, there. Most auto kits are repops of kits from the 1970s (in the case of Round2) or the 1980s (Revell, Fujimi, etc.). The only manufacturers that I know of that have new kits are Tamiya (but they also have their fair share of repops) & Moebus. Round2 is redoing a lot of the original AMT molds, but in the end they’re still 1970s kits. Even in the older armor kits, there is still more detail in a 1/35 armor kit than there is in a 1/24 auto kit. Fit is a lot better, too.
Jim
Sometimes Roubd2 does update the sprues so the kit is better and newer decals.
JR Salvos has a new kit or two released each month. New and old NASCAR cars.
To get the super detailed cars you need MFH but it will cost more than $60.
I talked to JR Salvos about Richard Petty’s 71 Plymouth. Everywhere they were sold out and I wanted to know when or how often they make another run. He said they don’t. They make a set number and that’s it. He said if he did it would devalue the kits the collectors have. Now, everyone is entitled to their own way of doing business, but I personally would not care about the collector. I would be making kits for the builder. The more I can sell the better. So…If you want to build Richard Petty’s 71 Plymouth, his last all blue car, buy the 72 Plymouth (same body!) and order the cartograph decal sheet that includes both the 71 and 72 Plymouth cars.
1 Like
I forgot about NuNu as they make new kits, too. Mostly GT race cars, though, and they’re difficult to come by. They’re about $60, and NuNu offers detail-up sets for many of their kits (for about $45). Meng has also made a couple of forays into the modern car area with their Ford F350 and their new Audi R8 GTE.
Also, ICM makes some 1/24 car kits, but they are Brass Era cars. Mostly Ford Model T.
Jim
1 Like