Old Esci Reissues By Revell Germany

Many of you know that Revell Germany has bought the old Esci molds, and the intention is to produce some of them in the next months. The new Audi Quattro rally and the BMW M1 Procar are the first results of this idea. Here below is a list of the most imortant examples of the old ESCI production and you will note how many of them are still interesting and never seen before from any other worldwide firm:

- Audi Quattro
- Porsche 934 RSR (Jegermeister, Max Moritz, Gitanes...), 935 Baby, Carrera Gr.5, 928 and 959 Racing;
- BMW M1, M1 Procar (about 5 or 6 different decals) and 320i Gr.5 (Citybank, Fruit of the Loom, Carling Black label);
- Mercedes GW, GW Paris Dakar, GW fireforce, 450 SLC 5.0, 450 SLC Bandama and Paris Dakar, 190 street and Senna commemorative version;
- Renault 5 Police, Alpine, Rally Gitanes and Calberson;
- VW Golf I street and Rally;
- Ford Escort Rally (Rothmans, British Airways, Castrol) and Gr.2 Zakspeed
- Ferrari 288 GTO, BB512, 250 LM and 250 SWB (street, Rally and Racing);
- Fiat 131 Rally (at least 4 different sponsors)
- Jeep CJ-5 Renegade, Wrangler and Golden Eagle
- Lancia Beta Montecarlo Gr.5 (Works, Alitalia and Martini) and Stratos Pirelli;
- Land Rover Land LWB (soft top and SW), Range 2 doors (normal, Camel Trophy, Parigi Dakar and Police)
- Toyota Land Cruiser (soft top, Taxi and safari)
- Lamborghini Miura, Countach and Diablo;
-.....

Someone also knows that Revell on the 2002 catalogue announced the imminent issue of the Ford Escort Gr.2 and Porsche RSR Jagermeister,.... BUT,.... who knows why, nothing has been seen.... Why? I asked directly to Revell and this is the kind (but sad) reply:

"Dear Mr Lapo Maltagliati [that is me!] from Italy,
in the past we wanted to release the Porsche 934 and the Ford Escort Gr.2 Zakspeed. We made the selection based on older model kit boxes. When we received the first test shots it become dramatically clear that the tool suffered a lot in the last decade. The quality of the items were so poor that we were forced not to release the two models. Thus in future we will make selection out of the ESCI tools after we received test shots. Some items are interesting but what we will re-release will depend on the current quality of every item. Since we did not get much test shots we cannot announce now what and how much we will take of the Esci line. In the moment it would be too speculative. We will have to wait for the samples and then we will see. So actually time will tell and therefore please understand that I cannot tell you what we will bring out.
With best regards..."

If someone is interested in those kits, please use this form ("http://www.revell.de/en/contact/index.html";)to make some... "pression".

BYE

LAPO (ITALY)

PS: sorry for my english...

The one I'm most excited about is the VW Golf I and the Porsche 959!!

The one I'm most excited about is the VW Golf I and the Porsche 959!!

MMMMH....
while the Golf is a nice kit, the 959 is terrible!!! I have it; belongs to a strange serie made in gummy plastic with horrible molds and bad detail. The same plastic is used also for the Ferrari 288 GTO and the Ferrari 250 LM. Apart these few exceptions the old Esci kits were really nice...

I want the Lancia Beta Montecarlo, the Fiat 131, and the Ferrari 512BB.

However, having seen the "quality" of the Esci Ferrari 250SWB, I'm a little concerned about these kits. I mean, if the tooling for those two was so worn as to render reissues unbuildable, then there are going to be some serious flash and mold lines on these reissues.

Mmmmmm!!! 512BB!!!! The most beautiful Ferrari of all time!!!

Are they all 1/24? Range rovers, YAY!!!! :iceslolan

I just got the 1/24 Range Rover in the post today from a friend and it's awesome!! I also just went to the website posted above and requested the BB512!! :sunglasse

I have to warn you about the Audi kit - it's extremely inaccurate for the car it's supposed to represent (quattro from Monte 81).

I have to warn you about the Audi kit - it's extremely inaccurate for the car it's supposed to represent (quattro from Monte 81).

SURELY Esci quality cannot be compared to the new tamya kits, but who cares? Aren't we experienced modelers or not?
PS: the BB512 comes from older Nitto tools...

It's not about the quality (not too bad, btw), but about the accuracy.

Agreed, ales. Like I said, I saw the Esci 250SWB kit. That thing's body looked more like a 289 Cobra with a fastback roof. When you compare it to a kit like Gunze Sangyo's, then you realize just how wrong the kit is.

Here's some pics of one that my dad tried to correct. You can still see that the basic shape is wrong.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/203170250SWB_1.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/278371250SWB_2.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/489965250SWB_3.JPG
http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/735820250SWB_4.JPG

They can be turned into pretty models, as you can see here, but it's not easy. But, for those who like the challenge and love the subject matter, it's no question.

HI;
In order to give you the necessary instruments to choose what is to be reissued and what is better to be forgotten, i have prepared a complete review of old Esci kits. Suggestions and additions are well accepted... For all the kits, please consider a lower quality than Tamiya ones. I place my vote (from 1 to 5 stars) about the opportunity of a new re-issue by Revell Germany.

- Audi Quattro: both street and Rally version, same car as Tamiya, but more inaccuracies and lack of detail Just released by Revell: **
- Porsche 934 RSR (Jegermeister, Max Moritz, Gitanes...); Very very nice subject (same as Tamiya 1/12 Jegermeister) both in Racing and Rally liveries. In the past years it has been reissued by Heller in street version without decals; some fitting problem, no engine detail, bad tires: ****
- Porsche 935 Baby: old Esci reissue of older Nitto-Entex kit, later reissued again by AMT: it is the only 1/24 935 Baby with some engine, interior and undercarriage detail. Niiiiice wheels: ****;
- Porsche Carrera Gr.5: many fitting problems, too little detail, but, what a nice subject (althought many other old japanese firms did a better work on it)!****.
- Porsche 928 old Nitto kit originally lightable; not too bad but Gunze and italeri kits are better: **.
- Porsche 959 Racing: no please, we keep the Tamiya kit!*;
- BMW M1street: very nice detail. Much better than Airfix kit: *** ,
- BMW M1 Procar (about 5 or 6 different versions) as above... Like the Audi it has been released by Revell: ***
- BMW 320i Gr.5 (Citybank, Fruit of the Loom, Carling Black label) Yes the Tamiya kit is really easier but in my opinion the Esci kit if well built has better looking silhouette. More, how many different sponsors!!!****
- Mercedes GW, GW Paris Dakar, GW firetruck, little engine detail, but absolutely never seen before subject and nice body! ****
- Mercedes 450 SLC 5.0, 450 SLC Bandama and Paris Dakar: as above, only Otaki/Arii produced the same subject, but this Esci is better. Nice Rally versions: ****
- Mercedes 190 street and Senna commemorative version: never seen; cannot leave any comment;
- Renault 5 Police, Alpine, Rally Gitanes and Calberson: very nice sujects and body. Especially the rally versions are really nice! Other never seen before subjects: *****
- VW Golf I street and Rally: really nice especially the Works rally car: *****
- Ford Escort Rally (Rothmans, British Airways, Castrol): Stunning kit that nobody has ever produced (also in resin): *****
- Ford Escort Gr.2 Zakspeed: muscle racing car of the same class of the Tamiya Kamei Golf. I’d like a lot to make a good diorama. Nice kit, never seen before too: *****
- Ferrari 288 GTO: beware! Gummy plastic, bad detail: Italeri and Fujimi are much better: *
- Ferrari BB512: old Nitto reissue: not so bad... some detail, it reproduces a model forgotten by all the other companies: ***
- Ferrari 250 LM: gummy plastic body, bad detail, but with strong work (and new wheels & tires) you can obtain a nice replica: **
- Ferrari 250 SWB (street, Rally and Racing): too many mistakes, bad wheels and tires, too large body, too many mold lines.... but it is the only 250 swb if you exclude the expensive Gunze and the very hard to find Italeri. Recently reissued by AMT: ***;
- Fiat 131 Rally (at least 4 different sponsors): one of the most beautiful rally car of ever and one of the best Esci kits: please Revell reissue it!!!!:*****
- Jeep CJ-5 Renegade, Wrangler and Golden Eagle: less detail of Monogram Jeep, but better body! Veery nice!: ****
- Lancia Beta Montecarlo Gr.5 (Works, Alitalia and Martini): Fantastic car and stunning kit recently reissued by Heller. But again hard to find! Revell, you know what to do!: *****
- Lancia Stratos Pirelli: old Nitto kit with new tires and decals that replace the old Alitalia ones. Many molding lines, inaccuracies and lack of detail, but the overall body, especially the rear side is really better than the new Hasegawa! ****
- Land Rover LWB (soft top and SW) . The only 1/24 kit ever produced of this car. Could make a great duo with the Monogram SWB! No engine details but nice body!:****
- Range Rover 2 doors (normal, Camel Trophy, Paris Dakar and Police). Again the only one Range Rover 2 doors. Really a fantastic overall body!! ******
- Toyota Land Cruiser (soft top, Taxi and safari). The only other kit that reproduces this car is the old Nichimo 1/20 motorized, but the Esci is better. Not great “underwear” detail but nice body: *****
- Lamborghini Miura, Countach and Diablo: no, we have better examples elsewere...: **
-.....

BYE
LAPO

The BMW's and the Porshe 959 sound really good. Can't wait.

The 250SWB is horrible and the 512BB body shape is no good. Some of the ESCI kits are decent enough, but these two stink for sure. The Miura is okay only beacuse there hasn't been a decent kit of it, the IMAI has the best body. I suspect the soon released Hasegawa Miura will be best of all, looking forward to that one! :iceslolan

Thanks Veyron!

I just had a look on their website and they also have a request form where any sort of vehicle can asked for. Naturally I asked for a re-release of the 1982 Ford Escort. I know for a fact these kits are popular as the one I pointed out on Ebay a few days ago ended up going for $103.50 Aust (Thats $3.50 more than I got for my real 1976 Escort, admittely the starter motor was stuffed but..wow!) I have also heard this happens whenever these kits pop up so if anyone from Revell is looking at this take the hint! It also helps these kits are some of the best in that list.
Please Revell..Please!
Duncan

I'd really really really love to see the rally Escorts and Fiat 131 reissued. I'm sure they would sell well too as they are real rally legends and the demand for the original models remains high. I'd like to build atleast Ari Vatanen's Rothmans Escort from the year he won the WRC and some of Markku Alen's Fiats (the black/yellow one and the one with Alitalia markings). I'm sure these models would get many aftermarket decal sets as they've appeared in so many different markings during their lifespan.

-Mikko

All of you that love to see some esci reissue, please do not forget to complete the request form on the Revell.de address that i posted on my first message :)
Yes, the Escort, the Golf Rally, the Renault 5 Rally, the 131 and the Beta Montecarlo are my choices too!