New AMT and Revell kit announcements.

Sadly, there does not seem to be any "Hot Hatch series cars or the "Tuners" series cars... It looks like Amt and Revell had dropped the ball again by not following current trends...

The thing is, even the hot rodder guys bought the Integra kit, but the younger modelers intrested in tuner vehicles are not much interested in the 71 cougar :rolleyes:

I think the future of the hobby is to follow the trends, but I guess AMT and Revell are still living in the past :disappoin

I quite fancy the Grave Digger kit :lol:

All of the AMT announcements posted on the HHMB are reissues only. No info has been posted regarding new tooling. I have a hunch that we'll see more F&F cars including an RX-7. I have seen the diecast RX-7 and RC2 will be sharing stuff between diecast and plastic in the future.

I think the future of the hobby is to follow the trends, but I guess AMT and Revell are still living in the past :disappoin

The future of anything is never to follow trends. Trends go as fast as they come. And though the import trend is rather big and growing, it doesn't hold a candle to the size of the domestic model market. The manufacturers, surprisingly enough, do quite a bit of market research. They are very much living in the present, even if you don't like it.

You are right of course, but at some point the youth market (those under 30), who did not grow up around the A-La kart George Barris creations can't share the passion of older vehicle that was not their first car, their first drag experience and their fond memories in the back seat of the 1966 Nova..

I am simply saying that it would be nice to see subjects that I can personaly relate to... (I think even domestic manufacturers recongise the need for that, hence their introduction of the tuner series and movie cars)

I have built a fare amount of hot rods, the 32 fords, the 69 Camaros and the likes, but I see the chnage in the hobby and I hope they do too...

Back in the 60's and 70's AMt and Revell used to issue "parts packs" to customize their cars with new webber carbs, lake pipes and headers, etc. Its time for them to do the same with the current crop of street tuners.

The same kid the waxed his first 59 Caddy and cruised the boulevard with his friends is the same kid today who is waxing his import. polished his Dragger exhaust and puts on the tuner decals. Trends are trends and even in the smallest town USA the kids are driving imports. Hondas, Acuras, VW, Toyotas and NIssans are our first cars and our fondest memories and the reality we live today. I love old cars, but they are not MY memories, nor are they from MY youth...

Just my :2cents:

I know everyone has an opinion, and I respect all of yours.

Thanks for listening. :)

All of the AMT announcements posted on the HHMB are reissues only. No info has been posted regarding new tooling. I have a hunch that we'll see more F&F cars including an RX-7. I have seen the diecast RX-7 and RC2 will be sharing stuff between diecast and plastic in the future.

AMT's die-cast RX-7 and Eclipse are 1/24 scale, unlike what Revell did with theirs which are 1/25.

Nice kits, but I want to build Eleanor :cwm27:

The youth market really isn't into models. The lions share of people on the market for models are people who were the kid waxing their Caddy.

I agree that they should get on the ball with parts packs and better 2-in-1 kits (for both domestic and import, but espescially import). The future probably will be in imports and cars and parts of that nature. However, the present isn't. We'll probably have to wait for 10, 15 years before our particular automotive interest is reflected in the model scene. AF is not a very good cross section of the model making community, I imagine the average age in here is around 20, where the average age of the entire model making market is closer to 40, or 45.

But anyway, yes, I do wish they made more kits that I'd want. But I just don't forsee it happening, or really see it making a lot of financial sense for the companies.

Ive only been into imports for 18 months or so after building US muscle for 12 years.The trend to imports is as big here as anywhere else.Its more affordable than Aussie or US muscle.I still build muscle cars,but the import trend has injected new life into my modeling.

AMT's die-cast RX-7 and Eclipse are 1/24 scale, unlike what Revell did with theirs which are 1/25.
Look at the diecast RC2 Eclipse the next time you go to Wal-Mart. It looks identical to the kit. I have seen the diecast kits of these cars too. They have the same rims and tires as the plastic kits.

I think RC2 labeled the diecast cars 1:24 scale because of their history with 1:24 scale diecast NASCAR. I believe they are the one in the same.

Ive noticed when im at walmart looking at paint or some thing i will always see guys about 20 with tatoos all over thier bodys and looked like they just smoked a doobie come in and buy the ITR or Civic kit at walmart, kinda weird.
When im at my local hobby shop i notice that every one there is old and looks like santa

Id have to agree that import models will be a lot bigger in 5 years or so, my :2cents:

Ive noticed when im at walmart looking at paint or some thing i will always see guys about 20 with tatoos all over thier bodys and looked like they just smoked a doobie come in and buy the ITR or Civic kit at walmart, kinda weird.
When im at my local hobby shop i notice that every one there is old and looks like santa

Id have to agree that import models will be a lot bigger in 5 years or so, my :2cents:
:spit: :lol: :lol: :lol: I actually agree!! Then there's guys older than me going through the Hot Wheels bin like crazed lunatics! I rarely see younger modellers in the model section of Wally World.

:spit: :lol: :lol: :lol: I actually agree!! Then there's guys older than me going through the Hot Wheels bin like crazed lunatics! I rarely see younger modellers in the model section of Wally World.

Right you are, Tonio.

We saw both AMT/Ertl and Revellogram jump on the lowrider bandwagon big time, and they are still there. But when it comes to imports and tuners, both manufacturers barely have their toe in the water. Let's face it, for the past, say 20 years they have been listening mainly to us old farts waxing poetic about 59 Chevies and Chrysler 300Cs, modern street rods, and more roundy-round decal cars (aka NASCAR). But some of us old farts learn new tricks! :wink:

Gregg and I had a major phone conversation the other day about how staggeringly large the tuner phenomenon really is. You'll see a lot more space in MCM dedicated to tuners, but that does not mean that "old school" will disappear. Its finding the balance that's the hard part of being a magazine editor, and Gregg is doing a great job of it.

There are strong rumors that Fujimi and Aoshima have a new US distributor. That's great news. Maybe greater visibility for these kits? Let's hope so.

But there is another factor too, and that's American acceptance. I've seen, in 21 years of being involved with the hobby on a more than casual level, that Americans can be just as xenophobic as the Japanese are accused of being, in many instances even more so. I've seen modelers pass by Tamiya's Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler without even caring how good they are, or if they are of American subjects: they "ain't American 'cause their Jap kits". Ever see Tamiya kits in Wally World? Sam Walton was so pro-American he would never have allowed it. But now you can get Maisto and Bburago at Wally World. AMT may be an American brand but the kits are made in China. Wal-Mart stocks them by the boatload. That would have given Sam Walton heartburn to say the least. Middle America still loves their NASCARs, their pickup trucks, and their vintage rods. Not a problem, but how many Middle Americans, so to speak, are accepting of the tuner phenomenon?

The tuner phenomenon breated new enthusaism into the real car and model car hobbies. And that to me is a real Godsend. Let's see if AMT/Ertl and Revellogram see the validity in that argument - and act accordingly.

Best regards,

There are strong rumors that Fujimi and Aoshima have a new US distributor. That's great news. Maybe greater visibility for these kits? Let's hope so.
It's not a rumor. The company is called Blue Fin Corp, and they are sole distributor of Aoshima. They also carry Fujimi, and they are working with Honda USA to sell Honda related Fujimi kits exclusively.
I know who they are, and what their strategy is. Let's see how well they do, compared to the past Aoshima and Fujimi distributors in the USA.

i think that the people who get to the market first with a "decent" tuner series would start to lay foundations that would give them loya followers and that others would try and catch up to. Look at the way tamiya has people so desperately scrabbling to see what kit is coming out next.

A company that was loyal now to its customers would have them still as customers 20 yrs from now. where as 20 yrs from now all the people who are probably making the 57' chevvys etc will probably not be able to keep their hands still enough to make the models.

Market reasearch is all good and well but if a company wants to survive it has to forsee the future, tuners are here to stay, not a silly fad. so start catering for us because we are the old farts of tomorrow, so make us your customers today or i wont be buyign your stuff!

All of the AMT announcements posted on the HHMB are reissues only. No info has been posted regarding new tooling. I have a hunch that we'll see more F&F cars including an RX-7. I have seen the diecast RX-7 and RC2 will be sharing stuff between diecast and plastic in the future.

They already are. Compare the F&F kits to their 1/18 and 1/24 diecast counterparts. They share the same engineering, including the same engineering errors. The Eclipse, in all scales, is a disaster. Ditto for the Dodge Charger - I just got the kit and it's a mess. The RX-7 diecasts are not bad, but much about them is wrong - fortunately, when the plastic kit does show up (in 2004, as I understand it), if they repeat the same errors at least they are somewhat correctable.

It seems that RCErtl, RC2, or whatever they want to call themselves, seem to be of the belief that if it looks "kind of like" what it's supposed to look like, its OK.

WRONG.

You are right of course, but at some point the youth market (those under 30), who did not grow up around the A-La kart George Barris creations can't share the passion of older vehicle that was not their first car, their first drag experience and their fond memories in the back seat of the 1966 Nova..

I am simply saying that it would be nice to see subjects that I can personaly relate to... (I think even domestic manufacturers recongise the need for that, hence their introduction of the tuner series and movie cars)

I have built a fare amount of hot rods, the 32 fords, the 69 Camaros and the likes, but I see the chnage in the hobby and I hope they do too...

Back in the 60's and 70's AMt and Revell used to issue "parts packs" to customize their cars with new webber carbs, lake pipes and headers, etc. Its time for them to do the same with the current crop of street tuners.

The same kid the waxed his first 59 Caddy and cruised the boulevard with his friends is the same kid today who is waxing his import. polished his Dragger exhaust and puts on the tuner decals. Trends are trends and even in the smallest town USA the kids are driving imports. Hondas, Acuras, VW, Toyotas and NIssans are our first cars and our fondest memories and the reality we live today. I love old cars, but they are not MY memories, nor are they from MY youth...

Just my :2cents:

I know everyone has an opinion, and I respect all of yours.

Thanks for listening. :)

There has to be room in this model car hobby for all interests and styles - factory stock, classics, lowriders, customs, street rods, racing cars of all types, tuners, trucks, etc. Intolerance of other modelers preferences, both by our fellow modelers and by the model manufacturers and aftermarket, is guaranteed to drive people OUT of the hobby. And, as I have said many times in my magazine columns, anything that hurts the hobby winds up hurting all of us, because the hobby just is not as big as it used to be.

We have to have room for everybody's :2cents:.

Best regards,

http://www.modelcarkits.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/board.cgi?read=335893

I for one am glad they are bringing back the '65 Riviera. IMHO, that is one of the most beautiful American cars of all time.

The original annual kit (back in '65) had all the parts to do the Barris Kustom "Villa Riviera". Hopefully those will still be on the trees when this puppy sees production.

You are right of course, but at some point the youth market (those under 30), who did not grow up around the A-La kart George Barris creations can't share the passion of older vehicle that was not their first car, their first drag experience and their fond memories in the back seat of the 1966 Nova..

I am simply saying that it would be nice to see subjects that I can personaly relate to... (I think even domestic manufacturers recongise the need for that, hence their introduction of the tuner series and movie cars)

I have built a fare amount of hot rods, the 32 fords, the 69 Camaros and the likes, but I see the chnage in the hobby and I hope they do too...

Back in the 60's and 70's AMt and Revell used to issue "parts packs" to customize their cars with new webber carbs, lake pipes and headers, etc. Its time for them to do the same with the current crop of street tuners.

The same kid the waxed his first 59 Caddy and cruised the boulevard with his friends is the same kid today who is waxing his import. polished his Dragger exhaust and puts on the tuner decals. Trends are trends and even in the smallest town USA the kids are driving imports. Hondas, Acuras, VW, Toyotas and NIssans are our first cars and our fondest memories and the reality we live today. I love old cars, but they are not MY memories, nor are they from MY youth...

Just my :2cents:

I know everyone has an opinion, and I respect all of yours.

Thanks for listening. :)
I agree........i bet my first car will be infinity I35. it won't be a 60' car! i know those car are beutiful. but i will like to build what i grown up with then something my dad grown up with!

There are strong rumors that Fujimi and Aoshima have a new US distributor. That's great news. Maybe greater visibility for these kits? Let's hope so.


I see the trend steadily growing and I agree that import tuning is here to stay. My first car was a nissan, my memories are with import cars. I will not suddenly change to 69 camaro's when I get old (even though I like that stuff too, I just love cars period) . I will love what I have always loved that won't change.

I remember modifying Tamiya JGTC cars into street tuners years ago, now I can buy street versions in my model shop.

Last time I went into my model shop, nothing but tamiya as far as import selection. I asked the manager and she said they don't stock fujimi aoshima etc.. suppliers can't get em either. Yesterday I stopped in (this is about a month later) and they were loaded up with fujimi street models tuner 7's and GTR's and JUN Preludes etc etc etc.. :rolleyes:

I see the trend steadily growing and I agree that import tuning is here to stay. My first car was a nissan, my memories are with import cars. I will not suddenly change to 69 camaro's when I get old (even though I like that stuff too, I just love cars period) . I will love what I have always loved that won't change.

You hit it right on the head. We love cars, period.

it cost alot of $$$$$$$ to make new model car tool, even to modify a tool can be very expensive, this is an extremely good list from AMT, the 69 Galaxie and Hilbilly truck have been reaching well over $100 on ebay, expect some new import car announments from Revell and AMT after the first of the year