Reviews of products for scale automotive models, including motorcycles and motorized vehicles.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1:24
MSRP
$32.99

Atlantis Models has done it again bringing back the classic Pie Wagon Custom Show Rod by Tom Daniel from the crypt. It’s a skill level 2 number M6738 MADE IN THE USA kit and has around 40 pieces in 1:24 scale kit. Originally released in 1968, the kit features decals refreshed by Tom’s son, Kelly Daniel.

The model contains 70 pieces molded in the original purple, with clear, chrome and brass plated parts. It also features rubber tires, waterslide decals and the original sell sheet. The decals are great and really set off this, “One Cherry Ride” model! Speaking of decals, I also added some tire script decals from the aftermarket for emphasis. Final dimensions are L-6½”, W-3½” & H-3¾”.

I’ve always loved Tom Daniel kits, and this one hasn’t been seen since 1998. It would look great right out of the box and could be built in an evening.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$18.99

A trend, among scale model manufacturers, is producing their own line of paints. Others (AK, Vallejo, etc.) have been packaging their paints in sets geared toward finishing a specific model. ICM Holding has positioned themselves by not only manufacturing the kits but also providing their own line of paints to finish said model. Which brings us to a recent acrylic paint set from ICM Holding, item number 3058-American Cars of the Early 20th Century.

This acrylic paint set includes six bottles. The 12ml bottles of colors included in this set are: Grass Green, Extra Dark Green, Deep Blue, Olive Green. There is an additional 12ml bottle of Varnish Gloss and a 17ml bottle of Primer Black.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1:25
MSRP
$27.99

This review covers the 2022 Corvette Stingray Z51 Coupe. It’s a 1:25 scale, skill level 4 kit, #14556.

Carrera/Revell has finally released models of the C8 Corvette that we’ve all been waiting for. Following on the heels of their recent “New Era” Mustang models, this kit, featuring the new Z51 variant, was worth the wait. Revell’s new offerings are not only state of the art - they’re affordable as well.

The level of detail is stunning and accurate, and the build is straight-forward. There’s almost zero flash on this kit. The “glass” is thin and crystal clear. The tires have excellent tread including a posable front end. Decals fill most of the details that are too small to paint and that includes two stripe colors for the exterior and a bevy of details for the interior appointments.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$63.00

From my new best friends at Wikipedia

The Ford Model A(also colloquially called the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among hot rodders and customizers) is the Ford Motor Company's second market success, replacing the venerable Model T which had been produced for eighteen years. It was first produced on October 20, 1927, but was not introduced until December 2. This new Model A (a previous model had used the name in 1903–04) was designated a 1928 model and was available in four standard colors.

By February 4, 1929, one million Model As had been sold, and by July 24, two million. The range of body styles ran from the Tudor at US $500 (in gray, green, or black) ($8,872 in 2023 dollars) to the town car with a dual cowl at US $1,200 ($21,293 in 2023 dollars). In March 1930, Model A sales hit three million, and there were nine body styles available. [Authors note: ICM Holding also has an offering of the Model A with soft top (#24050).]

Review Author
David Hochheimer
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$43.49

ICM Holding has put out a new model of their Type 320 (W142). This rendition is a Cabriolet B, a pre-war period German passenger car.

The box art for the kit is first-rate and lends itself well to the actual kit. The box is compact and will fit well in any stash until you decide to build it. Although the box is small, no damage was noted when breaking out the materials from the box.

An overview of the sprues once removed from their respective plastic covers reveals crisp moldings with no short shots, and minor mold lines on the smaller parts such as the door handles and window hand cranks. Some of the sprue connecting points are at points where caution is needed when removing the part so as to not damage the part or result in clean-up issues. Although the box art depicts the car with chrome bumpers and other small parts, be aware that none of the sprues are chrome plated.

Review Author
Joe Staudt
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$1,599.00

This review covers the final pack (pack 12) of the Agora Models Jaguar build. Please see parts 1 through 4 of this review for the first 11 packs and more information about the kit.

At long last, we have reached the final pack of this build, and it’s a doozy. Aside from having a fair number of new pieces to add to the model, we will also be bringing together all the various sub-assemblies that are currently littering our workspace or residing in containers nearby. Speaking of workspace, you will want to make sure you have plenty of it. I had to rearrange and tidy up the space I had before embarking on this final pack, and I could have used slightly more space.

Review Author
Joe Staudt
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$1,599.00

This review covers packs 10 and 11 of the Agora Models Jaguar build. Please see parts 1, 2, and 3 of this review for the first 9 packs and more information about the kit.

Originally, this was going to be the final review for this build. But there was so much ground to cover that I decided to split Pack 12 into a separate review.

Pack 10 begins by finishing off the hood and fenders. First the “valances” (inner wheel wells?) are installed on the underside of each fender, and then the headlight covers and chrome trim are installed. This is, I believe, the first place that the instructions actually call for some white glue to hold the covers to the trim. I used Model Master clear parts cement, but any type of white glue would do the job so long as it is used sparingly. Once the covers are installed in the trim, the trim snaps into the fenders. Following this, the stone guard is assembled and installed to the underside of the hood, and the front underpanel is installed.

Review Author
Joe Staudt
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$1,599.00

This review covers packs 7, 8, and 9 of the Agora Models Jaguar build. Please see parts 1 and 2 of this review for the first 6 packs and more information about the kit.

Pack 7 starts off easy by assembling the two halves of the mufflers (or “silencers” per the instructions) and installing them onto the floor assembly from pack 6. The rest of pack 7 is devoted to building the left front and right rear wheels and then inserting the left front wheel into the tire and installing it onto the front subframe.

I am finally getting the hang of putting these wire wheels together. My biggest frustration with installing the first two sets of spokes on each wheel has been getting each spoke pointed in the correct direction to seat properly on the rim. I have found that it is easiest to turn the spoke while it is only about halfway inserted. Once it is turned, it is pretty easy to pull it the rest of the way through and get it into place without disturbing the other spokes.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1:32
MSRP
$24.99

This is a reissue of the Monogram original from the 1980s. Done in an odd 1/32 scale, this kit is a trip back in time for me because I didn’t build car models back then. The kit is very basic by today’s standards but there are a few areas where the detail is quite good. I found the interior had very good texture on the seats and especially the dash. Trans Ams had a brush rotary finish in metal and the texture molded on the kit part looks convincing once painted.

I did use some plastic card stock to fill the front seat backs since they come hollowed out. Chassis detail is acceptable for the scale, but the engine is too small for the engine bay. The “Shaker Hood” sits too low if installed per the directions, so I glued it to the bottom of the hood. The only other part I wrestled with was the glass.

Review Author
Joe Staudt
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$1,599.00

This review covers packs 4, 5, and 6 of the Agora Models Jaguar build. Please see part 1 of this review for the first 3 packs and more information about the kit.

Pack 4 of this kit starts with building the spare wheel and tire, and then continues with assembling the front subframe.

The wire wheels are probably the stars of this kit and are certainly the part I was both most looking forward to and most dreading. You build the wheels spoke by spoke, 120 spokes per wheel, in a painstaking process that is fear-inspiring for someone as fumble-fingered as I am. Thankfully, the first wheel to be built is intended as the spare tire, so any novice mistakes that can’t be repaired can at least be relegated to the trunk…er, boot. Agora also provides a video of the build process on their website so you can see the procedure in action before you attempt it yourself.