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

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$36.99

Background

Atlantis Model Company was founded in 2009 by the former owners of Megahobby.com, Peter Vetri and Rick DelFavero. Atlantis manufactures injection-molded plastic model kits and hobby-related products. When they started Megahobby.com back in 2000, they had dreams of becoming more than just another retail hobby shop. They wanted to become an actual model production company like the Aurora Model Co. and Revell-Monogram. As Megahobby grew, it gave them the opportunity to create Atlantis and finally come out with our own branded model kits. On August 29th, 2018, Atlantis purchased the tooling for many plastic model kits from the new owners of Revell, Revell Inc. USA-Blitz Partners. These molds were from the tooling banks of Monogram, Revell, Aurora and Renwal, some dating back to the early 1950's. They were stored in Revell’s Elk Grove facility in Illinois and represent Automotive, Aircraft, Ships, Military, Figures, Space, and many other interesting subjects.

Review Author
Joe Staudt
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$24.99

The Netflix show “Stranger Things” has taken the country by storm. In the early seasons, one of the major characters, Billy Hargrove, drove a Camaro that figured prominently as part of his image and of his downfall. Revell has recently released a kit to recreate this car. Let’s take a look.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$127.00

The Ford Model T, nicknamed the Tin Lizzie, was produced from 1908 to 1927. Over 15,000,000 vehicles were produced in many configurations, including a sedan, roadster, light delivery vehicle, pick-ups, fire trucks, etc. The Tin Lizzie's were known for their affordability, reliability, and durability.

Ukrainian-based ICM has produced several variations of the model T, including a 1913 speedster, a 1913 roadster, a 1917 ambulance, a 1914 firetruck, a 1912 light delivery car, a 1911 touring car, a 1912 commercial roadster, a 1917 LCP WW1 Australian army car and a 1917 utility Australian armor army car, a 1917 model T, a 1917 LCP with Vickers MG, and a RNAS armored car. Many of these kits were subsequently issued with passengers or crew.

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$75.00

The Revell Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet is a beautiful model kit issued in 2024 by Revell Germany.

Contained in the box is a bag containing a small sample of Revell model glue and the following Revell colors: 02, 04, 99, 302, 331 and 378. Also sealed in bags are one clear sprue, white sprues B, MD, Q, F, and P, along with silver sprues A and J. The parts are mostly free from flash. There is one set of very nicely molded rubber tiresand a full-mold upper body (N).

I am not a car model builder, so this project was a personal challenge. I learned and grew through this build and had some great conversation with car builder friends. The build begins with the engine. The assembly process was very straightforward and easy. I had no issues. There are several steps of applying decals (to belts), and this was a little tricky only because of the very small surface. The finished engine looks really nice and is an impressive feature of the model!

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$32.00

Atlantis Models has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s “AA” Fuel Dragster (front engine mount) in 1/24th scale. Per Scalemates.com, original mold for this kit is from 1971 by Monogram/Mattel. This review is for the 2024 boxing.

In the Box

The kit is enclosed in a top open box with a painted illustration. The main color is blue with white accent in the middle of the body. There is one white sprue of parts, right and left side body halves, one chrome plated sprue, and one vinyl sprue with tires. Decals are on a single sheet.

Instructions are well illustrated and have ten assembly steps along with a decal placement guide in Step 6.

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$74.99

The following excerpt is taken from ICM’s product website.

The unregulated growth and oversaturation of the United States [stock] market led to the Great Depression, beginning with the October 1929 stock market crash. This economic crisis fueled a rise in banditry, with bank robberies becoming particularly notorious. These crimes were made more effective by gangsters’ use of automobiles. As one analyst observed in the 1920s: “Cars and good roads have dramatically increased certain types of crime. We now see a new kind of automobile bandit who relies entirely on a car—whether robbing banks, breaking into homes, or mugging pedestrians.” The criminals’ success was further enhanced by Thompson submachine guns, which boasted rapid-fire capability, and earned the nickname “Tommy gun.” Notably, these weapons cost around 200 dollars – “about half the price of a Ford Model A automobile.”

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Revell Germany
Scale
1:24
MSRP
$52.99

Carrera-Revell has re-released its Lamborghini Countach LP500S Model Kit in 2024. It’s 1:24 scale in a European boxing as kit #07730.

Rare for the times, the Lamborghini Countach debuted in 1974 sporting a striking angular wedge shape, a huge rear wing and innovative scissor doors that made it an icon of the 80s supercar set. The LP500S version came with a 4.8-liter V-12 engine and a top speed 182 mph. It literally looked like a jet plane on wheels. Shod with Pirelli P7 tires and Campagnolo cast magnesium wheels, it looks awesome just standing still! There were 321 built from 1982 to 1985. If you can find one for sale these days, it will carry a price tag of around $600,000!

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.