Commemorative Reissue of a Vintage-style Funny Car Kit

MPC, or Model Products Corporation, is one of the classic names in American plastic model kits. The MPC brand is now owned by Round 2 LLC, based in South Bend, Indiana, which has reissued many vintage MPC kits using original or restored tooling. This 2026 release features an all-new decal sheet and represents a 1/25-scale 1983 Pontiac Firebird Funny Car, issued as part of the celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States (1776–2026). The box is shrink-wrapped and measures 9”x 6.25”x 3.75”. The box contains a total of 102 parts, including:

AMT’s Mr. Speed Funny Car includes parts to build a 1953 Studebaker funny car rear-engined dragster. This is not the same kit as the 2014 AMT Studebaker kit with “Mr. Speed” box-art. That earlier kit had a stock chassis included but no funny-car chassis. This new kit has only a funny-car chassis and can’t be built as a stock Studebaker. The box-art for the kit has no text over the image, so you could cut it out and display it as artwork. All the parts and decals are bagged to prevent loss or damage. The clear and chrome parts are bagged separately. The chrome parts have tissue paper between the trees to prevent scratching. There are a lot of optional and unused parts that you can save for use on other projects. The clear parts are provided in both clear and red versions and are sized for a stock roof or chopped roof. For tires, the builder has the option of assembling hard plastic parts or single-piece soft vinyl tires.

From Italeri's website:

Produced by Piaggio from the late 1970s, the Vespa PX is one of the most iconic models of the Italian motorcycling tradition and a true two-wheeled legend, known all overthe world and capable of captivating generations of enthusiasts. With a unique and instantly recognizable design, it is characterized by its metal body and handlebar-mounted manual gear shift. Easy to ride, the Vespa PX was designed as the ideal solution for city commuting as well as for short leisure trips. It is the most produced and best-selling Vespa model of all time, with over 3 million units. The Vespa PX was not just a scooter, but a cultural icon of the 1980s. Its presence in films, music, and fashion turned it into a symbol of lifestyle and an icon of "Made in Italy".

The date is some time in the late 1920s or early 1930s, the location in the American Midwest during the height of the Great Depression. Farmer John has been alarmed as Jennie, his wife of 12 years, has begun having “spells.” He calls Doc Johnson on the neighborhood phone, so the doc dutifully comes out to John’s farm during his rounds to see what the problem might be. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that Jennie’s condition is beyond his limited scope to handle, so he suggests that he drive her to the county hospital to let other medical folks take a look. John wonders during all this how he’s going to find the money to pay for all this as he holds onto his son Billy with weathered hands. Billy, fighting back tears, is afraid his mother is never going to return, so Jennie lays a reassuring hand beside his face briefly before she steps into the doctor’s flivver and disappears in a cloud of dust. Will she get better and return? Only time will tell.

War Dog Modeling offers a line of stands for holding various types of models (aircraft, ships, etc.) for painting and detailing. I was given the opportunity to try out the model car stand.

The stand itself appears to be 3D printed. All the parts are solid and strong, and it feels well-made. Mine came in an unmarked box, unassembled, with no instructions or photos. It was relatively easy to figure out how it all went together from the photos on their web site, but a photo or a simple exploded drawing in the box would have been appreciated. All the parts went together very easily, and no tools were required.