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

Review Author
Joe Porche
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$27.99

It has been some 35 years since this version on the Ford Model “T” Delivery Wagon has been issued from AMT. Surprisingly the molds have held up fairly well with little flash or exaggerated seams. Do to the engineering of the kit however, there is a great deal of punch holes to be dealt with. See photo reference #2.

The AMT plastic is typical to their current releases, not too soft, not too hard, just right for trimming, sanding and gluing. All the clear parts were crystal clear with little flash. I used Tamiya primer, paints and glue for the assembly of this kit and Bondo 907 as filler. All products reacted well to the AMT plastic.

Instructions follow a typical layout, engine, tires, chassis, rear suspension, front suspension. One issue with the suspension is the chassis uses metal axles in both the front and rear which can be clearly seen once the Model T is complete. This is not very realistic and again another engineering issue with the kit.

Review Author
Joe Porche
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$28.99

AMT recently released the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow Racing Dreams Snap/it generic race car with some special markings attempting to appeal to the wider base of children modelers. The kit is simplified in its parts count and if the directions are followed a fairly simple build. Clippers, a file or sanding stick, hobby knife and screw driver are all that are needed to complete this kit. Painting is not necessary to complete the build.

Available options are limited to the choice of rear wing or spoiler. There are only one set of stickers with a few placement options. If you choose certain parts such as the containment seat, rims, dash board, chassis and drive train could use some detail painting. Unfortunately for the junior modeler there are no color options called out for, they will have to wing it. There is no under-hood detail or engine, a primary focal point for most race car models.

Parts Count:

Review Author
Joe Porche
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$12.95

This new Snap and Play kit from Revell is part of a series of kits going after the most junior of modelers. Ideal as a first model kit these models are pre-finished in a multitude of colors and have the minimum parts count to simplify constructions.

All the parts are packed in individual plastic bags to retain their finish and are removed the spure runners with the attachment points cleaned up. There are no tools necessary to complete the construction.

Parts Count - 17 total parts

  • 1 Pre-finished Ford Crown Victoria police car
  • 5 Clear styrene and finished parts
  • 5 Black parts
  • 2 Axles with wheels and tires attached
  • 2 Chassis mounting pins
  • 2 Chrome and colored parts

It actually took me longer to unpack, separate and count the kit parts than it did to construct the kit. The instructions are way simplified with no more that three parts going into each step. There are a total of 7 steps.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$30.99

The Kit

This review covers the Carl Casper Cosmic Charger 1:25 Scale Model Kit #826. A 2015 release, this model is a reissue with some brand new parts and updated decals. It is rated a skill level 2 kit for the 10 year and older builder although I think this is a bit conservative, and a level 3 rating is probably in order. This is due to the large decals and delicate frame construction. It is molded in white, clear, and chrome pieces with waterslide decals and instructions. Two versions can be built; either a front or top blower configuration are included. This kit features a highly detailed rendition of the 426 Hemi V-8, 15 new parts and pad printed drag slicks. The completed dimensions are Length: 12” Width: 2½” Height: 2¼.”

Review Author
Gordon Miller
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$23.99

The 1955 Panel Truck is considered to be a part of the F100 Series that lasted up until 1956. It was a sturdy and reliable vehicle for the blue collar workers of the day. I decided to build a vehicle around the same look, with the custom parts added, to a truck that closely resembled my uncle's truck for his catering and restaurants needs. He meant a lot to me and I was very excited to see this kit available for a build on the reviewer's board. There are a few panel trucks out but not many and this one looked very good from the box art. It's rated at a skill level 2 and has just 93 pieces in it. When I opened the box and inspected the contents thereof I seen that it could be built only one way, and that's the way it looks on the box. It is molded in white. So, for me that's a plus. The chrome was impeccable and cut from the sprig without any problems. The kit was without any mold injection marks and did not have any flash to it what so ever.

Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$59.99

I am no expert on the Ford Model T cars, but by using the internet I have found out several things. The Model T was the first affordable car that opened car ownership to the American middle class, which was due to the assembly line production method that reduced car prices. The Model T's made in 1913 were priced at $525 for a runabout, which is another name for this model car. 170,211 Model T's of all types were made in 1913 and this was the last year in which you could get a color choice. The colors being black, gray, green, blue and red. The first Model T was made in 1908 and production lasted for 17 years. Even today the Ford Model T is a name that is recognizable to a majority of American car owners as there are still several thousand of these cars that are still running. If you go to most car shows you will still usually find one or two Model T's on display.

Review Author
John Kaylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$59.99

ICM has produced a little gem – an extremely authentic, well-engineered, gem of a model.

First of all to introduce myself a bit. I have been palling around with my wife and her parents around for the past twenty-eight years, and her family has owned a Ford Model T since my wife was a young child. Between our two families, we own three Model Ts, one of which a 1914 Touring, not unlike this 1913 Roadster. My father-in-law, Jim, restored a T in the early 1970s, and Jim and I restored my wife’s 1926 T in the 1990s. I bring all of this up to illustrate that we’ve spent enough time under these old rigs to know where not to step after one has been parked for a while.

Background

The Model T was the first mass-produced automobile. In 1913 over 170,000 Model Ts were produced; an average of one Model T rolled off the assembly line every 185 seconds. For production to maintain levels that high, everything had to be done at breakneck speed, including painting.

Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$38.00

I’ve heard and read about the quality of Tamiya models and now I’ve built one with only a couple of disappointments.

Engine

The six cylinder engine is has twin turbo chargers. There’s a pair chrome plated and a pair just plain white plastic. The plain one doesn’t even show up on the instruction sheet. All the parts fit extremely well and are well engraved.

Chassis

The chassis features nice detail and crisp engraving. Exhaust is a separate piece – again, one chrome plated and the other plain white plastic. Front and rear suspensions are multiple piece units that get glued in separately. The gas tank is even a separate unit.

Interior

The interior was a major disappointment. While the dash and seats are wonderfully engraved, there is virtually nothing engraved on the side panels. No door handles. No window cranks. No power window buttons. Nothing!

Review Author
Jim Deck
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$24.95

This is a Level 2 kit and contains 87 pieces. The kit is molded in white, chrome, clear, and clear red plastic. The instruction manual is typical Revell with drawings and pointers.

This kit looks a lot like the Monogram kit I built on my grandmothers back porch in the 70’s. Some web snooping has led to this being linked to the 1976 Monogram release but I couldn’t tell you for sure. What I can tell you is that this kit goes together really well with no real vices. The window fit could be better but I got around that issue with a bit of pressure and strategic gluing. Unfortunately the glue gave up its hold during final assembly. Next time I would cut off the door windows. The engine is only a few pieces but detailed enough to look good. A more accurate and detailed painting guide for the engine would have been nice though. The interior is well done with multiple pieces and decals for the individual instruments. The chassis is basic with few parts just like the real thing.

Review Author
Jim Deck
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.95

This is a Level 2 kit and contains 105 pieces of which you will use 91. There are two different front spoilers and two rear bumpers, three different rear spoilers, and four different sets of wheels included. All of these pieces are molded in white, chrome and clear plastic.

I built this kit in sub assemblies to ease painting. The engine is well done and consists of approximately 10 parts. The main chasis is one piece except for the firewall. The molded in engine bay detail is very well done. The interior consists of about 13 parts plus a decal for the instrument cluster. I don’t know that the Type R had a different interior than a base model, but this one appears to be a standard setup. No racing seats, gauge clusters, etc. There are few suspension pieces and a three piece exhaust on the bottom.