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

Review Author
Gilberto Ojeda
Published on
Company
Aoshima
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$38.99

DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean DMC-12 (commonly referred to simply as "the DeLorean", as it was the only model ever produced by the DeLorean company) is a sports car manufactured by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company for the American market from 1981–83. The car features gull-wing doors and an innovative fiberglass chassis and underbody structure, along with a brushed stainless steel body. The car became widely known and iconic for its appearance, modified as a time machine, in the Back to the Future film trilogy.

Kit Contents

The kit has 2 dark-gray and 1 black sprues, a body, a chassis, one clear parts tree, a chrome-finished tree for the 4 wheels, 4 soft plastic tires, and a grease tube for the wheel mechanism that transforms the Time Machine from a regular car to a flying car in the movie.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$33.99

The Kit

This review covers the Time Machine Mark IV (Back To The Future III) 1:25 Scale Polar Lights Model Kit #POL932. A 2015 release, this model is a continuation of the previous Time Machine version offerings. This skill level 2 kit is molded in color in about 60 pieces in gray, clear, chrome, updated brushed steel, metal axles with waterslide and sticker license plate graphics. While the kit is fairly easy to assemble the details are small and difficult to paint. You may also need to find some online sources to supplement the build with homemade decals to really make the model stand out. The completed dimensions are Length: 7”, Width: 3”, Height: 2-1/4” and it comes with a set of rail tracks for display.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$22.99

The Kit

This review covers the Nestle Crunch Monster Truck 1:32 Scale AMT Model Kit #911. A 2015 release, this model is a repackaging of the popular USA-1 Monster Truck model. This kit is designed to be an easy-to-assemble kit with subject matter that appeals to youngsters. It is all about letting kids get into the hobby with minimal skills and come out with a great looking “monster truck” that has “eye candy” written all over it! A skill level 1 Snap It kit it is molded in color in 21 pieces that are (blue, white and chrome) with metal axles, monster style wheels and vinyl sticker graphics. The completed dimensions are Length: 7”, Width: 4-3/4”, Height: 4”. Assembly time is under an hour.

Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$16.49

AMT and Round 2 are known for their automotive kits and have been for a very, very long time. To add to their cars, here’s some really nice tires as part of their "Custom and Competition" line. Anybody building a muscle car from the ‘60’s needs a set of these puppies. You get 4 F60 x 15 and 4 L60 x 15 tires. There are no wheels in the accessory pack. I just put some Cragar SS wheels for the pic.

And here’s a problem/issue I found. Round 2 does not have the tires shown on their website. Several aftermarket outlets have the tires available from their websites. Regardless, these are great additions to any muscle car and are recommended.

My thanks to round 2 Models for the review sample.

Review Author
John Kaylor
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$79.95

`The key word for this article is “big”.

Kenworth trucks are the “big rigs” of my childhood. I remember being entertained by “BJ and the Bear”, getting into CB-radios, Smokey and the Bandit, and being in awe of those truckers who could rattle on in CB-lingo for ten-minutes straight, and feeling lucky if I could manage to decode any of it. “10-4 good buddy – I got ya 5 by 5! Kojak with a Kodak in a gumball machine handing out invitations to meet the mayor at the Hilltop gun range. Keep to the double-nickel. Had me some hundred mile coffee last fingerprintin’ - on the way to a pickle park – over.” Even vaguely remember a series of trading cards with “trucker lingo” on them in a pack with a very stale piece of gum back in the day.

Review Author
Gordon Miller
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$23.95

The first Corvette made it's debut in New York City's Waldorf Historia Hotel at the 1953 Motorama, a traveling showcase of the days' automotive industry's newest styles. The '53 Corvette was designed by GM legendary designer, Harley Earl. For it's debut, the Corvette was made available in only a single color, white. Also, it had only a red interior with a black folding top. I did not know this until reading up the 1953 Corvette. And much to the chagrin of hot rodding enthusiasts, it also came with a V6! There were only 300 of these produced, as they were assembled in a single plant in Flint, Michigan.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$59.99

The Kit

This review covers the 53’ Smooth Side Trailer 1:25 Scale Moebius Model Kit #1303. A new release, this model should be readily available at most outlets. This is a complimentary version of the original corrugated side 1:25 scale trailer model with a reefer and roll-up rear door option. Moebius designates this as a Skill Level 3 kit for modelers 12 years and older. It is molded in white styrene with soft vinyl tires, chrome wheels, waterslide decals, and an extensive instruction manual. This kit features all the details of the real thing. There is a highly accurate undercarriage featuring cross-members with angle-braced landing gear and a tandem axle configuration. The instruction booklet is top notch with a centerfold for decal placement. The completed model is a whopping 26.5” long with the reefer option. Massive but simple, this detailed kit is the perfect compliment for your 1:25 scale tractor models.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
MSRP
$34.99

The Kit

This automotive model review covers Tim Flock’s 1956 Chrysler 300B Kiekaefer Race Car 1:25 Scale Moebius Model Kit #1212. The release date on the inside of the body is 2013 but this model is readily available at most outlets. Moebius designates this as a Skill Level 3 kit for modelers 12 years and older. It includes 15 trees molded in white, chrome, clear and transparent red, soft vinyl tires, waterslide decals and an extensive full color instruction manual. Also included are some photo-etch detail parts.

This kit is designed to commemorate one of the cars used by the celebrated Tim Flock whose career would lead him to be named one of the 50 best NASCAR drivers of all time. I have to give Moebius Models credit for releasing this model and to IPMS for providing the review sample.

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

Growing up along the Central Coast of California it was common to see Woodies for all types throughout town, at the car shows, school parking lots, and definitely at the beach. They were as familiar as the Volkswagen Vans and Chevrolet Corvairs. Not as frequent as Volkswagen Bugs or Ford Mustangs. I always thought of them as beatnik wagons as those that drove them seamed a little disheveled looking.

AMT Round 2’s re-release of the 1941 Ford Custom Woody is a valued addition for those modelers who prefer the quieter and more functional hot rods of the time. Face it, not too easy to haul 2 surf boards 30 miles up the coast to your favorite break in the back of a Ford 1929 T bucket. Panel wagons and Woodies were the main ride for the surfer beach bums of the 60’s and 70’s.

Review Author
Joe Porche
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.99

In 1979 Pontiac sold 116,535 Trans Am models which still hold the record to this day. My relationship with the Pontiac Trans Am goes back to an evening ride with my high school chum Kendal Morbito in his white 1976 Pontiac Trans Am. We cruised around town a little then headed out to the freeway. After two rather abrupt high speed turns the yanked my eyeballs from the sockets, I was hooked. On December 23, 1977 I spent all the money I had been saving since my first job on a brand new shiny blue 1978 Pontiac Trans Am.