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KAT CHAT: Beautiful Box Art!
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Yes, yes, we know: “It’s what is INSIDE the model kit box that counts.” But how many of you can say (when you were a young modeler back in the day) you never bought a model kit based on the box illustrations? That fantastic commercial art of yesteryear drew us in and inspired us to build a kit “just like the box art.” Or, to take it any number of steps further and create our own unique interpretation by kit-bashing, restyling and outlandishly customizing those plastic parts!
Here’s one very memorable AMT box, and despite it being beat up, creased and yellowed, it still inspires fun and creativity in modeling. What are some of YOUR most memorable and favorite kit boxes?
I understand that most of the Linberg small model cars and trucks from the 60’s and 70’s were not technically HO scale[trust me, I had a ton of them till brothers and the Navy.] Are we looking at the re-release of them so I can clear appropriate amounts of shelf and lay out shelf for the ones that are,and could we get release dates? Bob Bigelow
MPC and Polar Lights both had a 1/25 scale of the Richard Petty mid 70s Dodge charger. Will either of these be released any time soon??
I know the 1/16 scale charger was released a few years ago, I already have that kit.
The Polar Lights kit was considered recently, but one of the tools has turned up missing. The MPC kit was heavily modified after the Petty release and would take considerable retooling to backdate it.
The MPC version of the 1/25 Petty Charger wouldn’t be a stretch to see reissued, chassis tooling is there, body would be the only question mark, I’m certain that the street Charger tool is still around and would not take much revision to make a stock car body. As for the Polar lights variant , the body was way off and the chassis needed some help but was good for parts , ideally a combination of the two would be great but no matter , with all the Petty reissues that have come out I’m sure a 1/25 Petty Charger or even a Road Runner are sure to appear! Right around 2!
I agree that box art does play a part in the excitement of these old model kits! Many of the kits that have been reissued are so much more appealing with the beautiful box art that they were originally released with and sell well because of it despite numerous reissues. I can think of several trucks and trailers with horrible box art photos that did not do the kits justice!
To me it make all the difference in the world and that is why am so drawn to building the Lindberg kits you re-release with the original artwork. Just as the right ambience improves the dining experience so does great artwork on the box improve the model building experience. thank you for taking the box seriously in your kits. I love it!
I’d have to go with Aurora as far as box art, those James Bama monster kit paintings, or the later Monster Scenes / Prehistoric Scenes art.
I saw pictures from a show of a new release of George Barris’s “BedBuggy” custom car. Is it going to be released? When? I have an original, but would love another one.
There’s two in your post pic, the Streaker Vette and Street Shark! Both were excellent kits and inspired great things while carefully cradling and wishing in the dimestore aisle. A re-release would be welcomed!
I started building AMT kits over 50 years ago and I have to say that my all time favorite is the AMT Mister Speed rear engine Studebaker funny car.