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Archive for February 11th, 2011
Star Trek Model Kits: 1:350 TOS – To be or not to be? That is the question…
Believe me when I say… “We hear you.” I keep seeing the question coming in and being asked through our website, facebook and on the message boards. Will we or won’t we add a 1:350 scale TOS U.S.S. Enterprise to our lineup of Star Trek model kits? The answer right now is we are talking it through. We in the creative team are doing what we can to make it happen. For right now, all I can say is…
Nothing is official until we say it is despite what others might say, believe or think. We will make a final and formal announcement one way or another at Wonderfest in May. I hope to walk out of the place alive regardless of what that announcement might be.
Please note: Just to be perfectly clear, the red background is not indicative of anything… just my sick attempt at humor.
Round 2 Models: Sneak Peek Announcements
Here are some early “sneak peek” announcements for the original issues of three classic kits, from two different eras.
From 1962, the Auto World Custom Club announcement for the 1949 Ford coupe kit. Another kit was announced along with it, but since that one isn’t available right now we ’ll focus on the 1949 coupe. This kit hasn’t been changed too much over the years, probably because the original AMT Customizing Team got it right in the first place. Most of the customizing features shown are still in the Round 2 issue of the kit, along with nice white plastic. Original issue kits were molded in medium gray, or light blue.
Next up, just a year later, AMT introduced another customizer’s favorite, the 1949 Mercury. Presented here is the original dealer “sell sheet” that hobby shops received. This was likely created before the kit tooling was finished, so some minor details differ. The bumperettes shown on the custom version didn’t make it into the kit, though similar parts can be found in the ’49 Ford coupe mentioned earlier. The Mercury kit has actually had parts added to it over the years, with most of the original options staying in the kit. The exact combination of optional items for the upcoming Round 2 reissue has not been finalized yet.
Finally, from near the back of a 1979 mid-year MPC catalog, here’s the original announcement for one of the best-selling model car kits of all time: The Dukes of Hazzard “General Lee” Charger. Molded in red? We guess the copy writer hadn’t seen the show yet!
