Back in the early 60's when I was a kid I built a lot of model cars, mostly AMT 3 in 1 kits. Just lately I got the urge to build a 32 Ford coupe hot rod and went to a little hobby shop to look if there was still those kits available. No luck so far. I found a 32 coupe kit, but it evidently just has the parts for a stock version. I was hoping to get hot rod wheels, bigger tires, neat decals, etc. "Just like the old days" . Does anyone know what's available today? That AMT 5 window coupe kit was great back then - I must have built dozens of them!
There is a whole Model buidlers group in the social groups. Lots of good stuff http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=105
Unless you get lucky and find a local shop that has vintage kits you'll probably need to look around online. Some of the old stuff is still around but you'll have to pay more than the $1.49 they cost back when i was a kid. Here are a couple of links to get 'ya started. http://www.emodelcars.com/index.php http://www.modelcarsmag.com/ http://www.scaleautomag.com/en/sitecore/content/Home/The%20Magazine/Current%20Issue.aspx
Well, I bought the AMT -Ertl kit anyway, and after I got it home and opened it I was suprised to see it does have hot rod parts in it. It's called the "Cl***ic" kit. It isn't exactly like the old one, but it's still pretty neat. Now I have to decide if I want to use fenders or not. Boldventure - you're right they're not $1.49 anymore. I remember when they were too, the neat double kits like the Ala Kart and the Double dragster were all of $1.99!
Depending on how you build the cost per hour for a kit even at $40.00 per would come out pretty cheap I'm really slow, and a real cheapskate so I get a lot of FPH (fun per hour) from each kit.
New model kits run around $15.00 to $25.00. Ya can get nice vintage kits on ePay from $25.00 to 35.00. Shop around and get what ya want. Up the road from you in Green Bay, WI. there are two hobby stores that have a large selection of kits, and worth the drive.
During the week I took a trip to a hobby shop in nearby Gilroy, Ca. I've been there before but it seems they have either changed hands or are trying to get up to speed. They had a surprising number of older kits. Some were of the really olden days! Prices were fair to, wow the junk I've got sells for that much now...!
My favorite model message board is Spotlight Hobbies (wwwboards.modelcarkits.com). There are a lot of incredible builders on there and interests there range all over the spectrum of cars, though most guys there are in their 40s-60s so there aren't a lot of drift cars, donks or other modern pieces. A lot of the old 3-in-1 tooling still exists and the new owners of AMT (and MPC) are making sure the tooling gets used. One of their latest offerings is the old Double Dragster kit, currently offered as a special edition in a tin collector box. There is a "standard" version coming in a couple months that will retail for less than the collector tin's $40. A word to the wise that you may have already figured out.... the AMT/Ertl stuff has lousy box art that seldom shows more than one version of the kit on the box. In almost all cases, though, there are parts for more versions, especially if it's a re-issue of one of the old 3-in-1 kits. A perfect example of this is the '29 Model A roadster kit.... it is only shown as stock on the cover but the box contains almost two entire cars (about 80% of the old Ala Kart kit is in the box as well).
Thats why I got out of them,,,, finish cost nothing trick is 50 bucks and they sit on shelf and collect dust ,Ive still got a few kits .That arent built and they probably wont be ,Shame it died for the next generation .Its a part of me ,That was the stepping stone for the real thing for me .
Revell has 32 ford 5window coupe good kit but need to use Revells stock 40 ford coupe wheels and front and rear end also hav Revell 32 3window coupe the other thing is that need a after market fire wall