AMT kits, trash or stash?

[durangod]

I am looking at this one, is AMT junk?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/375499149855

 

[dave]

Hi Dave ,not really my bag as they say and although they are stocked here in the UK cant comment on the contents but I do know that they make a vast range of trucks(we'd call em lorries) and cars and seem popular amongst that fraternity id have thought a trawl of the net would come up with a in box/build go on take the dive would joke a intresting build to follow.Dave

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

Depends on the kit. I've built a good number of AMT kits over the years, some are terrible - the Ford Torino Fastback is one; others not too bad.

I do love MPC and Monogram car kits. I rarely build Tamiya car kits because they're all imports / racer kits. Not my forte of automobile to build.

Italeri kits are pure garbage. I'd avoid them like the plague. Too many errors scale wise.

 

[JUG]

I am looking at this one, is AMT junk?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/375499149855

They sell them at Hobby lobby for way cheaper price. I've built one back in 1988 very nice kit to build. I still have it might get you some pics

 

[JUG]

do love MPC and Monogram car kits

The Ertl truck kits are a very good one to start out as a beginner. I collected several over the years. Built this in 1987 still have it on the shelf it's a 4200 International kinda rare these days if you can find one

 

[JUG]

Hi Dave ,not really my bag as they say and although they are stocked here in the UK cant comment on the contents but I do know that they make a vast range of trucks(we'd call em lorries) and cars and seem popular amongst that fraternity id have thought a trawl of the net would come up with a in box/build go on take the dive would joke a intresting build to follow.Dave

AMT still popping the older ones out here.

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

The Ertl truck kits are a very good one to start out as a beginner. I collected several over the years. Built this in 1987 still have it on the shelf it's a 4200 International kinda rare these days if you can find one View attachment 126274

Hard to find I do agree with. Never built an Ertl kit. I've done a couple Johan kits though.

 

[scottie]

I can't help I'm afraid, I can't say I have ever built one.

 

[JUG]

I can't help I'm afraid, I can't say I have ever built one.

Well hello my friend. If you did build one your scratchy skills would be amazing

 

[scottie]

Well hello my friend. If you did build one your scratchy skills would be amazing

Cheers Mate very kind of you.

 

[PatW]

We don't get the majority of AMT kits, especially the groovy ones, but I would buy one to modify into something military perhaps! Especially the Bulldozer!

 

[OldManModeler]

AMT, Monogram, ERTL, older Revell, etc etc. Make some great kits, fun to build. But as super fine - scale modeling goes they are not it.

Perfect for fun and the shelf. As acurate as needed most of the time.

But if you are a purest scaler prude, look elsewhere. If you lose sleep over sheet metal scale thickness or bolt and rivet counts or weld seems... These kits are just toys to you.

 

[airdave]

That Bulldozer is an old classic.
Have no clue why they dropped the original box art tho.
(I guess some people want to see the actual model)
Not my thing, I built Hot Rods, but I can remember seeing this kit (w/ old box art) on shelves.

Who cares how bad old AMT kits were? They're classics. They're firsts. They're fun.
As a young boy building car models, I cut my teeth on these early AMT and Monogram kits.
I would think, if you're are a seasoned builder, these vintage models would be an enjoyable challenge to fix and build.

 

[ssgteverett]

That one's a 'classic' - Some 40+ yrs old now [1970's issue]; just about the only 'dozer available and the only one of the "D-8H" [which at one time was the largest tracked-bulldozer in the world] - Sure it is dated, by today's standards, but one can build an absolutely amazing and detailed model, if they so desire. Plus, it had something like 450+ parts in it... Check out some of it's builds on the Web. I've still got one 'rat-holed' away and plan to build another someday. My opinion great kit for a 'dozer.

 

[OldManModeler]

That one's a 'classic' - Some 40+ yrs old now [1970's issue]; just about the only 'dozer available and the only one of the "D-8H" [which at one time was the largest tracked-bulldozer in the world] - Sure it is dated, by today's standards, but one can build an absolutely amazing and detailed model, if they so desire. Plus, it had something like 450+ parts in it... Check out some of it's builds on the Web. I've still got one 'rat-holed' away and plan to build another someday. My opinion great kit for a 'dozer.

I agree. I built that dozer maybe 30 years ago, it's long gone. So I bought the same kit a couple years ago and it's in my stash for a future build.

 

[Bugatti Fan]

AMT a bit of a pirate's egg kit wise. Some good, some indifferent and some quite poor.
Someone verbally trashed Italeri in an earlier post. One has to remember that they took over the old Esci kits that were a bit average. I have recently bought their 1/12th scale Bugatti 35B and it looks to be a very good kit.
Many of us old hands often look at old kits through rose tinted spectacles I would guess out of nostalgia rather than cold hard evaluation. Does it matter if an older kit does not fall together like a Tamiya model? Not really as long as the model maker enjoys the build. However, I would draw the line as far as those old Palmer kits are concerned as they were a bit of a joke, unless of course I was a complete masochist !

 

[Jakko]

Italeri has had periods of ups and downs, really, and a lot of people judge them by their "downs" more than their "ups". I know next to nothing about their car kits, but most of Italeri's 1:35 scale military vehicle kits from the 1970s (their originals, not the Peerless/MAX kits they also released) are still good enough for today, IMHO. Yes, not up to the latest standards, but they've aged far better than the same vintage of Tamiya kits that people still build without complaints.

 

[PatW]

To me in the UK, AMT kits are great! They cost a lot because of shipping from the manufacture country. Anyone got an AMT Meyers Manx kit that I can afford?

 

[wjbrandel]

AMT kits are among my favorites to build, sometimes yes you get a bad one but those are few and far between in my experience.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

That Bulldozer is an old classic.
Have no clue why they dropped the original box art tho.
(I guess some people want to see the actual model)
Not my thing, I built Hot Rods, but I can remember seeing this kit (w/ old box art) on shelves.

Who cares how bad old AMT kits were? They're classics. They're firsts. They're fun.
As a young boy building car models, I cut my teeth on these early AMT and Monogram kits.
I would think, if you're are a seasoned builder, these vintage models would be an enjoyable challenge to fix and build.

You got that right. If I had the big box of models and model parts and engines and tires and hood scoops that as I had as a kid in Ohio before I moved to Phoenix? I remember making some of the craziest hot rods but that got left behind. Unnecessary baggage. No problem Dad I'll leave it behind. Hey Robert? Your drum set won't fit in the U-Haul. Oh that's okay just give it to someone I don't know what to do I want to go to Phoenix. That was five piece silver Ludwig drum set with a ride and two crash cymbals and a high hat. All Ziljan symbols. Probably worth a pretty penny today.

 

[durangod]

You got that right. If I had the big box of models and model parts and engines and tires and hood scoops that as I had as a kid in Ohio before I moved to Phoenix? I remember making some of the craziest hot rods but that got left behind. Unnecessary baggage. No problem Dad I'll leave it behind. Hey Robert? Your drum set won't fit in the U-Haul. Oh that's okay just give it to someone I don't know what to do I want to go to Phoenix. That was five piece silver Ludwig drum set with a ride and two crash cymbals and a high hat. All Ziljan symbols. Probably worth a pretty penny today.

I pretty much did the same with my expensive drum set back in my 30's. Needed groceries so i sold it for $250, i paid $1500 for it. We all do what we have to do when we have to do it.... Life is hard!