Where to find various vehicle kits?

[RocketFoot]

I had the crazy idea to build some mini replicas of past vehicles that I have owned but I got to searching and it appears that there is not a very huge selection of available kits out there! Where are you guys finding your kits?

Here are a few that I would buy...if I could find them:

1977 Dodge Van
1983 Ford Mustang GL
1984 Chevy Suburban 4WD
1979 Chevy Blazer 4WD
1983 Mercury Lynx or Merkur XR4Ti
1988 Ford Escort
1991 Ford Taurus Wagon or SHO
2013 Ram Crew Cab
1972 Mustang Coupe

I realize these aren't fantasy vehicles or anything but they are/were pretty common, everyday vehicles! I have seen other kits available know that I can't imagine why, LOL!

 

[urumomo]

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/index.php
https://www.oldmodelkits.com/
https://www.hlj.com/

also Hobby Easy in China , https://www.hobbyeasy.com/

another good source as they often have the full instructions for the kits on their webpage ,
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/car/

and Scalemates , a wiki , that shows what has been kitted : https://www.scalemates.com/

 

[scalebuilderchad]

To back up what urumomo said, I would start with Scalemates. That is a database of every kit that was ever made. Well, nearly all. They could have missed a few.

But start there and search for each vehicle you want to build. Many of the vehicles on your list have a kit.

Scalemates will have kit manufacturers and part numbers. And in many cases they will list the places that are selling it.

As for kits that are not made. There are companies that make transkits. You could add the term "transkit" to the end of any search. Example: 1982 Jalopy transkit. And this could lead you to someone that makes a kit to convert a similar car to the one you want to build.

 

[scalebuilderchad]

As for your list. Here are the ones I know are out there.....

1977 Dodge Van - This one is made by AMT I believe. There is a Turtle Wax version
1983 Ford Mustang GL - I don't know what the GL trim is. But there are Mustang kits out there that cover nearly every year.
1984 Chevy Suburban 4WD
1979 Chevy Blazer 4WD - I'm pretty sure there is a kit of this out there. It might not be stock though
1983 Mercury Lynx or Merkur XR4Ti - Tamiya makes and XR4Ti
1988 Ford Escort - I forgot who made it, but this one if out there. I know someone building it right now.
1991 Ford Taurus Wagon or SHO The SHO is out there. I doubt you will find a wagon though
2013 Ram Crew Cab - 3D printing people might have one. But I don't think there is a kit. So you would have to build the chassis and interior
1972 Mustang Coupe - Does Coupe mean with a vertical rear window? I know there is a 72 fastback out there.

 

[RocketFoot]

As for your list. Here are the ones I know are out there.....

1977 Dodge Van - This one is made by AMT I believe. There is a Turtle Wax version
1983 Ford Mustang GL - I don't know what the GL trim is. But there are Mustang kits out there that cover nearly every year.
1984 Chevy Suburban 4WD
1979 Chevy Blazer 4WD - I'm pretty sure there is a kit of this out there. It might not be stock though
1983 Mercury Lynx or Merkur XR4Ti - Tamiya makes and XR4Ti
1988 Ford Escort - I forgot who made it, but this one if out there. I know someone building it right now.
1991 Ford Taurus Wagon or SHO The SHO is out there. I doubt you will find a wagon though
2013 Ram Crew Cab - 3D printing people might have one. But I don't think there is a kit. So you would have to build the chassis and interior
1972 Mustang Coupe - Does Coupe mean with a vertical rear window? I know there is a 72 fastback out there.

Yes the Mustang Coupe has the vertical back glass...there are lots of fastback models but no coupes or convertibles that I can see!

 

[the Baron]

What scale are you thinking of? Most kits will be in 1/24 or 1/25.

You're in Latrobe, so you may well have an Ollie's Bargain Outlet near you-the chain started in Harrisburg, after all. Ollie's carries kits from Round2, who own the AMT brand, the Lindberg brand, and some others. Their offering is not as consistent as a true retail hobby shop's might be, but it's worth checking Ollie's, if you have one near you.

Revell and Monogram both had pretty extensive catalogs of car models, too, before they were merged, and many of the kits remained in production after the merger.

The arts-and-craft stores Michael's and HobbyLobby carry some model kits, too, so it's worth looking there. We have a couple of both here in the Lehigh Valley, and I'll say that HobbyLobby will tend to have more kits than Michael's, though neither is a model shop and will have the same kind of selection as a model shop. But it's worth stopping in, like I said.

And of course, if you happen to have a bricks-and-mortar hobby shop somewhere near you, it's worth looking there. Car models are still very popular and well-represented in the broader scale modeling market. So you may find the specific models you're looking for are still produced by someone.

I don't know if you made it to PennCon in Carlisle last weekend, but model shows are good places to look for kits, too.

There is an IPMS chapter in Pittsburgh, too, which I may have mentioned before. IPMS Three Rivers. It's worth it to reach out to them, too, especially if your subjects were kitted once (or still are) but you're having trouble tracking them down. Someone in the club may have one, or know where you can get one.

Hope that helps!

 

[the Baron]

Another resource is the NNL group of shows. I've forgotten what "NNL" stands for, but I know people who are involved with the NNL East and NNL Philly shows. There is also an NNL show staged in Boyertown, PA, that was just held for this year a week or two ago. NNL East's website is:

https://www.nnleast.com/

and they have a page with other NNL events, that might be closer to you. It's definitely worth reaching out to those groups and visiting the shows, and building some contacts to those car modelers.

I think the shows are not judged, apart from voting for "Best in Show" and similar categories. The acronym might reflect that, but I don't remember, off-hand.

 

[urumomo]

 

[BlackSheepTwoOneFour]

What scale are you thinking of? Most kits will be in 1/24 or 1/25.

There’s really no difference between 1/24th and 1/25 scale. Both are very close in scale.

You're in Latrobe, so you may well have an Ollie's Bargain Outlet near you-the chain started in Harrisburg, after all. Ollie's carries kits from Round2, who own the AMT brand, the Lindberg brand, and some others. Their offering is not as consistent as a true retail hobby shop's might be, but it's worth checking Ollie's, if you have one near you.

That‘s true up to a point but its usually a regional thing. Not every Ollie’s store gets them at the same time.

Revell and Monogram both had pretty extensive catalogs of car models, too, before they were merged, and many of the kits remained in production after the merger.

The arts-and-craft stores Michael's and HobbyLobby carry some model kits, too, so it's worth looking there. We have a couple of both here in the Lehigh Valley, and I'll say that HobbyLobby will tend to have more kits than Michael's, though neither is a model shop and will have the same kind of selection as a model shop. But it's worth stopping in, like I said.

Hobby Lobby and Michael’s are a joke. It’s always the same old, same old stock every time I go there. It got so stale, I stopped going. Every other week HL has a 40% off sale on model kits.

Micheals on the other hand sucks when it comes to model selections.

And of course, if you happen to have a bricks-and-mortar hobby shop somewhere near you, it's worth looking there. Car models are still very popular and well-represented in the broader scale modeling market. So you may find the specific models you're looking for are still produced by someone.

This would be your first stop before heading out to Ollie’, Hobby Lobby, and Micheals. Even if there’s one an hour away from your home. It’s worth the trip. Always support your local hobby shop.

I don't know if you made it to PennCon in Carlisle last weekend, but model shows are good places to look for kits, too.

There is an IPMS chapter in Pittsburgh, too, which I may have mentioned before. IPMS Three Rivers. It's worth it to reach out to them, too, especially if your subjects were kitted once (or still are) but you're having trouble tracking them down. Someone in the club may have one, or know where you can get one.

Hope that helps!

 

[the Baron]

There’s really no difference between 1/24th and 1/25 scale. Both are very close in scale.

The two scales may be close, but I asked because the original poster may have a preference. He didn't say, so I asked.

That‘s true up to a point but its usually a regional thing. Not every Ollie’s store gets them at the same time.

Understood. That's why I said it won't have the same selection as a hobby shop. Ollie's sells primarily closeouts, remnants, and stock from similar sources.

Hobby Lobby and Michael’s are a joke. It’s always the same old, same old stock every time I go there. It got so stale, I stopped going. Every other week HL has a 40% off sale on model kits.

Micheals on the other hand sucks when it comes to model selections.

That's why I didn't say to shop at Ollie's as a primary source. I merely said that it may be worth checking Ollie's, and the arts & craft stores. You may not like their selection, but someone looking for car models may find something to his liking, for a reasonable or discounted price. It's also worth looking at the arts & crafts stores for supplies and tools. Again, I don't say, "Buy all your modeling supplies only at Michael's and HobbyLobby". I suggest that it can be worth it to stop in and look.

This would be your first stop before heading out to Ollie’, Hobby Lobby, and Micheals. Even if there’s one an hour away from your home. It’s worth the trip. Always support your local hobby shop.

Up to a point, sure.