AMT 1957 Ford Thunderbird The Judge Kit Comparison

[@lancerevell5979]

You make a good point about the minimum wage and prices then vs. now. We often fail to realise even two bucks back then was real money! Especially to a kid getting a quarter a week allowance! 😮

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Yeah, that’s true - a quarter a week! It’s crazy to think about it. I had a paper route in the mid 80,s and I was making about $10 a week as a 13 year old!

[@billbaker2725]

One of my Grail kits

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Very cool!

[@grb351]

I love these old vs new comparisons. I have the 1979 release from the TV show "Vegas". It's just a stock 57 T-Bird with only the license plate that said "Tanna" which was the character's last name. I used to watch the show when I was a kid.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Cool. I have not seen that version in person!

[@CharlieHague-m8u]

Cool comparison. That gasser Tbird is awesome.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks! This was fun for me as well!

[@carlkandetzki9077]

Great comparison. I have always been a fan of the bullet birds

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks! Yes. My favorite of them is the 61 convertible.

[@westies1962]

I love that Here Comes the Judge version! Laugh-In had a huge influence ion AMT back in the day!!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I believe it!

[@BigGuyModelworks]

I have that regular 57. I had a grand idea for it but didn’t realize it has that promo style chassis. I may have to go back to the drawing board. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks. Possible kit bash with one of the 56 Thunderbirds. I would have to look again at that one.

[@LarrysModelShop]

That's a great comparison of these two kits. I do enjoy seeing the old kits. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks, I like the old kits too. This was fun.

[@adriangillock700]

I wish they bring the model kit back

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I would love to see this version again.

[@charltonjames7616]

I really appreciate you doing these kind of videos, the comparisons show me what to look at when I start to collect a stash of my own

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

These are fun to do! I have some others he loaned me as well.

[@michaelcooke2559]

Nice comparison of the two kits. Both versions of the kit look great. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@bkmodelcars]

Them birds make awesome gassers Nice comparison ✌🏼

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

It’s a pretty cool version!

[@Pinkys-one-offs]

Cool kits 👍🏻

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks!

[@theintake8961]

Very interesting, thanks🎄🧑‍🎄😎👍

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I'm glad you found it interesting!🎄

[@pappytinkers]

It would be nice to see that gasser version come back

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

It would be fun.

[@billbench3259]

Round 2 should reissue that kit!! The tooling for the suspension and engine should still exist and the holes and score lines are still on the underside of the body.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Being that some of the cavity’s are now other parts. They would have to replace those missing parts.

[@billbench3259]

I would think that they still have the right mold(s) for it. The runners may be blocked off for some parts. Still, it's easy enough to kitbash.

[@goratgo1970]

Good goin' over and looksie. Learned a few things I hadn't noticed on the orig. kit, I do want to make the box art gasser from it, but may add the go parts to the Vegas (Revell?) kit instead. Dig the repop of the decals in GTO as I have that one as well.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Sounds like fun!

[@Merylstreep1949]

Funny how in the 60s version no one gave a second thought to putting the drag suspension directly over the stock one lol I know the original 67 mpc gto kit used the stock chassis to make a pseudo funnycar out of it Oh and I have that model king reissue as well as the later reissue of the proper Arnie Beswick one

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I love finding those kits, especially the reissues!

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

Awesome kit review Rahl ive never been disappointed with an original the body always sells it no matter the cost 😁🤩scooter 😎ps not a fan of the 57more 58/59 but trying to find one now🤣😋

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks. The 58 is a Monogram kit. Should be easy to find. AMT only did a 58 promo. No kit but they did do both a 59 Convertible and Hardtop kits. Those can be hard to find complete.

[@scooterdoughmas3012]

@@TheMuscleCarModeler thx and yea I will look 4 the 58 monogram 🤗😁

[@davidmcgriff2039]

Your video came up in an online discussion the other day. The motor and a couple of other parts are in the current 69 Galaxie kit, there was also mention that some of, if not all (or Most) of the chassis parts are in the AMT A/FX kits (Mustang, Comet, possibly even the Cutlass). As you mention the , the decals are in the MK GTO, so it appears that a HCDJ model could indeed be built, just cost a few dollars to collect the parts. ....well, quite a few dollars, but it can be done if you really want one.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Very cool. Do you have a link or where can I find it? Found it on Spotlight Hobbies.

[@davidmcgriff2039]

As mentioned below, the 56 has the separate front and rear suspensions and no molded in exhaust. The front can also be made posable . Not sure the chassis would work under the 57, but most likely with some kit bashing it could probably be done, I'm just back dating mine to a 56.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

I have a few AMT 56’s. One was planned for a resin 55.

[@seanh2390]

Thanks for this extremely interesting video!

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@timothyharrison8953]

Nice review. The last release (Vegas) has some of the Judge parts, but not enough to build it. Looks like they opened up some previously closed channels. Unfortunately, it gives some parts, but not enough to complete the one time released Here Comes the Judge Gasser. That's where those headers, extra block halves, and chrome reverse wheels come from. Missing the 427 SOCH heads, timing cover, pulleys and accessories, intake and injectors, etc., raised front solid axle suspension, ladder bars and roll hoop. There's probably more parts, but those are a few can see. I was really hoping when it was announced, they'd bring that version back. When AMT released it originally, the engine being entirely chrome was meant to be displayed by itself separately on the stand. Turned out pretty good.

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thank you! I didn’t know that about the chrome engine!

[@Memorylanemodelcars2]

Its Very rNice Yo See , Vintage sversions with Parts Differences From Cutrent Kits. I've Got AMT I/16th 57 kit

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks!

[@gr5535]

S.O.H.C. 427 was produced in 1964 - Fords response to the Dodge,Plymouth 426 HEMI

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Thanks. That is one engine that I have read about occasionally but it was not available factory installed in anything and was only a crate engine. I watched a video a few months back about how they designed and developed it in only 90 days. Very few were made and the support for it dried up so racers quit using it because they couldn’t get parts for them.

[@joemenchaca1326]

I was in 7th grade when I put that same kit together Im pretty sure it was late 68

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Very cool!

[@williamwagaman9538]

Nice comparison sir the all custom parts issue were in the original 1962 box this single overhead cam motor was this only issue with this short transmission this judge k i t from 1969 was its only issue along with the added traction and front end and Wheel Parts yes Ralph that is a scarce one thank you for the comparison

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Very cool. Thanks. I would love to see one of those issues.

[@richott3813]

Kit manufacturers could not legally charge more than the stamped price. Did not include tax which was 10cents

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Manufacturers have no control over what a retailer sells their item for. They have their wholesale prices to the retailers and usually the more they buy the less they pay per unit. Retailers can sell them for as much as they want really. The manufacturers have "MSRP" Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price. But if everyone charges the same price that goes against the Federal Trade Commission and the Anti Collusion laws. This is a slippery slope and with the internet and being able to order online. This is less of an issue but was a big thing many years ago. This is why stores like K-Mart had every price ending in .97 cents, and Sears was .95 cents and J.C.Penny was .99 cents. That is how they got around that years ago. For example your Revell kit was $6.97 at K-Mart, $6.95 at Sears and $6.99 at J.C.Penny. That was not price fixing! That is how it was before the internet.

[@Shade_tree_garage01]

kits today are to expensive

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

Everything is!

[@WBCIN13-l1d]

Boomer toys.. Can't give these away to anyone under 40 today.. Most kids couldn't figure it out or care..

[@TheMuscleCarModeler]

That’s a fairly true statement.