Round 2 AMT 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS "Fifty" Edition

[Ron Hamilton]

I built the 2016 Glue kit when it first came out, and painted it some funky yellow, which I like.

I had to tweak it a little to get the front end down. I think it compares favorably with the '67. My next set will be a Bolero Red '67 SS, a "Fifty", and a 1LE Snapper. I have not decided on the color yet, but I saw this Lime one at my favorite dealer.

I have some Testors' Model Master Lime Lacquer I can use. (I know it's a Dodge/Plymouth color, but it is what I have.) This ride is growing on me!

[Don Sikora II]

Man, I like that green 1LE!

[horsepower]

I saw a testing version of a Camaro in that day-glo green (a quote of the factory press release) it was an experiment in producing the four cylinder version with a turbocharged engine putting out 275 horsepower, and with a tuned suspension set up so it would make a better autocross package. They said there weren't any definite plans for it to make production BUT that all the parts ARE available from Mr. Goodwrench should some enterprising dealer feel the urge to put one together. I guess I'm strange but it sounds like something I'd buy.

[Allen Wrench]

I'm building the Fifty kit right now. Very nice kit; I like it very much. Here are a few of my observations:

1. The ride height issues are due to the thickness of the chassis-interior stack and possibly the engine bay insert. I mocked up the body only to the completed chassis; the stance looked spot-on to me. With the interior and engine bay insert in place, there's an unsightly  gap between the front tires and the tops of the wheel arches.

2. The rear suspension is ridiculously over-complicated with no real visual payoff. Plus, the intent of having it broken down into so many pieces is betrayed by the molded-in driveshaft and the clunky, toy-like tie rod. I would have preferred for Round 2 to have invested such effort where it would have mattered more visually, such as providing separate chrome inserts for the side-view mirrors, plating the exhaust tips, etc.

3. There is no texturing of any kind on the interior or engine parts.

4. Rather than strip and repaint the wheels, I toned down the chrome with a couple of airbrushed coats of Tamiya Smoke acrylic. I'm happy with the way they look.

5. The kit's orange hood decals are incorrectly shaped. The "Camaro" logos for the engine cover are absent from the decal sheet. And, in this day and age, there's really no excuse for Round 2 not including decals for the side marker lights and third brake light.

6. The glass unit, with the tampo-printed black borders and defroster lines, looks great. 

7. Duplicolor GM Storm Grey looks like a close match to the Fifty's factory hue.

8. There have been allusions to these AMT Camaro kits being "Tamiya-like." Well, sorry, but, based on my experience with this kit, that's simply not the case. In fact, calling this kit "Tamiya-like" is a bit like calling my 80-year-old grandmother "Beyonce-like" because she and Beyonce both happen to be females. That's just fact and it's not a slam on Round 2 or on this kit, which, if you'll recall, I said I really like. It's just not at all "Tamiya-like;" and referring to it in the same breath as a Tamiya offering is pure hyperbole. Round 2 has a long way to go if it wants to reach that standard. And, indeed, I hope Round 2 uses this kit as a springboard for refinement and improvement to any new-tool kits it might see fit to do in the future.

 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Allen Wrench

[martinfan5]

I'm building the Fifty kit right now. Very nice kit; I like it very much. Here are a few of my observations:

1. The ride height issues are due to the thickness of the chassis-interior stack and possibly the engine bay insert. I mocked up the body only to the completed chassis; the stance looked spot-on to me. With the interior and engine bay insert in place, there's an unsightly  gap between the front tires and the tops of the wheel arches.

2. The rear suspension is ridiculously over-complicated with no real visual payoff. Plus, the intent of having it broken down into so many pieces is betrayed by the molded-in driveshaft and the clunky, toy-like tie rod. I would have preferred for Round 2 to have invested such effort where it would have mattered more visually, such as providing separate chrome inserts for the side-view mirrors, plating the exhaust tips, etc.

3. There is no texturing of any kind on the interior or engine parts.

4. Rather than strip and repaint the wheels, I toned down the chrome with a couple of airbrushed coats of Tamiya Smoke acrylic. I'm happy with the way they look.

5. The kit's orange hood decals are incorrectly shaped. The "Camaro" logos for the engine cover are absent from the decal sheet. And, in this day and age, there's really no excuse for Round 2 not including decals for the side marker lights and third brake light.

6. The glass unit, with the tampo-printed black borders and defroster lines, looks great. 

7. Duplicolor GM Storm Grey looks like a close match to the Fifty's factory hue.

8. There have been allusions to these AMT Camaro kits being "Tamiya-like." Well, sorry, but, based on my experience with this kit, that's simply not the case. In fact, calling this kit "Tamiya-like" is a bit like calling my 80-year-old grandmother "Beyonce-like" because she and Beyonce both happen to be females. That's just fact and it's not a slam on Round 2 or on this kit, which, if you'll recall, I said I really like. It's just not at all "Tamiya-like;" and referring to it in the same breath as a Tamiya offering is pure hyperbole. Round 2 has a long way to go if it wants to reach that standard. And, indeed, I hope Round 2 uses this kit as a springboard for refinement and improvement to any new-tool kits it might see fit to do in the future.

 

I agree, it is a decent kit minus the issue that yourself and I have pointed out,  you are the second person that has figured out the interior/engine bay insert is causing the some of the ride height issues.

I want to add on to your comments about the suspension,  I completely agree, they over complicated it for no payoff, but at the same time, they simplified the front suspension, bit of a head scratcher .

[Chris in Berwyn]

I want to get a 50 - it's really sharp.  I don't understand the molded in driveshaft - it's a reversion to the 60s!

[martinfan5]

I want to get a 50 - it's really sharp.  I don't understand the molded in driveshaft - it's a reversion to the 60s!

Because the tooling is being used for the snap and glue kit,  my guess is to why the glue kit is getting the molded in drive shaft.

Edited March 24, 2017 by martinfan5

[chadrob30]

Are you thinking about this one?

It is a good looking car.

I was making fun of the typo where you typed "CAT" instead of "CAR" lol...

[horsepower]

Are you thinking about this one?

It is a good looking car.

It sure is, but where's the picturs of his cat? lol??

[Ron Hamilton]

I was making fun of the typo where you typed "CAT" instead of "CAR" lol...

I must have had cat on the brain. I fixed the typo.

It sure is, but where's the picturs of his cat? lol??

He's at home.

[Brett Barrow]

 

 

I had to tweak it a little to get the front end down. I think it compares favorably with the '67. My next set will be a Bolero Red '67 SS, a "Fifty", and a 1LE Snapper. I have not decided on the color yet, but I saw this Lime one at my favorite dealer.

I have some Testors' Model Master Lime Lacquer I can use. (I know it's a Dodge/Plymouth color, but it is what I have.) This ride is growing on me!

I believe that new green is called Krypton Green on a Camaro, it was originally a 2016 Holden color called "Spitfire".