AMT 56 T-Bird

[mredjr]

Can someone tell me about the new tool AMT 56 T-Bird I can't find a kit review. I think I remember some negative comments but can't remember for sure.

[MrObsessive]

While it's not a bad kit, one complaint I have with it is that it seems to sit too 'tall' to me. The frame rails also appear to hang too low below the rockers and while the 1:1 car you can see the frame rails slightly, they don't hang way down on the chassis as the kit depicts.

Here's a near dead on side view of a 1:1 '55 (same car). You can see the frame rails just peeking below the rockers a little.

Even Monogram's 1/24 '56 suffers from this malady and when I converted my '56 into a '55 years ago, I remember lowering the rockers about a scale inch to blunt that a bit.

[Mike999]

You're in luck!  I went looking for reviews after I found the AMT '56 T-Bird at a flea market 2 days ago.  Didn't find much, but here's one of the best threads I found. Somebody said "the kit overall looks too big, but the engine looks too small." But most posters seemed to think it's a good kit.

 

 

[magicmustang]

Just finished this Revell American Graffiti 1/25 '56 TBird. I thought it was a good build even with a metal body.

Edited July 12, 2019 by magicmustang

[mredjr]

Looks good Gerald.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Dang it, guys. Bill Geary's photo and Gerald Bowles' model look so good, now I'm going to have to get one too.

I've got a couple of '57s in the stash, but I've always really liked the finless '55-56s better, even though the '57 is more striking.

[MrObsessive]

Of the Tri-Five T-Birds, I like them in this order:

1) 1955
2) 1957
3) 1956

I don't thoroughly dislike the '56's, I just never cared for that Continental spare hanging out the back. The '55's I like the best as to me of the three years, it's the trimmest of them all.

Model Car Garage was to have a PE set of the '55-'57 T-Birds. It's interesting that I see the PE set on the site, but it's not listed anywhere as being available yet for sale.

[mredjr]

Bill like you I don't care for the Continental kit. Does the AMT kit have to be built w/ the continental kit. I am building my old teenage hang out and a friend of mine in high school had a 55 that I wanted to do. I thought the only difference was the plate above the taillights.

[Classicgas]

It's not bad but not up to the caliber of  other kits from amt of the era tho. Front suspension is kinda blocky as are some engine parts. Carb is a blob molded to the intake. But it looks the part.

[Tom Geiger]

My favorite T-Bird.  I'm the original owner too!    I've always been a fan of the 55-57 Birds. I'd say the '57 is my favorite year.

Let's crowd source a set of three....  IF we were wanting to build all three years in 1/25 scale.   Are the bodies and unique features acceptable on all three kits? What would be the best chassis / drivetrain to fit under all of them?  

[MrObsessive]

Testing.......getting TERRIBLE 404 errors trying to answers Elvin's question!

EDIT: OK, those posted and I had a LOT more to add, but the 404 errors on this site are getting to the point I no longer want to post anything. Here you can see the differences and the changes one would need to make it correct. Top is '55, lower is '56.

Edited July 13, 2019 by MrObsessive

[unclescott58]

I'm waiting for Round 2 to reissue AMT's 1/16 scale '55 Bird. A simple, but nice kit. Come on Round 2. 

[MrObsessive]

24 minutes ago, unclescott58 said:

I'm waiting for Round 2 to reissue AMT's 1/16 scale '55 Bird. A simple, but nice kit. Come on Round 2. 

I have like three of those Scott! Two built ones and a never touched kit. Yes, it would be GREAT to have those back but I hope in MUCH sturdier boxes. Each time I see one of those turn up in the 'Bay, the windshield frame is severely bent.

I'd like to restore the one built-up one of these days with some better detail than what AMT originally put in the kit. It just screams for some superdetailing!

EDIT: OK, I thought I had these pics on Fotki somewhere........here are a couple pics of one of the 1/16's I have that needs restoring.

Edited July 13, 2019 by MrObsessive

[MrObsessive]

Here's the '55 I converted from Monogram's '56 for those that have not seen it. Let's hope I'm out of 404 Error hell and this posts................

[Rodent]

56 was 12 volt, 55 was 6 volt. Note the cabin air vents on the front fenders of the 56 as well.

[MrObsessive]

2 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

Let's crowd source a set of three....  IF we were wanting to build all three years in 1/25 scale.   Are the bodies and unique features acceptable on all three kits? What would be the best chassis / drivetrain to fit under all of them?  

Tom, a while back I tried to cram the chassis of AMT's '56 under their '57 and it was 'bout impossible to get in without a lot of fuss. One could convert the '56 into a '55, but the following would need to be done..........

Fill in the fender vents (as was mentioned by Steve)
Fill in the portholes on the hardtop
Change the rear bumper (use the front as a starting point)
New taillight bezels
New seat pattern
New steering wheel
Slightly different exhaust
New emblems front and rear.

[unclescott58]

Roofs with and without portholes were available both in '56 and '57. Only no portholes in '55. Rarely do you see a '56 or '57 without the portholes. But it could be had. And I like the looks better, despite the advantages of seeing things better with the holes. 

[Rodent]

5 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

Tom, a while back I tried to cram the chassis of AMT's '56 under their '57 and it was 'bout impossible to get in without a lot of fuss. One could convert the '56 into a '55, but the following would need to be done..........

Fill in the fender vents (as was mentioned by Steve)
Fill in the portholes on the hardtop
Change the rear bumper (use the front as a starting point)
New taillight bezels
New seat pattern
New steering wheel
Slightly different exhaust
New emblems front and rear.

And a 6 volt battery 

Not something that even Bill would attempt in 1/25, but I believe that 55 had cooling vents in the torque converter housing and the 56 added a fluid cooler in the radiator tank. This and the fender vents were supposed to make the passenger compartment cooler. Or just throw away the FordOMatic and use a 3MT.

Edited July 13, 2019 by Rodent
Beer

[MrObsessive]

4 hours ago, unclescott58 said:

Roofs with and without portholes were available both in '56 and '57. Only no portholes in '55. Rarely do you see a '56 or '57 without the portholes. But it could be had. And I like the looks better, despite the advantages of seeing things better with the holes. 

That's funny, I like the '57's better WITH the porthole hardtop than without.

To me it looks better I guess because of the longer back end, it breaks up some of the 'mass'. I can always tell if there's a '"restored" '55 with an incorrect top on it if it has the portholes. Yeah, that was a '56 option as there were probably complaints about visibility not long after the '55's were intro'd.