Testors vantastic kits tires rotted. What kit has close to same size?

[Hotrodical customs]

Yes I did a bad job on trimming the ties outI. Im really bummed that the rubber did what it did. If any have any recommendations I’m all ears & thanks in advance. I’m praying there’s something close.

[Fat Brian]

That kit has been out recently under the Lindberg brand so replacements shouldn't be hard to find. I don't know of any other tires that will for hose rims though.

[johnyrotten]

Are any of them good enough to pull a mold from? You could try casting your own, that might be an option. 

[Hotrodical customs]

30 minutes ago, johnyrotten said:

Are any of them good enough to pull a mold from? You could try casting your own, that might be an option. 

Unfortunately none are good. Great idea 

[Exotics_Builder]

The Coupster and the Smoothser have the same wheels, so I am assuming they are the same tires (or close)

 

[Hotrodical customs]

Thanks brother 

[Exotics_Builder]

I checked the Coupster kit, and the tires are smaller than the rims which means they would be stretched out to go over the rim.  The Coupster is a parts kit and I did not get a chance to mail off the Midnite Cowboy today.  I could open the box and put the tires inside with the Cowboy kit if you would like?  I'll then get it mailed tomorrow.

[peteski]

11 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

I checked the Coupster kit, and the tires are smaller than the rims which means they would be stretched out to go over the rim.  The Coupster is a parts kit and I did not get a chance to mail off the Midnite Cowboy today.  I could open the box and put the tires inside with the Cowboy kit if you would like?  I'll then get it mailed tomorrow.

I wonder if those tires shrunk?

I have never built or owned any of those kits, but what strikes me in the photos is how aggressive the tread pattern is.  They almost look like off-road tires rather than street tires.

SATCO had a wide range of nice replacement tires available. Check the dimensions - maybe one of those would fit the rims of this kit?

SATCO is long gone, but the tires often show up on eBay.

[Exotics_Builder]

27 minutes ago, peteski said:

I wonder if those tires shrunk?

I have never built or owned any of those kits, but what strikes me in the photos is how aggressive the tread pattern is.  They almost look like off-road tires rather than street tires.

SATCO had a wide range of nice replacement tires available. Check the dimensions - maybe one of those would fit the rims of this kit?

SATCO is long gone, but the tires often show up on eBay.

Looking at the tires in the Coupster kit, I think they were originally the same as the Vantastic.  And the tires in the box are smaller than the rim and look like street tires.  I think, over time, they would split off as they aged.  I think it is the material used in the tires.  I have a bunch of tires in my stash and can check them against the kit wheels to see what might work.  If I were building any of these kits, I definitely would not use the included tires.

You're showing SATCO.  Are they still in business?  I thought they shut down years ago.  I bought quite a few aftermarket tires from them.

Edited Thursday at 04:55 PM by Exotics_Builder

[Exotics_Builder]

The tires are not as small in diameter as compared to the wheels when you bring them loser.  In the box, they looked a bit smaller.  The centers of the tires need careful trimming from the cloddy center tab.  They are not the greatest in tread and look.  I still would recommend using something else, but here is what they are

 

[Hotrodical customs]

20 hours ago, Hotrodical customs said:

Yes I did a bad job on trimming the ties outI. Im really bummed that the rubber did what it did. If any have any recommendations I’m all ears & thanks in advance. I’m praying there’s something close.

If anyone has new treads I can trade I have lots of Pegasus & hoopin hydros sets I’d be glad to trade.

[Exotics_Builder]

45 minutes ago, Hotrodical customs said:

If anyone has new treads I can trade I have lots of Pegasus & hoopin hydros sets I’d be glad to trade.

I'm putting the set from the Coupster in your Midnite Cowboy box now and taking it to the PO for mailing in about two hours.  Look for it separately in the box.

 

[peteski]

5 hours ago, Exotics_Builder said:

You're showing SATCO.  Are they still in business?  I thought they shut down years ago.  I bought quite a few aftermarket tires from them.

The last line in my post (below the SATCO ad), explains the situation.

[Exotics_Builder]

41 minutes ago, peteski said:

The last line in my post (below the SATCO ad), explains the situation.

Doh!!!  Still hadn't had all my morning coffee when I read that.   

[stavanzer]

I've had a set of similar tires in a Testor's Repop of a Johan AMX with special Cast Metal rims.

The tires started to crumble after it had been in my stash a few years.  I eventually traded the kit, so I don't know how the issues was  resolved.

I do know that I do not trust Testor's Tires.

[Exotics_Builder]

59 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I've had a set of similar tires in a Testor's Repop of a Johan AMX with special Cast Metal rims.

The tires started to crumble after it had been in my stash a few years.  I eventually traded the kit, so I don't know how the issues was  resolved.

I do know that I do not trust Testor's Tires.

Well, the set from the Coupster parts kit is on its it way to him.  Spoke about my concerns.  Hope it lasts.  

[peteski]

1 hour ago, stavanzer said:

I've had a set of similar tires in a Testor's Repop of a Johan AMX with special Cast Metal rims.

The tires started to crumble after it had been in my stash a few years.  I eventually traded the kit, so I don't know how the issues was  resolved.

I do know that I do not trust Testor's Tires.

This beings out a question:  I have seen multiple mentions in online forums (so it must be true ) That Testors as a company never made molds or prduced any kits on their own.  They are all supposed to be repackaging of other company's kits (like Fujimi, Otaki, Italeri or others).  If that's true, who made the kits we are discussing here for Testors?

[Hotrodical customs]

I’m very thankful to you for being su a humble kind godly man to send them with the kit. I’m in AWE of your kind heart! GOD sees this & will reward you with something you’re not expecting  

[stavanzer]

20 minutes ago, peteski said:

This beings out a question:  I have seen multiple mentions in online forums (so it must be true ) That Testors as a company never made molds or prduced any kits on their own.  They are all supposed to be repackaging of other company's kits (like Fujimi, Otaki, Italeri or others).  If that's true, who made the kits we are discussing here for Testors?

I know the the Testor's HSO Kit of the AMX was Johan Plastic, with the Metal Rims and Tires added in by Testor's. No idea who made them.

I found this Quote from an Earlier Thread.

• 
•  

"

Posted October 13, 2023 (edited)

The Testors HSO kits with the metal wheels and photo etch were issued in 1998-99 if you go by the date on the instructions wich is the only date on these kits, the Scalemates timeline for these kits are not correct as I believe these HSO series kits came about the same time as they have subsequent numbers, 7401 for the Olds 442, 7402 for the Plymouth 'Cuda, 7403 for the AMX and 7404 for the Rambler S/C, I have a few of them in my stash.
As far as I know Testors did not mold any kits themselves so they had kits molded for them from other manyfacturers or reboxed bagged kits from others like Italeri, Lindberg, Jo-Han and others.
One thing I know is that the AMX, Mercury Comet, Plymouth 'Cuda, Olds 442 and Rambler S/C tooling is missing after the last Testors issues and Testors was to issue another batch of these kits but it never happened due to that, who did the earlier issues for Testors I don't know...if it was left over stock from Jo-Han or if anyone else did the molding for them, if it was another company one would think the molds would still be there."

This says nothing about where the tires cam from but does help with the Timeline of Testor's kits.

[peteski]

I guess the question would then be: does anybody know under what other name the kits mentioned here were ever sold?  I suppose they could have been made by another company exclusively for Testors.  Are there any clues in the way the kits are designed, parts laid out or in the way they are molded? Some companies for example use certain way (or specific lettering style) of molding part number tags on the trees.

Does the box state where the parts were made?

Edited Friday at 04:23 PM by peteski

[Exotics_Builder]

3 minutes ago, peteski said:

I guess the question would then be: does anybody know under what other name the kits mentioned here were ever sold?  I suppose they could have been made by another company exclusively for Testors.  Are there any clues in the way the kits are designed, parts laid out or in the way they are molded? Some companies for example use certain way (or specific lettering style) of molding part number tags on the trees.

Does the box state where the parts were made?

I'll check the two I have downstairs later today.  

[Exotics_Builder]

1 hour ago, Exotics_Builder said:

I'll check the two I have downstairs later today.  

Nothing on the box or instructions

 

[peteski]

Yes, nothing specific but there are some clues.  Copyright 2000. Made/Printed in USA.  I think that in the year 2000 many domestic kits manufacturers had their kits molded in China. But this one is fully produced in USA.  Which model companies were still manufacturing kits in USA at that time?

Another possibility (if no other manufacturer ever sold these kits under their name) that these kits might have been contracted out to some domestic plastic injection molding company for mold design and parts molding.  That would (despite what is said about Testors) mean they actually produced their own plastic kits.

I also wonder if anybody on this forum knows the noted model kit designer Dave Carlock or the box art model builder Carl Thurow. Maybe they could recall some info about these kits origins.

@Tom Geiger and @tim boyd do you guys know the above mentioned modelers or even some history of these kits? 

Edited Friday at 10:10 PM by peteski

[tim boyd]

3 hours ago, peteski said:

Yes, nothing specific but there are some clues.  Copyright 2000. Made/Printed in USA.  I think that in the year 2000 many domestic kits manufacturers had their kits molded in China. But this one is fully produced in USA.  Which model companies were still manufacturing kits in USA at that time?

Another possibility (if no other manufacturer ever sold these kits under their name) that these kits might have been contracted out to some domestic plastic injection molding company for mold design and parts molding.  That would (despite what is said about Testors) mean they actually produced their own plastic kits.

I also wonder if anybody on this forum knows the noted model kit designer Dave Carlock or the box art model builder Carl Thurow. Maybe they could recall some info about these kits origins.

@Tom Geiger and @tim boyd do you guys know the above mentioned modelers or even some history of these kits? 

Pete,,,,I might have met Dave Carlock in the mid-late 1970s when I was doing contract work for AMT, but not sure.  I do recall he was a well respected member of the AMT team. 

Sorry I can't contribute more here....TB 

[1930fordpickup]

Lindberg was still making kits in the USA here in Michigan. 

Being that they ended up with these kits in g%ğj catalog says a little hint has been given.