|
Post by coopdad on Apr 26, 2010 21:51:30 GMT -5
The next two Broncos are a little more difficult to analyze (so they will not be shown in chronological order). They are based on the 1980-81 (and sometimes up to 85) Bronco. With so many company mergers and buyouts it gets confusing... The first (80-85) Bronco is a MPC issue kit with various decal sets: And a Monster Truck version: It was reissued by AMT/ERTL as an "IHobby Exclusive" as a 1981 (no F O R D across the hood but Ford oval on grille). This set of kits' contents are all the same (apart from decals) and all run roughly $20 on ebay. In fact, the iHobby AMT/Ertl kit still comes with the old Ridge Runner decal set.
Revell brought out their Bronco kit in many forms also. All are 1980 Broncos as it was the only year with F O R D across the hood lip. First is a basic "Custom" kit: The frame, engine compartment, and suspension are VERY crude, almost snap-together in quality (though glue is required). Note the large molded-on fender flares and front bumper that looks like it would be more at home in the rear. This kit also has the incorrect front leaf springs. Revell was very creative with their kit adding options like police lights, off road accessories and even a race boat with trailer. At some point Monogram and Revell merged (or something) and brought out the kit again. In 2000 the rereleased it as "2 in 1" kit. Its body is identical to the earlier kits (less the fender flares which are now glue-on). And even though it is much more detailed and correct than the earlier kit, right now it is much cheaper on ebay. This kit has is much more realistic with the only exception being under the hood. The engine bay is no longer toy like but is still not correct for 1980 (the bars running parallel to the fenders are correct for earlier Ford trucks but not 1980-up). The front suspension is now more correct with coil springs (not leafs) but the TTB/radius arms are all one piece and only finished on one side so modifying (adding a lift) will be difficult. These Monogram kits are probably the same as the Revell kit (though I have not confirmed it): They were also available in the "High Roller" series: Anyone that has built the Monogram kits let me know if they are indeed the same as the Revell kits. John
|
|
|
Post by coopdad on May 1, 2010 19:08:56 GMT -5
Two things: 1. just heard that Revell/Monogram will be bringing out their Bronco again this fall as a 2 n1 kit: downloads.hobbico.com/misc/rmx/2010_FallBrch.pdf2. my son and I just finished the Revell "Custom" Bronco (shown above in black) and it is a very very basic kit. The front suspension is wrong. They have leaf springs and a very diff with cover that is larger than the rear 9". The frame is also very simplified. The headers do not even connect to anything, just sorta aim at a blank firewall. I would say do not buy this one unless you want to build it with your child or only need the body (though the hard top does not come off). The 2n1 kit (in orange) from Revell does not have this very basic design. Suspension is more modern and the hard top is removable. John
|
|
|
Post by wtsf150 on May 1, 2010 20:00:30 GMT -5
John i have built allbeit a long time ago the Revell and Monogram kits are one in the same the Police Bronco kit was one of the early Revell releases i believe after thier merger with Monogram they went to the Monogram molds when they became Revell/Mongram wish i still had a bunch of the kits you have pictured i have built most of them and of course as kids do blew them up or other very bad things Now i feel bad, Willie
|
|
chris
New Member
Posts: 46
|
Post by chris on May 1, 2010 21:55:20 GMT -5
the "bars" look to be a left over from a 73-79 ford f series and 78/79 bronco design.
|
|
|
Post by coopdad on May 1, 2010 21:59:58 GMT -5
the "bars" look to be a left over from a 73-79 ford f series and 78/79 bronco design. That could explain the leaf springs rather than coil overs. j
|
|
|
Post by Plowboy on Jul 30, 2010 19:04:04 GMT -5
I don't think the Revell and Monogram kit are one and the same. The Revell kit is 1/25 scale and the Monogram is 1/24. IIRC,the top on the Revell is molded to the body. The Monogram top has always been a seperate piece. If you look closely in the pictures,you can see that the Bronco emblem is cast way too high on the fender of the Revell kit. It also doesn't appear to have the bucking horse emblem. The inner fenderwells with the parallel bars are correct for the '80-'81. Ford went to the plastic inner fenders in '82.
|
|
|
Post by gray07 on Aug 4, 2010 15:15:34 GMT -5
I have the revell black custom bronco, open but never built
|
|
|
Post by tooltas on Aug 9, 2010 21:30:32 GMT -5
i have an mpc bronco saddle tramp so why they show crome wheels on box but in the f#&^ box the red like the body.so how menty is like that. is my rare....if not were can i get a topper for it.
|
|
|
Post by chrmar on Aug 24, 2010 20:45:18 GMT -5
I have both the Revell Yamaha race team Bronco kit and the Monogram kit (with the red/white one on the box). Even though they're labelled as different scales, they're very close in size. The interior tub from the Revell almost fits perfect in the Monogram. The Monogram kit has the correct TTB suspension and engine while the Revell kit has a TTB/leaf spring hybrid affair and a really strange engine. Unfortunately when I received the Revell kit the windshield was broken (in a sealed box) so never built the Bronco (I actually used the frame and engine for another project). The MPC Bronco kits are, quite frankly, horrible. I had three of them at one time (2 Ridge Runners and a Dust Devil). The fit of parts is horrible, the hard top is in three pieces that don't fit together well at all, the suspension is crap and all the frames were warped. Plus, by the time I had the kits they were as old as the subject matter and I don't know if the plastic just didn't age well but it was very brittle and I ended up snapping a couple bodies. No idea if the later iHobby re-release was in better shape, but I wouldn't take one of those kits if you paid me. The one interesting feature of the MPC kits, however, is the turbo setup for a 351...
|
|
|
Post by coopdad on Sept 17, 2010 8:33:38 GMT -5
chrmar, yes, the iHobby Bronco is much better. I had none of the warping or brittle plastic issues in the two kits we built (other than the same difficulty building the hard top you mention). After building all three (iHobby/MPC, new Revell and old Revell) I feel the iHobby is the best balance of "correctness" and modify-ability... though none are perfect. John
|
|
|
Post by chrmar on Sept 17, 2010 20:11:15 GMT -5
I just finished building the Monogram kit (with the red truck on a grey background) and found it a much better kit to work with than the MPC kit. One issue I noticed, however, is that the frame appears to be a shortened version of the 1980 F-150 as it has the incorrect saddle tank as well as the rear tank behind the axle. The moulded in exhaust and the suspension components are part for part identical to the 1980 F-150. No issues for me as I find it much easier to build than the MPC version. I may have to track down one of the iHobby releases one of these days and see how it builds...
|
|
|
Post by tooltas on Sept 27, 2010 22:10:44 GMT -5
no i fY87UP so i make mud truck out of it
|
|
|
Post by modeljeeper on Nov 26, 2010 1:57:29 GMT -5
The 1/25th scale MPC kit is what AMT is currently selling. This mold is not related to the Revell or Monogram molds.
The original Revell Bronco is a different mold than the Monogram kit and is easily identified by the molded on fender flares. Also as marked, the Revell is 1/25th versus the 1/24th scale Monogram kit. The Monogram kit is what Revell (Revell-ogram) is currently issuing, one of the first being the Yamaha Formula 1 Racing set.
|
|
|
Post by chrmar on Dec 13, 2011 22:34:04 GMT -5
I know this is an old thread but I noticed something new about these Bronco kits and thought others might find it interesting. It seems clear to me now that there are three separate toolings for this era of Bronco: the MPC later AMT tooling, the Revell tooling and the Monogram tooling. The MPC/AMT toolings are described above. The Monogram tooling seems to be agreed upon as the best of the bunch. This tooling is shared with the seemingly single issue of the F-100 Ranger (red truck) and F-150 High Roller (blue truck), down to the incorrect-for-Bronco saddle-style fuel tank. This tooling is the only one that is 1:24 (as was typical for Monogram). The Revell tooling, as I have discovered, is completely different than the later Monogram tooling. Characterized by simplified under-hood detail and interior, is shared with Revell's Snap-Kit F-150 releases, such as the Ford 6-Wheeler and another flareside F-150. These kits share the same chassis and strange engine. Pretty much everything from the b-pillar forward is the same on both kits. Strangely, the 6-Wheeler (an F-350 as depicted) has the correct coil-sprung front suspension (simplified for snap-kit) whereas the Bronco has a leaf-sprung front suspension.
|
|