Another of the company's first 'promos' was a 1965 Dodge Coronet 500 in both convertible and two-door hardtop versions.Īs with other companies before it, most notably AMT and Jo-Han, MPC developed many of its kits from pre-existing promo toolings. MPC produced its first promotional models in 1965 the first product to appear under its own logo was a highly detailed 1/25-scale 1964 Corvette Sting Ray coupe featuring working front suspension, and including extra speed and customizing parts. There, in 1958, he had developed the first “3-in-1” model car kits based on his innovative “side-slide” injection-molding technique, which allowed the tooling of one-piece model car bodies. Toteff had been one of the original employees at AMT, eventually rising to vice president in the company. (1925–2011) and Dick Branstner with facilities in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Traditionally a Michigan company, since 2011 the "MPC" brand name has been part of Round 2 of South Bend, Indiana (which was also acquired by Japanese company Tomy for $ 640 million. MPC's main competition was model kits made by AMT, Jo-Han, Revell, and Monogram. Unfortunately, I had already glued the side signs on the boiler before I learned this so they are still lousy.Īlthough there are a couple of models of 4-4-0 locomotives of true American outline, none of them have large drivers like the General does and none are the correct scale for a Standard Gauge locomotive on Gauge 1 track.Model Products Corporation, usually known by its acronym, MPC, is an American brand and former manufacturing company of plastic scale model kits and pre-assembled promotional models of cars that were popular in the 1960s and 1970s. I rubbed it on the cloth and that removed the paint on the raised letters just beautifully, leaving the background painted and the letters shiny brass. In frustration, I just painted the whole thing and then laid it face down on a flat paint cloth (rough but no nap) with a small amount of paint thinner on it. It also has a ring of lettering around the edge and they are even smaller. Then I started to do the number plate on the smokebox. I got the side signs almost good enough and gave up on them. I could not paint a straight line along the edges of the "frame". I tried cutting a paint brush down to just one bristle, 1/8th inch long and still could not get a drop of paint small enough to fit inside the letters (like "R" and "A"). (The next two will be lots easier to do now that I know how!) The "background" of the signs have to be painted red, leaving the molded ("brass plated" plastic) raised letters unpainted. I learned how to paint the sign boards AFTER I was almost done. I had to substitute some yellow "chart tape" for some of the lining on the tender as the decals just fell apart. The decals are large and cover large (long) areas and I found that difficult to handle. 1) putting on the decals, and 2) painting the sign boards on the sides of the boiler ("GENERAL" in a 'frame') and the number plate on the smokebox door. There were only two challenging parts to the assembly. The gauge is 2.3125 inches (2&5/16-in) and since it was a standard gauge loco, the scale calculates out to 1:24.43 so your 1:24 is closer than what it says on the box!Īs is, as a model, they won't even roll on track as many of the parts of the Stepnenson's valve gear are all molded as one piece and the side rods are at fixed angles. I can't find the instructions for the one I assembled and the other box is still in the factory plastic wrap. I am sure they are all from the same "molds" (a situation not uncommon amongst plastic model companies). The box indicates: Copyright 1992 The Ertl Company, Inc. The other two, (one I assembled) are from AMT (Ertl) and do not indicate a scale at all. One of the unassembled ones is from "mpc" with the instructions listing: Copyright 1980 Fundimensions, Division of C9G Products Corp. I have three of these "The General" model kits, one assembled and two awaiting disposition.
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