In Box Review of AMT-Ertl 1/32nd Scale
Star Wars, Episode 1, Anakin's Podracer
Kit no. 30122
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of my kit is 1999.
For sale on E-bay at one site for $19.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of my kit is 1999.
For sale on E-bay at one site for $19.00.
STORY:
Podracers are high-speed one-man race craft. Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) enters and wins a podrace in The Phantom Menace.
It consists of forward turbines attached loosely to the cockpit by a series of cables with the turbines attached to each other by an ion beam.
It was frequently gambled upon and was considered by many, including Qui-Gon Jinn, to be a dangerous sport.
The video games Star Wars Episode I: Racer and Star Wars: Racer Arcade are based on Phantom Menace's podracing scenes.
Podracers are high-speed one-man race craft. Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) enters and wins a podrace in The Phantom Menace.
It consists of forward turbines attached loosely to the cockpit by a series of cables with the turbines attached to each other by an ion beam.
It was frequently gambled upon and was considered by many, including Qui-Gon Jinn, to be a dangerous sport.
The video games Star Wars Episode I: Racer and Star Wars: Racer Arcade are based on Phantom Menace's podracing scenes.
THE KIT:
AMT-Ertl was based in Dyersville, IA. They went out of business. This was an old company that started out manufacturing metal farm toys - tractors, combines, plows etc. They later went into plastic model kits and released some created by Esci in Italy.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a scene out of the Star Wars movie. It shows the podracer racing along.
One side panel has 2 walk-around color photos of the model made up, followed by Star Wars' website address.
AMT-Ertl was based in Dyersville, IA. They went out of business. This was an old company that started out manufacturing metal farm toys - tractors, combines, plows etc. They later went into plastic model kits and released some created by Esci in Italy.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a scene out of the Star Wars movie. It shows the podracer racing along.
One side panel has 2 walk-around color photos of the model made up, followed by Star Wars' website address.
The other side panel repeats one color photo, followed by features of the kit: detailed cockpit and Anakin figure, display stand included, optional position forward vanes, over 150 parts, Lucasfilm's authorization, the copyright date of 1999, Ertl's address in Dyersville, IA and MADE IN MEXICO, in multiple languages, including English.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 8 chalk-white trees, a clear red part, 3 steel rods in 3 sealed clear cello bags, a frosted sheet, a clear sheet with a die-cut windshield cut into it.
I have put the 2 rocket engines together and the podracer.
This kit contains 8 chalk-white trees, a clear red part, 3 steel rods in 3 sealed clear cello bags, a frosted sheet, a clear sheet with a die-cut windshield cut into it.
I have put the 2 rocket engines together and the podracer.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
There are 2 identical 1st chalk-white trees. The each hold 3 wings for each of the engines and their hinges, etc. (14 parts each) One large part has been removed by me.
There are 2 identical 1st chalk-white trees. The each hold 3 wings for each of the engines and their hinges, etc. (14 parts each) One large part has been removed by me.
The are also 2 identical 2nd chalk-white trees. They hold engine piping (15 parts each).
The 3rd chalk-white tree holds more engine pipes etc. (9 parts each) 5 parts are off these trees.
There are 2 identical 4th chalk-white trees. They hold ribbed tubing, flaps etc. (6 parts per tree)
Next is the chalk-white display base part.
A small chalk-white tree holds the Anakin figure, foot pedals (3 parts)
Another small chalk-white tree holds the dashboard, nameplate etc. (10 parts)
Loose chalk-white parts are Anakin's arms.
A clear red part is never shown in the instructions. I have found by looking at the podracer built up by a modeler on the internet that this is a bolt of electricity that gets strung between the two engines.
Brass rods are supplied to support the model on it's base.
The windshield is die cut into a sheet of clear plastic.
The instructions consists of a single sheet, folded into 6 long pages in 19" x 8 1/4" inch page format. Folded again three times to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, authorization by Lucasfilm to use the Star Wars name, IMPORTANT instructions, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing in 9 languages, including English, over a 1-800 phone number to use for any questions or comments about the kit. Copyright date of 1999 and Ertl's P.O. Box address in Dyersville, IA.
Page 2 to 6 give a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
The decal sheet and Blueprinter subscription card completes the kit's contents.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, authorization by Lucasfilm to use the Star Wars name, IMPORTANT instructions, international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing in 9 languages, including English, over a 1-800 phone number to use for any questions or comments about the kit. Copyright date of 1999 and Ertl's P.O. Box address in Dyersville, IA.
Page 2 to 6 give a grand total of 15 assembly steps.
The decal sheet and Blueprinter subscription card completes the kit's contents.
This is a neat sci-fi kit with a lot of detail on the engines etc.
Highly recommended.