I just picked up one of these KITT kits mainly for the decals and the fact it has the tinted glass. the last reissue had all clear glass and was molded in light gray for easier painting. the only thing I am not happy is it still shares the body tooling with the late 80s TA (mainly the 1989 Turbo TA 20th anniversary car) so the body shell is missing the front fender extractor vents (that were between the doors and the wheel arches). if you want to do a KITT with those extractors you either need to find an original 1983 MPC KITT (look for the one with the GOLDEN WHEELS promotion on the box it will have a large yellow box with 4 wheels on it) that KITT has the vents. or other option was what I did track down just the body shell. cause other than the body shell and the different style flat hood (83 KITT had a flat smooth hood, not the one with the vents) the early and current reissue is the same as the 83 model.
Thank you for making this unboxing video. Today I just finished the season 4 KITT model by Aoshima and it is interesting to see the differences. The Aoshima model has no engine, for example. I wager that the Aoshima model is probably better-made, but for an old tooling such as this MPC kit, it is better than I had expected.
I had one of the first generation model kits back in the late 80s/ early 90s. I was new to model building and completely ruined it. I had not seen the "remove" for the X piece under the hood and glued the hood to it. When installing the windshield I got some Testor's glue all over it and it caused some really weird stuff to happen. Other things happened too, about 10 years later I found the model in a box and thought about finding a kit and starting over, but I never could find one.
I have a case of the KITT models, that I got maybe 10 years ago. I remember building the original release back in the 80s it didn't have decals for the dash, scanner, and no molding of plates either. I'll have to go open the box and see if my kits are the same as this
The one thing I hated about this model kit was the fact the body is not a trans am, rather a GTA firebird. It is missing fender mounted heat extractor. I hope that if they ever reissue this kit, they put the TA body back in. So glad I still have my original 1983 first edition with correct body.
Good review. I learned a lot about this kit I didn't know. I've been planning on getting this kit one day and If I run across it at HL I will definatly get it, with 40% off of course. I'm willing to bet that that standard V8 and exhaust weren't what we were led to believe was actually powering the Knight Rider 2000. Ha, that could be some fun scratch building for this. You've been subbed.
Just FYI, KITT's tail lights were blacked out in all 4 seasons, so I'd recommend sanding the tail lights smooth and painting with semigloss black if you're going for authenticity.
*Just FYI, KITT's tail lights were blacked out in all 4 seasons* ^Weren't the tail lights seen active during the shows opening credits in the Navada Desert sequence throughout all 4 seasons though?! Counterpoint-argument, even if its late by 2 years or so.
The glass is blacked out, but the lights still can be seen when active. Also in the first season when they were rushing to create scenes to bring to NBC to greenlight the show, the car wasn't finished, so you can catch scenes with KITT having the stock Trans Am tail lights.
Sad to see it's still the same Turbo Trans Am body and interior pan they've been using for this kit since 1988. I guess those molds were lost, destroyed or maybe just permanently modified for the Turbo T/A model. I think I built every model based on this mold! I wanna say they did KITT, the 1987 Indy pace car Turbo T/A, 1989 GTA Trans Am and a 1992 Formula Firebird. I recently saw this at my Hobby Lobby for $37! I've built this KITT kit 4-times (2 in the 80s with the correct 82-84 body and interior, 1 in the 90s and 1 in 2002 with this setup). I don't think I paid over $10 retail for any of them (in fact the first one I built in 82-83 was free because the old man bought it for me!). I'm more into 1:18 scale diecast so the Hot Wheels Elite car is the way to go IMHO. Around $50, already built, painted and far more accurate.
I thought I remembered hearing that this kit came with a flat, base firebird hood as an option. Maybe one of the earlier releases? Since this rerelease obviously uses a much later version of the 3rd gen tooling for its body. That would've been the only reason I'd buy it...as a donor for that one piece. I always wanted a model of a base '82-84 firebird, but I don't think any company ever made one? Even though a lot of them came with 4cyl Iron Duke engines, of all things, I always thought the base model '82-84 Firebirds at least LOOKED the best out of all the '82-92 firebirds. I always liked the large trapezoid grills the early models had... thought they looked better than any of the later, revised noses.
Built the Indy pace car version a long time ago. I don't remember all the details but it seems like the turbo assembly was a pain. The finished model didn't look too bad and if I had more expertise it might have come out great.
Nice review. Too bad the kit sucks compared to the original 1982 issue. I purchased the 2002 issue and was disappointed and kind of disappointed in this one as well. The 2002 re-issue just like this one does not have the air vents on the sides. The 2002, the windshield, back glass and T-Tops are clear, not tinted and the back tail lights should not have any details. The original 1982 issue, the back tail light was blank just lit the TV show. What is nice about the 2014 re-issue is the decals.
Can any of the Knight Rider model kits be custom modded to be "radio controlled?" Depending on the scale sizes and details with the interior seatings, inside panels on the dashboard. And led lights on the front of the car??! There are videos all over youtube highlighting various to custom the car with the led lights, chassis details and whatnot. I find it so weird nobody's has any videos on upping their individual beautiful KITT models, to be made 'Radio Controlled' like the Tamiya remote control model cars etc's!
You could place the body over a r/c chassis of 1/24 or 1/25 scale if you wanted to I guess. The chassis of the kit is not made to be moved or driven. It would come apart pretty easy.
Ah, glad you know your stuff too then. Cheers man! Yeah compared to the Tamiya brand of RC's model cars, everything else definitely seems quite tame by comparisons. Glad to know other peoples out there are very knowledgeable on what or how to possibly upgrade the models properly.
He did but it just wasn't the massive firebird on the front like most Pontiac Trans Am had is all, but KITT and KARR had an extremely small Firebird in black on the rear lights above the license plate. With its wings up. www.2040-cars.com/_content/cars/images/48/566048/004.jpg
The Knight Rider kit is probably the most realistic model I have ever seen. It's very cool since the wheels can move.
I just picked up one of these KITT kits mainly for the decals and the fact it has the tinted glass. the last reissue had all clear glass and was molded in light gray for easier painting. the only thing I am not happy is it still shares the body tooling with the late 80s TA (mainly the 1989 Turbo TA 20th anniversary car) so the body shell is missing the front fender extractor vents (that were between the doors and the wheel arches). if you want to do a KITT with those extractors you either need to find an original 1983 MPC KITT (look for the one with the GOLDEN WHEELS promotion on the box it will have a large yellow box with 4 wheels on it) that KITT has the vents. or other option was what I did track down just the body shell. cause other than the body shell and the different style flat hood (83 KITT had a flat smooth hood, not the one with the vents) the early and current reissue is the same as the 83 model.
Thank you for making this unboxing video. Today I just finished the season 4 KITT model by Aoshima and it is interesting to see the differences. The Aoshima model has no engine, for example. I wager that the Aoshima model is probably better-made, but for an old tooling such as this MPC kit, it is better than I had expected.
I had one of the first generation model kits back in the late 80s/ early 90s. I was new to model building and completely ruined it. I had not seen the "remove" for the X piece under the hood and glued the hood to it. When installing the windshield I got some Testor's glue all over it and it caused some really weird stuff to happen. Other things happened too, about 10 years later I found the model in a box and thought about finding a kit and starting over, but I never could find one.
Awesome Review! I love that Car as a Kid. And I still do. I'll have to find one soon.
Thanks!
I have a case of the KITT models, that I got maybe 10 years ago. I remember building the original release back in the 80s it didn't have decals for the dash, scanner, and no molding of plates either. I'll have to go open the box and see if my kits are the same as this
The one thing I hated about this model kit was the fact the body is not a trans am, rather a GTA firebird. It is missing fender mounted heat extractor. I hope that if they ever reissue this kit, they put the TA body back in. So glad I still have my original 1983 first edition with correct body.
Great video! God bless you and yours
It's sure to become a nice KARR.
Good review. I learned a lot about this kit I didn't know. I've been planning on getting this kit one day and If I run across it at HL I will definatly get it, with 40% off of course. I'm willing to bet that that standard V8 and exhaust weren't what we were led to believe was actually powering the Knight Rider 2000. Ha, that could be some fun scratch building for this.
You've been subbed.
Where it all began
Just FYI, KITT's tail lights were blacked out in all 4 seasons, so I'd recommend sanding the tail lights smooth and painting with semigloss black if you're going for authenticity.
+Philip Fortuna Thanks!
*Just FYI, KITT's tail lights were blacked out in all 4 seasons*
^Weren't the tail lights seen active during the shows opening credits in the Navada Desert sequence throughout all 4 seasons though?! Counterpoint-argument, even if its late by 2 years or so.
The glass is blacked out, but the lights still can be seen when active. Also in the first season when they were rushing to create scenes to bring to NBC to greenlight the show, the car wasn't finished, so you can catch scenes with KITT having the stock Trans Am tail lights.
Awesome vedio there's nothing like kitt
Very well narrated review of the K.I.T.T. kit!
Thank you!
Sad to see it's still the same Turbo Trans Am body and interior pan they've been using for this kit since 1988. I guess those molds were lost, destroyed or maybe just permanently modified for the Turbo T/A model. I think I built every model based on this mold! I wanna say they did KITT, the 1987 Indy pace car Turbo T/A, 1989 GTA Trans Am and a 1992 Formula Firebird.
I recently saw this at my Hobby Lobby for $37! I've built this KITT kit 4-times (2 in the 80s with the correct 82-84 body and interior, 1 in the 90s and 1 in 2002 with this setup). I don't think I paid over $10 retail for any of them (in fact the first one I built in 82-83 was free because the old man bought it for me!). I'm more into 1:18 scale diecast so the Hot Wheels Elite car is the way to go IMHO. Around $50, already built, painted and far more accurate.
I thought I remembered hearing that this kit came with a flat, base firebird hood as an option. Maybe one of the earlier releases? Since this rerelease obviously uses a much later version of the 3rd gen tooling for its body.
That would've been the only reason I'd buy it...as a donor for that one piece. I always wanted a model of a base '82-84 firebird, but I don't think any company ever made one?
Even though a lot of them came with 4cyl Iron Duke engines, of all things, I always thought the base model '82-84 Firebirds at least LOOKED the best out of all the '82-92 firebirds. I always liked the large trapezoid grills the early models had... thought they looked better than any of the later, revised noses.
Built the Indy pace car version a long time ago. I don't remember all the details but it seems like the turbo assembly was a pain. The finished model didn't look too bad and if I had more expertise it might have come out great.
Custom made a turbine engine that fits beautifully
It doesn't look like a bad kit (pun intended lol!!!), I'd build it... Great review bro' kutgw!!!
I want one of those so much!
Nice, a Kitt kit
excelente.....
You can also paint the lower body silver and make KITT's nemesis KARR!
True!
facebook.com/hpiguysworkshop
I have that same exact model of KITT. but funny, i found mine at Michaels. lol
Very nice review man. Thanks.
Nice review. Too bad the kit sucks compared to the original 1982 issue. I purchased the 2002 issue and was disappointed and kind of disappointed in this one as well. The 2002 re-issue just like this one does not have the air vents on the sides. The 2002, the windshield, back glass and T-Tops are clear, not tinted and the back tail lights should not have any details. The original 1982 issue, the back tail light was blank just lit the TV show. What is nice about the 2014 re-issue is the decals.
But does it come with a stock dashboard and stock nose ?
There is only the KITT specific dashboard in the kit, no regular dash
Cool review, would be better, if you showed a finished build at the end.
I do out of box and full build reviews.
Too many kits to do full builds on all of them.
I dropped one of the tiny pieces in my carpet... Was a piece to the engine. What should I do?
Start looking.... ;)
@@hpiguy have been... But its amazing how small the piece is... Lol... Some how i was hoping i could order another part lmao
When you gonna assemble it? Could you review it when its done?
When I assemble it I'll do a video. :)
I'm actually missing the gear shifter and the duel exhaust (single muffler only). Some parts are not the right size...very disappointing
Can any of the Knight Rider model kits be custom modded to be "radio controlled?" Depending on the scale sizes and details with the interior seatings, inside panels on the dashboard. And led lights on the front of the car??! There are videos all over youtube highlighting various to custom the car with the led lights, chassis details and whatnot. I find it so weird nobody's has any videos on upping their individual beautiful KITT models, to be made 'Radio Controlled' like the Tamiya remote control model cars etc's!
You could place the body over a r/c chassis of 1/24 or 1/25 scale if you wanted to I guess. The chassis of the kit is not made to be moved or driven. It would come apart pretty easy.
Ah, glad you know your stuff too then. Cheers man! Yeah compared to the Tamiya brand of RC's model cars, everything else definitely seems quite tame by comparisons. Glad to know other peoples out there are very knowledgeable on what or how to possibly upgrade the models properly.
Hobby Lobby, has discontinued the 40% Online Coupon. How sad on there part
I had that one when I was a kid. Artist's impression on the box isn't great.
The chassis still doesn't have the fender vents.
So, they still use the incorrect body mold without the fender vents. Pass.
To bad from what I saw the kit didn't come with the rear wing on a lot of real 1991 firebirds
He did but it just wasn't the massive firebird on the front like most Pontiac Trans Am had is all, but KITT and KARR had an extremely small Firebird in black on the rear lights above the license plate. With its wings up.
www.2040-cars.com/_content/cars/images/48/566048/004.jpg
ok
CAN I PLEASE HAVE PLEASE
this model kit sucks.... all my parts were all off... the sizes of parts arnt the same very disappointed.....