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John Goschke

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About John Goschke

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  • Location Philadelphia, PA, USA

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John Goschke's Activity



  1. John Goschke added a topic in On The Workbench   

    "Bad Bird" '57 Thunderbird: A Better Windshield Frame for the AMT Kit!
    A sidebar discussion on a thread about hot rod T-birds on the TRaK forum jazzed me into action on this little project I'd been thinking about for awhile. That, and acquiring a set kidney bean Halibrand wheels from an AMT Parts Pack.  I hacked the windshield frame and cowl from the an AMT Trophy Jr. series curbside kit to notch into the body from a "Vegas" reissue of the original Trophy/Styline kit to replace its ill-fittting and incorrect chrome frame. I also used the far superior roof from the Junior kit. The Halibrand wheels were stripped of chrome and sprayed Tamiya Light Gunmetal with flat clear to represent raw magnesium. The larger tires are from an original issue AMT '49 Ford.  Just for the heck of it I drop-fitted some alternative early OHV powerplants, first the Lincoln from the '25 T kit and a blown hemi from an original issue AMT Deuce roadster!  Whatever I use for power though I want to fit under the smooth scoopless hood from the original issue T-bird kit. What do you think?
    For a discussion of the virtues of AMT's old curbside T-bird kit go here... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/91580-vintage-kit-review-amts-other-125th-57-thunderbird/


    • 3 replies
    • 77 views


  2. John Goschke added a post in a topic 1972 Gran Torino sport   

    Very sharp! Nice crisp detailing!  A great example of why we should view promos as raw material!


  3. John Goschke added a post in a topic '56 Stop Light Warrior. Outdoor pics added.   

    Very cool, Tulio!  The black paint is beautiful and looks great with the black wheels and whitewalls. 


  4. John Goschke added a post in a topic AMT '58 3-in-1 Annual Edsel Custom Original Paint Rebuild!   

    Thanks, Marty!
    Thanks, Steve!
    Thanks, Bill!
    Thanks, Tulio!  For overall proportions I much prefer the original, old tool Edsel kit. The new one looks like it's had a slight horizontal section job and is missing a scale inch or so through the middle of the body. In addition the upper windshield corners, the A pillars, and vent windows seem too angular. The interior is very nice. I wonder if it would be possible to kitbash the chassis and interior from the new with a cleaned up and detailed old tool body...
    Thanks, Lee!
    Thanks, Espo!  I was four years old when these cars were introduced and couldn't wait to see one and have been a fan ever since, especially of the Ford-based '58s, the Pacer and Ranger.
    Thanks, Richard!  Sssshhh!, he'll hear you, wherever he is!  Actually sideview were optional on most cars back then - that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
    Thanks, John!  I figured it was best to keep the changes simple and easy. Glad you like the grill!
    Thanks, Hector!
    Thanks, Bill!  This is the kind of custom I like best, where paint, stance, and wheel/tire choice are the main attractions, everything else is gravy!
    Thanks, Troy!
    Thanks, Bernard, for the kind words!  What I like about this one is that it still looks cool while missing almost all of things I'd do if it had been started as a fresh build – maybe I'm working to hard on all the others!
    Thanks, Ron!  Sometimes I wish I were really a magician!  Just think about the possibility of tapping your favorite car with a magic wand and having an instant copy in 1/25th!


  5. John Goschke added a topic in Under Glass   

    AMT '58 3-in-1 Annual Edsel Custom Original Paint Rebuild!
    This old '58 annual Edsel has a nice old paint job in what's likely Testors Metallic Red. I just color sanded and polished it out and wound up with a pretty nice looking body – way too nice to cut the roof off to use on another model! Decide to rebuild it with a recycled interior from a convertible I built around 1976. The lowered chassis is from an AMT '59 Edsel and the wheelcovers are JoHan '57 Olds. The tires and wheelbacks are circa 1961 AMT items. The original builder removed all the emblems along with the center peak on the hood. He also filled in the taillights, so they had to be ground out with a Dremel tool. The taillight lenses were salvaged from another vintage Edsel build that was pretty rough. For a mild custom frontend treatment I ground out the grill mesh from the center section and cut down a piece from a salvaged Edsel horizontal side grill and installed it vertically. Now that this is done I can I'm back on the '58 Ford!




     
    Fabulous photo from the original eBay listing!  If I remember correctly I was the only bidder at around $19 or $20!  Interior, chassis and wheels were brushpainted ultra-flat black!

     
    The convertible interior I built in 1976 was salvaged for this car.

     
    • 15 replies
    • 350 views


  6. John Goschke added a post in a topic AMT Studebaker Avanti 1963   

    Wow!  What an impressive debut!  Welcome to the forum.
    Beautiful build - this car looks great in that color.  You've perfectly captured the nose-down stance of the original Avanti.  Excellent photography as well.


  7. John Goschke added a post in a topic AMT '49 Ford: Rebuilding a Survivor From the '60s!   

    Thanks, Rich. I was thinking that's what it might be. I just don't remember PW being so hard or grip so tightly to styrene.
    Thanks, Tulio. I really liked what this guy did and two other unbuilt first issue examples of this kit in my stash for a build of my own it seemed only right to do a more simple clean, repair, rebuild on this one.
    Thanks, Pete.  His work was definitely above average. Obviously had a steady hand and a lot of patience.
    Thanks, Tom.  I know you love these old builds and have some really cool ones in your collection.
    Thanks, Snake. I will say that it was a pretty easy decision to exercise restraint on this one since it was so nice.
    Thanks, Mike.  Love that term – "sensitive restoration."
    Thanks, Mike. This one came apart very easily. The builder used cement very sparingly and, for those most part, didn't follow the instruction to scrape paint or plating from areas being joined. A gentle prying with an xacto was mostly all that was required to separate the parts. When I'm looking for an old model to rebuild I try to get the cleanest build I can afford.  More often than not if it's painted neatly, the builder was also careful with the cement.  If you must by something close to a gluebomb, watch for waving, distortion or sinkmarks on the outside from too much cement on the inside. many of these old models have fender skirts cemented on – rather than prying them off, to avoid breaking the body, I often use a dremel tool and slowly grind them off. A little more money spent on the $40 model may save you a lot of time and effort working with the $20 model.
    Thanks, Rich. This kind of project is very gratifying.
    Thanks, Pete.  Yeah, MCMF does have its advantages!  I just recently discovered that feature!
    Thanks, Troy.  With all the AMT '49s that've been butchered over the years it was a real pleasure to find such a complete and well-preserved old build!
    Thanks, Ron.  I know you've saved more than a few old models yourself over the years!
    Thanks, Hector.  I like to think the original build made it cool and I just added some fresh ice!
    Thanks, Bo!  Just which my hand was as steady as that of the guy who first built this thing!


  8. John Goschke added a post in a topic AMT '49 Ford: Rebuilding a Survivor From the '60s!   

    Some shots during the rebuild. Any idea what the hard blobular material is that he used to make the hinge block? it is very hard, with a rough surface.




  9. John Goschke added a topic in Under Glass   

    AMT '49 Ford: Rebuilding a Survivor From the '60s!
    Early this year I picked up this vintage custom/hot rod build from the 1960s of AMT's great '49 Ford Club Coupe from one of the guys in my club. I recently took it apart for cleaning. polishing of the old black paint, repair, and refurbishment with very minor changes. I detail-painted the window and side molding in Testors silver, and sprayed the interior with Dulllcote 'cause it was REALLY shiny under the dust and dirt. The original builder was a detail-painting madman with a very steady hand – check all the little red and silver bolts and rivets and the snappy red details on the underside. Of special note is the opening door with a single wire hinge and the door jam and door edge filler panels made from metal from a Testors glue tube.  The tires have hand-painted WWs on both sides and the original builder set the killer stance with wheels and hubcaps from the first-issue '40 Ford coupe. I replaced the head and taillights because the chrome was badly oxidized and the broken and missing traction bars and lake plugs. Putting this old model back together was a great slump-buster!

    • 17 replies
    • 538 views


  10. John Goschke added a post in a topic 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria.   

    Another beauty, Tulio!


  11. John Goschke added a post in a topic AMT 1964 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans Convertible   

    Stunning build with extremely crisp paint and foil work!  Love that color, too.  Beautiful photography as well. "10s" straight across!


  12. John Goschke added a post in a topic 1957 Corvette   

    The cove does seem kinda large but the basic shape looks better than the MPC kit.


  13. John Goschke added a post in a topic 1957 Corvette   

    Johnny Nitpicker, here. I'm seeing proportion and shape issues with the grill and placement errors with the round front emblem (How does the MPC kit compare?). Otherwise, I like it.
    Of course I can't complain too much 'cause I still like the old SMP '59 - '61 kits with their blunt fronts and beady headlights!
     


  14. John Goschke added a post in a topic intimated by grail kit   

    I built one of these motors when I was in my teens when Lindberg reissued their 1/48 Stuka in motorized form. The motor did work, but not for long because (1) the hand-wound armature was probably unbalanced and (2) there were no bearings or bushings where the metal shaft went through the plastic housing, so before long the combined effects of heat and a "wobbly shaft" (In voice of Groucho, "And we all know how much trouble that can be!") smoked the little motor. Useful motor life: approximately five minutes (being generous.)



  15. John Goschke added a post in a topic 1960 Corvette Drag Car   

    Love it!  Just the right look and it's not often you see that original hardtop roof.