Robberbaron
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Robberbaron's Activity
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic What did you get today?
I have a soft spot for AMCs as well, my Grandpa always bought AMCs, along with several of my uncles, actually going back pre-merger to the Nashes. My mother likes to reminisce about teasing my Grandpa and Uncle Bob about their "Nash cans", which is what the younger kids called the bathtub Nashes, since they thought they were so ugly.
My Grandpa eventually switched to AMC wagons. His Rambler wagon survived (barely) the infamous 1967 Oak Lawn tornado. My mom recalled looking out their basement window and seeing the back wheels actually briefly lift off the driveway as the tornado passed nearby.
Last car my Grandpa bought was a Matador wagon (guessing it was about a 1977), complete with woodgrain, of course. Last AMC in the family was my Uncle's Concord coupe.
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic What did you get today?
Thanks for confirming, Scott. I also always thought that Pacer wagons had better proportions than the coupes.
This is another kit that I love just for the absurdity of it. Back in the day, a Pacer wagon was just about the most "uncool" car you could imagine (even more so than the Pacer coupes). Kind of amazes me that it was kitted.
Nowadays, Pacers are so unusual and bizarre looking that they really are kind of cool. Of course, if you try hard enough, you can make anything cool:
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Round 2 September '16 Releases
Dont forget that the fourth monster truck in the series was the El Camino, with the original "standard" flat front end with chrome front bumper.
That one of course wasn't really "restored" back to its previous version. Instead Ertl converted it to the AMT-branded SS, complete with poor-fitting nose with unevenly spaced grille bars (then reissued by Round 2 as an MPC). About the only plus is that they finally updated the dash to the 81-85 style.
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic What did you get today?
Also picked up one of the MPC Pinto wagons today. Not sure what it says about me, but 4 of my last 5 kit purchases have been these old MPC reissues.
My LHS also had the AMT Pacer wagons, but figured that might be a purchase for the next visit.
Scott, does the AMT Pacer have a promo type chassis like the MPC Pacer, or is the drivetrain and exhaust separate, similar to the AMT Gremlin kits? Don't think I've seen pics posted yet of the AMT Pacer kit contents.
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic My worst fears realized
Harry, just heard about your situation in one of the other threads. Thoughts and prayers for you as you fight this.
Sorry to here about your experiences with the new healthcare bureaucracy, unfortunately it's now the new normal. As my mom has gotten older, unfortunately she has had to be hospitalized multiple times over the last 10 years. She's been in 3 times in the last 2 years alone, and let me tell you the last couple hospitalizations have been a 180 degree bad turn from just a few short years ago.
One key factor in the Obamacare scheme is denial of coverage to try to keep costs down, so your physician's recommendations are often no longer good enough to qualify you for coverage.
I'm also in charge of my family's finances, which includes monitoring health insurance statements, paying bills for our copays and deductibles, etc. With me, my wife, and 3 kids, it sometimes feels like a second job just figuring out what you legitimately owe and making sure the insurance is paying what they should.
I'm in the middle of fighting my insurance right now for my wife's hip surgery this past June. They're currently refusing to pay because they've deemed it "medically unnecessary". Because of course there's an epidemic of people getting hip surgery purely for the heck of it...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic AMT 68 El Camino
I had the same thoughts, Mark. Though I never bought one, I recall the Street Machine version had Halibrands, while this new box art sure looks like big and little Torq Thrusts. I believe Mike Wherry (Pack Rat on this board) advised that the new TT's in the '64 Plymouth Lawman are also included in the AMT-branded (former Lindberg) '61 Impala. Wonder if they're also including those same wheels in this one?
I suppose optional wheels/tires would be enough (technically) to describe it as a 2 in 1, but if there aren't any other optional parts, it'll be a tough to get me to pry my wallet open for this one, as cool as the soap box car is (since I have several of the first issue Ertl stock version). Just too much cool stuff coming out, with finite finances...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Old Revell "H" part # kits
Oops, sorry for the bad info. I think in my mind I was merging the AMT '58 Impala engine (which DOES have a separate crank) with the Revell engines. That's what I get for trying to go off memory instead of actually digging a kit out of my stash to confirm visually. Hate to spread misinformation...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Old Revell "H" part # kits
Forgot to mention: in the few (older issue) built up '56s that I've seen posted, it seems like there's something not quite right about the c-pillar profile and the quarter window shape.
IMO, unless you can get these old issue tri-5s dirt cheap as a parts source, there's not much reason to seek them out when there are now new tool versions of the subjects that are so much superior. (Except the '57 Nomad, I suppose) I guess it could be a nostalgia thing for some, or maybe you like sado-masochism...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Old Revell "H" part # kits
All these old Revell tri-5 kits have some different issues. I think out of the box, the 55 hardtop probably looks the most correct of the bunch. One thing I've noticed is that the headlights/bezels don't look quite right. I think the headlights mount a bit too low under the fender "hoods", due to the top of the bezel being too thick. Gives the car a "wide-eyed" look compared to the 1:1. If I ever get around to building my Skip's Drive-In version, I think I'll shave some material off the top of each bezel to try to tuck the lights in a little better under the hoods. FWIW, the Skips version also does not have stock wheels/tires. It's molded in black, but mine seems warp free.
Unlike my Hot Rod issue '56 sedan, which is hopelessly warped like everyone else's. Avoid this version like the plague, as I have yet to hear of anyone purchasing one that had a useable body. It's possible that the entire run was warped, from packing the bodies too quickly. Chrome in all these Revell kits of this era was also VERY poor quality. Such was Revell QC in the mid to late '80s. I bought mine at a swap meet long after it was out of production (only a year or so before the new tool '56 sedan came out), so was SOL as far as getting a replacement body or a refund.
Because I'm a pack rat who can't stand to part with anything, I still have it. Only use I've thought of is to build it as a late 60s/early 70s circle track car that's been seriously battle tested, which would allow me to use the existing warpage as a starting point. From what I've seen in pictures, I believe most racers preferred to use sedans as opposed to hardtop for circle track cars, so that would at least make sense.
One nice aspect of all these tri-5s is their overdetailed engines, with separate cranks, piston detail, etc. I believe others have stated that they're pretty much equivalent to the Revell parts pack engines as far as detail, and could look great partially disassembled in a diorama. I seem to recall the '55 has both the SBC as well as a big block W motor.
I believe the top is a little "chopped" in both the '57 hardtop and Nomad, although I'll admit I haven't bought either. My brother did build the Nomad when we were kids though, and I remember he had a heck of a time finishing it. I specifically recall him struggling with the front suspension and steering, trying to get everything together using Testors tube glue. He did finish it, but it wasn't one of his "front row" builds... 😉
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic 1972 Olds 442 Hardtop
Outstanding! I agree with Kevin, your red convertible was gorgeous, but this one is even a step beyond!
Great color combo, that Tamiya really does look like that green they used for these Cutlasses. Seem to recall seeing quite a few in that color when I was a kid.
What puts this over the top for me is the rolling stock - I'm a sucker for pie pans on muscle cars, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone replicate Uniroyal Tiger Paws on a build before. Once again, great work!
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Tom Daniel's '60 Chevy "Street Figher" finished! *a few outdoor pictures added 8/15*
Clean build. Did those wheels come with the kit? Looks like they're a pretty good representation of ET-III's. Don't think I've seen those before...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Ghostbusters Pre-Ectomobile
Awesome build! I wore out our VHS copy of Ghostbusters back in the '80s from watching it constantly. I always thought this original version of Ecto 1 looked cool when it first appears in the movie. From everything I remember, you nailed it, down to that one green light on the roof!
Think I might pop that DVD in tonight for a little nostalgia!
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic 1968 Plymouth Road Runner
Looks like you have one of the infamous RC2 era kits (i.e. Racing Champions, NOT Round 2) that mixed together the chrome tree from the '68 Roadrunner with the body for the '69 GTX. Impressive job making it look this, good considering the issues with the taillights.
Most people write these kits off as unbuildable due to those issues, and view them only as a parts source.
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic A reasonably SERIOUS new-tool '70 Charger Revell is hiding in plain sight...
Not that I expect a separate grill/bumper assembly, but if they DID do an open light version of the grill, at least it would eliminate the R/T vs. non-R/T issue, since the R/T badge is on the headlight door.
Maybe that's Revell's reasoning with the R/T grill? The really ambitious who want to duplicate the original F&F Charger can cut the doors out of the grill and install a set of lights, and this also eliminates the R/T badge...
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Robberbaron added a post in a topic Will we see other G-body cars after the 83 Hurst Olds?
Just to show how much better these cars look without the hump-backed rear ends, here's one with the conventional rear styling.
Supposedly this is one of the last cars built by Auto Fab (outside contractor that did the 2+2 conversions for Pontiac), and the thinking is that they had already used up all the specialized rear windows, yet still had some of the noses. Regardless of whether it was really built this way, I think if Pontiac had offered this for public consumption (maybe with optional TPI engines?) they could have had a hit...