Can-Con

Oddly enough I had remembered seeing a set in a kit I recently got as a door prize at a show a couple months ago. Checked earlier today , theres a set in this kit along with the newer white letter tires.

I had this '65 Elky body forever. Bought the kit new back in the very late '70s Probably '77 or '78. Rebuilt once a couple years later with the "never ending line" graphics obviously painted by a 14 year old hand. LOL all that was left sitting in a box for decades was the parts in the pic. I had been thinking about rebuilding it using the excellent Revell '65 hardtop kit as a donor but didn't seem necessary with the kit being reissued a couple times since then. I also have a re-builder '64 wagon I had toyed with the idea of cutting up for the project but not fond of that idea. So when the AMT '64 kit was announced, I knew what I was going to do. I think it's time has come.

.I did some cleanup on the body around the window openings. The body is quite thick and uneven so it'll take more work. I also pinned the body/fender assembly. held the body in place. drilled some holes and put lengths cut from strait pins in. glued the pins to the fenders in back and body in front. Now the body will stay put and I can easily pit them and take them apart during assembly

Looks fantastic Mark.

I've known all that for a long time Peter but thanks for adding it so those who are not familiar with the problem will know. To be clear, I never said it dosen't happen, just that it dosen't happen in every case. I dug out some stuff I built back in the late '80s with these tires last night to see how they have been holding up. First issue MPC Dodge Daytona molded in dark metallic grey, slight melt, edges of rims slightly soft in places. First issue MPC Pontiac Fiero molded in red, moderat melt, soft rims edges, I wouldn't re-use those wheels. First issue AMT A-Team van molded in black, MPC tires used instead of kit tires. Minimum melt. slight markings on inside lip of rims. Wheels definitly re-useable. So, wht didn't the Camaro wheels melt too? That's the point of the post, not what could have been done to prevent it or whatever ,, just why this particular set of tires and wheels? I didn't do anything to clean them up before use or anything like that, just painted the letters, [with Tesors flat white bottle enamel BTW,] and threw then on the car. Also, have anyone had the MPC Desert Dog truck tires do this? seems they should have been made from the same vinyl .

The '77 Volare in my post on the first page was mine I bought new in '78. MCM cover car.

Tim, did the '75 release use the interior from the Pheaton?

I'll have to pull out some more old builds to check on them. There definitly is some melt as you discribe on some but I don't remember all of them doing it. 🤔

Finished it up , finally. Just a "quick" curbside with paint detailing. Nothing fancy. The green was some HOK laquer. The roof was done with the old Testors "vinyl roof texture" paint overcoated with Tamiya white. This is mostly all original parts except for the fromt bumper supplied by one of the great forum members and the front seats sourced from another kit as the original's sew patters was not correct for a '74. Looks like she has a little "torque twist" here and there. LOL

As everyone knows, they always eat the plastic they come in contact with. Well, maybe not always , , I built this MPC annual '81 Z-28 Camaro over 35 years ago. Didn't like the tires that came in the annual kit so just used some from another then current kit. The infamous BFG Radial T/As that "ALWAYS" eat the plastic. So, remember, this kit has been wearing these tires for over 35 years, probably closer to 40. Pulled one apart and this is what I found , , , No damage whatsoever. So, Why? I didn't do anything to protect the plastic from the tires, didn't even paint the surfaces where they meet. Was it the blue plastic? Were the tires made in a different plant? Different country? Dumb luck??? Don't know but this has been my experiences with these tires for the most part. But, seriously, were the ones in the Canadian boxes, sold in Canada made in a different plant with a different eormula for the vinyl then the ones from the U.S. ???

All I can really say is I have friends with many beliefs. Some that I do not agree with yet I still call them friends. Even so I still call them "friends" and treat them the same as I always have in the past , the way I view them has changed after I've found out about thier views. And yes, that includes some members of the forums I attend. [no one in this particular discussion though, BTW] This is the danger of expressing political or religious views on a public forum such as this. It can colour your opinion of someone who you have never actually met and do not know outside of this very limited arena. Not really a good thing, I think. This is why I try to not engage in such discussions. Probably should not have even posted this opinion but here it is. Thank you.

This has been discussed to death here in the past. Yes, the roof is too low, yes, the side trim isn't strait and yes, the engine has the wrong intake for the serise engine.

Resin Model Ranch has one. "comes with interior tub , seat, dash, front and rear bumpers, grill taillites red"

Let's just say it could go either way. I know I've always just seen them refered to as Free Spirits but so may years, so many cars. 😉 One thing I definitely know for certain, Mark, is that I don't know everything. 🤪

I'm not gonna argue with you Mark. 😁

Pretty sure Buick called them "Free Spirit" too. I remember seeing one in the showroom of the local Buick dealer back then when my grandfather had to go there for a part for his '68 Electra 225 Limited. My cousin Ron had one of the grey '76s in the mid 80s. I got to drive it on a 120 mile trip one night. Great car. The same Frederictom Pontiac/Buick dealer had 2 of the mid-'80s slant back Grand Prixs in at the same time, side by side one day wehn I was there. MacDonald Pontiac/Buick, IIRC. but it's been decades since they closed.

I'm definitly following this. [btw, this one has those fender marker lights because it just came back from spending some time in Japan]

Thanks John, that looks really good. What did you use for the wash?

Like Harry said above, railroad decals. Specifically Microscale. A few years ago I bought a few sheets of thier 1 &2 inch stripes in HO scale. They're pretty thin in scale. Probably should have got some wider ones , these are really too thin for the grid work on these tail lights.

I want to see someone do a grille with this and put a wash on it. Not something I've seen any of the products hold up to sucessfully. Now THAT would be something.

Vic's Resin does a '65 hardtop. I see one shop has them listed for 54 bucks. No clear parts, plating or chassis. They look kinda rough as they come with the flash still on but they clean up well. That's how my '66 started. I had the bumpers plated and made the windows from clear sheet. I did get Modelhaus tail lights and surrounds asthe ones that came with the kit were all one piece but I could have easily used them if I wanted. The chassis is just made from flat sheet stock. Pegasus wheels/tires.

I did try lacquer thinner, didn't go too well. Didn't think of the alcohol. I have a bottle of 99%, I'll have to give it a try.👍

I don't remember any mention of that kit being reissued. It's a pretty horible kit under the skin but I'd love to have another [and the Formula Sunbird kit] for nostalgia purposes. It was one of the first kits I did a really good job on when I was a kid so I have a soft spot for it.

I have a couple rolls of that. The glue is almost as thick as the wood itself making it almost useless as is. SO, how do I get the glue off so I can use it, any ideas to get it off simply and cleanly?