TECHMAN

'55 and '56 Chevy engines were 265 cubic inch, '57 was first year of the 283. The 265 used a "remote" oil filter (a canister type) that mounted topside on the motor, by the thermostat housing. '57 brought along the oil filter pad on the driver's side of the block. And as MARK pointed out, the "side mounts" issue, look in '58 and newer kits. (Not knocking AMT, as the majority of my kits are AMT) but as a general rule, seems that the Revell kits have a little more detail when it comes to engine/trans/chassis (IMHO). DJ

Actually, could be marketed as "The Perfect Companion For The Brain-dead" !!!!!!!!! Another "Pet Rock" type of toy........ (At least the Pet Rock was affordable, bet these little dudes aren't cheap!!!!!!) 🤪 DJ

At our local Wally-World, they took the model display off the floor and replaced it with "quick-sale" stuff for BLACK FRIDAY, was kinda shocked, but....... Went back out there this morning, and models were back out on the sales floor...... Went ahead and picked up a 71 Duster kit (second one off that display for me) to build an old circle tracker that raced in eastern Texas (back when)...... Still some good stuff left, but only about 20% of the original grouping remains. Hope they sell out so that "management" orders in more. 🤞 DJ

Will most likely have to get one to built a Sedan Delivery out of...... Seems like they should sell, if for no other reason than they are something different.... 😉 DJ

Again, W O W !!!!!!! Guess now that you're gonna have to "upgrade" the car it's hauling 😉 Amazing job there Ken !!! 👍👍 DJ

Aint no left-overs there!!!!!!!!!!! 😄 DJ

Everybody has a different method, so you should get several different answers....... Mine, like BOB's, would be to cut the bumper loose from the panel with a razor saw, toss the upper panel you want to paint into a "stripper" (personally, I use Walmart's private label bleach) to "de-chrome" it, then I use an oil-base paint (such as Testor's) to paint the part, glue them back together afterwards, and you should have the results you're looking for without tons of effort.... Hope that helps..... 😊 DJ

SAFE travels, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!! And may ALL the members enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving too DJ

Congrats to y'all!!!! Great news that things will stay "pretty much" the same, ever forward!!!! 👍👍 DJ

SAD news always..... Always hate to hear of any hobby shop's closing. Having moved into an area that does not have a "local" hobby shop, and now requiring at least a 45 minute (one way) drive to buy any type of model/related-item, the news of any closing regarding a hobby shop, just seems to hit harder...... DJ

Our Walmart had some of those kits in the most recent model display they received, but in just a couple days, they were all gone. Am pretty certain, they were the first thing to sell out...... Cool kit!!!! DJ

DITTO!!!! Not my cup-of-tea...... But I respect the rights of those who do indulge. I'm "old school" enough, I still prefer to talk "face-to-face" when possible, and (as a matter of choice) use the phone to talk on, rather than text..... Just me, and NOT a criticism of those who are not still living in the dinosaur age... 😉 But back to the subject: Please add my name to the list of those who are thankful for this forum. DJ

JON First, I am NOT an expert, but from what I've seen, the '69 model was the last kit that was produced, and from what I've seen, seem to be the most affordable..... I've built that kit, and really, wasn't all that bad of fitment..... Not really certain if any of the earlier releases had much in the way of accessory parts, but the greater amount of the "non-stock" parts were custom body parts in the kit I built...... Look forward to seeing your build. DJ

I went by our Walmart this morning, model display has been getting a workout!!!! Good to see, maybe help the "powers-that-be" decide to get in more models...... Anyhow, went ahead and grabbed one of the 71 Duster kits (wife used to drive one, way back when) and look thru the rest of the kits. And to try to be more accurate: CRAIG is correct, kits were all AMT and MPC, no REVELL. I stand corrected, guess I was day-dreaming when I thought there were Revell kits too...... (that or WISHFUL thinking)😊 DJ

Our local Walmart has "skipped" the past couple of years because of the large amount of kits they had to put on their clearance shelves when they received two displays in a row that were overloaded with 41 Plymouth "Coke kits"....... ( I bought 4 of them for less than $20 including tax, didn't need them, but at that price)...... At least this year, lots of choices here!!!! 😊 DJ

In defense of our USPS: To borrow a few words, "As of late", our local PO has been doing GREAT (hope I haven't jinxed things😉), last things sent/received was to/from Chicago (and we're here in South Central Kentucky). Both packages were mailed on Friday, and both packages showed up at their destinations on Monday morning. The exchange went smoothly THANKS to USPS...... Not always perfect, but for the money, not-so-bad. DJ

Was at our local Walmart yesterday, and they were setting up a new display for the Christmas season, so decided to run back by there this morning to see "what" was going to be in the display. Was pleasantly surprised!!!!! NO COKE KITS, but rather, a really NICE assortment of kits. Would take a page to attempt to list them all, but were mainly the newer (and newest) AMT/MPC/REVELL kits, all priced at $19.97........ Some of the kits that have been out for a bit, but, all in all, a nice enough assortment that most hobby shops would do well with. It's a shame they don't do that year-round...... (it's either 45 miles, 55 miles, or 70 miles from here to buy a model kit, normally)..... DJ

Talked with our local store manager, and after the last two times of their handling models (they came in on a "display pallet" and were OVERLOADED with Coke-41-Plymouths) where the management weren't left with a "pick-and-choose" inventory, a HUGE AMOUNT of the display (primarily those Plymouths) were stuck on the Clearance-Shelf (not a money maker for their store). Thus, management told me, (as kindly as he could) that as long as he had anything to say about it, they would not be handling any more models.......😒 I can understand, I bought a half a dozen of those 41's just because they got down to $4 each..... DJ

Just came in from the garage ("the play-pen") where my rescue cat (POKY) lives, was waiting on a propane tank to run out....... Outside temp right now 1:00am, is 26 degrees 😒 Temperature inside the playpen= 64 degrees 😊 Happy cat!!! 😉 Changed out propane bottle, turned heater back on. Radio said 19 for low tonight, and MIGHT get up to 32 for the high tomorrow....... I'm already waiting on warm weather!!!!! DJ

Would also love to see other "old" trucks brought out..... I.E.: GMC "Cannonball" c.o.e., "Crackerbox" GMC, "Needle-nose" KW & Pete, etc. As was all the "early/vintage" car-kits {T's, 32's, 34's, 36's, 40's), I would think that the truck builders would be thrilled to see "vintage trucks" kitted also..... JMO DJ

I use Evergreen "solid" tubing, heat the area that is going to have any bend beyond 45 degree, and use a simple "jig" that has movable pins to replicate one angle to the next (not so different from the tool shown). The Evergreen can be bent and will hold it's shape quite well, but I find that heating it before bending, than letting it cool back down at the angle I want, sets it permanently at the angle desired. Most Evergreen packs have quite a few pieces of plastic per bag, and are about 3.50 a bag at the local hobby shop...... DJ

Also, RON COON RESINS does both resin and 3D printed carbs, the newest 3D printed Holley (without air horn) is really pretty nice (have a stash of them)' DJ

STEVE My apologies!!!! Went brain dead!!!! YES, ABSOLUTELY!!!! Fireball has some of the VERY BEST looking carbs available on the market, and in both 1/24 and 1/25 scales, THANKS for bringing that to light, will probably be one of the best sources. I thought his was 3D printed?????? DJ

LES I've built a 1955 GMC (1/25) AITM truck, a 1956 Mack LT (1/25) AITM, and have a GMC 950 & B61 Mack cab, all AITM..... For those of us that build 1/25 scale, the prospect of a 1/25 scale Kit of such an iconic truck is exciting, to say the least...... Cool thing about the B61, it was built from 1953 to 1966, so will offer the builders quite a few year spread if they're trying to do a "period build".... DJ ps- What 1955 truck are you building, and in what scale?????

WILLIAM Right off hand, I don't remember any "decent" 1/25 scale 4779 Holley 750 carbs in any of the kits, there was a "reasonably decent" replica in the old Revell ASA kits, but if I'm remembering correctly, those were 1/24 (not that it's very noticeable on a 1/25 engine)...... Downside: OOP kits, not too cheap now, and availability not so good either, only to get a carb......... There are several GOOD outlets available (and members here) that provide 3D printed versions (since you're opposed to resin}, Texas 3D for one. Hope that helps...... DJ