Phirewriter

Given that my late father was a model builder and involved me at a very early age I've amassed a sizable collection. My current estimate is somewhere around 2800 unbuilt kits and around 200 built kits including what I inherited from my dad. Mind you I've been collecting 40+ years and still have most of what I built/bought from my childhood plus a patient and understanding wife.

I support my LHS, Model Empire. Unless I need something very special or odd I've not needed to shop the world wide interweb. Factor in shipping and I'm usually ahead spending locally. I should point out the Empire's kit prices are generally discounted from msrp. I very rarely shop big box stores, they almost never have anything I'm looking for.

Neat thread, I've got what I think are all the colors available from the original release, black, white/off white and yellow. I too have never seen a red bodied kit in the original box. I do have the "Special Interest" series version molded in red. I was glad to see many of the custom parts were put back into the latest releases. I only wish they had come up with better wheels, while the Fiesta covers are nice they don't really fit the more advanced styling of the custom version. I'm guessing the original mag inserts were lost. I still picked up a number of them since I would like to do a number of the mild - wild custom versions to go with my stock build. I did pick up extra bullet style grill inserts and the chrome band for the bubble top also missing from the latest releases.

The '63 has been out of production for a few years. Not too hard to find at reasonable prices. It's been reissued a number of times, saw a couple of the Prestige series releases at local show around the $15 mark.

Thanks for all the suggestions!! It looks like I'll busier than I thought. I forwarded the info to my daughter, her husband is looking into the best dates to come down. I wish I could visit more, get 5 weeks of vacation year but try to use it!! Thanks again, looking forward to visiting!!!!

Once it's dried completely any glosscoat you feel comfortable with should be OK. As always if you are unfamiliar with the base I would test shoot on a spare body/scrap plastic to familiarize yourself with the spray and adhesion properties. Acrylic is a type of polymer and dries similar to a plastic coating. Waterbourne automotive paints and Createx Auto Air are also similar in that they need a urethane or solvent topcoat for gloss. That said they generally should hold up to all but the strongest solvents. Testors/Tamyia lacquer and most enamel should be fine for clear coating. Hope this helps.

This paint is a water based acrylic based on their artist's color pallet. They are one of only a few companies offering water based spray paint. They will not dry with any amount of gloss, satin to mat finish at best. These will have to be cleared. In addition some of the colors may be a bit thick and hide delicate details.

Thanks for the info Eshaver, been looking forward to this trip. Do you or anyone else know of any good shops in Durham? Please no Hobby Town USA stores though. I'm into R/C cars and 1/32 slot cars too, if that helps.

As long as we're on subject, I'm visiting my daughter in N Carolina this fall. Anything going on in the area then? Possibly late September or October, haven't firmed up plans yet. Thanks

Took a closer look at the photos posted - thanks MrBuick, looks like the custom grill is back on the chrome tree. I couldn't tell if there's clear lenses for it. I can't access my Cuda kits right now (at work) to see what the custom treatment for the taillight/ rear panel was but I do know they were the same in the '67 and '68 annual. I thought I had enough 2nd gen Cudas but I might have to pick one up since I am missing a '69 in my collection and at least it would fill a box art void. Glad to see it back!

That's really cool! I started a S'Cool Bus years ago but went the opposite route. If freakishly long w/2 motors wasn't big enough, why not extend the body and chassis to make it a 4 motored behemoth. It ended up being so big I stored it with an 1/8 scale project that's yet to be finished. Made a promise to myself after the holidays, no more new projects until I finish at least a few old ones. Thanks for a bit of inspiration to get mine back out! Again really cool flat nose conversation, looks awesome!!!

In this version it does, with a bit of work and a wheel change it can look closer to the Mako Shark it's based on. I don't remember if this version has the rather tall scoop molded to the hood. Mine is missing more than a few parts including the hood. In the early 80's blue version it's missing the hood scoop and has not very attractive turbine wheels. Would be nice if we could get this version and perhaps a restored Mako Shark.

I'd welcome all of these back. Had all of them when I was young. I have still have the remains, plus parts to rebuild them. I would buy these just for the decals and nostalgic box art. I'm happy to add the Charger to the Mopar shelf for now.

I have a number of these kits and found different years with the same box art. Both the '74 and '76 with nothing on the box to distinguish the year of car inside.

Nice! One of my favorite 60's era body styles. Round2 needs to reissue the '65 again. What color/paint did you use?

Every year companies discontinue kits and bring out new or reissue kits. It's a constant cycle.

They are indeed kool. There were a number of interesting displays in kits from the late 60's. I didn't need another AMTronic although I purchased one just for the display and box art. I really liked the drive in display in the Meyers dune buggy kit too.

B&N in Greenfield (Milwaukee) WI didn't have it last time I was there. My LHS carries it but is often sold out.

The decals in the kit replicate the car in the museum. There are different panels/stripes for the conventionally blown motor and the Potvin set up with a cover over the motor. Not the simplified ones that were in the original release. If you do a quick search in the drag racing postings there is a beautiful build up that shows the current decals. I have reproduction decals of the original but don't remember the source, check eBay. You might find them there.

Hey Greg, didn't mean to rain on your styrene dreams. I too would love to see these kits again. Perhaps we will see some of these in the future from R2 or Revellogram. I'm glad that we are getting some of those vintage gems from R2 again. For the time being I am happy they are at least tooling new parts to take these kits back to better versions. Hopefully down the road we will see more extensive conversions of some the older tooling.

Those would be nice, however all of the kits pictured have been retooled/converted in to other kits with the exception of the 69 Mustang and GTO F/C. The GTO would only be a box and decal change from the currently available kit for the F/C. What's left of the stock version can be seen in the '72 GTO. There is a good thread in new kits about the evolution of the the Chargers and the Camaro and Firebird have been changed from year to year. The currently available 1979 T/A is what's left of the '70 and the Camaro has been updated yearly as well.

There was also a 1/16 Grand Am funny car from the Hot Rod series, the Revelleader I believe.

Kind of the same reasons in the 60's some motorcycle "clubs" used the swastika simply as a offensive image to upset the general population at the time. I'm sure there may have been some racist component but they certainly didn't adopt the nazi ideal.

Great color, nice build. My favorite generation of the Eclipse. I've got a couple on the shelf but its been a looong time since I've looked in the box. Is the front facia a kit piece or aftermarket? I don't remember the Mitsubishi symbol in the radiator opening. Looks cool!

Duh... I hate when something so obvious flys under my radar. The Aurora "Road Aces" series came to mind with the kit. For those that don't know/remember, these were based on the 1/25 series of sports and race cars with WWII aircraft graphics. I believe most of them have been reissued in stock form from Monogram either shortly after acquiring Aurora or in the SSP program.