Muncie

Gundam is new to me. It's making a big contribution to the business at a couple of the local hobby shops - that's good with me. The interest in model cars has gone down. Their model car inventory is still good but much less than it used to be. Gundam has taken it's place and is more popular with the younger crowd that spends money. It's brought some other changes. The paint, tool and book selection has become much larger and more interesting - which opens up lots of new options for model car projects. From the ownre's side, model car kits are in direct competition with Hobby Lobby - imagine being a local shop going against that giant. Gundam is a product that does well for the local hpbby shop. I considered starting a Gundam project, but already have too many hobby projects. so Gundam question - HG? What is the difference between HG and a standard Gundam?

Casey, it looks like we were running on the same wavelength - posting at the same time... It was possible but depended on the budget in 1955. The first chrome reverse wheels were a lot of work because you had to separate the center from the rim on a stock wheel, have the pieces chromed and then have the wheel welded back together. It probably didn't cost as much as the racing wheels but it was expensive at the time. More readily available mass produced chrome reverse wheels started showing up at an affordable price in the late 1950's or early 1960;s Baby Moons were a '60's thing. And in the late 1960's they were everywhere - I bought a set at the JC Penney's in a shopping mall on closeout even. More information from the H.A.M.B. - https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/when-did-chrome-reverse-wheels-start.489886/

I'm going with what Mike said. The 1955 Chevrolet and the small block were brand new in 1955 so manufacturers hadn't had a chance to design many aftermarket parts. I wasn't there so I did a little research and it looks like it was dual exhaust and a quick two inch lowering job at the local muffler shop. Camshafts, intakes, and carburetion came later in the year. A January 1955 Southern California high school magazine has several 55's. Some lowered, some probably mom and dad's, all on stock wheels with hub caps and whitewalls. The student car of the month was Charles Conyer's flathead powered, full fendered Model A roadster.

The top body with the peak on the hood is a 1969. The 1967 and 1968 did not have that feature. I believe yours is a 1968 that has been modified. The 1968 MPC kit had fake exhaust trim detail aft of the door and ahead of the rear tires on the rocker panel molding. Instructions here for the MPC 1969 Barracuda and Killer 'Cuda (it's a 1969) https://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/mkiba-build-under-c/mpc-instructions/automotive-cars--pi/plymouth/1961-1970/ hope this helps .

I agree with Snake and Espo. Day 2 is a more recent term for what happened in the muscle car era of the late 1960's and early 1970's. These were muscle cars bought by high school and guys in their early 20's with income from working at the local parts store, gas station or grocery store. After buying a new car, Snake's list would challenge the best of their budgets and skills. The Road Runner was introduced with steel wheels, but had the best tires available from the factory. Mopar knew those wheels wouldn't last past day 2.

probably totally off the original topic...

The '67's look really good. Good work on the restorations. I had a real 1967 Caprice station wagon many years ago so I enjoyed seeing these. I agree the shape on the promos and annual kits is better than the more recent detailed kit. Thank you for posting the details on your work.

Glad to see this. Thank you

Absolutely! Support each other, stay safe and build model cars

Facts, yes - but missing a lot of important details which changes what they mean... What you're saying looks like "hey, no problem this is normal stuff" but that's not reality. With all of the information out there, I''ll stick to other sources.

it's not the flu - It's not the flu and experience in other countries shows it. The numbers for coronovirus come up short in the U.S. because the number of test kits has been inadequate at best. Nobody knows how many people have the virus that haven't been identified. We'll start seeing real numbers in the next couple of weeks when more testing can be completed. We're only a little over two weeks into it and the numbers are doubling every six days (some say as three and a half days) depending on who's counting. Coronovirus is much more contagious and the death rate is 20 times the flu - 0.1% for the flu, 2% in round numbers for covid-19 (1.5 to 3.5%) listen to NPR and the experienced professionals on the daily Coronovirous Task Force. for facts, not fear.. There is no vaccine and the cure is a year away bu most estimates. Things are changing g constantly at this point It's really a case of bad information is worse than no information at all. The big factor here is that the numbers grow so quickly that we already have hospitals that have run out of certain pieces of personal protective equipment for medical staff - there is not enough PPE to do regular work. Doctors are being targeted on coronovirous patients instead of their regular patients and if we don't' all make changes to control the number of people that are exposed, we will be over capacity on hospital space and ICU's within two or three weeks. Facts, not fear. I feel for the people here on the forum that are affected in their job or their health. It really sucks. If posting here helps them out, I'm good with it. Sharing real experience will be helpful to them and others that are facing the same situation. But this is a model car forum and misinformation doesn't help and it-doesn't belong here.

agreed - drilling out the head of the peg is probably the best, quickest and easiest, least damage option. An 1/8" drill in the center of the head on the peg should separate the peg. Might have to go to a little larger drill if the original builder was more generous with the glue and the chassis plate is actually glued to the body. Looks like an interesting project - what is it?

not what I was saying, fist fights over toilet paper is taking things to some other level. Totally ignoring or minimizing Coronovirus is not preparation either. Today's Coronovirus task force press conference is on now - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/video/live-news-coverage-from-cbs-news/ar-BBmYvYY?appwebview=true&ocid=msedgdhp In the last 48 hours there has been a lot of progress on the test that will be distributed and it should be fully rolled out in a couple of weeks but one quote from Anthony Falchi (spelling?) is that we have not seen the worst of it. They will hold another press conference daily.

I haven't seen fear anywhere - just people doing the best that they can to prepare. The first case in Oregon was identified a couple of weeks ago at the medical facility where some of my coffee friends get their medical care. That's close enough to get my attention. And the veterans rest home in Lebanon, Oregon where the model show that I mentioned above was held (I had other things going that morning and couldn't attend) is now up to 9 cases - less than a week and apparently still counting. Oregon has 80 test kits a day which will cover only 40 people so most cases here have not been identified and counted. Due to lack of attention, insufficient test kits were requested from the CDC. However, we know so much about how this infection will progress that we should not ignore it. Information and preparation, not panic.

The latest two cases in Oregon, which were announced yesterday, are at the Oregon Veterans Home in Lebanon Oregon. The Oregon Mid-Valley Modelers held there IPMS show there last Saturday. The numbers of confirmed cases in Oregon are low still low, but those that know can tell it is because there are only a very limited number of test kits and people to do the test kits available. Again, don't ignore it, but don't panic either

Thanks for stopping in. it was a lot of fun to watch, too. My memory is less than perfect these days, but I hope I'm close. It was at Seattle and I had just parked and walked to the top end during Friday qualifying. First car that went by - running in the 9.90 class and half a track ahead of the car in the other lane. That was a fassst car! What just happened - what the... a '57 Chevy, then the announcer gave the time. It was in the days when racers could make as many qualifying runs as possible and it must have been fun because the car kept running those killer times without drama on multiple passes. Over and over, 190 mph. Finally, Saturday afternoon, the car starting running 9.90's and got dialed in for Sunday. It was not only quick, but it was competitive and went at least three rounds on Sunday before breaking on the line and being pushed back. I don't remember much else about that race except some friends went to the semi's in Comp Eliminator. Thank you for the memories - one of the most awesome things that I've seen at a drag race.

The disc brakes in the Cutlass kit are custom optional parts. Custom disc brakes were a common part in AMT kits about that time.

Time to weigh in with a couple of wagons that I'd like to see from my past. My first car was a 1956 Chevrolet 210 Handyman 2-door wagon. Another is a 1967 Chevrolet Caprice Custom wagon - think of an Impala with the woodgrain trim. Big block of course. Although mine never served this purpose, I can remember when a lot of drag racers arrived at the track with the race car on an open trailer pulled by one of these. I grew up in a Mopar family so something like a 1960 Dodge or 1965 Belvedere II would also be interesting

Way Cool! I had to look it up. Four wheel Drive and a Jifflox dolly. You model is well engineered and well done.

Check with Randy at Model Builders Warehouse - https://www.modelbuilderswh.com/ The Chaparral wheels may be out of stock but he always has them on order.

I like the question - it's interesting, many answers Google has an answer smooth blue - more information and variations here - https://encycolorpedia.com/96b0bc But I also think of this - Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas -

Hakan, thank you for the information. I agree with you and I will check with TEN and see if they can give me something more useful than a digital subscription. I have faith in Rodders Journal but they have had a busy year changing printing companies and making a move from California to the East Coast. I think they mentioned that it was tough to find a printing company that could even do the magazine like they wanted when they changed printers. Steve.

So, I have about 18 months left on my last two year renewal for Street Rodder magazine. I received a letter from the publisher TEN this morning saying Street Rodder has been discontinued. In its place I can sign up for my choice of the digital edition of Hot Rod, Motor Trend or Four Wheeler - none of which interest me at all. Although this appears to have been planned for some time, the copy of Street Rodder on the magazine rack at the local grocery store contained two subscription cards for one or two years... I'm not really interested in buying anything from TEN anymore because of the way that they handled this. Rodders Journal had some issues (I know) this year when they changed printers and moved. That caused some delays which may have disrupted distribution to the magazine racks. The latest issue (which shows as current on their website) is number 82 which I received in September. Mike, thanks for the list of discontinued magazines - sad, but good to know

Awesome! I also tried one of these way back in the '90's but it stalled out when I got to the black out on the windows - yours is incredible. All around, it's nicely done.