unclescott58

I wonder where the dies to this one went? I like Chaparrals. Again, I wonder how this one compared old Monogram and IMC Chaparrels?

Okay, you know me. I opened my mouth and then check the facts. A quick web search showed me the '56 Bird you guys were talking about. After seeing the box art, I vaguely remember this kit. What is the history of this kit? Was designed during the Ertl days? And how is it compared to Monogram's '56? In other words, is it a nice kit or not? Also, like '55, AMT did a promo of the '56 in 1956. So far I have found no information that it as offered as a kit like their early '55.

Several people here have mentioned that AMT has offered a model of a '56 Thunderbird, like Suzzane Summers drove in American Graffiti. When did this happen? In 1/25 scale, the only two-seat Thunderbird I know of made by AMT is their perennial '57. They did offer a '55 back in 1955. But a '56? I don't remember that one.

Wow! A little scary reading the above link. I knew it could happen with Hot Wheels, but not other stuff. I'm glad I'm not a big collector of diecast stuff.

Okay it took me a while, but I now get the Woodstock "riddle" above. You came as sperm in your father. Left as a fertilized egg with your mother. I wouldn't count it as a "corny joke." And it's a little bit in bad taste.

Is it out yet?

I'd love to see the above monter trucks posted by Jesse, offered in their stock versions. I have no interest in monster trucks what so ever. But, especially the Dodge and Datsun in stock form. I'd be all over those.

I love old movies and TV shows. Though, when I talk old, I mean really old. For example, I love black and white movies from the 30's, 40's, and 50's. I even like really old silent movies. In fact, my all time favorite movie is Fitz Lang's Metropolis, filmed in 1926. And for TV, I basically like anything before about 1975. Don't get me wrong, there are some newer things I do like in both Movies and TV. But, my favorite stuff is old Marx Brothers and Three Stooes comedies. Anything with Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, or Steve McQueen. Film Noirs. 50's Sci Fi. Alfred Hitch movies. And the like. And I do tend watch them over and over again, several times.

I'm a Trekie and that thing turns me off. That is the worst looking Enterpise model I've ever seen.

I don't get it. Even after seeing the answer. I do understand the part about Woodstock happening 47 years ago. But, the father, mother thing, I don't get?

Wow! You'll eat anything!

Thanks Rick and Alan. I did not see that on the box Chad showed. But, I take your word for it. The Pontiac engine is not a real big deal for me either. The only thing I'm not happy to hear is that it's molded in black styrene. So primer will be a must.

A person who has no right to condemn lutefisk.

Uncle Scott has been my pen name for about 25 years now. When I first started writing about cars, I wanted to be like Tom McCahill. And a lot of his readers refered to him as Uncle Tom. I am no Tom McCahill with my writing, and that's okay. People liked my own style and the name fit. So it stuck. Unclescott58 came about because I could not register the name Uncle Scott as a user name on the web. There were Uncle Scotts before me. Since I was born in 1958, I just added that to my pen/nick name, and it worked. The icon picture? Just found that on the web. It work so well for me. It combines several of my loves. Mainly cars and science fiction. How can you beat a bubble top '58 Lincoln with an Edsel grille, being driven by a multi tentacled alien?

Thanks for the above Bill. No truer words spoken.

Mine? Try to do no harm.

Not much that caught my eye this month either. The '79 Chevy Nova is the only one I want. But, only if it has the option to build it stock. I think Chad said in the video it could be built stock. But, nothing on the box he showed us confirmed this. Does anybody know this for sure? I know a few people have complained about these reviews. I like them. And, I think that overall Chad does a nice job. It's a lot of fun seeing what's out there, even though I may have no interest in owning it.

Rather avoiding the reissue, I hope those who buy it don't have the same problems. Wild that you would get three bad ones. I've been lucky and never had that problem in that manner. Too bad. I like the one I built serveral years ago. There are several people who have complained in the past about certain features/details on this kit that they don't like. I didn't mind. Mine looks good sitting on the shelf, with the fishing boat that came with it at the time.

Oh! I wanted to mention about the mistaken information I found on the box. One I kind of find funny, and I don't recall anybody else mentioning yet. On the one long box side where they talk about the "Stock Version" of the Volare is an interesting mistake. The caption for the with the engine picture reads, "Detailed 6-Cylinder Engine." That looks like no six I've ever seen in a Volare. For sure not a stock one. One other odd thing I see in the box, is the kits representation of the engine's ignition distributer. That's got to be one of the weirdest distributers I've ever seen. My real Volare had a six in it. And it's distributer looked nothing like that. And doubt the real V-8 distributers did either. Overall very minor mistakes. And I'm glad to have kit. Now to go a layer some putty on the underside of the roof.

I'm sure I'm going to have to do same, just to be on the safe side.

I got my Volare in the mail on Sarurday. But, this morning is the first time I've really had a chance to look at it. And I'm a little worried. There are raised lines for the t-tops on the roof. That's okay, they can be easily sanded away. But, on the underside of the roof, there are what looks like fairly deep lines for cutting the roof for the t-tops. They look deep enough, that I worry if I do to sand the raised lines on top, there will barely be enough plastic left to hold the main section of the roof in place. What are your thoughts on this? What have you done? Do I need to fill the underside lines with putty before sanding the top? Or am I worrying too much about this? Beyond the above concern, everything looks typical MPC from the time. Which is fine with me. I see the old plastic tires are still there. Though with beautiful tampo printed Goodyear Radial GT's, I don't see anybody wanting to use those today. But, since they are part of the mold, I appreciate Round 2 for still giving them to us. As far as what to color to paint the car? I'm leaning very strongly towards Yellow. A few years ago I built the Daisy Duke's Yellow Road Runner. And I have a 1975 Road Runner promo in Yellow. So I'm thinking Yellow to keep the theme going. Though the only other Road Runner I've built. My '68, which I built over ten years ago is Orange. Maybe it's time to pickup another '68 and paint it Yellow?

Bill, thanks for the review and pictures of the '55 Bird. Out of all of AMT's 1/16 scale kits, that's the one I'd really like to see back.

Bill your right about the bumper guards appearing on the '75 Corvette.

The hobby store just south of Northtown, on University Ave/Highway 47, was University Hobbies. Run by a well liked guy by the name of Pete (I can never remember Pete's last name). And that was actually in Spring Lake Park. Not Fridley. The only hobby store that was ever near Ax-Man's in Fridley was Nationl Hobbys. They were in the strip mall across the street. Unless you go back to the 1960's when my buddy Fred run a slot car track in the same mall as Ax-Man, there was no hobby shop in that location. And when Fred had his shop there, there was no Ax-Mans in that building. You are right about the HobbyTown in Brooklyn Park. Sad to say, they closed down a year or two ago now.

Between watching the series, and the above photos, I may have to get the kits. I've watched the first 6 episodes so far, and went a head and ordered the series on DVD. That's how much I like it. It's childish, but cool. But, then again so am I. At least the "childish" part.